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Thunderbird Club

#227,382
Miles_ONeal said:
True, but... Depending on how you like your bridge angled, that radius may not fit as well as you like.

But intonation is more what I was referring to.
Click to expand...

Intonation? Didn't expect that was the problem :unsure:

I don't remember having that problem, except with heavier gauge strings? (like, .125+)

Maybe I've just been lucky with string selection?

JIO said:
That is one of a few things I like about the Schaller 3D bridge - the cast base-plate is slightly curved to follow a standard fb radius. It has grooves that the height adjustment screws ride - so no side-to-side slipping. It has 5 grounding screws - two are under the saddles - not 'drop-in' for Fender bridge screw spacing (other than the center one) but once installed - who would ever know. (or care) And it is sorta 'high-mass' without getting carried away with the dubious concept. The roller-saddles can position the strings exactly over the pu poles, and a 1/8" spacer plate is available to raise the whole bridge if needed. The spacer has aligning tabs so they can be stacked (more than one) if required. A very well thought out/designed bridge.

View attachment 4865592
Click to expand...

I like the 3D series as well, I have one on an old Ibanez 5-string, huge improvement over stock!

20220421_005439.jpg








:)
 
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#227,384
lawgrass said:
Would love to join the club. Just purchased my first Thunderbird. A Gibson 120th Anniversary model in natural. Has been upgraded with a Hipshot Supertone bridge, Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Hawkbuckers, and La Bella Black Tapewounds. Really enjoying it.

View attachment 4865750

View attachment 4865752
Click to expand...
Congrats! La Bella tapes sound great on modern Thunderbirds. Would love to hear those SD pickups. No doubt an improvement.
 
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#227,386
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#227,387
bassclef112 said:
Across 50+ years of playing/installing pretty much everything around I have at least 6 basses/deliberate builds with the Schaller 3D bridge, including my #1, and I find it to be my favorite (along with the threaded saddle bent plate). Well done on every level and those stackable base plates can always make it work.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on both counts. Case in point - my '66 P has the threaded saddle bent-plate bridge that was installed on P's and J's from 1960-68. It adjusts/intones well, securely anchors the strings, and sounds 100% like a vintage P-bass. Why would anyone "need" to "upgrade" that to a high-mass bridge? Short answer would have nothing to do with reality, but hey... not against people making money making different versions of essentially the same design.
 
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#227,388
Last edited:
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#227,389
JIO said:
That is one of a few things I like about the Schaller 3D bridge - the cast base-plate is slightly curved to follow a standard fb radius. It has grooves that the height adjustment screws ride - so no side-to-side slipping. It has 5 grounding screws - two are under the saddles - not 'drop-in' for Fender bridge screw spacing (other than the center one) but once installed - who would ever know. (or care) And it is sorta 'high-mass' without getting carried away with the dubious concept. The roller-saddles can position the strings exactly over the pu poles, and a 1/8" spacer plate is available to raise the whole bridge if needed. The spacer has aligning tabs so they can be stacked (more than one) if required. A very well thought out/designed bridge.

View attachment 4865592
Click to expand...

The Schaller bridge has been one of my go to’s since the early ‘90’s. I bought a ‘70 Jazz Bass back in ‘92-‘93, and just couldn’t get the action down to something reasonable, I went looking for a low profile bridge and saw that Schaller. Magic!

Now, anytime I have an old Fender that just doesn’t want to get low enough (which is often), the Schaller is it.
 
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#227,393
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#227,394
lawgrass said:
Would love to join the club. Just purchased my first Thunderbird. A Gibson 120th Anniversary model in natural. Has been upgraded with a Hipshot Supertone bridge, Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Hawkbuckers, and La Bella Black Tapewounds. Really enjoying it.

View attachment 4865750

View attachment 4865752
Click to expand...
Welcome to the club! Sweet looking bass with killer pickups!
I’m sure the Queen will be by shortly to give you a club number.

lawgrass said:
Here are some close-ups of the pickups:

View attachment 4865763

View attachment 4865764
Click to expand...
From the pics it looks like you could install standard Tbird metal pickup covers and trim rings to give the bass a vintage look and still have those awesome Hawkbuckers.
 
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