Thunderbird Club Pt III

[mr.mow]

They look so great in cherry! Congratulations on your new 'Bird!

Shall I add you? I see awesome proof of Thunderbird goodness

It will look even better once I can get that black hardware off!
Only thing is, I actually quite like the stock pickups, nothing wrong with them at all, they growl like crazy.

 

[4005]

Ok I'm in here's two of my 'Birds
Cheers

 

[TBird1958]

It will look even better once I can get that black hardware off!
Only thing is, I actually quite like the stock pickups, nothing wrong with them at all, they growl like crazy.

I'd watch ebay for a chrome bridge and Hipshot make some nice vintage looking tuners as well. If you like the stock pups they can be "peeled" and potted into chrome covers - Mike Lull sells his separately IIRC, howver they're for the older type of pickup which is very shallow so they may not cover the entire side of the newer ones. Ideally you'd be after some cover from a '76 bit they are at this point very hard to find.

 

[TBird1958]

Ok I'm in here's two of my 'Birds
Cheers

And Welcome 4005! #209

I'd sure enjoy hearing a little about those two beauties!



TBird1958 #1
Godof Thunder59 #2
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Gibenbackerbass #4
Sidd Laroy #5
Jazzbo58 #6
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lowend1 #69 Mopar or no car!
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chibfarm2001 #206
thisSNsucks #207
mr.mow #208
4005 #209

 

[jazzbo58]

Well, the Lull T4 killed at practice. What a great sounding bass! We worked on a few things from a 6/8 "Louisiana" blues to a funkier one in the original dept along with a swampy version of the Stones "Beast of Burden". The T4 sounded great on all of them.

I promise to snap some good pics this weekend!

Awesome, Rob!!!

Cheers,
Jim

 

[juankidiaz]

that cherry bird sure is a beauty mr.mow!

I always think of the former ANVIL bass player, Glenn Five, when I see a Gibson Tbird with that finish

Picture taken by yours truly last year at their show at Bogotá

 

[snowblinder]

I put the '66 Thunderbuckers in my 5 string studio. So far I like the sound of them and they were a direct replacement. No fuss, no muss! Good luck.

I'm wondering if the Thunderbuckers would be a drop-in replacement in my bass since it has those guitar sized humbuckers and not the typical Thunderbird sized pickups. Routing isn't out of the question, but it would be nice to keep this upgrade as simple and cheap as possible.

 

[Nocturnal]

You would need to do some routing if you are changing from the humbucker sized pickups. I don't know how drastic the size difference is, but TBird pickups are larger.

 

[Gougedeye]

I'm wondering if the Thunderbuckers would be a drop-in replacement in my bass since it has those guitar sized humbuckers and not the typical Thunderbird sized pickups. Routing isn't out of the question, but it would be nice to keep this upgrade as simple and cheap as possible.

The pups dropped right into my 5er. I'm sure they are a direct replacement, but you should email Steve at Thunderbucker. They are not neccessarily cheap, though. $390 for the pups and rings. They are cool though.

 

[Evsm73]

Hi anyone use a Hipsot SuperTone Gibson bridge to replace the 3 way? Starting to get the chrome bug!! I've found one for £130 ( don't know if that good) plus I've been looking at tuners. Lots of birds seem to have the chrome Fender style but any advice would be good. Mr Mow if you find some silver covers for those pickups let me know. Really hard to find !!

 

[stiles72]

I'm wondering if the Thunderbuckers would be a drop-in replacement in my bass since it has those guitar sized humbuckers and not the typical Thunderbird sized pickups. Routing isn't out of the question, but it would be nice to keep this upgrade as simple and cheap as possible.

They might just sit over the route on the surface of the body. Thunderbuckers and Lulls are based on 60's Gibson specs, which had a very low profile. When I put the Lull in my Epi, I just filled the route with foam and screwed the pup and ring over the route.

