Thunderbird Club

[BklynKen]

"Huge Headstock" is a bit of an understatement for a VP.

Or are you just happy to see me?

 

[Nocturnal]

I have been missing for a good portion of May. There are over 100 pages I have missed and I have no intention of trying to catch up. Perhaps someone can give me a brief summary...

[unnecessary detail]

Mum finally agreed that she can no longer look after herself and needed to go to assisted living. That started a search for available space in a facility that we (my brother and I) would be happy to see Mum in. The advice I received from one facility (that had 100% occupancy and a 13 person waiting list) was "if you find a place, take it. Assisted living spaces are rare".

After going to see the few that had space available, we were ready to sign a contract. And that was when the hospice called and said that it was time for Mum to be admitted.* So, last week, we got Mum moved in. It is good that she is getting the help she needs to keep her comfortable and maintain her dignity in her last weeks.

The last few weeks have been tiring and draining. On the other side, we finally have a timeline we can work against. I have been making funeral arrangements so that we can have everything in place when the time comes.

* In Ontario, hospice care is limited to the last 90 days of life. So they try as hard as possible to make sure someone is on death's doorstep before admitting.

[/unnecessary detail]

So sorry to hear about your mother. My mother went into hospice for the last few days of her life and it really weighs on you.

We had to move my Mother-In-Law into assisted living just over a year ago. It was VERY rough for the first couple of months. She has Alzheimer's and Dementia but people with Alzheimer's don't know they have it so it makes for some stressful times for her and us. We are trying to be prepared for when they tell us its time to move her to memory care, but you are never really prepared for that. My advice to anyone that needs to put a family member in assisted living (or anything similar) is to do a TON of research and visit as many facilities as possible. You will know when you find the right one and it will remove a small amount of stress from your daily life.

 

[Engle]

I have been missing for a good portion of May. There are over 100 pages I have missed and I have no intention of trying to catch up. Perhaps someone can give me a brief summary...

[unnecessary detail]

Mum finally agreed that she can no longer look after herself and needed to go to assisted living. That started a search for available space in a facility that we (my brother and I) would be happy to see Mum in. The advice I received from one facility (that had 100% occupancy and a 13 person waiting list) was "if you find a place, take it. Assisted living spaces are rare".

After going to see the few that had space available, we were ready to sign a contract. And that was when the hospice called and said that it was time for Mum to be admitted.* So, last week, we got Mum moved in. It is good that she is getting the help she needs to keep her comfortable and maintain her dignity in her last weeks.

The last few weeks have been tiring and draining. On the other side, we finally have a timeline we can work against. I have been making funeral arrangements so that we can have everything in place when the time comes.

* In Ontario, hospice care is limited to the last 90 days of life. So they try as hard as possible to make sure someone is on death's doorstep before admitting.

[/unnecessary detail]

Sorry man that's heavy. I hope we can provide some distraction.

 

[Engle]

Ok, having not wired up that many basses, this is what I have, the three conductor is the new pickup, what wire goes where?

The black and the braid go together and connect to ground. The white is the hot lead and goes to the center lug of the volume pot for that pickup.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I have been missing for a good portion of May. There are over 100 pages I have missed and I have no intention of trying to catch up. Perhaps someone can give me a brief summary...

[unnecessary detail]

Mum finally agreed that she can no longer look after herself and needed to go to assisted living. That started a search for available space in a facility that we (my brother and I) would be happy to see Mum in. The advice I received from one facility (that had 100% occupancy and a 13 person waiting list) was "if you find a place, take it. Assisted living spaces are rare".

After going to see the few that had space available, we were ready to sign a contract. And that was when the hospice called and said that it was time for Mum to be admitted.* So, last week, we got Mum moved in. It is good that she is getting the help she needs to keep her comfortable and maintain her dignity in her last weeks.

The last few weeks have been tiring and draining. On the other side, we finally have a timeline we can work against. I have been making funeral arrangements so that we can have everything in place when the time comes.

* In Ontario, hospice care is limited to the last 90 days of life. So they try as hard as possible to make sure someone is on death's doorstep before admitting.

[/unnecessary detail]

so sorry to hear sir.

 

[GBassNorth]

However, V’s comments on the 760’s has me thinking… is there a pickup that sounds like a 760 but a bit fuller? Is the current Gibson NR pickup that so many seem to like a lot, a fatter sounding 760?

