Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

Are you going to use a spot of epoxy to hold the new bridge posts in?

I guess it couldn't hurt. Unless someone around here knows why it might not be a good idea.

Ha! I wish I could see him applying the epoxy to the bushing in the video, but yes, I get the idea. He shows how much is on the second one. Nothing too extreme for sure.

You might want to pop in the Luthier discussion forum to see if anyone has a reason not to use epoxy on the inserts.

I'm not a luthier but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night. I do lot of my own work (right or wrong) and I'd probably pass on the epoxy plan. Instead I'd use a bit of wood glue and a couple of toothpicks in the hole. Once that set up I'd tap the inserts into place using the original design intent of a force fit to secure the inserts vs epoxy.

Some epoxy concerns that come to mind - it's very permanent and could likely destroy the surrounding wood if anyone in the future tried to remove the insert; if not careful you might get some epoxy on the threads needed for the bridge bolt; if not allowed to set long enough and if the epoxy were to come in contact with the bridge bolt it could permanently set the height of that bolt and therefore the bridge; if sloppy you might get some epoxy on the finish of the bass which could muck up the looks.

Disclaimer - none of those concerns may be valid, a real luthier should weigh in on it.

 

[Butcherboy]

Cro-Magnon or not....yesterday at "Hirsch", Nuremberg (www.lichtinseln.de), 66NR Tbird, original bridge changend to BaCH, no three point bridge issues there....

 

[GBassNorth]

Cro-Magnon or not....yesterday at "Hirsch", Nuremberg (www.lichtinseln.de), 66NR Tbird, original bridge changend to BaCH, no three point bridge issues there....

View attachment 1017882

That photo as seen through the eyes of a rabid Fender fan boy...
And there it is for all to see - proof positive that TBirds neck dive to the floor vs the hollow body Fender that doesn't! Heck that Bird neck is darn near pulling the player to the floor too, he's clearly reaching in desperation with his right hand for something to grab on to before he and the bass do a face plant. And of course, as soon as that bass touches the ground the headstock is gonna snap right off like a toothpick. But that's no loss, Tbirds all sound like mud anyway.

That photo as seen through the eyes of a normal audience member...
Damn rockin good concert! The bass player was killin it. Man that thing sounded good!

That photo as seen through the eyes of a TBird player...
Sweet bridge, gotta get me one of those. Love the unique shape of the NR vs the more popular Reverse Bird. Damn, that Gibby is in great shape for a '66. Oh look in the background, somebody let their kid up on stage with a toy Fender guitar, how cute.

 

[Gaolee]

Colour difference in the metal you numpty! But you knew that... Thinking about an EB3 bridge here, although I'm happy to give the 3-point a chance. A higher mass bridge and ultra light tuners would help the balance as well.

I put Hipshot Ultralights and a Babicz on the '91 As part of making it all shiny. Any difference in shiny stuff is minimal. Perhaps more minimal than the difference between black paint and black plastic. If you go with chromed Y tuners, those look a lot shinier than anything else, at least to me. I don't like them.

Grass stains on knuckles!

 

[kat888]

I put Hipshot Ultralights and a Babicz on the '91 As part of making it all shiny. Any difference in shiny stuff is minimal. Perhaps more minimal than the difference between black paint and black plastic. If you go with chromed Y tuners, those look a lot shinier than anything else, at least to me. I don't like them.

Grass stains on knuckles!

Epi PRO came with Ys and they look right. Other Birds have different tuners. EB-3s have clovers. Horses for courses and all that.

 

[TBird1958]

Cro-Magnon or not....yesterday at "Hirsch", Nuremberg (www.lichtinseln.de), 66NR Tbird, original bridge changend to BaCH, no three point bridge issues there....

View attachment 1017882

Obviously not a TBer!

 

[Stevis]

Colour difference in the metal you numpty! But you knew that... Thinking about an EB3 bridge here, although I'm happy to give the 3-point a chance. A higher mass bridge and ultra light tuners would help the balance as well.

Cross-cultural Vocabulary Building: "Numpty"
Taken From Urban Dictionary
Scottish usage:
a) Someone who (sometimes unwittingly) by speech or action demonstrates a lack of knowledge or misconception of a particular subject or situation to the amusement of others.

b) A good humoured admonition, a term of endearment

c) A reckless, absent minded or unwise person

 

[Bent77]

Cross-cultural Vocabulary Building: "Numpty"
Taken From Urban Dictionary
Scottish usage:
a) Someone who (sometimes unwittingly) by speech or action demonstrates a lack of knowledge or misconception of a particular subject or situation to the amusement of others.

b) A good humoured admonition, a term of endearment

c) A reckless, absent minded or unwise person

So what Red Foreman would call a dumbass?

 

[Stevis]

Cross-cultural Vocabulary Building: "Numpty"
Taken From Urban Dictionary
Scottish usage:
a) Someone who (sometimes unwittingly) by speech or action demonstrates a lack of knowledge or misconception of a particular subject or situation to the amusement of others.

b) A good humoured admonition, a term of endearment

c) A reckless, absent minded or unwise person

So what Red Foreman would call a dumbass?

Cross-Cultural Pop Culture Lesson: "Red Foreman"
Reginald Albert "Red" Forman (born December 7, 1927) is a fictional character on FOX comedy That '70s Show. Red Forman is played by veteran film actor Kurtwood Smith, and as a young man by Corey Landis. ... He degrades his son by calling him a "dumb-ass".

