Thunderbird Club

[WillyW]

nut/saddle file were made to fix these problems.

 

[Engle]

26454993[/URL], member: 294715"]I think the air-cooled, Bosch fuel-injected, 1600(?)cc engines were being put into type 3s from the Wolfsburg plant until the end of 1973 when they retooled to produce Rabbit/Golfs. I think that was the end of the air-cooled engines (excepting Brazil or Mexico where they continued making Beetles for some time, perhaps from NOS engines?). IIRC, the type 4 had an air-cooled initially, but moved to a liquid cooled engine.

I had a Type 3 fastback in high school. It was incredibly reliable and a great place to drink beer at lunch time.

I’m pretty sure the Beetle went to 75 or 76 and the Cabriolet was still produced for a few more years.

 

[Engle]

Agreed, but ... you can improve what are clearly design defects without changing other things.

You’re right. They could have used a scarf joint for the headstock and gone to a 1.5” nut width.

 

[PhR75]

Very sorry for your loss @dagrev

 

[dagrev]

Same here, they have all kinds of mids even after the trebly sheen has worn off.

What I like about the SIT Power Steels is that they are in some way a little less aggressive up top than 66s (I don't go for the angry piano sound), but the mids seem more full or broad. Meaning they don't just seem to have that upper mid thing that 66s specialize in. But I do love the 66s on certain things and nothing else will do. Oddly enough, I don't find them crazy bright like some do. But my Ampeg rigs are all inherently big and warm sounding. And there's that whole amps have knobs that can be turned as well. My heads are all mostly flat with a little boost in the lows and mids.

 

[dagrev]

Interesting. Your A string saddle looks like it is in fact sitting higher than it should.
Here’s a pic of my VP bridge for reference, all strings sound pretty well balanced in mine…
View attachment 4693709
yes, the A string saddle is a tad higher than the rest but just barely, not a lot. At the end of the day the bottoms of the D and A strings should sit about the same distance off the frets. If yours don’t, do as @JIO suggested and check your nut first. If it’s ok then carefully file the A string saddle a little bit at a time to get it where you want it. This will unfortunately take the chrome off at the groove and expose brass plating and whatever the base metal is. Alternatively, you might be able to get a replacement saddle from Epiphone.

Looks like mine.

 

[dagrev]

Very sorry for your loss @dagrev

Very kind of you Sir.

 

[GonePlaid]

What I like about the SIT Power Steels is that they are in some way a little less aggressive up top than 66s (I don't go for the angry piano sound), but the mids seem more full or broad. Meaning they don't just seem to have that upper mid thing that 66s specialize in. But I do love the 66s on certain things and nothing else will do. Oddly enough, I don't find them crazy bright like some do. But my Ampeg rigs are all inherently big and warm sounding. And there's that whole amps have knobs that can be turned as well. My heads are all mostly flat with a little boost in the lows and mids.

Those knobs turn!?!?

 

[TBird1958]

A little something I dredged out of Photobucket...........
This was at Mike Lull's old shop, the day I picked my T4 up, photo by Mike Lull.
Needless to say I was quite happy and proud that day, looking back now I realize how much I miss seeing him, he was truly a wonderful man.

 

[JJR58]

View attachment 4693589

What strings you using there Miles?

 

[dagrev]

Those knobs turn!?!?

On ocassion.

A little something I dredged out of Photobucket...........
This was at Mike Lull's old shop, the day I picked my T4 up, photo by Mike Lull.
Needless to say I was quite happy and proud that day, looking back now I realize how much I miss seeing him, he was truly a wonderful man.

 

[TBird1958]

I still remember this....
11 minutes that utterly changed my musical life, the first time I saw KISS on ABC's "In Concert", I was awestruck.
They were young and very energetic on stage, so much fun. No posturing or trying to impress me with their musical virtuosity, the were strange and dark and weird - I loved them!



Didn't influence me much, no, not at all.

 

[godofthunder59]

I still remember this....
11 minutes that utterly changed my musical life, the first time I saw KISS on ABC's "In Concert", I was awestruck.
They were young and very energetic on stage, so much fun. No posturing or trying to impress me with their musical virtuosity, the were strange and dark and weird - I loved them!



Didn't influence me much, no, not at all.

Early KISS was life changing I saw this as well I always loved Peter Chris's voice best of the lot imho.

 

[BklynKen]

I still remember this....
11 minutes that utterly changed my musical life, the first time I saw KISS on ABC's "In Concert", I was awestruck.
They were young and very energetic on stage, so much fun. No posturing or trying to impress me with their musical virtuosity, the were strange and dark and weird - I loved them!



Didn't influence me much, no, not at all.

I hope you have that photo framed!

 

[TBird1958]

Early KISS was life changing I saw this as well I always loved Peter Chris's voice best of the lot imho.

You know, we like so much of the same stuff........Amazing.

 

[godofthunder59]

You know, we like so much of the same stuff........Amazing.

I know right?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I’m pretty sure the Beetle went to 75 or 76 and the Cabriolet was still produced for a few more years.

late 80’s, an english friend used to buy them brand new in Mexico for 5k USD, bring them to LA where he had them converted to convertible for another 5k USD and then imported them into Europe through Gibraltar selling them at 12k GBP a pop!!!...did really well…

 

[ThaCoast]

Miss a couple days and there is a mountain to climb. Please point me to anything that's a must read, otherwise I'm not going to try to get caught up. It's been an exhausting two days. We were getting ready for church and my wife's sister called and said their mother was in cardiac arrest at home. I met them at the hospital, but there was nothing that could be done to save her after 20-30 minutes or so. It was unexpected and which adds to the shock. I feel so badly for Sandra and can't do a thing really. I told her I don't think I ever felt so helpless. All this as we were approaching the first anniversary of her dad's passing in June. I got along great with my MIL, so there's no regrets or bad blood there as is often the case. (Please no need to comment, we all know such things are a real challenge and feel for others who go through such a time. Pick up a Thunderbird and enjoy life while you can.)

Times like these, are hard hitting moments where we remember how short life can be. My deepest condolences, to you & your family, for the loss .

Having my grandmother pass on valentine's day this year, it's still a hard truth to swallow.

 

[PhR75]

My Vintage Pro from the tail POV.
And the synth looming in the background is the Yamaha CS-01. I just got it back from repair and I have to say I had forgotten how good it sounds. Looks like a toy but when you plug it into a PA or soundcard it really shows it fangs (or teeth or claws). Did a little demo, ran it thru the pedalboard just for a little stereo delay. OK, quite a lot delay.

 

[PillO]

I’m pretty sure the Beetle went to 75 or 76 and the Cabriolet was still produced for a few more years.

I think you are right about the Beetle outlasting the type 3. I think the type 3 ended in 73 with the Golf/Rabbit /Jetta etc. replacing them.