Thunderbird Club

[Nocturnal]

….new project…sold as Hamer body…should fit my 60s Tbird neck…

View attachment 4864658

Not sure thats a Hamer body, but it definitely looks like a cool Bird body!!! Can you post a pic of the back of the body?

Looks like the imprint of a Hipshot Supertone bridge.

 

[JIO]

Follow-up on the T-bird finger-rest post from a few pages back. [post #227039/page 11352] It arrived with a couple of heavy-duty picks and a couple stickers. It's hard to tell what it's made of - but it is solid. (not hollow like a plastic Fender finger-rest) It has a light-catching striation like a chunk of carbon. I doubt that's what it is but whatever it is, it holds the (presumably CNC laser-cut miniature 'T-bird' icon cut extremely well. Very clean/crisp and accurate details.

It was a bit pricy for what it is (3x's what a hollow Fender rest costs) .., but the quality is top-notch and I give them kudos for coming up with it. Where else are you going to find one?

...and this factored in to why I bought one - happy to support something MIA

maybe it's from the laser-cutting process...

the striations become activated by light - hard to depict in a still photo

Picks appear to be made of the same material - thick and textured (for our playing pleasure...) I took one for a test-run... a warmer, thuddy tone and kinda fun. Will have to try it at the next rehearsal.

 

[dagrev]

Those knobs really look good on that bass, what are they?

Thanks. I like it better than black, which just didn't seem right for some reason. I took them off the white VP and got silver for it (since the only gold is the name on the TRC).

 

[dagrev]

Yup, I've always loved the sound of those. I like semi hollow guitars anyway.

One guy I played with had a 70s or earlier 335 and played through a 70s Fender (Twin Reverb or Princeton) and it sounded so nasty and huge. There was a bad recording of us playing that that still is one of the best guitar sounds I've ever heard. The guy knew what he was doing. Did an album in the late 60s and was a fantastic player and singer.

 

[dagrev]

I totally agree about the bridge. Why they didn't incorporate the same bridge they installed on the Epi NR is a mystery. (or just basic cost-cutting bs)

I don't have an opinion about the finish quality never encountering one in person.

I guess they had hundreds of them laying around. That would be the best possible reason.

Mine has a finish blem on the bottom edge/corner. It'a bout 4" long and can't be seen, but it a little rough (not smooth) if you run your hand along the edge. Other than that it's perfect.

 

[dagrev]

Good overview - I haven't bought a new bass since 2006, so I'll opt out of that end of the conversation. I'm a major advocate of buying used and willing to do some fine-tuning/work on any bass I purchase. So I'm not in the market to buy one, and if interested I listen to those who play/review them for their insights.

Sorry - I'll never be convinced the Gibson/Epi 3-point bridges are anything but a crap design. A standard bent-plate Fender bridge (since 1951) is an infinitely better design both functionally and sonically. The Hipshot Supertone and from what I've heard the Babitz versions are decent replacements. I use the Hipshot Supertone on a bass of mine which addresses the design flaws of the original 3-point and I've seen that Rickenbacker has finally upgraded their poorly designed bridge in the last number of years. For Gibson today to continue to install that 3-point on an attempted RI of a bass that never had that bridge in the first place ...

For me, this will always be the one and only Thunderbird bridge. The originals had some issues, and setting intonation can be a pain, but this is what I prefer to see. There are more functional bridges, but I like this the best. Both of my 3 Point's work just fine. But I'd rather see this.

 

[bobyoung53]

The bass lived it's first 7 years in San Francisco. So, unlikely it was exposed to any excessive heat. I oiled the fret board when I got it about a year ago and it didn't seem to be overly dry.

When did you first notice the fret sprout, recently? I didn't see your first post.

 

[Stealth57]

Follow-up on the T-bird finger-rest post from a few pages back. [post #227039/page 11352] It arrived with a couple of heavy-duty picks and a couple stickers. It's hard to tell what it's made of - but it is solid. (not hollow like a plastic Fender finger-rest) It has a light-catching striation like a chunk of carbon. I doubt that's what it is but whatever it is, it holds the (presumably CNC laser-cut miniature 'T-bird' icon cut extremely well. Very clean/crisp and accurate details.

