Thunderbird Club

[awilkie84]

So I'm kinda at a dilemma with my Epi Goth thunderbird. I love how thunderbirds look, and I do indeed love this bass, but I can't stand the way it sounds, and the neck is starting to bug me a little bit.

If Epiphone sized thunderbird pickups were more common, I'd just make it a fenderbird and call it good, but any pickup changes require routing, and I'm really limited on time and money right now...

What would you do? Sell the bass and get something with the tone and feel you're looking for, or modify it to get there?

The EMG TB pickups will fit.

 

[basscow]

Are they short enough to fit flush on the body? Or do they really fit the smaller epi routes? I know lollar makes adapter rings for their own 'bird pickups... The pickups are the only thing throwing me off now!
Neck wise I'll probably go USACG if I can snag a deal on one. I'd love an all-rosewood neck but money wise, that's about twice the price of a maple neck.

Anyways, ranting aside, do those emgs fit without routing? They seem like a pretty good deal if so.

 

[Larry V]

I just checked out your FB, jgould. Congrats on getting out of upstate NY! Lol. J/K. I still love getting back to the capital land every Thanksgiving for dinner with family. Just 30 minutes north of your hometown. Sweet TBirds!

 

[mr pablo]

Thanks, hillerup!!
I wish I had "in progress" pictures of the Whitebird.. I didn't think of taking any until I wanted to "trash" the other one..
And, I guess I just wanted to "dress up" the trash a little bit with the diamonds, though the more I play it, the more they fall off..
I'm not sure how long they'll be there, but they won't cover the entire edge for that long..I suppose that'll make it look even more "trashy!!"

Nice little touch with the hockey tape covering the epi logo

 

[Reservoir Dog]

Thanks Tbird 1958 for the pending # , and I have already been drooling over the modded Epi pro on the previous page . If I get the bass this week and get some strap locks on it I will have the wifey take some gig pics this weekend , which will be interesting in itself because she doesn't know I've bought it yet, and she gets those damn UPS notifications on her phone every frickin time something is delivered.

 

[awilkie84]

Thanks Tbird 1958 for the pending # , and I have already been drooling over the modded Epi pro on the previous page . If I get the bass this week and get some strap locks on it I will have the wifey take some gig pics this weekend , which will be interesting in itself because she doesn't know I've bought it yet, and she gets those damn UPS notifications on her phone every frickin time something is delivered.

Get your own UPS acct?

 

[Reservoir Dog]

I think its tied to our address, I was gonna have it shipped to my work but I ride my harley to work everyday and I knew I would want to play it as soon as it arrived. She knows Im a bass whore anyway .

 

[4bassjohn]

Hey Reservoir Dog, when I bought my T Bird, my wife didn't know about it until she stopped by to see me at work and a friend said,"hey does she know about the new bass yet." Uuhhmm, she does now. Awkward!!!!!

 

[Reservoir Dog]

It would be better if this wasn't the second bass in a month .

 

[4bassjohn]

Hi there TBird1958, might I have a number in this most esteemed club? There's a pic of her bellow. Just installed the hipshot tuners and bridge. Had the ferrule pulling issue that I've hear mentioned here & came up w/ a pretty good solution if anyone is in need.
Thanks
John

 

[jd56hawk]

Are they short enough to fit flush on the body? Or do they really fit the smaller epi routes? I know lollar makes adapter rings for their own 'bird pickups... The pickups are the only thing throwing me off now!
Neck wise I'll probably go USACG if I can snag a deal on one. I'd love an all-rosewood neck but money wise, that's about twice the price of a maple neck.

Anyways, ranting aside, do those emgs fit without routing? They seem like a pretty good deal if so.

Deep Sixx pickups are drop ins. Always some for sale on ebay. They don't sound anything at all like the standard Goth pickups…not sure if they're actually Gibson or Epiphone pickups.
I bought a set for around $50.
What a bargain!

 

[mistergoats]

Are they short enough to fit flush on the body? Or do they really fit the smaller epi routes? I know lollar makes adapter rings for their own 'bird pickups... The pickups are the only thing throwing me off now!
Neck wise I'll probably go USACG if I can snag a deal on one. I'd love an all-rosewood neck but money wise, that's about twice the price of a maple neck.

Anyways, ranting aside, do those emgs fit without routing? They seem like a pretty good deal if so.

Did you check out Invalid Link Removed? I know they have a few all rosewood styles available. I was looking at them for a different project.

 

[wolfkeller]

Deep Sixx pickups are drop ins. Always some for sale on ebay. They don't sound anything at all like the standard Goth pickups…not sure if they're actually Gibson or Epiphone pickups.
I bought a set for around $50.
What a bargain!

I was thinking of grabbing a pair for my tokai, you think they're better than stock epis then?

 

[jgould1124]

I just checked out your FB, jgould. Congrats on getting out of upstate NY! Lol. J/K. I still love getting back to the capital land every Thanksgiving for dinner with family. Just 30 minutes north of your hometown. Sweet TBirds!

Yeah... Los Angeles is a huge difference from my hometown.. Going back in a few days to visit, but don't think I could move back!! Where in Upstate NY were you?? And, thanks for the compliment. I wanted to make each one a little unique!!

And, @mr pablo , you noitced that, huh?? I'll take the tape off as soon as they start endorsing me.. HA!!

 

[Larry V]

Yeah... Los Angeles is a huge difference from my hometown.. Going back in a few days to visit, but don't think I could move back!! Where in Upstate NY were you??

Born and raised in Troy, the home of Uncle Sam! It still feels like home even though it's been over 30 years since the Ford plant shipped my dad and us to Michigan.

 

[mr pablo]

Yeah... Los Angeles is a huge difference from my hometown.. Going back in a few days to visit, but don't think I could move back!! Where in Upstate NY were you?? And, thanks for the compliment. I wanted to make each one a little unique!!

And, @mr pablo , you noitced that, huh?? I'll take the tape off as soon as they start endorsing me.. HA!!

Yep I play hockey so I noticed it a mile off

 

[TBird1958]

@TBird1958 that's exactly how the mirror was done, considering I did it! I'm not sure who was saying something about the white one it is I fact an epi, I worked on it bunches of times before it was white. Just wait until the next thunderbird comes out, but it will be a full custom build by me.

Really cool stuff! Thanks.

 

[jd56hawk]

I was thinking of grabbing a pair for my tokai, you think they're better than stock epis then?

I asked jgould1124 after seeing his Blackbirds post and he said he believes they're hotter and have a better tone. I've listened to a few youtube videos and they sounded different to me, but asking someone who has hands-on experience is better than just hearing a video.
I can't wait to put mine in.

 

[dannoman]

Oh I did the LEDs as well.

How did you do the LED's?

 

[hillerup]

I asked jgould1124 after seeing his Blackbirds post and he said he believes they're hotter and have a better tone. I've listened to a few youtube videos and they sounded different to me, but asking someone who has hands-on experience is better than just hearing a video.
I can't wait to put mine in.

You are so right...

For some weird reason almost all video reviews of Thunderbirds basses on YouTube are always by guys who either plays them finger style or slaps on them. Considering it's a mean growly bass that is so well suited for rock and pick playing, almost none of these YT videos really do it justice...