Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

Not exactly. Waiting for George to post the exact measurements. He said the bridge pickup is off.

Since you need an exact measurement for routing purposes I’d recommend Donnie give that info to you. He has both a vintage bird and VP birds so he can measure each using the same measuring device and reference points vs the club sticky which has multiple people measuring, multiple measuring devices used and varying degrees of accuracy. It’s good for reference, but I wouldn’t route a bass with that info.

Calling for assistance from @dagrev - Dave needs exact pup centerline locations on both the VP and your vintage 1960’s bird so he can route his VP to exactly match a 1964 Bird.

 

[JIO]

Since you need an exact measurement for routing purposes I’d recommend Donnie give that info to you. He has both a vintage bird and VP birds so he can measure each using the same measuring device and reference points vs the club sticky which has multiple people measuring, multiple measuring devices used and varying degrees of accuracy. It’s good for reference, but I wouldn’t route a bass with that info.

Calling for assistance from @dagrev - Dave needs exact pup centerline locations on both the VP and your vintage 1960’s bird so he can route his VP to exactly match a 1964 Bird.

My '64 II neck pu is exactly 10-3/4" from the bottom of the 12th fret to the center of the pu. Since I added the (Seymour Duncan Hawkbucker) bridge pu on mine (in the late '80s - pre internet) - @dagrev will need to confirm that location. I recall going by pictures referenced from somewhere when I routed mine and am curious as to how close I came.

 

[GBassNorth]

Not exactly. Waiting for George to post the exact measurements. He said the bridge pickup is off.

Donnie can confirm but my recollection is the VP neck pickup is in the same spot as the ‘64 bird neck pup. IIRC the VP bridge pup is about 1/2” closer to the bridge than the ‘64. If so, that’s a pretty big difference on that pickup. Moving the VP bridge pup about a half inch closer to the neck should warm that pickup up a lot.

 

[Roger W]

I know. But I like them all. That said, this is and will always be one of my favorites.

Actually my favorite song of theirs.
There’s an old very funny YouTube video from a Jeff Tweedy concert where he talks about running into Jay while both are on vacation in Mexico.

 

[MCF]

X (American band) - Wikipedia

 

[MCF]

Actually my favorite song of theirs.
There’s an old very funny YouTube video from a Jeff Tweedy concert where he talks about running into Jay while both are on vacation in Mexico.

Yep. Have you read Tweedy’s book?

Farrer has a book too. It’s a collection of vignettes from his life. Barely a mention in it of the guy he refers to as “the bass player.”

It saddens me to think how those two former best friends could have done such great things together.

 

[Roger W]

Yep. Have you read Tweedy’s book?

Farrer has a book too. It’s a collection of vignettes from his life. Barely a mention in it of the guy he refers to as “the bass player.”

It saddens me to think how those two former best friends could have done such great things together.

I haven’t. Whether one likes the music or not, credit is due to bands that have remained largely intact over a long period such as ZZ Top, Pearl Jam, AC/DC, RHCP, etc. It is a pressure cooker when you’re essentially living in each other’s pockets.

 

[dagrev]

I’m having your baby.

This would have only been funnier if we could have seen Jeff reading this.

It was meant to be funny, right?

 

[dagrev]

Next year’s GTG

Pay per view. I smell money.

 

[dagrev]

I have a few pics to share from the GTG. I had a great time and truly enjoyed meeting and hanging with all of you. What a great group of people! Thanks again for hosting us @Chucky Stiletti!!

More great pics!

 

[dagrev]

I haven’t. Whether one likes the music or not, credit is due to bands that have remained largely intact over a long period such as ZZ Top, Pearl Jam, AC/DC, RHCP, etc. It is a pressure cooker when you’re essentially living in each other’s pockets.

So true. I heard Billy say a year or so before Dusty passed that they all have their own busses and that helps. Bands like Chicago with 23 people can't really do that!

 

[Stealth57]

So your plan is to make new routes? And bridge pickup is indeed off, a bit too close to the bridge and if I recall correctly so is the neck pickup although not that much. But the bigger space between the pickups is visible.

Just asking because I had already thought about the same thing when it's time to resurrect this*:
View attachment 5153290

*the one with a snapped headstock

Yes, and I have a set of SD Custom Shop pickups that are supposed to be copies of 64's.

 

[MCF]

I haven’t. Whether one likes the music or not, credit is due to bands that have remained largely intact over a long period such as ZZ Top, Pearl Jam, AC/DC, RHCP, etc. It is a pressure cooker when you’re essentially living in each other’s pockets.

True. It’s hard to believe that after ten years of personnel changes, Wilco is now going on 20 years with the same lineup.

 

[Stealth57]

Since you need an exact measurement for routing purposes I’d recommend Donnie give that info to you. He has both a vintage bird and VP birds so he can measure each using the same measuring device and reference points vs the club sticky which has multiple people measuring, multiple measuring devices used and varying degrees of accuracy. It’s good for reference, but I wouldn’t route a bass with that info.

Calling for assistance from @dagrev - Dave needs exact pup centerline locations on both the VP and your vintage 1960’s bird so he can route his VP to exactly match a 1964 Bird.

Thanks

 

[PhR75]

A string of duo gigs coming up in September and we were asked to take a promo pic. Done.

 

[dagrev]

Since you need an exact measurement for routing purposes I’d recommend Donnie give that info to you. He has both a vintage bird and VP birds so he can measure each using the same measuring device and reference points vs the club sticky which has multiple people measuring, multiple measuring devices used and varying degrees of accuracy. It’s good for reference, but I wouldn’t route a bass with that info.

Calling for assistance from @dagrev - Dave needs exact pup centerline locations on both the VP and your vintage 1960’s bird so he can route his VP to exactly match a 1964 Bird.

Will try to do that tonight. Also @Stealth57

 

[dagrev]

@Stealth57 Maybe this will work. (Cheater tape measure that was left in the house when we bought it.) Measured from the same fret location. If you need more or something better, just let me know.

 

[Stealth57]

Will try to do that tonight. Also @Stealth57

 

[dagrev]

Those were old pics that were handy, but looks like the neck is almost dead on.

The old Embassy is slightly different.

 

[Stealth57]

@Stealth57 Maybe this will work. (Cheater tape measure that was left in the house when we bought it.) Measured from the same fret location. If you need more or something better, just let me know.

View attachment 5153499

View attachment 5153500

OK, so tape measure on the top of the 12th fret gives identical neck pickups at 10 7/8" but the VP bridge is 14 11/16" and the 64 is 14 1/4. Did I get that right? Super thanks Donnie.