Thunderbird Club

[Nocturnal]

Interesting T-bird by ESP Custom Shop (no affiliation) I dig the black/maple look.

ESP Thunderbird Bass Guitar | eBay

View attachment 4775797

I came close to buying that ESP several times when it was listed on eBay originally. The only thing that throws me off is the maple board.

 

[PaleAngel_90]

I came close to buying that ESP several times when it was listed on eBay originally. The only thing that throws me off is the maple board.

Aren't ESP's horribly overpriced? All ESP's I've seen have been horribly overpriced.

 

[Hondapunk]

I came close to buying that ESP several times when it was listed on eBay originally. The only thing that throws me off is the maple board.

Being a Fender owner I love a Maple board. That alone wouldn't have scared me off. Beautiful specimen. I like the visual contrast the maple brings.

 

[Hondapunk]

Being a Fender owner I love a Maple board. That alone wouldn't have scared me off. Beautiful specimen. I like the visual contrast the maple brings.

Just talking to myself I guess hehe but Charvel ( among others ) has been all in
On roasted maple necks/boards lately. Roasty Toasty.

 

[sleepingEB0]

Aren't ESP's horribly overpriced? All ESP's I've seen have been horribly overpriced.

They’ve moved pricing boldly up market the last 10 years despite being the same stuff. It works though. People love their gimmicks

 

[PaleAngel_90]

They’ve moved pricing boldly up market the last 10 years despite being the same stuff. It works though. People love their gimmicks

That doesn't justify the outrageous price skyrocketing imho, it's sad when companies let their greed take charge.

 

[wolfkeller]

Not sure what you mean by modern look? Hipshot ultralites?

Tuners that have the small knobs, like on a modern thunderbird but the lower part is big like the 70s or 60s klustons.

 

[WillyW]

It does kind of bug me with the look of going from large plates to the smaller tunas.

I am going to have to get over it though, as I’m looking to replace the tuners on my Greco…

I very much like those Hipshot tunas. I like the idea of adding screws back into the exposed holes.

I have used Wilkinson plate tuners quite a bit and they work very well and are just a bit cheaper, so I’m not sure where I will go.

I usually like the cloverleaf more than whatever you would call the other…. tulip? Not sure if it still needs to be a flower…. But the tulip does look good on a bird.

View attachment 4511570 View attachment 4511571 View attachment 4511572

So a very special thanks to @Miles_ONeal and @KaraQ they are extra special TBers and truly awesome FireBird bassists!

The Greco now has non crunchy saddles and an epomophoam 3 point, and tunas that won’t move a whole step by breathing on them.

changed the knobses too..

A chunk came off near the “E” when pushing the bushings out. (Superglued and will polish some other time). It looks like the black part of the headstock is a plastic veneer on top of what looks like maple.

I’ll probably fill the holes from the old tunas with bamboo skewers at some point.

I do have some pyramid flats on the way, I just can’t do the roundworms thing…

before…
View attachment 4519470

After

View attachment 4519469
View attachment 4519468
View attachment 4519467

Tuners that have the small knobs, like on a modern thunderbird but the lower part is big like the 70s or 60s klustons.

here's my tuna journey on my Greco

IIRC I got them from Philidelphia luthier supply, either the ebay store or direct.. one was cheaper than the other

 

[Gibson Victory]

I pulled the trigger on a Blackbird a little while ago for the following reasons:
1. It’s a Gibson
2. As they say on”Wall Street”, it’s an investment, not a trade. Just how many of these do you figure they will make next year? None!
3.If it’s good enough for Nikki, it’s good enough for me.
4. I don’t own any of the Signature Gibson stuff, although I have stuff like an ES 359, 07,57RI, triples with the Bigsby. Oh be still my beating heart!
5.I’m a Virgo with OCD, need I say more.
6. Sorry, Can’t do the “Moo-Cow” Paint job thing.
7. No matter what they say about you guys, you’re cool in my book, Lol!
Time to celebrate, kick Amp’s. Take names, and talk trash! It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, If you’re drinking, I am buying, let’s close out the Bar tonight! Yippee!

