Thunderbird Club

[Engle]

For those of you who may be interested in building a Fenderbird, Sound Guitar Works has both shapes programmed and can machine them on demand. They're very busy and you'll need to contact them directly via phone or email, but I believe they may be the last/only supplier for these shapes.

I took a quick look at the site and didn’t see Tbird bodies, but good to know they do them!

 

[dagrev]

Still haven’t plugged it in… but simple enuff electronicles I’m not worried….

I do need to take a shim out of the neck pocket, I was unduly worried about bridge height issues…

I would like to find a hardcase, but it has 7ender durability so it really doesn’t need one… I could fend off the Mongol hordes and still be in tune.. unless that statement isn’t politically correct and in that case, apologies to hordes everywhere.

Just bought some lightly used Pyramids. Strings and Beyond hasn't had them for a couple months or more.

 

[MCF]

Apparently the demand in Cali (at at least one of them) is for landscapers and pool boys. With Chuck making him do the neighbor's pool has me concerned about what's going on. A wellbeing check may be in order. Now I'm wondering if the whole get together thing wasn't a ploy to get domestic help. But the others escaped. Must have been deemed unfit or undesirable.

But the neighbor brought beer Saturday.

 

[MCF]

Epi VP case arrived...file this under "It just fits". Maybe 1/8" of room.

Yep. It’s a tight fit. I’ve had to re-glue the padding at the top.

 

[KaraQ]

The funky new Epi cases fit the VP, so I figure they'll hold any Thunderbird made, with the possible exception of the Pro V (fat neck).

Mine didn't fit quite right in my old Epi (rectangular) case I don't recall if I got to try it in the new asymmetrical case before I sold the V.

My Pro V came in an Epi rectangle case, and it fits it and the newer angled case I have with no problems.....but mine seems to be less of a problem in general than yours was

now?..
View attachment 4741615

I had no issue with any of the pics showing up

Yes I do vinyl decals. I can cut them in any colour including chrome, matte/shiny gold and holographic foil.
View attachment 4741585 View attachment 4741586 View attachment 4741587 View attachment 4741588 View attachment 4741589 View attachment 4741590

Love the color scheme (or is it properly called "colorway" these days?) on the FSO

 

[Gaolee]

For those of you who may be interested in building a Fenderbird, Sound Guitar Works has both shapes programmed and can machine them on demand. They're very busy and you'll need to contact them directly via phone or email, but I believe they may be the last/only supplier for these shapes.

Good to know. And for what it is worth, if they made the body for my PBird, I can say without hesitation that their work is outstanding.

 

[BTL]

Good to know. And for what it is worth, if they made the body for my PBird, I can say without hesitation that their work is outstanding.

Yes, they did. I've dropped the Thunderluxe shapes from the line, so I thought I'd share.

 

[GBassNorth]

Pots are CTS 500s for volume/volume, 250 for tone with .047uf. Also, wired series/parallel. In series, with tone rolled off, real creamy lows, remind me of my '77 fretless P with flats. Sorry for all the errors, just getting over a nasty Neurovirus caught at a weekend barbecue, 10 of 17 came down with it.

That’s exactly the information I’ve been trying to get for months now (should have come to you first)!

I have EY pups in my BlingBird and chose to go with stacked V/T pots for each of the three pups for maximum tone control. Out of curiosity and in the name of experimentation I figured what the heck, let’s try 1meg ohm stacked volume and tone pots with .047uf caps. It actually sounds pretty good but there’s a bit too much top end for my liking.

I’ve been debating with going 500k/500k stacked pots thinking that might still be a bit high on the tone knob, or alternatively 250k/250k stacks but figuring that might be too low. You’ve confirmed what I suspected with the EY pups - they need a 500k vol and a 250k tone stack.

Unfortunately, for thru body (vs control plate) mounting there is no supplier of a 500k/250k stack. Fender has a CTS pot that will do it, but the threaded collar is too short to pass through the body and still get a nut on the threads. So what the frick I’ll just do it myself!

Start with a few of these…

Do a bit of this…

End up with this…

Pour a bourbon on the rocks and repeat a couple more times to get these…

…and that’s that!

 

[GonePlaid]

That’s exactly the information I’ve been trying to get for months now (should have come to you first)!

I have EY pups in my BlingBird and chose to go with stacked V/T pots for each of the three pups for maximum tone control. Out of curiosity and in the name of experimentation I figured what the heck, let’s try 1meg ohm stacked volume and tone pots with .047uf caps. It actually sounds pretty good but there’s a bit too much top end for my liking.

