Thunderbird Club

[TBird1958]

Quick question to ya'll: From my research it seems Hipshot HB6 are a drop in ultralite tuner replacement. Can I use the 1/2 size or does it have to be 3/8? It seems Y style keys would fit, not sure if the Clover style will touch each other.

I'm pretty sure you need 3/8. They have a mini-clover that works. The regular size clovers interfere with each other on post-1988 Gibson Thunderbirds. As I recall, Veronica has the full size clovers on one of her basses, and they aren't much of a problem even though they overlap a little.

For what it's worth, I replaced the stock tuners on the Flamingo, which is a 1991 Thunderbird. I used HB6 Ultralites, and as I recall, I thought I ordered 3/8. I must not have, because I ended up drilling the headstock to make them fit. It wasn't a big deal, though. Once you start drilling holes, you lose any concerns about drilling holes. I drilled for covers and pickup rings as well. The only thing the Flamingo still needs is a Hipshot x-tender on the E string. I keep not getting around to dealing with that.

Do what Will says.....

How they should look.

I did mine long before Hipshot made the better, slightly smaller ones, they do overlap a little, but it's never been a problem.

 

[JJR58]

Yeah that's right. Oops. I freakin' knew that...

And you'd think I would as well.

 

[Gibson Victory]

Well… My Blackbird arrived today. Very Cool,Very Nice. 9.1 pounds on a digital scale. This is a featherweight compared to my Victory’s and RD’s. Have not had a whole lot of time to play it yet, but I think I’m good here. Did I get it right for a first try ?

 

[TBird1958]

View attachment 4783327 Well… My Blackbird arrived today. Very Cool,Very Nice. 9.1 pounds on a digital scale. This is a featherweight compared to my Victory’s and RD’s. Have not had a whole lot of time to play it yet, but I think I’m good here. Did I get it right for a first try ?View attachment 4783323View attachment 4783324 View attachment 4783325

Yes, yes you did!
Let me know if you'd like a number, happy to add you.

 

[BklynKen]

View attachment 4783327 Well… My Blackbird arrived today. Very Cool,Very Nice. 9.1 pounds on a digital scale. This is a featherweight compared to my Victory’s and RD’s. Have not had a whole lot of time to play it yet, but I think I’m good here. Did I get it right for a first try ?View attachment 4783323View attachment 4783324 View attachment 4783325

Congratulations! That looks fantastic. Play it like you stole it, as I always say.

 

[Gibson Victory]

I have something coming in from Japan soon. Decided to go to the other end of the color spectrum. Will get pictures up ASAP. Then I will beat on the clubhouse door and ask to come in, lol. Didn’t get a hard case with this next one, so I ordered one online to make things complete. Should be ok. Hey it’s only money right ?

 

[BklynKen]

I have something coming in from Japan soon. Decided to go to the other end of the color spectrum. Will get pictures up ASAP. Then I will beat on the clubhouse door and ask to come in, lol. Didn’t get a hard case with this next one, so I ordered one online to make things complete. Should be ok. Hey it’s only money right ?

Yup. Can't take it with you.

 

[KaraQ]

Now I know why we have neck dive. An infestation of wheel ants looking for a new home.

View attachment 4783319

Wheel ants?!
Don't think I've ever heard of those before.....

I've seen ants on wheels, of course - but only on cars that have been sitting outside for long periods, usually in unkempt grass/weeds....

 

[Nocturnal]

View attachment 4783327 Well… My Blackbird arrived today. Very Cool,Very Nice. 9.1 pounds on a digital scale. This is a featherweight compared to my Victory’s and RD’s. Have not had a whole lot of time to play it yet, but I think I’m good here. Did I get it right for a first try ?View attachment 4783323View attachment 4783324 View attachment 4783325

Nice score!! Hope you enjoy it!!

 

[JIO]

Now I know why we have neck dive. An infestation of wheel ants looking for a new home.

View attachment 4783319

...wheel ants... o...k...

 

[Stealth57]

...wheel ants... o...k...

Don’t forget Listerine cures colds.

 

[dagrev]

No, I'm right here. Bwah ha ha ha!

See what I mean. That's unnerving.

Eye Bleach please, and while you're at it, throw in a side of Bleach byte for good measure. Heard that stuff is pretty good at getting ride of all manner of things unpleasant

 

[JIO]

Don’t forget Listerine cures colds.

But a spoonful of sugar does end a bout of hick-ups.

 

[dagrev]

I'm having a ton of fun with the lalal.ai webiste, it's so fun!

It's nice to get to bass that is often buried. Example, Greg Walker of Blackfoot is a great player (also played with Skynyrd some), but you often could barely hear the bass. So I loaded this song and got to really hear what he was playing. Holy cow! The guy is the Geddy Lee from the South! Greg is to the far right.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

It's nice to get to bass that is often buried. Example, Greg Walker of Blackfoot is a great player (also played with Skynyrd some), but you often could barely hear the bass. So I loaded this song and got to really hear what he was playing. Holy cow! The guy is the Geddy Lee from the South! Greg is to the far right.

always dug his playing……even looks a little like Geddy…

 

[PillO]

But a spoonful of sugar does end a bout of hick-ups.

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

 

[dagrev]

...I really hadn’t considered one because I assumed they were voiced the same as a VP, which I already have. Are they noticeably different sounding than a VP?

Yes. Closer to modern Gibson than VP. Not nearly as aggressive or mid punchy in a live setting. I love the NR, but the VPs sounds better/closer to the '64. This is after hearing the gold standard for decades. Everything pales in comparison.

 

[dagrev]

@Count Bassie has a 2013 CP
with that spacing, only year it was done that way on a CP.

Maybe one day I can run across one...reasonably, and find out. I'd like that.

 

[dagrev]

Exactly. I had a '66 beetle with a rusted out floor. The floor is the frame. I never knew exactly where it was going to go and the sides would flex visibly according to friends who saw me drive it. The battery fell through the floor and fried the electrical system, so it was strictly a push-start car. It didn't have seat belts, not that they would have done much in that car anyway. It's a miracle any of us survived to full adulthood.

Not uncommon with those. My cousin had to replace the floor in his '64. I think the '68 was OK.

 

[dagrev]

Because the cars (all cars, not just VWs) were not as safe, drivers were more careful. Recent data show that since all of the safety innovations, the number of accidents per mile driven have increased, although deaths per mile driven have decreased.

Where doood you come up wwith thhis nonsenseee? Sory for spellin, I'm replyingg while ddrvving. I jjust cant be alonee in mmy caar for a feww minuts. Two scarry and Imight miss somthing.