Thunderbird Club

[Engle]

That sure was cheap. I use a Snark tool now if the wireless receiver isn't available.

If I dont have my pedal board with its TC tuner, I just put my phone in front of my cab use an app called Cleartune.
I already have my phone with me, and it's more accurate.

 

[cmassa]

1975 opening for Cheap Trick with my ‘66/67. Chicago area.

 

[dagrev]

so what's wrong with your truck?

Timing chain/cam phaser rattle on start up if it sets 3 days ('12 f-150 3.5 Ecoboost). I have a warranty on it from the car lot for a few more months and thought I might get it addressed, but I understand that Ford says that some amount of rattle is "normal." I was asking to see if anybody had run into that from a dealer. I took it to the guy that does things I can do and he said to take it to a Ford dealer. But he said they may say it's normal. It's also normal for some Toyotas as well. Only rattles for a second or two until the oil gets around the phasers. I found what it does, but didn't want to drive to a Ford dealer and spend money. If they were just gonna tell me it's normal. Not uncommon with that design.

 

[WillyW]

If I dont have my pedal board with its TC tuner, I just put my phone in front of my cab use an app called Cleartune.
I already have my phone with me, and it's more accurate.

I have the 7ender app tuner, it's ok, I'll try the cleartune.

I had no reason to but I bought the waza craft boss tu-3...

I already have a white korg pitchblack, a tu-2 and a tu-3... still not sure why the pitchblack is white...

 

[PhR75]

I got my Epiphone thunderbird 60s in and I absolutely love it! Super low fast playing, balances great on a wide strap. My only real gripe would be a better higher fret access buts its completely managable, and if it came in cardinal red, phelam blue, or any of the fun colors thats the Jack Cassady Epiphone gets.

I know it gets said often you can't eq it like you would a fender, so curious how everybody tends to set their amps<I generally have most things set noon/flat but playing with settings now.

I usually boost the low mids either from the EQ pedal (Suncoast) or from the amp. Not much and do the same thing with Fender or other basses.

View attachment 5137336

1975 opening for Cheap Trick with my ‘66/67. Chicago area.

Wow! Did you chat basses with Tom? He must have played his '64 T-Bird then.

 

[WillyW]

Timing chain/cam phaser rattle on start up if it sets 3 days ('12 f-150 3.5 Ecoboost). I have a warranty on it from the car lot for a few more months and thought I might get it addressed, but I understand that Ford says that some amount of rattle is "normal." I was asking to see if anybody had run into that from a dealer. I took it to the guy that does things I can do and he said to take it to a Ford dealer. But he said they may say it's normal. It's also normal for some Toyotas as well. Only rattles for a second or two until the oil gets around the phasers. I found what it does, but didn't want to drive to a Ford dealer and spend money. If they were just gonna tell me it's normal. Not uncommon with that design.

Who's that warranty with, will the look at it without charging?

What engine? is it still a small block? sounds like it if it still has a timing chain.

 

[dagrev]

I got my Epiphone thunderbird 60s in and I absolutely love it! Super low fast playing, balances great on a wide strap. My only real gripe would be a better higher fret access buts its completely managable, and if it came in cardinal red, phelam blue, or any of the fun colors thats the Jack Cassady Epiphone gets.

I know it gets said often you can't eq it like you would a fender, so curious how everybody tends to set their amps<I generally have most things set noon/flat but playing with settings now.

I don't change anything, but if I do, I might boost the bass just a little. One Epi has GHS Precision Flats and the other is trying out various rounds--just because I have some around to try. Boomers sound great and add some heft as well as great low mids. SIT exposed cores sound great as well. I have SIT Power Steels on it now, but haven't used it in a live setting yet.

 

[dagrev]

Who's that warranty with, will the look at it without charging?

What engine? is it still a small block? sounds like it if it still has a timing chain.

ASC, Platinum coverage.
Yes, v6 twin turbo.

If I take it to a dealer I hope they can tell from the clip and just say yes, that is normal with that age and miles, or yes, we can file it with ASC and fix it--without a $150 check it out fee.

 

[TBird1958]

I got my Epiphone thunderbird 60s in and I absolutely love it! Super low fast playing, balances great on a wide strap. My only real gripe would be a better higher fret access buts its completely managable, and if it came in cardinal red, phelam blue, or any of the fun colors thats the Jack Cassady Epiphone gets.

