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Thunderbird Club

#21,022
TBird1958 said:
Poor Sod, he doesn't know what to do :***:

My own experience is no problems, even with my '76s.
Click to expand...

Isn't a roadie supposed to some out and hand him another bass? And take what remains of the broken one (to be handed to the instrument tech who will organize a repair)?

It doesn't look like much of a bump that caused the damage. It makes me wonder how many times that bird had been whacked on the headstock; the proverbial straw that broke the Thunderbird's headstock?
 
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#21,023
PillO said:
Isn't a roadie supposed to some out and hand him another bass? And take what remains of the broken one (to be handed to the instrument tech who will organize a repair)?

It doesn't look like much of a bump that caused the damage. It makes me wonder how many times that bird had been whacked on the headstock; the proverbial straw that broke the Thunderbird's headstock?
Click to expand...
Flatwounds
 
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#21,024
Flats caused it to break? Hmmm.... So far, so good. I haven't smacked a singer like that, though. The only 'Bird I ever had that was neck dive prone was a bolt-on Epi, and it was cured by moving the upper strap button to the heel of the neck. I like the neck far more vertical than most people seem to, which probably protects the neck from smashing into things damage. Famous last words.
 
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#21,025
Gaolee said:
Flats caused it to break? Hmmm.... So far, so good. I haven't smacked a singer like that, though. The only 'Bird I ever had that was neck dive prone was a bolt-on Epi, and it was cured by moving the upper strap button to the heel of the neck. I like the neck far more vertical than most people seem to, which probably protects the neck from smashing into things damage. Famous last words.
Click to expand...
Tension ya know
 
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#21,026
image.jpg

So more hobby stuff. Doll house I'm building for the wife/girls

1" blue tape on the sides for reference
 
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#21,028
JIO said:
Ok, apologies ahead of time for bringing up this much beaten dead horse again, but on a concurrent thread on choosing between a Jaguar and a T-bird, neck-dive keeps coming up. I own a '64 II and a Bumperbird ;) and neck-dive is not or has ever been an issue for me. Yes, my '64 has a hs heavy issue compounded by no upper horn, but early on I discovered a simple effective way to combat it and have never had a nd problem since.

The original '63-'65 birds definitely suffered neck-breakage occurrences - over the years about 8 of 10 I've seen/played have had the repair. (luckily mine has not) I can imagine most if not all of those breaks were the result of turning quickly with a wall/pole/post (or the singer!) in the path of the hs - KAH-BLAM! Here's an example -



But, has anyone ever heard of that break occurring as a result of neck-dive? Anythings possible I guess, but it just doesn't seem likely or at least not common. There are other basses over the years that have far worse neck-dive than any T-bird I've ever played. Any actual stories from actual T-bird players?
Click to expand...


My first Thunderbird was an ebony 1976 model with a headstock repair. Once it slipped and hit the floor but nothing happened to it. Stayed as stable as ever. That bass in the video looks like it broke super easy. I wonder if it had been broken before and not repaired very well? Anyhow, my 2001 ebony Bird has the repair and it has been solid since I purchased it about 10 years ago and I've whacked it into a few things that could have broken it.
 
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#21,029
Blaargh said:
I've been toying with getting a SS Jag and put a set of Laces in it... This is tempting though, those look amazing. I love the sound of my Thunderbird and a SS one would be awesome. What pickups are in those? Thunderbird pickups are hard to find.
Click to expand...
ThunderBuckers by Link Removed Not hard to find.
 
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#21,034
Bent77 said:
In terms of normal (not low tension) strings, rounds usually have less
Click to expand...
I stand corrected. Plus, I got curious and looked it up. Tension is all over the map, but flats are typically higher tension than equivalent rounds. I have flats on three of five 'Birds, including Cobalt Flats on the '91. Guess keeping it away from singers is a good idea.
 
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#21,035
Gaolee said:
I stand corrected. Plus, I got curious and looked it up. Tension is all over the map, but flats are typically higher tension than equivalent rounds. I have flats on three of five 'Birds, including Cobalt Flats on the '91. Guess keeping it away from singers is a good idea.
Click to expand...
Depends on whether you are trying to impale them or not...
 
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#21,037
JIO said:
Ok, apologies ahead of time for bringing up this much beaten dead horse again, but on a concurrent thread on choosing between a Jaguar and a T-bird, neck-dive keeps coming up. I own a '64 II and a Bumperbird ;) and neck-dive is not or has ever been an issue for me. Yes, my '64 has a hs heavy issue compounded by no upper horn, but early on I discovered a simple effective way to combat it and have never had a nd problem since.

The original '63-'65 birds definitely suffered neck-breakage occurrences - over the years about 8 of 10 I've seen/played have had the repair. (luckily mine has not) I can imagine most if not all of those breaks were the result of turning quickly with a wall/pole/post (or the singer!) in the path of the hs - KAH-BLAM! Here's an example -



But, has anyone ever heard of that break occurring as a result of neck-dive? Anythings possible I guess, but it just doesn't seem likely or at least not common. There are other basses over the years that have far worse neck-dive than any T-bird I've ever played. Any actual stories from actual T-bird players?
Click to expand...


EdO. said:
DAMN! Sure didn't look like it took much to break it off. Hopefully they're not all that fragile.
Click to expand...

Nocturnal said:
My first Thunderbird was an ebony 1976 model with a headstock repair. Once it slipped and hit the floor but nothing happened to it. Stayed as stable as ever. That bass in the video looks like it broke super easy. I wonder if it had been broken before and not repaired very well? Anyhow, my 2001 ebony Bird has the repair and it has been solid since I purchased it about 10 years ago and I've whacked it into a few things that could have broken it.
Click to expand...

There's no way a sound piece of wood broke that easily, it may be thin at the end of the neck but it isn't that thin. For it to break like that there had to be an existing issue there such as a large crack that was getting bigger or a poorly executed repair from previous damage. Just think how thick cricket or baseball bat handles are and they don't break just by swinging it through the air
 
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#21,038
PillO said:
Isn't a roadie supposed to some out and hand him another bass? And take what remains of the broken one (to be handed to the instrument tech who will organize a repair)?

It doesn't look like much of a bump that caused the damage. It makes me wonder how many times that bird had been whacked on the headstock; the proverbial straw that broke the Thunderbird's headstock?
Click to expand...

I thought exactly the same thing! I took my '64 to rehearsal tonight and aside from it sounding AMAZING.., it was in it's gig bag (basic unit) and fell over. No issues. About the third time it fell over on my watch over the years. It's not like it explodes bumping into the singer! :rolleyes:
 
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