Pretty much. To my ears the Gibby NR pup in the bridge position (which is roughly the same location as the VP bridge pup) sounds a bit warmer and fuller even when both basses have identical strings. The Gibby NR pup in the neck position (which is closer to the neck than the VP pup is) sounds noticeably warmer and richer, but a good portion of that may be because of the different pup location. Richer warmer and fuller isn’t everyones cup of tea, but it is something I tend to gravitate to on bass pickups. Overall, I like the sound of my 2021 NR a bit more than my VP but only very slightly. They both sound very good in just about any mix. String selection and EQ settings will go a log way towards minimizing any significant difference between the two pickups.

Any method to darkening the fretboard with the leather dye? Do I need to do any sanding?
And I’ll guess the dye will have no effect on the dots, frets?

I haven’t tried it yet. One of our club members and luthiers swears by it though. @Dadagoboi mat be able to chime in with specific “how to” info. I went the StewMac fretboard darkening route (basically India Ink) and had less than stellar results. It made only a minimal difference in the board darkness.

 

[GBassNorth]

Ok, having not wired up that many basses, this is what I have, the three conductor is the new pickup, what wire goes where?

Twist and solder the bare and black wires on the new pickup, those will be your ground wires and will need to connect everywhere your current pickup woven wire connects. The white wire on the new pickup is your hot lead and will need to be soldered to the center lug of the volume pot that controls it.

 

[PhR75]

Arty 'bird Tuesday

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Ok, having not wired up that many basses, this is what I have, the three conductor is the new pickup, what wire goes where?

the shield will always go to the case of a pot as the others do, you typically need a 100. (or other higher) wattage iron to solder that joint. the other 2 go to where the present ones are making sure either both blacks go to the same spot and same with both whites otherwise they’ll be out of phase in which case ( you’ll hear it) you have to swap one pickup connection around…
is there a schematic provided with the pickups?

 

[Ringhammer]

The Gibby NR pup in the neck position (which is closer to the neck than the NR pup is)

I’m guessing you meant to say “…closer to the neck than the VP pup is.”

I don’t suppose there is a way to get these Gibson NR pickups without buying that whole bass?

 

[Ringhammer]

the VP did sound nice with the Gibson pickups!

Which Gibson pickups are they? And where did the Gibson pickups come from?

 

[WillyW]

Any method to darkening the fretboard with the leather dye? Do I need to do any sanding?
And I’ll guess the dye will have no effect on the dots, frets?

clean the board without oiling it. no sanding 90% alcohol should be fine, not 70%

dye may darken the dots

I use the dauber on the dye bottle, and you can use a q tip for delicate areas

don't slop it on too fast, it is watery and will run where you don't want it to.

after a few weeks oil the board like you normally would

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

hybrid Tues….

 

[dagrev]

I once owned a mid 70s SVT/810 rig, and I still have the Kasino-which is unlikely to ever leave the house again. All our gigs are one-nighters, load-in/out, no opportunity to go early and do sound checks, so light and portable is the answer.
Kasino-200W, 2x15, ~150+ pounds:
View attachment 5071283
And w/ 67TBird for size comparison:
View attachment 5071285

There was one at a used music store here a pre-Covid. It was a big sucker for sure.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

roadies RULE….

 

[Ringhammer]

clean the board without oiling it. no sanding 90% alcohol should be fine, not 70%

dye may darken the dots

I use the dauber on the dye bottle, and you can use a q tip for delicate areas

don't slop it on too fast, it is watery and will run where you don't want it to.

after a few weeks oil the board like you normally would

Thanks!
After I apply it to the clean board, do I leave it on for a period of time and wipe away excess. Or, should I be sure to apply it evenly and leave it on until it dries(?)?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

got the one to the left a couple of years ago…sold it a month later…..just didn’t care for the neck…..

 

[Ringhammer]

got the one to the left a couple of years ago…sold it a month later…..just didn’t care for the neck…..
View attachment 5071469

What year was it?

I have a ‘70 (rosewood) and a ‘71 (maple) that both have very slender, narrow necks, and I have a ‘72 (maple) and ‘73 (rosewood) that have a bit fuller / chunkier necks. They are both slightly less slender and slightly deeper front to back than my ‘70 and ‘71

 

[WillyW]

Thanks!
After I apply it to the clean board, do I leave it on for a period of time and wipe away excess. Or, should I be sure to apply it evenly and leave it on until it dries(?)?

It will soak in rather quickly, there shouldn't be anything to wipe away, but I'd use a cloth or paper towel to polish it a little and make sure there isn't any residue.

try it on some shoe leather first to see how it acts

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

What year was it?

I have a ‘70 (rosewood) and a ‘71 (maple) that both have very slender, narrow necks, and I have a ‘72 (maple) and ‘73 (rosewood) that have a bit fuller / chunkier necks. They are both slightly less slender and slightly deeper front to back than my ‘70 and ‘71

that was a 69..