Thunderbird Club

[hillerup]

I'm always happy to take a leak on the general population!

 

[hillerup]

Don't know if this gives me GAS or indigestion but I'm liking it

2001 Gibson Blackbird Nikki Sixx Signature Model Thunderbird Bass Guitar | eBay

That is a seriously misused bass... The bridge is kinda yucky - looks like there's growing mildew on it...

 

[Count Bassie]

Might still play better than the hybrid by Dean. I picked it up today cause i thought about it & i like how the neck feels, that's all. I don't like the sound, nor the body (to me the deep fret access cut just looks weird, almost like Jackson kelly bird just less metal looking). Tone wise, wasn't impressed. Good sound, but not for me. did not enjoy the active preamp nor the EMG pickups in it.



& no, i probably missed a few commas at key places. What i meant to say was as follows:

When i was deciding on replacement pickups in my Epiphone Goth tree bird, i thought of getting the EMG TBHZ pickups because i had tried them (& watched demos) of the schecter ultra bass & gallup bass). But after searching online & finding them for inexpensive but still pricy online, i remembered the Epiphone Blackbird Deep Sixx pickups & found a set for dirt cheap on eBay. I figured: I could try the Deep Sixx pickups, if the tone doesnt work for my own music, i can always swap them for either the TBHZs or the chinabuckers (& just paint the covers black). But i'm pretty damn sure i'll love the Sixx pups & just leave it as is. Cause after it's all assembled & wired, it'll be finished for good, there's no more tweaking after this. The final form

I remember this now. Thanks for the clarification though!

 

[Count Bassie]

Black?

or White?

Stop it.

 

[Christine]

That is a seriously misused bass... The bridge is kinda yucky - looks like there's growing mildew on it...

That bridge is bloody awful and the frets look like they've been filed flat. I've put an offer in for it, I doubt it will be accepted but you never know and it's all I'm prepared to pay

 

[GBassNorth]

That bridge is bloody awful and the frets look like they've been filed flat. I've put an offer in for it, I doubt it will be accepted but you never know and it's all I'm prepared to pay

GLWTB!
If you win, take the bridge off and lightly clean it up, but just to the point it's functional, refret if necessary and carefully sand down the white edge paint to the original finish. But by all means leave it as relic as possible. You see so few relic Birds out there, unlike Fender P basses, Teles, and Jazz basses which are everywhere you look.

 

[Christine]

GLWTB!
If you win, take the bridge off and lightly clean it up, but just to the point it's functional, refret if necessary and carefully sand down the white edge paint to the original finish. But by all means leave it as relic as possible. You see so few relic Birds out there, unlike Fender P basses, Teles, and Jazz basses which are everywhere you look.

I think the frets would recrown easily enough, you wouldn't replace the bridge? I was thinking replace it and all the screws but maybe you're right a light cleaning with a bronze wire brush might be the trick. I think the chances of me getting it are slim though

 

[Count Bassie]

I put in a comment on the young first-time-buyer girl's thread, but didn't realize her budget. Still, it was not only relatively solid info (in my opinion, lol), but it was also a small gratuitous dig at the Fender Fan Herd. So I feel it wasn't a waste of time,

Disclaimer: I have a P-Bass project... it's a really good axe, great player and has served me well. I'm adding a refin and a home-cut brass pickguard, US Fender pups and new CTS pots. But I realize what it is, it is a simple bass for a purpose. In my eyes and ears, the T-Bird I have knocks it out of the park. What I bust on is the strange lens that tries to make it the only thing worth having. Funny people out there in the Gen Pop...

Love the Bird shots. Had no time, but will get something into the pool here.

 

[GBassNorth]

I think the frets would recrown easily enough, you wouldn't replace the bridge? I was thinking replace it and all the screws but maybe you're right a light cleaning with a bronze wire brush might be the trick. I think the chances of me getting it are slim though

Naw, I'd keep the bridge. Just wire brush the rust off, lightly oil the intonation screws and dry scrub the rest of the bridge with some scotchbrite pads to knock off the oxidation. It would look best if it looked used and worn but still useable.
The only watch out I'd have on that bass is the corrosion on the bridge could be indicative of the pots and output Jack or much worse - the truss Rod. Almost looks like the owner lives near the beach and the bass has been exposed to too much salt air or moisture over the years.