I know it gets said often you can't eq it like you would a fender, so curious how everybody tends to set their amps<I generally have most things set noon/flat but playing with settings now.

I tend to boost lo mids and mids. Let me know if you'd like a club number, we just want a pic of your new Thunderbird!

Also, Drinky Crow says "Cheers"

 

[Instagator]

I got my Epiphone thunderbird 60s in and I absolutely love it! Super low fast playing, balances great on a wide strap. My only real gripe would be a better higher fret access buts its completely managable, and if it came in cardinal red, phelam blue, or any of the fun colors thats the Jack Cassady Epiphone gets.

I know it gets said often you can't eq it like you would a fender, so curious how everybody tends to set their amps<I generally have most things set noon/flat but playing with settings now.

congrats on your 60’s /VP Thunderbird.
They do look good in red.
As soon as I find the right used VP I’ll have a blue one.
Hoping to paint this winter unless Epiphone releases new 60’s colors in the in the near future.

Cheers.

 

[WillyW]

ASC, Platinum coverage.
Yes, v6 twin turbo.

If I take it to a dealer I hope they can tell from the clip and just say yes, that is normal with that age and miles, or yes, we can file it with ASC and fix it--without a $150 check it out fee.

I wonder if that engine has a tensioner that need fixin' I'm lost on most engines after 1974... if it was an inline 6 we could fix it in the driveway...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I don't change anything, but if I do, I might boost the bass just a little. One Epi has GHS Precision Flats and the other is trying out various rounds--just because I have some around to try. Boomers sound great and add some heft as well as great low mids. SIT exposed cores sound great as well. I have SIT Power Steels on it now, but haven't used it in a live setting yet.

those Boomers you recommended are mellowing nicely on the Greco.....great string choice for that bass...

 

[GBassNorth]

I got my Epiphone thunderbird 60s in and I absolutely love it! Super low fast playing, balances great on a wide strap. My only real gripe would be a better higher fret access buts its completely managable, and if it came in cardinal red, phelam blue, or any of the fun colors thats the Jack Cassady Epiphone gets.

I know it gets said often you can't eq it like you would a fender, so curious how everybody tends to set their amps<I generally have most things set noon/flat but playing with settings now.

I may not be representative of the norm here, but I pretty much set my amp and don’t mess with it much once it’s set regardless of what bass I’m using. I have a tendency to use the onboard controls in each bass to fine tune and get the sound I want after that. Keeping that in mind, here’s my typical amp settings, they’re more a function of what cab I’m using and what the room is like…

On my VP with nickel rounds I typically have the neck between 50% and 80% up, the bridge at 0% to 50% up, and the tone at 0% to 50% up. I personally use the bridge pickup and the tone knob as a bright boost to bring the bass more forward in the mix if needed. The VP doesn’t seem to need as much of that boost as my other Tbirds since it’s a bit more aggressive than most.

 

[WillyW]

I don't know what half the knobs on my amps do

I just put them in the middle and see if it goes thump satisfactoritotality

 

[GonePlaid]

I don't know what half the knobs on my amps do

Collect dust.

 

[WillyW]

Collect dust.

I have a paintbrush specifically for that....

 

[WillyW]

I even have an amp with it's own pedalboard and a gazillion more knobs....

 

[dagrev]

I wonder if that engine has a tensioner that need fixin' I'm lost on most engines after 1974... if it was an inline 6 we could fix it in the driveway...

That can be part of the problem. Some show wear and some not so much. Often it's cam phasers (4 of them) as much as the chain. The issue is all the oil drains and takes a couple seconds to get up there. If the warranty won't cover it, I will likely try a ceramic coating (Best Line likely) that will keep some slickness up there.

 

[TBird1958]

I even have an amp with it's own pedalboard and a gazillion more knobs....

View attachment 5137456

Now that's a lot of knobs!

 

[dagrev]

those Boomers you recommended are mellowing nicely on the Greco.....great string choice for that bass...

Fantastic! They are great strings and really match well with certain basses and applications. Often over looked because they've been around so long for some reason. Like Rotos are trendy new?