 

[TBird1958]

There's a very small difference in the Epi pup rout compared to a Gibson - if you're going for all chrome hardware you can enlarge the rout with small hand tools, if you use the chrome trim rings they'll easily cover any work. Also, if you're using a Lull cover over a black Gibson pup you'll need to skin the outer layer of plastic off and pot them. because they're designed as a '60s Gibson pup the covers are very shallow and wont cover the entire side - so again the trim piece and some black PG material cut to the same dimension should pretty much cover the sides.

These are two versions of Post '88 pickups that I potted into '76 covers (they are taller and have 3 screw holes)

Here's a stock '76 pup, again note the height and 3 screw holes.

An old shot of my chrome retro-fitted white '89 and a refinned '76

Last, here's my Nikki Sixx Mk.II that's be retro-fitted with chrome parts and Lull pups, note the trim rings and black PG spacers - As Clint says these are very shallow pups so you need to do this too.

 

[Nocturnal]

Isn't he talking about replacing the guitar sized pickups tho?* I have a set of those at home and they are not as long as the Gibson or Epi soapbar type of pickup. The guitar sized pickups do slip perfectly inside the 76 covers tho, with room on both ends to get them centered just right. Someday soon I will show how and why I know this.

*If I misunderstood then just ignore what I'm saying*

 

[thisSNsucks]

Question for you Thunderbird guru's:

Is there any setup specification listed for Thunderbirds?

Mine is set up pretty good right now but I'd like to know if that material is out there for reference.

Thanks!

 

[TBird1958]

Isn't he talking about replacing the guitar sized pickups tho?* I have a set of those at home and they are not as long as the Gibson or Epi soapbar type of pickup. The guitar sized pickups do slip perfectly inside the 76 covers tho, with room on both ends to get them centered just right. Someday soon I will show how and why I know this.

*If I misunderstood then just ignore what I'm saying*

I'd be surprised if the pup routs were any different that the stock ones Andy, a pic with the pup out would be helpful tho!

 

[crome23]

I've been reading posts here, and want to move the neck-pin
up to a corner in my epibird's neckplate - (its an korean from 2004) -
can someone name a strap-pin that would have room for the
neckbolt to go through? the original strap-pin has a much thinner
screw in it. I could off course put it right behind the neck, but how
do you get a straplock to fit behind there, or again; what straplock?
I prefer the neckplate solution tho, it seems sturdier and more solid...?

I have to mailorder the pin as I live far away from any half-decent
GAS-station (and if i have missed earlier posts mentioning this, I apologize)

Thanx in advance

 

[Nocturnal]

I'd be surprised if the pup routs were any different that the stock ones Andy, a pic with the pup out would be helpful tho!

Yeah, it could be the exact same route under the pickup rings. That could be a cost/time saving thing in Epi's production. Anyone know for sure? Could be useful info for someone down the road.

 

[stiles72]

Here are some pics of the Lull sitting on the surface of the Epi body, over the stock pup route. Note how thin the Lull pup is.

 

[stiles72]

I've been reading posts here, and want to move the neck-pin
up to a corner in my epibird's neckplate - (its an korean from 2004) -
can someone name a strap-pin that would have room for the
neckbolt to go through? the original strap-pin has a much thinner
screw in it. I could off course put it right behind the neck, but how
do you get a straplock to fit behind there, or again; what straplock?
I prefer the neckplate solution tho, it seems sturdier and more solid...?

I have to mailorder the pin as I live far away from any half-decent
GAS-station (and if i have missed earlier posts mentioning this, I apologize)

Thanx in advance

This is where I put the neck starp lock on my Epi, and on my Gibsons as well.

 

[seansv]

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I am loving my epi thunderbird iv. Made in Korea. Feels and sounds wonderful. I am a bit slower on it than my fenders but the vibe is so so cool. The neck is really nice. It came with a strap button installed at the back plate but I kinda prefer the standard spot even though I have to reach a bit farther for the lowest frets. I will be back with gig photos in a couple weeks. I'll take a number!