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Thunderbird Club

#247,423
JJR58 said:
Next to Geo and Marshall.
I bet I could make it right.

Short of what George said about replacing the barrels.
Or new bridge altogether.

That should not be happening, what you’re experiencing there.
Click to expand...
I know several here have good setup knowledge. I would probably be inclined to either replace all the screws and saddles or start with a new new bridge. And go from there.
 
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#247,425
Really. Really Really really really. REEEEEALLLLLYYYY. 9 Guitars , 5 basses , 4 amps. I think I'm done. Collection complete. This sweet MIJ Aerodyne Special Stratocaster is icing on the cake. Really. Although owning an Alembic would sure be nice hehehe. Really.
GuitarPhotos_365827081.jpg
GuitarPhotos_365827087.jpg
 

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#247,426
GBassNorth said:
Strong pickup magnets too close to the strings will absolutely pull the strings out of intonation and create a warbling or chorus type effect on notes played with that string. That said, I doubt the magnetic pull would have any affect the screw settings on your bridge.

The grub screws on Fender bridges are notorious for self adjusting under tension with vibration. In almost all cases it’s because of a poor fit of the grub screw in the barrel. The poor fit could be because somebody somewhere along the line lost a stock grub screw and replaced it with one that didn’t match the size or thread count of the original, or the poor fit can be just plain wear and tear on the threads in the barrel or on the grub screw itself. An easy fix is to buy a new set of barrels and screws (about $25 on eBay). Crazy glue, locktite, clear fingernail polish and paper are potential fixes as well but I wouldn’t recommend them because they can create as many problems as they solve.

I just bought a brand new set of the threaded barrels (barrels, grub screws, intonation screws and springs) for one of my Fenders, but they don’t fit the bridge I have. You’re welcome to them. If they fit your bridge it’ll solve your problem. Just need to know your barrel diameter and length and the centerline to centerline distance of your existing grub screws (or just wait until I come up in August and we’ll see if they’re a match).

Super easy fix to a very common downfall in the Fender bent plate bridge design.


LOL - At one point in time, many moons ago, the controlled substances in my brain were completely out of control.
Click to expand...
Excellent advice about just replacing the barrels, etc. But...what if tone is in the barrels? Or dare I suggest grub screws?
 
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#247,428
RedVee said:
When daughter no 1 was doing her Psychology degree she did the colour blind test on me. Then she and all the kids and my wife proceeded to roll around the floor in hysterics….

No one asks me for colour advice.
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She didn't give you any more tests that you failed did she? :laugh:
I'm afraid to take any for fear it wold ruin my firmly held belief I'm sane and may, in fact, be the only one who is!:D

It's my delusion and I can live it anyway I want.
 
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#247,429
BklynKen said:
So far I like them a lot. I can't say they're significantly less bright than the Super Brights, but definitely tighter and seem to have more authority in the tone. I found the MM Super Brights a little too floppy on the BC Rich. The regular SS strings feel about the same tension on the BC Rich as the Power Steels do on the Thunderbird. Funny how the same strings can feel tighter on one bass than another. I'm gonna live with these for a while. I have a set of D'Addario ProSteels coming. I hated them on the Thunderbird, but curious how they'll compliment the BC Rich. Then maybe I'll revisit the SITs.
Click to expand...
Darn, I have a lightly used set (I was told), that came on the NR I would have gladly sent you, Ken. I tried them again on the NR recently and they were still uninteresting for my tastes. The guy gigged it or used it a time or two and hated the Gibson strings and put the D'As on it. I've yet to like any of their strings. I would like to given they are pretty inexpensive with all the sales on them.
 
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#247,430
Hondapunk said:
Really. Really Really really really. REEEEEALLLLLYYYY. 9 Guitars , 5 basses , 4 amps. I think I'm done. Collection complete. This sweet MIJ Aerodyne Special Stratocaster is icing on the cake. Really. Although owning an Alembic would sure be nice hehehe. Really.View attachment 5068366View attachment 5068368
Click to expand...
Looks great!

But owning another Thunderbird would be nicer! Preferably one from the '60s.:laugh:
 
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#247,435
dagrev said:
On either G&L I don't have the pickups that close to the strings, if someone were to get them close by the time your fret, I'm sure it can happen if there is too much play in the saddle screw. I've not had what you experienced, but could see it happening with the right circumstance. I wouldn't use super glue, but something like gasket sealer or even a touch of some kinds of chalk. Just enough to keep the screw from being loose enough from turning. Might even get some thin paper to put in the hole then but the screw back in. I would use super glue as last resort I think.
Click to expand...
LokTite. The kind that isn’t permanent.
 
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#247,437
GBassNorth said:
Strong pickup magnets too close to the strings will absolutely pull the strings out of intonation and create a warbling or chorus type effect on notes played with that string. That said, I doubt the magnetic pull would have any affect the screw settings on your bridge.

The grub screws on Fender bridges are notorious for self adjusting under tension with vibration. In almost all cases it’s because of a poor fit of the grub screw in the barrel. The poor fit could be because somebody somewhere along the line lost a stock grub screw and replaced it with one that didn’t match the size or thread count of the original, or the poor fit can be just plain wear and tear on the threads in the barrel or on the grub screw itself. An easy fix is to buy a new set of barrels and screws (about $25 on eBay). Crazy glue, locktite, clear fingernail polish and paper are potential fixes as well but I wouldn’t recommend them because they can create as many problems as they solve.

I just bought a brand new set of the threaded barrels (barrels, grub screws, intonation screws and springs) for one of my Fenders, but they don’t fit the bridge I have. You’re welcome to them. If they fit your bridge it’ll solve your problem. Just need to know your barrel diameter and length and the centerline to centerline distance of your existing grub screws (or just wait until I come up in August and we’ll see if they’re a match).

Super easy fix to a very common downfall in the Fender bent plate bridge design.


LOL - At one point in time, many moons ago, the controlled substances in my brain were completely out of control.
Click to expand...
Been there.
 
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#247,438
BklynKen said:
So far I like them a lot. I can't say they're significantly less bright than the Super Brights, but definitely tighter and seem to have more authority in the tone. I found the MM Super Brights a little too floppy on the BC Rich. The regular SS strings feel about the same tension on the BC Rich as the Power Steels do on the Thunderbird. Funny how the same strings can feel tighter on one bass than another. I'm gonna live with these for a while. I have a set of D'Addario ProSteels coming. I hated them on the Thunderbird, but curious how they'll compliment the BC Rich. Then maybe I'll revisit the SITs.
Click to expand...

Anyone else still think “tires” when they start reading a post about Dunlops”?
 
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