Thunderbird Club

[Nocturnal]

What is the best tool to open up the holes in the peg head/headstock just another 1/16” they are open to 1/2” but the Hipshot nuts on the ultralights are just a smidge bigger. Not thinking I’ll have much luck finding a 1 1/16” drill bit.

I think you mean a 9/16" bit
A reamer is the tool to use. I'm sure Stewmac has something nicer, but I have a set like this:
https://www.amazon.com/LifCratms-Tapered-Reamers-Chamfer-Woodworker/dp/B0BXG6N1PL/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1CVI4AORSGPQD&keywords=tapered+reamer+for+wood&qid=1698003828&sprefix=Wood+reamer,aps,203&sr=8-5&th=1

I picked up one of the reamers from Harbor Freight and it works well for this type of thing. Probably the same (or very similar) reamers sold in the Amazon listing Irv posted.

 

[TBird1958]

Who sent the Seattle weather down here? It was sunny when I picked up my VP. I came out of the dungeon 90 minutes later and it was doom and gloom and raining.

You have to ask

 

[Ringhammer]

I think you mean a 9/16" bit
A reamer is the tool to use. I'm sure Stewmac has something nicer, but I have a set like this:
https://www.amazon.com/LifCratms-Tapered-Reamers-Chamfer-Woodworker/dp/B0BXG6N1PL/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1CVI4AORSGPQD&keywords=tapered+reamer+for+wood&qid=1698003828&sprefix=Wood+reamer,aps,203&sr=8-5&th=1

Yeah, definitely 9/16….

 

[Miles_ONeal]

It's unplayable I tell you, the neckdive is so bad...............

And you can’t reach anything past the 12th fret - much less look sexy trying!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

My epiphone pro V Thunderbird dive bombed harder than Dimebag! Some lightweight tuners are rough strap material helped a lot, but is headstock still wants to more the ground.

A Pro V is one end of the bell curve, with a fat neck, extra fat string, and heavier, tuner-laden headstock. I couldn’t get on with mine for other reasons, but even my VP with its bigfoot headstock doesn’t dive like the Pro V.

 

[Stealth57]

A Pro V is one end of the bell curve, with a fat neck, extra fat string, and heavier, tuner-laden headstock. I couldn’t get on with mine for other reasons, but even my VP with its bigfoot headstock doesn’t dive like the Pro V.

And the bridge on my Pro IV is a pain in the arse to intonate. The saddle height allen screws bind up when sliding front to back. A screw driver and strong fingers are a definite requirement. Now that it’s intonated I hope those set screws keep the saddles from moving.

 

[RedVee]

I followed about half the advice I got. 2012 G3 reissue.

View attachment 5227042

Congratulations! What a great looking bass.

 

[Instagator]

The struggle is real

 

[Stealth57]

The struggle is real
View attachment 5227521

 

[kyral210]

Well I guess when you put a five string neck and an extra tuner on a bass that’s already borderline balanced you’re bound to get more dive than the norm. What you’re experiencing isn’t the norm, in fact it might be the exception. Trust me, you ain’t seen neck dive till you’ve played my Warwick five string thumb bass. Unless the builder specifically compensates for it, any normal four string bass converted to five string is going to be more prone to neck dive.

True. Although my Schecter C5 is pretty much a C4 with a wider neck and extra string. Yet it balances beautifully!

 

[WillyW]

The struggle is real
View attachment 5227521

obviously photoshopped…

 

[GBassNorth]

True. Although my Schecter C5 is pretty much a C4 with a wider neck and extra string. Yet it balances beautifully!

Most likely because the C4 is a beautifully balanced bass with plenty of upper horn to take a five string into account, unlike the Tbird that is just balanced with a four string and not a lot of extra leeway for that five string neck.
Loved my C4, look at that upper horn - nearly all the way to the 12th fret, as @JIO notes, pretty much guaranteed to balance perfectly….

 

[icefly]

Out of hardcase today.

 

[The EDP]

@Engle Irv, apparently you are undercharging for PGs. But please don’t get any ideas

View attachment 5227386

Could'a sworn the Bicentennial's Bird emblem was supposed to have a "76" on there . . .

 

[MCF]

Could'a sworn the Bicentennial's Bird emblem was supposed to have a "76" on there . . .

Only for a year ‘76 I think? The ‘77 to ‘79s are without?

 

[Nocturnal]

Could'a sworn the Bicentennial's Bird emblem was supposed to have a "76" on there . . .

1976 Bicentennial Birds did have the 76 in the tail. My '77 also has it, but pretty sure Gibson was just using parts on hand at that point.

 

[GonePlaid]

1976 Bicentennial Birds did have the 76 in the tail. My '77 also has it, but pretty sure Gibson was just using parts on hand at that point.

Wait. Gibson does that?

 

[JIO]

My epiphone pro V Thunderbird dive bombed harder than Dimebag! Some lightweight tuners are rough strap material helped a lot, but is headstock still wants to more the ground.

Some options...

Best option - custom removable peg extension. (bolt-on only)

For a 34" scale 8-string SG-style set neck-diver ...

next - easy peasy... works on any Gen1 style bird

And another dive-killer... heavy Koa bodied custom headless bird (Factorbird fretless) luthier skills required.

 

[JIO]

Ummmm, I've never heard of an iron on decal applied to a pickguard.
I've recently figured out the "print then cut" feature in the Cricut software, so multi-colored decals like that bicentennial bird may be possible.
Edit: just looked at it again, and I could do that with 3 different vinyl colors. And likely I could beat that price

The ad is not clear.., it includes a vintage '76 Bi-Ci pg... and a T-shirt iron on. (for ironing on a white T-shirt)

 

[davelowell2]

Hi, thought I’d post this here in case anyone is looking for another, lol.

If this is not allowed or is poor taste, please allow me to fix it without getting banned.

Thanks!

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/epiphone-thunderbird-vintage-pro-ebony.1626169/

 

[JIO]

Hi, thought I’d post this here in case anyone is looking for another, lol.

If this is not allowed or is poor taste, please allow me to fix it without getting banned.

Thanks!

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/epiphone-thunderbird-vintage-pro-ebony.1626169/

I think we will tolerate GAS here as long as it's T-bird related. If I "needed" another T-bird, that's a good look on a good bass (the VP) although I've never seen the usually push-on knobs with a set-screw... as always knobs are easy to replace and subject to personal taste. GLWTS