Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

I think I’m infected with Thunderbird GAS. I ordered a now rare to find Classic Pro for 375€ new. And closed a deal in a Gibson 2008 Thunderbird for 1250€ with case. Am I going crazy??View attachment 5007027View attachment 5007028View attachment 5007029View attachment 5007030View attachment 5007031

Nice scores!

 

[BklynKen]

Sounds like your reply was meant to pair with my Narrarancid comment.

Weird. Either TalkBass screwed up or I did. But yeah.

 

[BklynKen]

Yes you do. I’ve heard anecdotally that some Goths have 1.5 nuts. But they’re pretty rare.

Ahem!

 

[MCF]

My 2018 IV was made in China but my 2014 CP and 2019 VP are Indonesia.

What is the nut width on your IV?

 

[bobyoung53]

Weird. Either TalkBass screwed up or I did. But yeah.

It's happened to me before. I think the comments fly too fast in this thread.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

The chassis looks very similar to a Fisher 400 I have, EL84 power tubes?

yes, probably a straight copy….interestingly the 84’s are built (surely under license) by no other than Tung-Sol and nowhere do you see the (these were originally designed by Philips/Telefunken to compete with the American 6V6) Euro 6BQ5 nomenclature…

 

[Stealth57]

What is the nut width on your IV?

Good question, never measured. But, feels the same as the CP and VP.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Sicily at my uncle’s anyone?…

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I think I’m infected with Thunderbird GAS. I ordered a now rare to find Classic Pro for 375€ new. And closed a deal in a Gibson 2008 Thunderbird for 1250€ with case. Am I going crazy??View attachment 5007027View attachment 5007028View attachment 5007029View attachment 5007030View attachment 5007031

You’ve gone sane. Tbird sane.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Newer ones are narrow like that. I am not sure when the change happened. It was after they moved production from Korea to China.

My 2012 Chinese IV is wider.

 

[Gaolee]

Mine was made in Indonesia. And has a rare dark neck. Do you now anything about this?

I don't.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

yes, probably a straight copy….interestingly the 84’s are built (surely under license) by no other than Tung-Sol and nowhere do you see the (these were originally designed by Philips/Telefunken to compete with the American 6V6) Euro 6BQ5 nomenclature…

US 6BQ5 nomenclature. I was probably close to 40 before I heard of an EL84 and thought it was some kind of alternative to the 6BQ5!

 

[KaraQ]

Newer ones are narrow like that. I am not sure when the change happened. It was after they moved production from Korea to China.

Iirc, 2011/2012 is when the bolt-on Thunderbirds switched from 1.75 to 1.5 string-nut width (production moved to China for '07).

It's just occurred to me......does anyone know if the "dusty end" of the fretboard on those was changed as well? Or is it the same......

 

[PhR75]

Thanks everyone for the TB+ answers. The reason I asked is because there's no markings or numbers whatsoever. Both look pretty identical apart from the tape remnants.

From this side I'd guess the one with string marks is the front pickup.

 

[zoracle451]

Flipping it should not be a problem.
View attachment 4986670

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.

View attachment 4986671

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.

Replaced the nut with a pre-slotted TUSQ XL, it fits very well after a little sanding, although I'm unsure about the height as it turned out to be slightly sloped (not as much as the stock nut but enough that wonder if it'll work). It was a good lesson in nut removal and maintenance regardless although I suspect I'll have to give it to a guitar tech and just get a new nut cut from a blank in the end.

For the saddles, I'm not sure mine are particularly tight or what, but I'm having real trouble getting them out to the point that it's starting to warp the screw heads a little. Did you use anything to help ease them out or did they just come off easily?

 

[JIO]

US 6BQ5 nomenclature. I was probably close to 40 before I heard of an EL84 and thought it was some kind of alternative to the 6BQ5!

We shared a couple bills with a spy-surf band named Agent EL84.

 

[KaraQ]

Thanks everyone for the TB+ answers. The reason I asked is because there's no markings or numbers whatsoever. Both look pretty identical apart from the tape remnants.
View attachment 5007164

From this side I'd guess the one with string marks is the front pickup.
View attachment 5007165

You're probably right about the string marks

Almost looks like somebody painted over the backside of them.....


Does one have longer wiring than the other?
Might be obvious, but if so, that'll likely be the neck p/u.

 

[PhR75]

You're probably right about the string marks

Almost looks like somebody painted over the backside of them.....


Does one have longer wiring than the other?
Might be obvious, but if so, that'll likely be the neck p/u.

The string mark one has a bit longer wire. Good point!

I might be able to measure them this evening so we will see if we we're right. With my luck they'll both have the exact same readings...
Which isn't a big problem at all, mind you.

 

[GonePlaid]

My band comes over and it's "you bought ANOTHER bass?"

"And?"

 

[Stealth57]

Surprise lunch today. I know there are a few of you wanting a bite.