 

[BklynKen]

I pulled the trigger on a Blackbird a little while ago for the following reasons:
1. It’s a Gibson
2. As they say on”Wall Street”, it’s an investment, not a trade. Just how many of these do you figure they will make next year? None!
3.If it’s good enough for Nikki, it’s good enough for me.
4. I don’t own any of the Signature Gibson stuff, although I have stuff like an ES 359, 07,57RI, triples with the Bigsby. Oh be still my beating heart!
5.I’m a Virgo with OCD, need I say more.
6. Sorry, Can’t do the “Moo-Cow” Paint job thing.
7. No matter what they say about you guys, you’re cool in my book, Lol!
Time to celebrate, kick Amp’s. Take names, and talk trash! It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, If you’re drinking, I am buying, let’s close out the Bar tonight! Yippee!

Nice! And I bet it will be a hell of a lot lighter than those Victorys.

 

[Gaolee]

I actually got to play a show yesterday afternoon with the cover band. It's really a glorified dad band. My wife and I were in eastern Washington for the weekend, so we had to head home a little early. The Flamingo got out to play though the Carvin combo. It was outside, but that was still plenty. The Blue Angels were a bit of a distraction at times. Nothing like playing and all of a sudden having deafening jet noise drown everything out. Somehow, we managed to keep it together. The audience wasn't huge, but better than three adults, a kid on a bicycle, and two dogs.

 

[TBird1958]

I pulled the trigger on a Blackbird a little while ago for the following reasons:
1. It’s a Gibson
2. As they say on”Wall Street”, it’s an investment, not a trade. Just how many of these do you figure they will make next year? None!
3.If it’s good enough for Nikki, it’s good enough for me.
4. I don’t own any of the Signature Gibson stuff, although I have stuff like an ES 359, 07,57RI, triples with the Bigsby. Oh be still my beating heart!
5.I’m a Virgo with OCD, need I say more.
6. Sorry, Can’t do the “Moo-Cow” Paint job thing.
7. No matter what they say about you guys, you’re cool in my book, Lol!
Time to celebrate, kick Amp’s. Take names, and talk trash! It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, If you’re drinking, I am buying, let’s close out the Bar tonight! Yippee!

Congratulations!

We'll expect a picture and perhaps your thoughts once it arrives!

 

[wolfkeller]

I pulled the trigger on a Blackbird a little while ago for the following reasons:
1. It’s a Gibson
2. As they say on”Wall Street”, it’s an investment, not a trade. Just how many of these do you figure they will make next year? None!
3.If it’s good enough for Nikki, it’s good enough for me.
4. I don’t own any of the Signature Gibson stuff, although I have stuff like an ES 359, 07,57RI, triples with the Bigsby. Oh be still my beating heart!
5.I’m a Virgo with OCD, need I say more.
6. Sorry, Can’t do the “Moo-Cow” Paint job thing.
7. No matter what they say about you guys, you’re cool in my book, Lol!
Time to celebrate, kick Amp’s. Take names, and talk trash! It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, If you’re drinking, I am buying, let’s close out the Bar tonight! Yippee!

I got one cuz I'm a SIXX fan and cuz its a gibson. I reversed mine. Plays and sounds awsome. I put the switch more into the body so it shouldn't be a problem. If it is, ill move it to the other side.

 

[PaleAngel_90]

I got one cuz I'm a SIXX fan and cuz its a gibson. I reversed mine. Plays and sounds awsome. I put the switch more into the body so it shouldn't be a problem. If it is, ill move it to the other side. View attachment 4776228

No volume and tone controls?

 

[Gibson Victory]

Nice! And I bet it will be a hell of a lot lighter than those Victorys.

Amen x 3!!!

 

[wolfkeller]

No volume and tone controls?

Nope! When I play, its full on. I always disconnect tone pots too.

 

[PaleAngel_90]

Why none of the T-bird models show in the Epiphone website?

 

[JJR58]

Tuners that have the small knobs, like on a modern thunderbird but the lower part is big like the 70s or 60s klustons.

I don't think there is such a tuner like that.
Was looking at Hipshot and Gotoh, and nothing like that at all.

 

[BklynKen]

Why none of the T-bird models show in the Epiphone website?

Epiphone | Explore The Original Bass

 

[wolfkeller]

I don't think there is such a tuner like that.
Was looking at Hipshot and Gotoh, and nothing like that at all.

These are kind of what I'm thinking.