Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

You suggested I do it. And my OCD got the best of me. I think it looks a lot better. Finishing final tweaks to the setup now. This is a really nice Thunderbird. Thank you George for passing it on to me.

Just happy it went to a good home where it could be appreciated! Rock it in good health!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Yep. Used to travel to Japan frequently and was invited to dinner by the President of Toshiba Semiconductor. He asked me if there was anything I didn’t like. I told him uni. You can guess what he ordered for the appetizer.

Uni RULES….truly the flavor of the bottom of the ocean….I’ve had Fugu in Japan as well…gnarly..

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

They're directional, though? Have to be connected a certain way?
Seems like they should be installed in the direction that allows the casing holes to line up with those on the bracket, so the retaining/grounding bolts can be installed?

yes, polarization is important, PM me the model no.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

the frenchie didn’t work out….. my Mexican wife has a soft spot (imagine my surprise) for Chihuahuas…..

 

[Engle]

So things are getting tough in our mountain community. I left the Friday before it all began. But I should have brought more of my Thunderbirds with me.
'We're not fine and we need help': Pine Mountain Club residents trapped due to snow

Yikes!

 

[Engle]

Before:
View attachment 4988362
After:
View attachment 4988363

Looks better with it IMO. It distracts your eye from the plastic chrome texture of the pickup.

 

[Engle]

I'm not a lead guitarist or guitarist even, I just use it as a tool and probably play it like a bass player. Still, a burning ambition was to play a solo to a new track I'm working on so I didn't have to explain to anyone what I want in spite of them playing great solos. With some double tracking I came up with this. Not perfect but at least to me it has some of that Max Webster vibe I was after. Sorry Kim Mitchell.

Sounds great! I can definitely hear some Max Webster & Rush influences.

 

[Engle]

My friend sent me a surplus Will Power he had and I just dropped it in. The bass originally jad an Artec that was hopelessly too narrow, then a custom made P-90 style pickup underneath the EB metal cover (worked well, sounded more like a Ric neck pickup) and then a Dimarzio Model One. It was alright but the E-string was always a bit of a compromise. Not anymore. There's not a huge difference in spacing but the Will Power works perfectly.
View attachment 4988851

A customary sample with both J's first, then WP added and then WP alone. An added bonus of WP with some Smashbox madness.

They all sound good. All useable depending on the mix they go in.
I was thinking about putting an Artec mudbucker in my J. The spacing is definitely wider than a 60's mudbucker.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

wow time flies!!!

 

[JIO]

I'm not a lead guitarist or guitarist even, I just use it as a tool and probably play it like a bass player. Still, a burning ambition was to play a solo to a new track I'm working on so I didn't have to explain to anyone what I want in spite of them playing great solos. With some double tracking I came up with this. Not perfect but at least to me it has some of that Max Webster vibe I was after. Sorry Kim Mitchell.

Sounds pretty good to me and far better than anything I could attempt to play on a guitar!

 

[JIO]

My friend sent me a surplus Will Power he had and I just dropped it in. The bass originally jad an Artec that was hopelessly too narrow, then a custom made P-90 style pickup underneath the EB metal cover (worked well, sounded more like a Ric neck pickup) and then a Dimarzio Model One. It was alright but the E-string was always a bit of a compromise. Not anymore. There's not a huge difference in spacing but the Will Power works perfectly.
View attachment 4988851

A customary sample with both J's first, then WP added and then WP alone. An added bonus of WP with some Smashbox madness.

Nice slab of alder. Is it a Fender or a clone?

 

[Mvf]

I'm not a lead guitarist or guitarist even, I just use it as a tool and probably play it like a bass player. Still, a burning ambition was to play a solo to a new track I'm working on so I didn't have to explain to anyone what I want in spite of them playing great solos. With some double tracking I came up with this. Not perfect but at least to me it has some of that Max Webster vibe I was after. Sorry Kim Mitchell.

Now this sounds already really good! I'm sure the finnished song will be just fabulous!

