Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

Can’t it be both?
We always come back to the basses because they are the shared love that brought us here.

If you have a question about the basses, just ask it at anytime. Someone will come swiftly back to you with the information if it exists.

Cheers

Yep. But there are trolls. And I ignore them. This is the best community on TalkBass. We are all inclusive. And give our time and do what we can to help anyone. But when we get trolled, some of us are too polite and respond. I don’t. I don’t have that patience.

 

[MCF]

…because life is what happens in between Thunderbird and gear purchases.

Well said Keith.

 

[JJR58]

Thunderbirds aren’t our lives and we’ve developed personal relationships. Folks like to know what’s up in their friends’ lives. Nothing more than normal friends hanging out.

No. It's about Thunderbird basses and the people who play them; about strings and pickups-for TBirds; about accessories(cases, bridges, tuners, etc); how they sound through different amps; how they sound whether plucking or picking; how they fit-or not-in one's gigmobile; and much more.
A lot of us have become friends through the Club and care about each other's lives.

Can’t it be both?
We always come back to the basses because they are the shared love that brought us here.

If you have a question about the basses, just ask it at anytime. Someone will come swiftly back to you with the information if it exists.

Cheers

What these good people said.

It’s more then just a love for TBirds and other basses and the types of gear we like, it’s a respect and love for one another. And a lot of us are actually close personal friends.
If it’s not your bag, leave.

 

[MCF]

No. It's about Thunderbird basses and the people who play them; about strings and pickups-for TBirds; about accessories(cases, bridges, tuners, etc); how they sound through different amps; how they sound whether plucking or picking; how they fit-or not-in one's gigmobile; and much more.
A lot of us have become friends through the Club and care about each other's lives.

And bikes, cars, other none Thunderbird basses. Even 7enders. Of which many of us us also play and love.

 

[MCF]

What these good people said.

It’s more then just a love for TBirds and other basses and the types of gear we like, it’s a respect and love for one another. And a lot of us are actually close personal friends.
If it’s not your bag, leave.

Thanks Jeff. I was trying to be too polite.

 

[Stealth57]

What these good people said.

It’s more then just a love for TBirds and other basses and the types of gear we like, it’s a respect and love for one another. And a lot of us are actually close personal friends.
If it’s not your bag, leave.

Or, stay, ask questions, and become one of our friends.

 

[MCF]

Or, stay, ask questions, and become one of our friends.

So we’ll see. I will unblock the person if they give me a reason to. Just so we’re clear. The poster in question is the only person who posted here and I’ve had to choose to ignore in nine years.

 

[BklynKen]

LET'S DO THIS AGAIN!!!!

 

[Stealth57]

LET'S DO THIS AGAIN!!!!

View attachment 5226611 View attachment 5226612

That tom color would look nice on a bird...reminds me of a Dingwall.

 

[GBassNorth]

Why is do much of this thread about general life and not about Thunderbirds‽

Every now and then I forget we have folks in here that don’t have a lot of the history and background of the other long standing club members.

Your point is legit and was probably at least sparked by my little story about “Autographing Your Work With Excellence”. As I was writing that post I was referencing in my mind my last Thunderbird build. My bad for not making the connection more obvious.

That build like my other builds IMHO came out excellent, not perfect, but excellent. You may not have seen any of the build shots or finished product, so here it is…

quick three pup layout comparison of the planned BlingBird build vs a VP pup layout…

back from the finisher and all the pieces ready for assembly…

wiring it all up and shielding the cavities…

my custom designed control circuit (three volume/tone stacks to retain the original Tbird three knob look but offer discrete tone shaping for each individual pickup) and the design goal of keeping the control cavity nice and tidy with room to spare for any future mods that might come down the pike (black electric tape was just there to keep the pots sealed during construction)…

finished product, the BlingBird in all its gaudy glory…

Is it perfect? Nope!

I stripped a cheap ass trim ring screw (still drives me nutz, but would require drilling out to fix, not worth it), the neck was from a previously deceased Fender P bass so it still shows the plugged string tree screw hole on the front of the headstock and the plugged tuner screw holes on the back of the headstock. I could have had the finisher blend them in better (hand painting a faux tiger stripe over each hole to better hide the plug) but it would have almost doubled the cost of the finish job and not really eliminated the issue. And I used the lowest cost option Tbird humbuckers (ChinaBuckers from EY guitars) because I wasn’t really sure exactly how it was going to sound with the custom control circuit, VP pups or the new Gibson NR pups would most likely have been an even better option.

All in all, I think it came out excellent in looks, sound, playability, features and quality - it did garner quite a few fans at the recent Tbird GTG in Santa Cruz, with the very well stocked guitar store owner practically begging me to sell it to him or make him an identical one.

So there you have it, all the Tbird crap that was running around in my head as I was typing my original “Excellence” post. Hope all the photos and background info help quench your thirst for more Tbird content.

 

[GBassNorth]

That tom color would look nice on a bird...reminds me of a Dingwall.

This one by chance???

Had to keep Chucky from running off with it…

…actually, I don’t think the fanned frets were his cup of tea. Erick and Marshall on the other hand were really rockin it.

 

[Engle]

Just got home from picking up my Orville and lunch with Will.

My conversation with the border services guy on the way back into Canada:
Just you in the car?
Yes.
Have a nice day.
Thanks!

Doesn’t look like it in this shot, but the Orville headstock is smaller than the VP’s.

 

[WillyW]

Why is do much of this thread about general life and not about Thunderbirds‽

So this is a social thread for thunderbirds fans not a thread about Thunderbird basses?

So we’ll see. I will unblock the person if they give me a reason to. Just so we’re clear. The poster in question is the only person who posted here and I’ve had to choose to ignore in nine years.

