Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

fun gig tonight….place got packed… beautiful cars out…..aside from schmoes on the floor (liquor) a good time was had by all…the J did not disappoint….
hi

Oh yeah!

 

[dagrev]

Any advice about new tuners for my Epiphone Thunderbird IV? Preferably in either crome or steel. I was adviced by my music teacher that upgrading them would be a nice addition. Any recommendations that aren't expensive?

Do they not work? Work being defined as: (1) Tuning and, (2) holding tune, ideally not having much if any play or slippage.
If they meet the above definition, no need to change them IMO. I have some that work fantastic, some they have a little play, but all do the above. So I'm not spending on something that functionally works. That's just me.

 

[GBassNorth]

Do they not work? Work being defined as: (1) Tuning and, (2) holding tune, ideally not having much if any play or slippage.
If they meet the above definition, no need to change them IMO. I have some that work fantastic, some they have a little play, but all do the above. So I'm not spending on something that functionally works. That's just me.

I’m pretty much in the same boat. The tuners on all three of my Goth basses are absolute garbage and take twice as long to tune because of the inaccurate slippage and excessive backlash in the gears. But I haven’t bothered to replace them because they hold tune ok. Once one of them breaks I’ll replace that set, I do hope it’s soon though, cause they are annoying to use.

 

[PaleAngel_90]

I haven’t needed to change tuners on any Epi or Gibson Thunderbirds, although my Epi Goth could use a better set. I believe you want 3/8 mini clover or Y tuners. I think Allparts has a budget set. Check Hipshot, although I think you’re limited to licensed as opposed to USAs. But the licensed should be a big upgrade. Also check Grover, which would also be a nice upgrade. I have found doing a couple tuner swaps on MIM Fenders, you get what you pay for.

Where can I find these Allparts? Or Grovers?

 

[PaleAngel_90]

I’m pretty much in the same boat. The tuners on all three of my Goth basses are absolute garbage and take twice as long to tune because of the inaccurate slippage and excessive backlash in the gears. But I haven’t bothered to replace them because they hold tune ok. Once one of them breaks I’ll replace that set, I do hope it’s soon though, cause they are annoying to use.

Precisely this, takes me longer than necessary to tune up, and they slip sometimes.

 

[Stealth57]

Where can I find these Allparts? Or Grovers?

Bass Tuners

 

[MCF]

I’m pretty much in the same boat. The tuners on all three of my Goth basses are absolute garbage and take twice as long to tune because of the inaccurate slippage and excessive backlash in the gears. But I haven’t bothered to replace them because they hold tune ok. Once one of them breaks I’ll replace that set, I do hope it’s soon though, cause they are annoying to use.

Annoying to use is reason enough for a change IMO.

 

[GBassNorth]

Precisely this, takes me longer than necessary to tune up, and they slip sometimes.

Yep, that’s the Eppi tuner!
String is flat, so turn, not quite to tune yet. So turn just a hair more, oops too much! Dang, turn backwards just a hair, nothing, turn more, nothing, turn more, opps too much. Repeat as necessary on each string. For playing at home I can live with it until they break (soon I hope), but with tuners like these I’d be embarrassed to hand the bass to someone else to play. If I were gigging they’d come off in a heartbeat! No time to mess with crap designs like these while on stage.

 

[MCF]

Bass Tuners

Here you go @PaleAngel_90. Dave to the rescue. Allparts is a reliable vendor IMO. Not sure if they’ll ship to Spain but hope so.

 

[PillO]

Any advice about new tuners for my Epiphone Thunderbird IV? Preferably in either crome or steel. I was adviced by my music teacher that upgrading them would be a nice addition. Any recommendations that aren't expensive?

Is there a problem with the tuners you have that needs correcting?

If you want "better", you have to spend more money. Higher quality costs more.

 

[GBassNorth]

I saw a guitarist in a band who had that finish on a Steinberger - it really activates under stage lighting.

Stage lighting and movement (by either the lights or the player) make this thing come alive.

 

[BklynKen]

Yep, that’s the Eppi tuner!
String is flat, so turn, not quite to tune yet. So turn just a hair more, oops too much! Dang, turn backwards just a hair, nothing, turn more, nothing, turn more, opps too much. Repeat as necessary on each string. For playing at home I can live with it until they break (soon I hope), but with tuners like these I’d be embarrassed to hand the bass to someone else to play. If I were gigging they’d come off in a heartbeat! No time to mess with crap designs like these while on stage.