 

[bobyoung53]

the frenchie didn’t work out….. my Mexican wife has a soft spot (imagine my surprise) for Chihuahuas…..
View attachment 4988962

Yup, my Peruvian wife has two chihuahuas, Bobby (don't ask ) is really jealous and hates me but it's funny, all she has to do is say my name (I'm Robert to her) and he growls. Mia the female loves me. I have my cat. I'm the enforcer with Bobby, taking off his clothes, bath time etc, so he hates my hands but loves it when I pet him with my feet .

 

[MCF]

Hey gang.
Just some observations while my tuner issues on the NR remain unresolved.
After research it appears that the NR comes with a “licensed” hipshot tuner. Not the USA model.

The design of the off shore model is different. The threads on the USA branded unit are noticeably stronger.
If you look closely at the locking nut on the left( offshore) you can see the tool damage.That wasn't me.
Locking nut on the licensed tuner is 15mm while the USA is 9/16

In the first picture the one on the left is the off shore model.

View attachment 4988805View attachment 4988807
Cheers!

While this information doesn’t diminish the love I have for mine, I’ll admit that I’m disappointed Gibson did that. I thought that kind of thing ended when John Henry left. Thankfully, I have no issues with the tuners on mine so I won’t worry about it. Thanks for letting us know Gator.

 

[MCF]

My friend sent me a surplus Will Power he had and I just dropped it in. The bass originally jad an Artec that was hopelessly too narrow, then a custom made P-90 style pickup underneath the EB metal cover (worked well, sounded more like a Ric neck pickup) and then a Dimarzio Model One. It was alright but the E-string was always a bit of a compromise. Not anymore. There's not a huge difference in spacing but the Will Power works perfectly.
View attachment 4988851

A customary sample with both J's first, then WP added and then WP alone. An added bonus of WP with some Smashbox madness.

Nice.

 

[GBassNorth]

Hey gang.
Just some observations while my tuner issues on the NR remain unresolved.
After research it appears that the NR comes with a “licensed” hipshot tuner. Not the USA model.

The design of the off shore model is different. The threads on the USA branded unit are noticeably stronger.
If you look closely at the locking nut on the left( offshore) you can see the tool damage.That wasn't me.
Locking nut on the licensed tuner is 15mm while the USA is 9/16

In the first picture the one on the left is the off shore model.

View attachment 4988805View attachment 4988807
Cheers!

I’ve been burned by Hipshot licensed products in the past and steer clear of them now, Hipshot USA is the better choice but unfortunately also more expensive.

I’ve never seen a side by side photo of the two products, there are a lot of differences in the designs and even the logo is different. Makes one wonder if the metal quality is different as well. Aluminum threads are always a crap shoot, but there are different grades of aluminum, some much better at holding a thread than others.

 

[BklynKen]

I’ve been burned by Hipshot licensed products in the past and steer clear of them now, Hipshot USA is the better choice but unfortunately also more expensive.

I’ve never seen a side by side photo of the two products, there are a lot of differences in the designs and even the logo is different. Makes one wonder if the metal quality is different as well. Aluminum threads are always a crap shoot, but there are different grades of aluminum, some much better at holding a thread than others.

I wonder if there are also differences in the bridges.

 

[Thumper]

Anyone here want to sell an Epiphone/Gibson or Supertone bridge (black preferred but for a cheap Epiphone, I'll do chrome). Still just looking for the saddles/pins though.

 

[TBird1958]

Anyone here want to sell an Epiphone/Gibson or Supertone bridge (black preferred but for a cheap Epiphone, I'll do chrome). Still just looking for the saddles/pins though.

I might have some parts for you, I'll need to check later today (at work now, rehearsal later) and let you know!

 

[Engle]

I’ve been burned by Hipshot licensed products in the past and steer clear of them now, Hipshot USA is the better choice but unfortunately also more expensive.

I’ve never seen a side by side photo of the two products, there are a lot of differences in the designs and even the logo is different. Makes one wonder if the metal quality is different as well. Aluminum threads are always a crap shoot, but there are different grades of aluminum, some much better at holding a thread than others.

I haven't had any issues with their licensed tuners, but they are not as light as the US versions.