I’ve been debating with going 500k/500k stacked pots thinking that might still be a bit high on the tone knob, or alternatively 250k/250k stacks but figuring that might be too low. You’ve confirmed what I suspected with the EY pups - they need a 500k vol and a 250k tone stack.

Unfortunately, for thru body (vs control plate) mounting there is no supplier of a 500k/250k stack. Fender has a CTS pot that will do it, but the threaded collar is too short to pass through the body and still get a nut on the threads. So what the frick I’ll just do it myself!

Start with a few of these…
View attachment 4741983

Do a bit of this…
View attachment 4741986

End up with this…
View attachment 4741985

Pour a bourbon on the rocks and repeat a couple more times to get these…
View attachment 4741984
…and that’s that!

Count me in on the bourbon, but with my electrical acumen(none), I'll pass on the...er, thingys.

 

[RedVee]

I saw an ad for another case(Crossrock cases)that 'fits' Thunderbirds. It's 48" inside length. My 67 is 51.5". Oops!
I had bought another case a few years ago that stated in the specs it would fit. Yeah, if I cut off an inch and a half. Sent back.

Never cut off an inch and a half Mike

 

[GonePlaid]

Never cut off an inch and a half Mike

Nope. Nothing's ever been cut off.

 

[BklynKen]

That’s exactly the information I’ve been trying to get for months now (should have come to you first)!

I have EY pups in my BlingBird and chose to go with stacked V/T pots for each of the three pups for maximum tone control. Out of curiosity and in the name of experimentation I figured what the heck, let’s try 1meg ohm stacked volume and tone pots with .047uf caps. It actually sounds pretty good but there’s a bit too much top end for my liking.

I’ve been debating with going 500k/500k stacked pots thinking that might still be a bit high on the tone knob, or alternatively 250k/250k stacks but figuring that might be too low. You’ve confirmed what I suspected with the EY pups - they need a 500k vol and a 250k tone stack.

Unfortunately, for thru body (vs control plate) mounting there is no supplier of a 500k/250k stack. Fender has a CTS pot that will do it, but the threaded collar is too short to pass through the body and still get a nut on the threads. So what the frick I’ll just do it myself!

Start with a few of these…
View attachment 4741983

Do a bit of this…
View attachment 4741986

End up with this…
View attachment 4741985

Pour a bourbon on the rocks and repeat a couple more times to get these…
View attachment 4741984
…and that’s that!

I like your style! Plus maybe you'll find some magic combo to make the Chinabuckers sound much better.

 

[dagrev]

But the neighbor brought beer Saturday.

Paid for Jeff with only a few beers? It gets worse, and are you claiming willful ignorance while drinking some of those beers! Poor Jeff! I hope it was at least good beer.

 

[RedVee]

Has anyone done or thought about adding a 3-way toggle to a VP to switch PUPs?

I’ve thought about it but haven’t done anything

 

[MCF]

Paid for Jeff with only a few beers? It gets worse, and are you claiming willful ignorance while drinking some of those beers! Poor Jeff! I hope it was at least good beer.

It was Corona. Beggars can’t be choosers.

 

[WillyW]

Just bought some lightly used Pyramids. Strings and Beyond hasn't had them for a couple months or more.

I still have an unopened set.

I bought it for either my 4003AC or my second embassy bass.

for the first time ever I have two fretted basses with roundworms.

 

[Stealth57]

It was Corona. Beggars can’t be choosers.

But it was 805 on Sunday

 

[WillyW]

Has anyone done or thought about adding a 3-way toggle to a VP to switch PUPs?

I've considered going to switch/vol/tone, but haven't decided. Quite possibly on the XB-70.

I go vol/blend/tone quite often, and sometimes even vol/blend.

I do have a couple Ric 4003’s with a switch that I find useful, but I also have a couple vol/blends…

I think overall I prefer a blend over a switch, especially with a single volume control.

two volumes, and the switch starts to make more sense to me because the pickups can be blended…

 

[WillyW]

Still haven’t plugged it in… but simple enuff electronicles I’m not worried….

I do need to take a shim out of the neck pocket, I was unduly worried about bridge height issues…

I would like to find a hardcase, but it has 7ender durability so it really doesn’t need one… I could fend off the Mongol hordes and still be in tune.. unless that statement isn’t politically correct and in that case, apologies to hordes everywhere.

I love single coils and 60 cycle hum…

but holy happy horse poopie, this shager is noisy as shag….

I may actually shield this muther shager…..

or buy a non-$12 pickup….

or use that noise gate pedal I have sitting in the closet, and shield it too…

 

[MCF]

But it was 805 on Sunday

Yep. Dave brought the case of 805. It didn’t last long though.