View attachment 4864788
It was a bit pricy for what it is (3x's what a hollow Fender rest costs) .., but the quality is top-notch and I give them kudos for coming up with it. Where else are you going to find one?
View attachment 4864795
...and this factored in to why I bought one - happy to support something MIA
View attachment 4864805
maybe it's from the laser-cutting process...
View attachment 4864814
the striations become activated by light - hard to depict in a still photo
View attachment 4864818
Picks appear to be made of the same material - thick and textured (for our playing pleasure...) I took one for a test-run... a warmer, thuddy tone and kinda fun. Will have to try it at the next rehearsal.
View attachment 4864810

Thinking about one for my Dano…or is that sacrilegious? Hard to use a lipstick pickup as a thumb anchor.

 

[Stealth57]

When did you first notice the fret sprout, recently? I didn't see your first post.

In the past few months. It was there when I got it but wasn’t very noticeable. Now it’s getting uncomfortable. If it gets worse, it might draw blood.

 

[dagrev]

Just give it to @WillyW for a day. I guarantee you’ll never have fret sprout again!

Ain't that the truth.

 

[bobyoung53]

In the past few months. It was there when I got it but wasn’t very noticeable. Now it’s getting uncomfortable. If it gets worse, it might draw blood.

Has the weather gotten drier lately?

 

[dagrev]

What kind of dumbass changes the strings on a bass?

never had one break

Once rounds turn into flats they last forever.

 

[Stealth57]

Has the weather gotten drier lately?

We don’t have high humidity but not super low either. Typically 30% with 6 months of temps around 75.

 

[JJR58]

Listened to some great music tonight.
Not TBird related.
This is more so for the upright players.
Sorry for the grainy pic.

 

[Nocturnal]

My friend in Kentucky sent me this pic a little bit ago. He picked this up for $300. Pretty sure its an Epi body with a G&L neck.

 

[JIO]

Thinking about one for my Dano…or is that sacrilegious? Hard to use a lipstick pickup as a thumb anchor.

No, not sacrilegious at all - if you'll use it then install it. But you mean you want a finger rest - not that (T-bird) finger rest. Here's two wooden ones (from Japan - fast shipping to CA) for the same price as a hollow plastic Fender rest. (good price) It depends on where you plan to install it. If on the body - this version is what you want -

1 Sets Bass Guitar Pickup Thumb Rest Tug Bar Finger Pull Thumb Buckle Rosewood 813500666924 | eBay

A Dano made Coral Deluxe Bass and Silvertone Hornet have rests mounted on the pg, attached with two screws from under the pg. I removed the G-side rest on my CDB as it was in the way. I rarely use the E-side rest, but left it on because it's not in the way. (I usually play near the bridge)

The Hornet came with only the G-side rest -

 

[Stealth57]

No, not sacrilegious at all - if you'll use it then install it. But you mean you want a finger rest - not that (T-bird) finger rest. Here's two wooden ones (from Japan - fast shipping to CA) for the same price as a hollow plastic Fender rest. (good price) It depends on where you plan to install it. If on the body - this version is what you want -

1 Sets Bass Guitar Pickup Thumb Rest Tug Bar Finger Pull Thumb Buckle Rosewood 813500666924 | eBay

A Dano made Coral Deluxe Bass and Silvertone Hornet have rests mounted on the pg, attached with two screws from under the pg. I removed the G-side rest on my CDB as it was in the way. I rarely use the E-side rest, but left it on because it's not in the way. (I usually play near the bridge)

View attachment 4864888
The Hornet came with only the G-side rest -
View attachment 4864895

Dolphin, so would go on the body. Rosewood would match the saddle but not sure about the look on a black with gold sparkles body.

Also concerned about screws holding on the hollow masonite body.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

let’s do this?…The Sportsman…..loud and perfect for Birds….

 

[JIO]

let’s do this?…The Sportsman…..loud and perfect for Birds….
View attachment 4864897

rock-um!

 

[JIO]

Dolphin, so would go on the body. Rosewood would match the saddle but not sure about the look on a black with gold sparkles body.

Also concerned about screws holding on the hollow masonite body.

It would work visually - but the hollow masonite is somewhat an issue. My take if you decide to do it is drill smaller hoes than the screws, super-glue the holes and quickly screw them down. It's not like you're going to bench-press the rest... It'll stay put.