 

[Gaolee]

That bridge is bloody awful and the frets look like they've been filed flat. I've put an offer in for it, I doubt it will be accepted but you never know and it's all I'm prepared to pay

I'm not sure how you grow moss on a bass bridge, but there it is. It's an excuse to put a Babiczs on it.

 

[kat888]

What I bust on is the strange lens that tries to make it the only thing worth having. Funny people out there in the Gen Pop...

Exactly this.

 

[Christine]

I'm not sure how you grow moss on a bass bridge, but there it is. It's an excuse to put a Babiczs on it.

You know what the English are like, they all think they're bloody gardeners!

 

[RedVee]

I think the frets would recrown easily enough, you wouldn't replace the bridge? I was thinking replace it and all the screws but maybe you're right a light cleaning with a bronze wire brush might be the trick. I think the chances of me getting it are slim though

I think I'd toss that bridge and replace with a second hand bridge but not nos.

The fret job required gives you an opportunity to go fretless if that interests you.

 

[kat888]

You know what the English are like, they all think they're bloody gardeners!

never a truer word spoken in jest

 

[PillO]

Not forgetting the design element as well...

Basically ALL Fender/Squier models more or less look like each other - Gibson/Epiphones do not...

Well, once you spend the money on the CNC programming, might as well amortize it across as many units as you can...

 

[Korladis]

Don't know if this gives me GAS or indigestion but I'm liking it

2001 Gibson Blackbird Nikki Sixx Signature Model Thunderbird Bass Guitar | eBay

Wow, that has been used to rock hard.

I think the frets would recrown easily enough, you wouldn't replace the bridge? I was thinking replace it and all the screws but maybe you're right a light cleaning with a bronze wire brush might be the trick. I think the chances of me getting it are slim though

I'd definitely replace the bridge. But then, I wouldn't buy a Sixx signature model.

Exactly this.

It's also eye-roll inducing how every time the find out that a prospective bassist is a girl, a bunch of them suggest daisy rock instruments. Not saying there's anything rock with daisy rock instruments, but it's kinda ridiculous to assume that just because a beginner bassist is female that she'll like that look.

 

[Klondike]

When I reply I can see there is some facebook media there but looking at the post it is just a large empty space, obviously it's me, is it restricted to the US or something?

I think they are in Argentinia currently. The drummer and I are fb friends. We have several friends in common. I wouldn't have a clue as to why it comes up blank like that.

 

[Gaolee]

Exactly this.

I have a Precision. I played it last night and enjoyed it for what it is. It has dead flats on it, so it's a thump machine. Put new rounds on it and it will bark like a Precision can. What keeps me from playing it more is ergonomics. That's why I have to get my thumbs out and finally finish and assemble the P-Bird. Then the bumper might be surplus, except that it's got endless scars I inflicted on it, so I love it and will keep it a long time. But, it's not a Thunderbird, so I just don't play it much.

 

[taylor16]

I'm asking for a favor here as I'm sure there has been a lot of discussion regarding this but quickly, if someone could tell me, how are the build qualities of an epiphone classic tbird? Hit or miss or decent for the most part?

 

[kat888]

I have a Precision. I played it last night and enjoyed it for what it is. It has dead flats on it, so it's a thump machine. Put new rounds on it and it will bark like a Precision can. What keeps me from playing it more is ergonomics. That's why I have to get my thumbs out and finally finish and assemble the P-Bird. Then the bumper might be surplus, except that it's got endless scars I inflicted on it, so I love it and will keep it a long time. But, it's not a Thunderbird, so I just don't play it much.

If there was room for more basses, a Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar might find a spot, but only after an EB-3 ... and another couple of Birds. Most of my favourite players play Bumpers, but (and I know I"m repeating myself) I'm still going to take every opportunity to resist the the iron law of TB that you *must* play one (or a clone thereof).