Thunderbird Club

[Mike A]

I LOVED Rickenbackers... Until I bought one.

Same. I love the styling, liked the feel, HATED the way it sat in a mix. (FWIW, I feel the same way about P's.)

 

[Klondike]

And no, the pickguard was clearly not the same bolt pattern or even size as the goth, that plan was foiled. But thanks to you guys it was not a surprise.

@LarryV is your answer. Quick tracing sent off to him and viola' and if you prefer he will leave it undrilled so you can deill you own holes(thats what I did) or he will drill them for you. Crazy easy, unless you live half way around the world. Lol

 

[hillerup]

Please please please tell me that the current (15 serial assume 2015) chinese epiphone Thunderbird IV bolt on vintage sunburst basses have single action truss rods and thus a removable adjustment nut (and if so it does not require cutting wood to get it out).

I may have gotten semi hosed on a bird I got last night (in above description). It is beautiful and I totally bonded with it, but when it was time for the .115 drop c setup I encountered some issues. I'm too tired to go into more detail now other than that the truss rod was not only hard to turn, but it is partially stripped. Luckily the bass already had high action due to a lot of neck relief, which is how I was going to set it anyway, but I was able to coax a bit more, which may have been too much, but when I tried to tighten to split the difference, it was clear if I did not stop there, I would strip the nut. I don't have good tools just hex keys. I think I will have to invest in a 4mm ball end long hex wrench, or a stew Mac gripper (which is better?)

This may be obvious... But bear in mind, that Epiphones uses truss rods with a metric sized nut, so your hex (Allen) keys should be metric as well and not imperial sized or you will strip the nut. Also the the hex/Allen key should be seated all the way into the nut before turning it.

Btw, the truss rod is a 2-way double-action rod as listed on the Epiphone site...

 

[Christine]

More for me.

Just like my haemorrhoids, you're welcome to them!

 

[hillerup]

I bought a set of these a while back. They are actually pretty decent. The only drawback is that they don't quite fit properly when mixing with a set of Schaller ones. I use one strap for the most part so now that strap is assigned to one bass. Other than that I've had zero issues.

So the button don't match with a Schaller strap-lock - Or is it vice-versa?

 

[hillerup]

Just like my haemorrhoids, you're welcome to them!

And there goes the neighborhood...

 

[Dadagoboi]

Btw, the truss rod is a 2-way double-action rod as listed on the Epiphone site...

,,,and they are prone to stripping IME. Ball end allen wrenches are definitely NOT recommended because they contact a smaller surface area than a standard allen.

Best way to adjust a truss rod is to reduce all string pressure, clamp the neck in the direction you want to go and THEN turn the nut.

This should be required viewing for anyone doing his (or her) own setups -which should be anyone who plays bass IMO.



Dan, da MAN!

YMMV

 

[D.M.N.]

My '60 EBO. Bought in '64 for $40 and much modded over the years, first with the pickup off my POS Kent, then a '67 Tele, currently a QP. Refinned clear in '74.

I've become really keen on 8-string basses. I borrowed a friends Hagstrom HB-8 a few years back (the newer model), and absolutely loved it. I've been thinking about picking up an original Hagstrom H8, like Noel Redding used, but it's hard to find a good demo to really suss out what it sounds like. Since it's unlikely I'll ever see the Pinky NR Thunderbird 8 string up for sale again, I'm thinking about going custom build on an 8-string with this body style, like Hamer used. But cosmetically going for this:

With maybe either a flower pot inlay on the headstock, or Flying V custom style, with the binding and diamond inlays. Either have a bass P-90 fabricated or stick a Tele-bass pickup under a P-90 cover. Single pickup, near the Precision spot. Something along the lines of these mockups posted elsewhere on TB:

Although, a Rumblekat-style 8 would be pretty sweet as well...

 

[Mosstone]

Same. I love the styling, liked the feel, HATED the way it sat in a mix. (FWIW, I feel the same way about P's.)

I just like the way they look... I can't even say I like the way they sound anymore. When I owned mine, I could never get it to sound right. No matter what I did, it just wouldn't produce that signature Ric tone that I had in my head. Hell, I couldn't even get it to sound good. The G string was weak, the E was fuzzy and lacked definition and it buzzed like CRAZY. Nothing I did helped. I changed the strings, adjusted the pickups/pole-pieces, EQ... Nothing. I eventually discovered it had a bad bridge pickup (break in the coil from the factory). I had it rewound and did the RWRP mod, but it still sounded pretty much the same, just a little quieter. I just figured I got a lemon, but every time I pick up a Ric in a store (now that you can find them in stores) they all sound just like the one I used to own.

 

[hillerup]

,,,and they are prone to stripping IME. Ball end allen wrenches are definitely NOT recommended because they contact a smaller surface area than a standard allen.

Best way to adjust a truss rod is to reduce all string pressure, clamp the neck in the direction you want to go and THEN turn the nut.

This should be required viewing for anyone doing his (or her) own setups -which should be anyone who plays bass IMO.



Dan, da MAN!

YMMV

Exactly!

And a good instructional video too...

