Thunderbird Club

[Ringhammer]

why not SS?

I have 3 solid state class D amps, and I like them fine. The what grabbed my attention was “all tube” and (relatively) “lightweight”

The AD200 is manageable and is what I’ll be using live, and I can still move the OBC 115 and, when I really want to have some fun, the OBC210. And I can get it all in my car.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I have 3 solid state class D amps, and I like them fine. The what grabbed my attention was “all tube” and (relatively) “lightweight”

The AD200 is manageable and is what I’ll be using live, and I can still move the OBC 115 and, when I really want to have some fun, the OBC210. And I can get it all in my car.

View attachment 5069529

for me “all tube” always implies grit….innate to the way those amps work….from my experience it’s easier to make a SS amp misbehave than to make an all tube amp act prim and proper…

 

[JJR58]

for me “all tube” always implies grit….innate to the way those amps work….from my experience it’s easier to make a SS amp misbehave than to make an all tube amp act prim and proper…

From the few tube amps I’ve owned and or played through.
The only 2 that seem to do what you’ve described are Geo’s B-15, and the Mesa 400+.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Also following, and you too Andy.

Ditto!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

If they are mods that improve the bass, I don't see an issue with it. There have been a few people that added a belly cut to the thicker bodied Bach's. If it's done well most people won't mind.

I say go for it (and don't worry about the originality of a copy). The belly cut will make it more comfortable and take a bit of weight off.

Just my personal opinion, but the reason I didn’t route a second pup in my BaCH was because it wasn’t reversible and these are relatively rare birds with a strong following of those in the know. A pup upgrade would be cool, but I’d pass on the belly cut and subsequent refin. Just keep your BaCH stock (or returnable to stock) and keep your eyes peeled for another one hitting the market that you can buy, then decide later which one you want to keep.

I'll always say go for it, plus it'll be one of kind.

thanks guys….exactly where i’m at right now and between both camps…… i know it’s not easy keeping track of everyone’s Birds and what they do to them but I have a highly modified IV (that you’d probably really dig George) with alll those alterations including T-Buckers, reverse type tuners, belly cut, finger tuck, after market claw (Badbird), bone nut, orange drop cap, AB pots..etc so there’s that…… I’ve always wanted a white (preferably a II) Bird on the other hand, so the question becomes…..do I refinish my IV white? totally redo the II instead?….

 

[Nocturnal]

Also following, and you too Andy.

Ditto!

And I an following both of you as well!

 

[Nocturnal]

thanks guys….exactly where i’m at right now and between both camps…… i know it’s not easy keeping track of everyone’s Birds and what they do to them but I have a highly modified IV (that you’d probably really dig George) with alll those alterations including T-Buckers, reverse type tuners, belly cut, finger tuck, after market claw (Badbird), bone nut, orange drop cap, AB pots..etc so there’s that…… I’ve always wanted a white (preferably a II) Bird on the other hand, so the question becomes…..do I refinish my IV white? totally redo the II instead?….
View attachment 5069578

IMO a white Bach II with proper upgrades/mods would be more desirable to a sunburst stock version, but thats just my opinion.

 

[JJR58]

Speaking of mods.
As you all know, Ken turned a NR into a lefty RNR, he seems pretty happy about it.

 

[D.M.N.]

still figuring it out….got a 70’s sidewinder I want on there……possibly a belly cut (none now) but these being so rare, still debating if the mod needs to be reversible (where a belly cut isn’t) or to go for the gusto and completely refinish it in another color (belly cut and all) add new tuners, new claw…..

I say go for it (and don't worry about the originality of a copy). The belly cut will make it more comfortable and take a bit of weight off.

I had JohnK do a belly cut on my Bach II to make it closer to an original one, in my mind it was a good mod as it gets the bass to a state more like an original, and some of the Bach's did come with one. Won't be adding a second pickup though, happy with just one!

 

[Engle]

Speaking of mods.
As you all know, Ken turned a NR into a lefty RNR, he seems pretty happy about it.
View attachment 5069645

Nice shot!

 

[Ringhammer]

Just to be an enabler, and in case no locals have seen this:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

No idea if that’s a good deal or not.