I'm very happy with the stock Grovers that came on my Gibsons. I'm still sad about the horrible quality of the Schallers I put on my BC Rich, but they're the only lightweight drop-in replacements available.

 

[GBassNorth]

I'm very happy with the stock Grovers that came on my Gibsons. I'm still sad about the horrible quality of the Schallers I put on my BC Rich, but they're the only lightweight drop-in replacements available.

Good point. All my Gibson tuners are top notch, zero issues. It’s just my Eppi tuners that are much less than desirable.
Hadn’t heard about issues with Schallers before. I have had a couple of issues with Hipshots cheaper Licensed tuners, fortunately Hipshot stands behind their product and corrected the issue at no charge.

 

[PillO]

How do they manage that finish? What is this sorcery?

Short answer:
Magic gnomes in the paint shop.

Longer answer:
Invalid Link Removed

 

[PillO]

Good point. All my Gibson tuners are top notch, zero issues. It’s just my Eppi tuners that are much less than desirable.
Hadn’t heard about issues with Schallers before. I have had a couple of issues with Hipshots cheaper Licensed tuners, fortunately Hipshot stands behind their product and corrected the issue at no charge.

I have found Epiphone tuners to be a little finicky to tune, but once in tune, they stay put. No issue with Gibson tuners (although on the NR, they are Hipshots).

If I were changing tuners, I would go with Hipshot as I have always had great customer service from them and they have high quality products.

 

[KaraQ]

I think if I were going to replace the tuners on my Thunderbird IV with aftermarket, I'd like to try these:

RATIO 4 String Bass Tuner Y Style Button PRB-4400 | GraphTech

They'll require the tuner-holes to be reamed slightly (the Schallers on my CP did as well), mostly just enough to take the finish off on the inside of the holes, ime.



I really want to get a set for my Pro 5, but they aren't available in a 4+1 set, atm

 

[MCF]

Do they not work? Work being defined as: (1) Tuning and, (2) holding tune, ideally not having much if any play or slippage.
If they meet the above definition, no need to change them IMO. I have some that work fantastic, some they have a little play, but all do the above. So I'm not spending on something that functionally works. That's just me.

There’s a similar school of thought in the fly fishing world. If a reel holds line, it’s good enough. But a quality reel with precision drag makes a big difference under a variety of circumstances. YMMV.

 

[BklynKen]

I have found Epiphone tuners to be a little finicky to tune, but once in tune, they stay put. No issue with Gibson tuners (although on the NR, they are Hipshots).

If I were changing tuners, I would go with Hipshot as I have always had great customer service from them and they have high quality products.

Just to be clear, the 2013 NR tuners are the Grovers.

 

[Ringhammer]

I’m thinking of trying res-o-lites on my black VP. The Wilkinsons on both seem to be good, but, this:

Yep, that’s the Eppi tuner!
String is flat, so turn, not quite to tune yet. So turn just a hair more, oops too much! Dang, turn backwards just a hair, nothing, turn more, nothing, turn more, opps too much. Repeat as necessary on each string. For playing at home I can live with it until they break (soon I hope), but with tuners like these I’d be embarrassed to hand the bass to someone else to play. If I were gigging they’d come off in a heartbeat! No time to mess with crap designs like these while on stage.

…is exactly what I experience with both my brand new AND 5 year old ones. Hard to figure why what seem to be good tuners are a bit of a struggle to use compared to the variety of other tuners I have other basses.

I have 3 Hipshot HB7’s and a BT7 extender that will go on one VP, probably the white one. The holes don’t line up but I can live with filling the holes. Since I don’t think the Hipshot’s are any lighter than the Wilkinson’s, I’ll use them on the white VP, since it is a solid 1 lb. lighter than the black one. Hopefully, if I get 3 res-o-lites and a BT7 I can shave a couple ounces off the weight of the black one.

 

[TBird1958]

Some pics, I hadn't put these on Imgur.

Chucky, making a fine point with me.

I think Marshall is still a little wary of his new aquaintances.

Coast to Coast!