Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

They would need to make sure long enough E strings are available. It’s a long way from the bridge to the top tuner post.

Yes, very good point and catch!

 

[dagrev]

Just because

Really? Just had to I suppose..... I still hear that from the zillion times in was played years ago. Almost had it out of my head.

May all your grand children be born naked.

 

[dagrev]

Looking at Epi VP pickups, chinabuckers, Thunderbuckers, and Lollars.

Lulls? Can they even be bought apart from a bass? Seems those might be the next best option to the 1960s version, from the praise they get.

 

[Stealth57]

Lulls? Can they even be bought apart from a bass? Seems those might be the next best option to the 1960s version, from the praise they get.

The direct response from Spencer was a polite, “you want what .” V indicated that SD may be a good choice for 60s copies.

 

[BklynKen]

Great questions. We do have a lefty club member that IIRC did flip a bird from right to left (@BklynKen), but I suspect it had the three point bridge not the tune-o-matic. IIRC the stock VP bridge has captive saddles, so you won’t be able to take them off to reverse the order. However, the bridge is symmetrical, so I would think you could remove the two body bolts flip the bridge 180 degrees and replace the body bolts. Of course your saddles will be facing backwards for a pretty sharp break angle but it might work out ok.

Mine's a 2013 NR, so standard 3-point. I put a Hipshot on it.

 

[BklynKen]

They would need to make sure long enough E strings are available. It’s a long way from the bridge to the top tuner post.

Excellent point. Ken Smiths have a longer winding length than most strings I've tried. That could work. Not sure if extra long scale strings would be too long.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Sorry, I had a brain freeze. 12AT7s are what ship in the TT800. 12AU7s are an alternative, giving different results depending on which of the 3 stages they’re installed in. Mesa does not recommend the 12AX7s for that amp. Didn’t want to mislead anybody. Or have Chucky tell me I’m wrong.
Preamp Tube - 12AT7

would never do that….wdyt? I’m @Stealth57 ?

 

[Engle]

Hi all, I'm considering getting a Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro, tried it out in one of the stores here and immediately fell in love with the sound.

I'm a left-handed player and it's a right-handed bass, so I'll need to flip it. The strap button, lead socket and controls shouldn't need any modification so presumably it's just the nut and bridge that need flipping. I have a luthier here who should be able to do it for me, but I just want to make sure it's doable on that model before I buy.

Has anyone flipped a similar model before? Did you have any issues doing so? I read something online that there could be an issue changing the tune-o-matic bridge around but I don't know enough about it, did you run into any issues like that?

Welcome! @BklynKen has flipped a Non Reverse (I think....it's confusing), but I can't recall anyone flipping a VP. I'll take a look at mine.

 

[Stealth57]

would never do that….wdyt? I’m @Stealth57 ?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

were just talking about this car the other day….saw it in Spain in 87(?)…
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[BklynKen]

Welcome! @BklynKen has flipped a Non Reverse (I think....it's confusing), but I can't recall anyone flipping a VP. I'll take a look at mine.

Yes, I reversed a Non-Reverse. I never considered flipping a Reverse body because I just don't like how that looks. I only did the NR because I think they look cooler upside down.

Other than the bridge, if I wanted a left-handed VP, I'd probably just get a proper left-handed Gibson and change out the pickups. A lot more expensive than an Epiphone VP, of course.

 

[GonePlaid]

Just because

Perfect song for the "Habits".

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Perfect song for the "Habits".

prolly gonna open a can of worms here but that righty J played lefty looks HIDEOUS.....or is it the outfits?....the tune is salvageable with a totally different arrangement imho....

 

[GonePlaid]

prolly gonna open a can of worms here but that righty J played lefty looks HIDEOUS.....or is it the outfits?....the tune is salvageable with a totally different arrangement imho....

Yes. On all 3.

 

[KaraQ]

were just talking about this car the other day….saw it in Spain in 87(?)…
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

That......is awesome .

It's like, almost the perfect car! It just needs better paint colors........

 

[stlrocker]

Hi all, I'm considering getting a Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro, tried it out in one of the stores here and immediately fell in love with the sound.

I'm a left-handed player and it's a right-handed bass, so I'll need to flip it. The strap button, lead socket and controls shouldn't need any modification so presumably it's just the nut and bridge that need flipping. I have a luthier here who should be able to do it for me, but I just want to make sure it's doable on that model before I buy.

Has anyone flipped a similar model before? Did you have any issues doing so? I read something online that there could be an issue changing the tune-o-matic bridge around but I don't know enough about it, did you run into any issues like that?

Flipping it should not be a problem.

The bridge saddles do come out. The captive nut at the top of the bridge has an interference thread so it does not come off when you turn the screw to set intonation, but if you hold the nut with a wrench and back the screw out it will come off. Then you can swap saddle position around.

For the nut, I would have a new one cut for left hand. Simply turning the stock one around would not be shaped right. it is square towards the fretboard and rounded towards the tuners. Fortunately, cutting a new nut is not too hard or expensive.

String length won't be a problem. Any set of strings that fits a VP will fit it flipped. All 4 strings start at the same length out of the package. So if a set has a G string that fits the long side of the headstock, then the E will also.

 

[Thumper]

The project Thunderbird IV body came with the original bridge, but no saddles. Our good friend JJR58 graciously sent me 4 saddles for the Goth I previously bought, I used 1 & 2 saddles, still have #3 & 4. Does anyone have 1 & 2 they don't need?

 

[dagrev]

prolly gonna open a can of worms here but that righty J played lefty looks HIDEOUS.....or is it the outfits?....the tune is salvageable with a totally different arrangement imho....

Yep on the first two...

 

[dagrev]

That......is awesome .

It's like, almost the perfect car! It just needs better paint colors........

Yes.

 

[GonePlaid]

That......is awesome .

It's like, almost the perfect car! It just needs better paint colors........

Red?