 

[hillerup]

I've become really keen on 8-string basses. I borrowed a friends Hagstrom HB-8 a few years back (the newer model), and absolutely loved it. I've been thinking about picking up an original Hagstrom H8, like Noel Redding used, but it's hard to find a good demo to really suss out what it sounds like. Since it's unlikely I'll ever see the Pinky NR Thunderbird 8 string up for sale again, I'm thinking about going custom build on an 8-string with this body style, like Hamer used. But cosmetically going for this:

With maybe either a flower pot inlay on the headstock, or Flying V custom style, with the binding and diamond inlays. Either have a bass P-90 fabricated or stick a Tele-bass pickup under a P-90 cover. Single pickup, near the Precision spot. Something along the lines of these mockups posted elsewhere on TB:

Although, a Rumblekat-style 8 would be pretty sweet as well...

Love that LP Junior bodystyle...

I'm seriously considering getting one of those flat black Epi Les Paul Special basses and converting it to a long scale 8-string - Should be a fairly easy mod: Change the bridge to a Schaller 3D 8-string, plug the tuner holes and drill 8 new holes and cover headstock with flat black again...

 

[hillerup]

I just like the way they look... I can't even say I like the way they sound anymore. When I owned mine, I could never get it to sound right. No matter what I did, it just wouldn't produce that signature Ric tone that I had in my head. Hell, I couldn't even get it to sound good. The G string was weak, the E was fuzzy and lacked definition and it buzzed like CRAZY. Nothing I did helped. I changed the strings, adjusted the pickups/pole-pieces, EQ... Nothing. I eventually discovered it had a bad bridge pickup (break in the coil from the factory). I had it rewound and did the RWRP mod, but it still sounded pretty much the same, just a little quieter. I just figured I got a lemon, but every time I pick up a Ric in a store (now that you can find them in stores) they all sound just like the one I used to own.

Maybe 4003 sound different... I had a 4001 which had that fantastic clancking Ric sound with Rotosound Swing Bass strings - The one bass I should have never sold...

 

[Mosstone]

Maybe 4003 sound different... I had a 4001 which had that fantastic clancking Ric sound with Rotosound Swing Bass strings - The one bass I should have never sold...

A 4003 does indeed sound different than a 4001. It's just a capacitor, though. Mine had the 'vintage tone' switch to get that 4001 sound. I never used it... It just made the bass sound worse, IMO. Really thin and weak.

 

[kat888]

I've become really keen on 8-string basses. I borrowed a friends Hagstrom HB-8 a few years back (the newer model), and absolutely loved it. I've been thinking about picking up an original Hagstrom H8, like Noel Redding used, but it's hard to find a good demo to really suss out what it sounds like. Since it's unlikely I'll ever see the Pinky NR Thunderbird 8 string up for sale again, I'm thinking about going custom build on an 8-string with this body style, like Hamer used.

You should talk to Carlo.

 

[kat888]

So the button don't match with a Schaller strap-lock - Or is it vice-versa?

Have an inkling the button is a little larger than a genuine Schaller, therefore the lock goes on but won't come off. If you want to use 'Schaller-style', probably best to get a strap or straps with matching locks (the eBay ones come as a set anyway).

 

[hillerup]

Have an inkling the button is a little larger than a genuine Schaller, therefore the lock goes on but won't come off. If you want to use 'Schaller-style', probably best to get a strap or straps with matching locks (the eBay ones come as a set anyway).

Only buying strap buttons as I already have a box full of the Schaller strap locks... I usually get compatible 3rd party buttons, as you can't buy the Schaller buttons without the locks for some strange reason.

 

[Rocker47]

So the button don't match with a Schaller strap-lock - Or is it vice-versa?

Either or don't fit well together. I tried using the lock part of a Schaller that is on my strap and the button of the no name brand. The button is a slightly different shape and was hard to fit into the Schaller lock on the strap. The opposite was true as well. It's just not close enough in shape.

That said, the set that I got on eBay works just fine and I've put them on a bass and a strap that's now just used for that bass alone. Being that they all come from China if I was to get another set they might be different and fit! It's an inexpensive chance to take. I think I paid $4 Canadian.

 

[Haji]

I found that, too. They just don't offer the buttons separately.

I've been looking for even a good photo of my first bass, and have been unable to, much less find one for sale. Mine was an Aria Diamond ON in black. Never seen another. Sold it 25 or so years ago and haven't seen one since. They were, IIRC, about $200 new. I think they came out of the Matsumoku (sp?) factory that the Ibanez Roadstar II, Aria, and Charvel basses did, and I'm sure a lot of others as well. Man, even now those 80's basses had fantastic build quality.

 

[kat888]

Only buying strap buttons as I already have a box full of the Schaller strap locks... I usually get compatible 3rd party buttons, as you can't buy the Schaller buttons without the locks for some strange reason.

Possibly the only thing you can buy here that you can't in Denmark:
Invalid Link Removed

Definitely can't buy the locks individually.

 

[hillerup]

Possibly the only thing you can buy here that you can't in Denmark:
Invalid Link Removed

Definitely can't buy the locks individually.

The problem isn't that big though, as I usually buy from an online shop in the UK that carries all sorts of strap buttons including Schaller compatible ones in black, chrome and gold - But they don't carry those cool blue, red and purple ones...