Thunderbird Club Pt.IV

[stiles72]

So my strings are almost dead, What would you recommend for a guy who's looking to get a dark but bright tone out of the thunderbird?

DR Black Beauties... use them on all of my T-birds; and sound the best on my Sixxbird

 

[NOLA Bass]

I was excited to take a pic of my Lull T4 behind my new Subaru Outback, but it has to wait until the hurricane passes. Hope power stays on for a while.

 

[TBird1958]

I was excited to take a pic of my Lull T4 behind my new Subaru Outback, but it has to wait until the hurricane passes. Hope power stays on for a while.

Take Cover Bro!

 

[ThaCoast]

everyone will have a different opinion, i wanna know your favourite year for the thunderbird.

 

[Linchpin72]

Mine has to be '76 Bicentenial in black.
(image swiped from Google)

 

[darren1970]

I've just become the owner of a lovely 2012 Thunderbird IV.

Can't believe it took me soooo many years to finally buy one.

She's stunning.

Darren

 

[thisSNsucks]

I should have some birds flying my way in the next day or two.

Pretty excited

 

[TBird1958]

everyone will have a different opinion, i wanna know your favourite year for the thunderbird.

My collection doesn't include two of the "classic" Thunderbirds from the '60s ( a Non Reverse and an early Reverse) so I can't comment on them - I really wish I could!
So I'll default to my '70s era 'Birds, I have three, love their warm growly very vintage tone. They have lots of chrome parts, big, old school clover tuners - pure badass in my book!


My Black '77....................Now at Marty Bell's to be stripped and refinned.

 

[mtsens1]

Question on T-Bird bridges. I've had my short scale T-Bird for a about a month, and gig'ed it 3 times. So far I love it, but wish it had more sustain. I assume it's because of the 3 point bridge, and a full contact bridge would help. Any comments/suggestions appreciated.

 

[TBird1958]

I've just become the owner of a lovely 2012 Thunderbird IV.

Can't believe it took me soooo many years to finally buy one.

She's stunning.

Darren

Beautiful! A classic, shall I add you to the club?

 

[darren1970]

Beautiful! A classic, shall I add you to the club?

Yes Please

 

[TBird1958]

Question on T-Bird bridges. I've had my short scale T-Bird for a about a month, and gig'ed it 3 times. So far I love it, but wish it had more sustain. I assume it's because of the 3 point bridge, and a full contact bridge would help. Any comments/suggestions appreciated.

Even tho I'm not a fan of it's aesthitics on a standard 'Bird a Hipshot would be your logical choice here.

 

[cubanbass]

Most people do well with the 3 point. I have the Hipshot Supertone on my bass and it's solid.

 

[ThaCoast]

Even tho I'm not a fan of it's aesthitics on a standard 'Bird a Hipshot would be your logical choice here.

I agree. People who have used this bridge said to have more sustain. But i like the classic look of the 3 point on my epiphone goth bird, and i just think, IMO, that the hipshot doesn't look right on the bass. MO

 

[Showdown]

Even tho I'm not a fan of it's aesthitics on a standard 'Bird a Hipshot would be your logical choice here.

I thought so too, it works well on one of my '76 birds. But he asked about short scales, I found on my short scale that the neck is set at more of an angle than on standard Tbirds and the bridge is very high off the body as a result. The strings at the saddle are 7/8" off the body. The Hipshot wouldn't adjust high enough, even though Hipshot told me it would. Since it is the only SS I've played I can't say they are all like that, but it is something to be aware of.

 

[Dadagoboi]

The strings at the saddle are 7/8" off the body.

How far are the pickups from the strings? That might be a big part of your sustain problem.

 

[Showdown]

How far are the pickups from the strings? That might be a big part of your sustain problem.

It wasn't me with the sustain problem.

 

[TBird1958]

I've just become the owner of a lovely 2012 Thunderbird IV.

Can't believe it took me soooo many years to finally buy one.

She's stunning.

Darren

Welcome darren1970!


That's a beautiful Thunderbird you have there, enjoy it in good health


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[mtsens1]

I thought so too, it works well on one of my '76 birds. But he asked about short scales, I found on my short scale that the neck is set at more of an angle than on standard Tbirds and the bridge is very high off the body as a result. The strings at the saddle are 7/8" off the body. The Hipshot wouldn't adjust high enough, even though Hipshot told me it would. Since it is the only SS I've played I can't say they are all like that, but it is something to be aware of.

Thanks for the info. I've put a babitz bridge on a short scale Gretsch, and had the height problem, luckily maxed out in height worked in that case. This does seem a lot higher on the Bird SS even after lowering it as much as possible during setup. Guess I'll stick with the 3 point for now. Thanks!

 

[mtsens1]

How far are the pickups from the strings? That might be a big part of your sustain problem.

Don't get me wrong, sustain isn't bad, just not great. There are a couple of songs we do where I'm wanting more. I've adjusted the PU height and they are uneven to get the volume balanced on all the strings. Average is like .20 to .25".