Thunderbird Club

[Bruce Pete]

Motown = "I heard it through the Grapevine" ........

2 different versions, James Jamerson was the man! Scroll down to the Will Lee video.

The 10 James Jamerson basslines every bass player has to hear

 

[Nocturnal]

Hi guys!
I'm back. Well, not to stay, but I'd like to share with you my latest experience with a Thunderbird.
I've previously been part of this club, around 2019 if I remember correctly, with a Gibson Thunderbird (2018-2019 model). That one got traded for my American Original 60 P bass, which I absolutely love.
Last week I bought an Epiphone Thunderbird 60s Bass (the "Vintage Pro" after the "line up lifting"), because I wanted a T-bird once again without spending lots of money (it wouldn't have been my #1 bass, you know), and due to the fact that I had quite nice memories of the first Vintage Pros and Classic IV Epis.

When they came out, they were crafted in china, if I'm right. The latter ones are Indonesia made, as Squier Classic Vibes. Well, long story short, it was a bucket of ****, the bridge itself literally came out of the wood, bridge screws started shifting towards the neck and the string tension started pulling the tailpiece away from the body.
I couldn't play 1 minute because the tuning would have gone out of pitch, with the bridge slowly moving.
Plus, pu ring screws were mounted improperly (angled towards the cavity) and the finish wasn't perfect.

I'm obviously returning it to the shop (which is a serious and kind shop) asking for something else (no way I'll purchase another one), but I'm a bit afraid because I had an awful experience with an indonesian Squier CV P bass (bad fret leveling, horrible and unusable nut, very plastic feel...)

I'm I the only who noticed that drop in quality, along with a price increase?
These basses started to get expensive (450€ circa for a Squier CV, 650€ circa for the Epiphone Thunderbird 60s), but the quality seems really poor.

View attachment 5144310View attachment 5144311View attachment 5144312

That really sucks to have that happen on any bass, but especially on a brand new bass! Yes it could be fixed, but the experience would ruin the bass for me.

Doing a setup on the 2015 and noticed the TR nut is much higher on the neck than any other bass. All the other basses I’ve had you have to look down inside the neck to find the nut. Is this normal for Gibson?

View attachment 5144403

I highly recommend the Gibson multi-tool. Pretty cheap on Reverb.

Gibson Guitar/Bass Multi Tool | Reverb

 

[dagrev]

Oddly enough, I took a pic of my '76 TR nut when I put the strap lock buttons on from Mr. Gator. I've had to do some serious cranking to get the relief out of the neck, even with very light strings. As it sat I've noticed it has bulged the wood out at the nut and washer. It makes the TRC bulge as well. Any thoughts or ideas on how to get a few more turns without possibly damaging the wood? I'm wondering is a larger washer would work, but there's not a lot of room for one much bigger. Is the fix going to require a luthier?

Yes, it's got a weird (nylon?) nut. I have a bone nut, just haven't filed it to be ready.

 

[icefly]

It was hard to keep up with the thread today, but "stalker cases" were really worth it.

 

[icefly]

I highly recommend the Gibson multi-tool. Pretty cheap on Reverb.

Gibson Guitar/Bass Multi Tool | Reverb

Does it work for Epiphone too?

 

[Stealth57]

One more tobacco burst Epi.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I turned 65 in February.

Ok. 67 last December.

 

[Nocturnal]

Does it work for Epiphone too?

I think the Epi's have a different type of truss rod nut than any tool on this (see below). But there are several of these tools on the market that might work for Epi's.

Side A

• 5/16" Truss Rod Socket
• 4mm Slotted Screwdriver
• 1/8" Hex Key
• 1/16" Hex Key
• 0.05" Hex Key
• Lever with laser engraved reference marks (3/64" and 5/64") for adjusting action at the 12th fret

Side B

• 1.5mm Hex Key
• 2mm Hex Key
• 2.5mm Hex Key
• 3mm Hex Key
• #1 Phillips Screwdriver
• #2 Phillips Screwdriver

 

[Stealth57]

Ok. 67 last December.

I’ll split the difference.

 

[RedVee]

Gibson truss rod tool looks like this…
Truss Rod Wrench 5/16” w/Phillips Head Screwdriver Fits Gibson, ESP and Yamaha | eBay
or you can get the multi tool that’s kind of a Swiss Army knife for Gibson guitars. Shop around, prices are all over the board.

This thingy ?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[GBassNorth]

What song was that again? I have to bone-up on it!

 

[GBassNorth]

This thingy ?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Yep

 

[GonePlaid]

This thingy ?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Dang technical terminology("thingy").

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Does it work for Epiphone too?

Epiphone truss rods use a 4mm hex key.

 

[RedVee]

Epiphone truss rods use a 4mm hex key.

Which isn’t included ???

 

[JIO]

Carol Kaye -

 

[JIO]

Dang technical terminology("thingy").

Oh yah, from my parts we call it a thing-a-ma-jig, or a doo-hickey.

 

[JIO]

Real Motown. My Girl.

James Jamerson -

 

[GBassNorth]

Carol Kaye -

Yeah, flats with a pic and possibly even muted with foam at the bridge as well. I think my 77 Greco with the vintage flats on it would nail that sound, but I’m not proficient enough with a pick to find out.

 

[JIO]

Yeah, flats with a pic and possibly even muted with foam at the bridge as well. I think my 77 Greco with the vintage flats on it would nail that sound, but I’m not proficient enough with a pick to find out.

Bob Babbitt -