 

[TBird1958]

Cross-Cultural Pop Culture Lesson: "Red Foreman"
Reginald Albert "Red" Forman (born December 7, 1927) is a fictional character on FOX comedy That '70s Show. Red Forman is played by veteran film actor Kurtwood Smith, and as a young man by Corey Landis. ... He degrades his son by calling him a "dumb-ass".

Have to say I really enjoyed "That '70s show" I graduated HS in '76, a lot of content was spot on for me - I recently watched it all in sequence on Netflix, I didn't realize the episodes in later season were named after Led Zep and Who songs. As I recall Red offered to put his foot up his son Eric's ass quite a few times. Kurtwood Smith was perfect for the part!

 

[Butcherboy]

Obviously not a TBer!

I admit to be a former guitar player, playing bass since 25 years now .....so what?
Picture 15 years ago, performing "Venus in Furs" with one of my 91 TB`s and Tatjana Maté on Violin

 

[Larry V]

Has anyone used a chrome replacement 3-point (Babicz/Hipshot) on a bass with all nickel hardware? Is the colour difference noticeable?

I would love to do an all nickel finish bass but the effort and cost are prohibitive. so I went the other way, all chrome since the thought of mixing chrome and nickel is very unappealing to me. When I see it done, it's very obvious and triggers my OCD.

 

[TBird1958]

Cro-Magnon or not....yesterday at "Hirsch", Nuremberg (www.lichtinseln.de), 66NR Tbird, original bridge changend to BaCH, no three point bridge issues there....

View attachment 1017882

I admit to be a former guitar player, playing bass since 25 years now .....so what?
Picture 15 years ago, performing "Venus in Furs" with one of my 91 TB`s and Tatjana Maté on Violin
View attachment 1018006

The bassist in both of the pics are defying conventional TB wisdom..............

That you must play a 7ender P bass with flats and a tort PG. Then be sure to stand in the shadows off to one side of the drummer and claim to be "holding down the groove" or some other such crap. Top it off by wearing cargo shorts and flip flops, then complain on TB that nobody notices you or your playing and plan a ragequit from your band.

 

[Bent77]

The bassist in both of the pics are defying conventional TB wisdom..............

That you must play a 7ender P bass with flats and a tort PG. Then be sure to stand in the shadows off to one side of the drummer and claim to be "holding down the groove" or some other such crap. Top it off by wearing cargo shorts and flip flops, then complain on TB that nobody notices you or your playing and plan a ragequit from your band.

Tort sucks

 

[GBassNorth]

The bassist in both of the pics are defying conventional TB wisdom..............

That you must play a 7ender P bass with flats and a tort PG. Then be sure to stand in the shadows off to one side of the drummer and claim to be "holding down the groove" or some other such crap. Top it off by wearing cargo shorts and flip flops, then complain on TB that nobody notices you or your playing and plan a ragequit from your band.

You left out the part about buying a Squier bass to save money and then putting a Fender sticker on the headstock so nobody would know.

 

[tastelikedirt]

mixing chrome and nickel is very unappealing to me.

Really? Do you think nickle tuners and a chrome bridge is noticeable to the average person? I'm asking 'cuz I was thinking about nickel tuners, but have the chrome bridge and pick up covers.

 

[Larry V]

mixing chrome and nickel is very unappealing to me.

Really? Do you think nickle tuners and a chrome bridge is noticeable to the average person? I'm asking 'cuz I was thinking about nickel tuners, but have the chrome bridge and pick up covers.

I really can't speak to what the average person may or may not notice. If it were me I'd opt for the chrome tuners and call it done.

 

[Count Bassie]

The bassist in both of the pics are defying conventional TB wisdom..............

That you must play a 7ender P bass with flats and a tort PG. Then be sure to stand in the shadows off to one side of the drummer and claim to be "holding down the groove" or some other such crap. Top it off by wearing cargo shorts and flip flops, then complain on TB that nobody notices you or your playing and plan a ragequit from your band.

Cargo shorts... lol.

 

[Count Bassie]

What's wrong with a ponytail?

wh-- nothing! Ha ha... (rolls eyes)

You know that reference to the "Sensitive New Age Guy"... he's in his 50s and has a ponytail. I had a ponytail when I lived in Miami. Sometimes. Now I wear hats.

 

[Count Bassie]

You might want to pop in the Luthier discussion forum to see if anyone has a reason not to use epoxy on the inserts.

I'm not a luthier but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night. I do lot of my own work (right or wrong) and I'd probably pass on the epoxy plan. Instead I'd use a bit of wood glue and a couple of toothpicks in the hole. Once that set up I'd tap the inserts into place using the original design intent of a force fit to secure the inserts vs epoxy.

Some epoxy concerns that come to mind - it's very permanent and could likely destroy the surrounding wood if anyone in the future tried to remove the insert; if not careful you might get some epoxy on the threads needed for the bridge bolt; if not allowed to set long enough and if the epoxy were to come in contact with the bridge bolt it could permanently set the height of that bolt and therefore the bridge; if sloppy you might get some epoxy on the finish of the bass which could muck up the looks.

Disclaimer - none of those concerns may be valid, a real luthier should weigh in on it.

I'd offer that if you're using epoxy in such a context you want to be spare about it. Just enough to make a bond, don't need to fill anything per se, you're not trying to build up or do a major repair. It's just an enhancement to a good existing mating of parts.