 

[JIO]

I've created a thread in Luthiers Corner to cover documentation and work on Chucky's 1970 Fender Jazz Bass. I felt this was the best place as I've already posted many pics and will post many more as I work on it, and also because I don't trust the GP to be adults considering the decals. (which I am removing) Luthiers Corner is populated with adults and I trust I won't have issues there.

check it out -

Overhaul on a vintage 1970 Fender J player

 

[GBassNorth]

thanks guys….exactly where i’m at right now and between both camps…… i know it’s not easy keeping track of everyone’s Birds and what they do to them but I have a highly modified IV (that you’d probably really dig George) with alll those alterations including T-Buckers, reverse type tuners, belly cut, finger tuck, after market claw (Badbird), bone nut, orange drop cap, AB pots..etc so there’s that…… I’ve always wanted a white (preferably a II) Bird on the other hand, so the question becomes…..do I refinish my IV white? totally redo the II instead?….
View attachment 5069578

Chuck, those are both beautiful basses!

Is your nicely modded IV on the right a 1960’s Gibby NR? If so, I’d never consider a refin, even if the finish was down to bare wood. The BaCH could certainly use a pup upgrade. But that’s all I’d do to either of them.

A refin on a set neck or neck through bass is gonna set you back $800 plus shipping, if there’s any dent or ding fixes or body mods it’ll be even more. So if you paid $800 for your BaCH and you drop a $200 pup upgrade in it and fix a few dings and do a refin and slap on a pickguard that fits the new pup correctly you could easily have over $2000 in that bass. Almost twice what it’s worth even with the upgrades. That’s a no go in my book.

If you’re remotely open to the idea of a white reverse as opposed to the BaCH NR you could easily get a white Greco IV (don’t think I’ve ever seen a white II) and actually have a better sounding bass for about half the cost of a modded BaCH.
Greco TRB 70 Thunderbird Type Electric Bass | eBay

Then delete the bridge pup (and sell it to me for a couple hundred bucks) to offset the $300 charge you’d incur having the Greco bridge pup route filled and color matched to the existing white paint. You’d be all in at least $600 less than a modded BaCH, it’ll flatout run circles around the BaCH and with the relatively low investment you’d have in it, it would be the perfect gigging bass. Just my two cents.

 

[Stealth57]

Taking apart the 200s for a thorough cleaning. Pulled the tubes for safety. I noticed the rectifier tube has some wobble when in the socket. Does that indicate socket wear?

Also trying to get the chassis out and after removing the 4 bolts, still won’t slide out. Don’t want to force anything.




Update: it was curled up tolex sticking to the chassis. Got it out.

 

[JJR58]

Nice shot!

Thank you Irv!

 

[JJR58]

I've created a thread in Luthiers Corner to cover documentation and work on Chucky's 1970 Fender Jazz Bass. I felt this was the best place as I've already posted many pics and will post many more as I work on it, and also because I don't trust the GP to be adults considering the decals. (which I am removing) Luthiers Corner is populated with adults and I trust I won't have issues there.

check it out -

Overhaul on a vintage 1970 Fender J player

View attachment 5069667

Sub’d!!!! And dang!!!!

 

[dagrev]

Well played!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I've created a thread in Luthiers Corner to cover documentation and work on Chucky's 1970 Fender Jazz Bass. I felt this was the best place as I've already posted many pics and will post many more as I work on it, and also because I don't trust the GP to be adults considering the decals. (which I am removing) Luthiers Corner is populated with adults and I trust I won't have issues there.

check it out -

Overhaul on a vintage 1970 Fender J player

View attachment 5069667

they haven’t taken any pics down yet? they did on the “ Show your Basses” thread…

 

[dagrev]

the master…..
validating the provenance of the tort…..
View attachment 5069316

That's just too funny. To the average person it looks like to took it to a jeweler and he broke out his loop!
It's about a 4,300 karat gem.

 

[dagrev]

Did I enable another one? If so, maybe I moved from newbie enabler to minor league enabler.

No question about it. I might block your posts just so I don't get sucked into anything expensive.