I play Rickenbacker’s and thunderbirds with the exception of a home built DC.

I have not put anyone that posts here on ignore, I have several on ignore in the Rickenbacker community.

I’m probably on ignore here for a few peeples here though.

thunderbird people are just better human beings in general

 

[GBassNorth]

I play Rickenbacker’s and thunderbirds with the exception of a home built DC.

I have not put anyone that posts here on ignore, I have several on ignore in the Rickenbacker community.

I’m probably on ignore here for a few peeples here though.

thunderbird people are just better human beings in general

LOL - Willy, anybody ignoring you is missing out on some of the most original and creative Tbird related content!

You still have my favorite bass for a bar fight - the pink Hello Kitty! Nothing would be funnier than seeing that smashed upside some overbearing jerks head (in self defense of course).

Imagine listening to the victim explaining it to the police - “I was just standing there minding my own business when out of nowhere a huge pink bass smashed me in the face, all I could see was a hello Kitty coming at me 90 miles an hour and when I woke up I was surrounded by cold fried chicken, water melon rinds and guys in bare feet”.

 

[MCF]

I play Rickenbacker’s and thunderbirds with the exception of a home built DC.

I have not put anyone that posts here on ignore, I have several on ignore in the Rickenbacker community.

I’m probably on ignore here for a few peeples here though.

thunderbird people are just better human beings in general

I’ve ignored one person in all the time I’ve been here. You’re a friend Willy. And definitely one of us.

 

[MCF]

Every now and then I forget we have folks in here that don’t have a lot of the history and background of the other long standing club members.

Your point is legit and was probably at least sparked by my little story about “Autographing Your Work With Excellence”. As I was writing that post I was referencing in my mind my last Thunderbird build. My bad for not making the connection more obvious.

That build like my other builds IMHO came out excellent, not perfect, but excellent. You may not have seen any of the build shots or finished product, so here it is…

quick three pup layout comparison of the planned BlingBird build vs a VP pup layout…
View attachment 5226585

back from the finisher and all the pieces ready for assembly…
View attachment 5226586 View attachment 5226587

wiring it all up and shielding the cavities…
View attachment 5226588

my custom designed control circuit (three volume/tone stacks to retain the original Tbird three knob look but offer discrete tone shaping for each individual pickup) and the design goal of keeping the control cavity nice and tidy with room to spare for any future mods that might come down the pike (black electric tape was just there to keep the pots sealed during construction)…
View attachment 5226589

finished product, the BlingBird in all its gaudy glory…
View attachment 5226591 View attachment 5226592 View attachment 5226593 View attachment 5226594
Is it perfect? Nope!

I stripped a cheap ass trim ring screw (still drives me nutz, but would require drilling out to fix, not worth it), the neck was from a previously deceased Fender P bass so it still shows the plugged string tree screw hole on the front of the headstock and the plugged tuner screw holes on the back of the headstock. I could have had the finisher blend them in better (hand painting a faux tiger stripe over each hole to better hide the plug) but it would have almost doubled the cost of the finish job and not really eliminated the issue. And I used the lowest cost option Tbird humbuckers (ChinaBuckers from EY guitars) because I wasn’t really sure exactly how it was going to sound with the custom control circuit, VP pups or the new Gibson NR pups would most likely have been an even better option.

All in all, I think it came out excellent in looks, sound, playability, features and quality - it did garner quite a few fans at the recent Tbird GTG in Santa Cruz, with the very well stocked guitar store owner practically begging me to sell it to him or make him an identical one.

So there you have it, all the Tbird crap that was running around in my head as I was typing my original “Excellence” post. Hope all the photos and background info help quench your thirst for more Tbird content.

Wow! Turned out nice!

 

[Engle]

View attachment 5226158

Regarding this bridge, I have one on my med. scale white bird. It is wider than the raised center block on a t-bird. The part that wraps around the post hangs over the edge of the center block.

It will functionally work because the posts are still just inside of the center block, but the overhang didn't look right to me.

I modified mine and it is working well. Bridge just got chopped off on the ends. Tailpiece got heavily modified.
View attachment 5226167

The intonation has more travel than it looks like. Under the saddle, there are three holes that the black locking screw can thread into. So whie the slot and the saddle isn't very long, you can move the screw to three different holes and then use the slot to fine tune from there.

Look closely through the slot in this picture you can see one of the other holes this saddle is in the middle hole, so there is the hole toward the tailpiece that you can see, and one more toward the neck that is not visible.
View attachment 5226168

Thanks for the scoop! And great modding! Do the studs lock onto the bridge?

 

[Engle]

Much easier on the belly! I like the late '60s NR's because they had a very large belly bevel, compared to the Gen 1 birds.

View attachment 5226200

Belly cuts rock. And take away weight

 

[stlrocker]

Thanks for the scoop! And great modding! Do the studs lock onto the bridge?

Yes, locking studs. Adjust height with screwdriver and lock it down with the Allen head in the middle.

 

[stlrocker]

Another thing to consider about that bridge is that it is pretty thick, The lowest possible adjustment is still pretty high. Higher than a three-point adjusted all the way down.

I could make it work with the bolt on by shimming the neck. If it was on one of my neck throughs I think it may have been too high.

Overall, I don't hate the bridge. It does the job. But I will probably be replacing it one of these days. I used it because I had it and could make it work. Kind of a placeholder.

Planning on making one like the VP or the original '60s bridge and tailpiece. Sooner or later. Have another t-bird project in the works so I'll probably make a few when I get around to it.

I have the milling machine and aluminum stock here so it shouldn't be a really difficult project. Also set up for nickel plating, but aluminum is pretty difficult to plate, so I'll have to mess with it a little bit but should be able to get it right.