Thunderbird Club

[TBird1958]

As you can see. The 3-point bridge is pretty worn and the metal flakes off when turning screws.

View attachment 5305336 View attachment 5305337

I think I'd clean up the tail piece and use this:
3-point Bridge for Vintage Gibson® Epiphone® EB Bass, SG Ripper - Gotoh Japan | eBay

 

[Engle]

As you can see. The 3-point bridge is pretty worn and the metal flakes off when turning screws.

View attachment 5305336 View attachment 5305337

It looks like the E string saddle would need to move back for proper intonation.
Someone here has a guide to setting up the 3 point.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I don't have a Greco, but a number of us around here do. They are held in very high esteem for their ferocious pickups. As far as the 3-point and replacements, I'm surprised you can't fit a Supertone. It makes no sense that the Japanese 3-point is different from the one Gibson uses. As far as the stop bar, I don't see why you can't just leave it there and use the bridge without it. I would also expect a Babicz bridge to work, but it's a bit longer at the back and might interfere with the stop bar. Babicz bridges are pretty expensive, relative, so there's that.

You should be able to leave the stop bar and use it or ignore it, as you like. Someone here has used a stop bar with a Hipshot. And since the Epi three point directly replaces the Greco three point (the screws may be different, but I would think they'd be the same), either the Hipshot or Babicz should also just drop in. Some of us prefer the Hipshot, some the Babicz. I've only used the Hipshot (on two basses so far) but have been happy with it, so see no need to spend the extra money on the Babicz. Someone will be along shortly to explain why that's crazy talk.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

It looks like the E string saddle would need to move back for proper intonation.
Someone here has a guide to setting up the 3 point.

It's linked in the Thunderbird Club Wiki.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I think I'd clean up the tail piece and use this:
3-point Bridge for Vintage Gibson® Epiphone® EB Bass, SG Ripper - Gotoh Japan | eBay

Yeah, but you're married to the three point bridge.

So I guess y'all are poly?

 

[Engle]

The 3 point works fine with a claw. It just needs locking studs.

 

[TBird1958]

Yeah, but you're married to the three point bridge.

So I guess y'all are poly?

I like it a lot, the only one that's been replaced is on my Orville, it has a two point because it's supposed to look like a '64, which it does. Otherwise I've never had a reason to replace a 3 point and don't plan on it, in the hands of someone that knows what they're doing it works really well.
A three point on a Greco should lay almost flat since the bass doesn't have much neck pitch, low action like my Gibson.

 

[BklynKen]

How can I make my Thunderbird sound more like a Stingray?

Master Effects makes preamp pedals to mimic the preamps from a couple different Stingray basses. Might be worth a try.

 

[kyral210]

Master Effects makes preamp pedals to mimic the preamps from a couple different Stingray basses. Might be worth a try.

So the preamp makes all the difference‽ My Thunderbird has a Darkglass Tone Capsule in it already.

 

[BklynKen]

I love the love I'm seeing here for Carvin basses. I think I've mentioned, my LB20, built probably in the late '90s or early 2000s, is wonderful. My favorite neck. The Thunderbird's is a close second and I love everything more about the Thunderbird. The Carvin was my #1 before the Thunderbird.

 

[JIO]

You should be able to leave the stop bar and use it or ignore it, as you like. Someone here has used a stop bar with a Hipshot. And since the Epi three point directly replaces the Greco three point (the screws may be different, but I would think they'd be the same), either the Hipshot or Babicz should also just drop in. Some of us prefer the Hipshot, some the Babicz. I've only used the Hipshot (on two basses so far) but have been happy with it, so see no need to spend the extra money on the Babicz. Someone will be along shortly to explain why that's crazy talk.

The Hipshot Supertone bridge is a good design (fully adjustable) and also allows for string-thru.

 

[JIO]

LOL - your kidding right? The original Stingray B00 basses were made when we all had strong backs and weak minds.

This one is fairly typical of the era and only weighs 172 ounces (LOL - that sounds better than 10 pounds 12 ounces doesn’t it). I just pulled it out of storage and opened the case so I could take it out and weigh it, it’s been at least a year since I played the beast - that rock hard maple neck was still in perfect tune and sounded glorious (even the G string). Serial number is B012368 so it’s a 1979 and all original.

Yah.., over 9lbs is a deal-breaker for serious consideration. I'll stick to admiring heavy basses from afar.

 

[PhR75]

I love the love I'm seeing here for Carvin basses. I think I've mentioned, my LB20, built probably in the late '90s or early 2000s, is wonderful. My favorite neck. The Thunderbird's is a close second and I love everything more about the Thunderbird. The Carvin was my #1 before the Thunderbird.

I already decided that if I don't get the money saved up on time before someone else gets that bass I'll use the funds for a Behringer Pro-1 synth module. That'll teach...eh, them? Or just me.

BTW, my friend loaned me this today:

Yamaha YC25D combo organ. Sounds great through a Leslie sim (think Max Webster's Terry Watkinson) and cheesy without.

 

[GonePlaid]

View attachment 5305108

Needs a brid...NVM.

 

[GonePlaid]

I already decided that if I don't get the money saved up on time before someone else gets that bass I'll use the funds for a Behringer Pro-1 synth module. That'll teach...eh, them? Or just me.

BTW, my friend loaned me this today:
View attachment 5305428

Yamaha YC25D combo organ. Sounds great through a Leslie sim (think Max Webster's Terry Watkinson) and cheesy without.

Cool. I had a YC45D. Weighed a ton. It died. No matter what key you pressed, it always squealed the same note. Ran it through a Leslie sim-that also died-into a P____KB300. With all the buttons/switches/etc. it almost sounded like a Hammond. Or harpsichord, or bells, or...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

then you weren't doing it right

oh, we were doing it better than right…..just that Rosa (my wife) knows the cops….

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Hey Chuck, you gave me a tailpiece last summer. What bass was it from? The spacing is wider than a 3 point.

yeah from a BaCH two piece….

 

[Nocturnal]

Have a late 80s greco thunderbird in black and want to replace the three point bridge but it also has the other bit where the strings sit. Can I still replace the three point bridge with a hipshot one and just remove that tail piece?

Hipshot returned my call and mentioned both their two-point and three-point Supertone bridge won't fit apparently. Anyone have experience with the greco TBs?

I don't have a Greco, but a number of us around here do. They are held in very high esteem for their ferocious pickups. As far as the 3-point and replacements, I'm surprised you can't fit a Supertone. It makes no sense that the Japanese 3-point is different from the one Gibson uses. As far as the stop bar, I don't see why you can't just leave it there and use the bridge without it. I would also expect a Babicz bridge to work, but it's a bit longer at the back and might interfere with the stop bar. Babicz bridges are pretty expensive, relative, so there's that.

I replaced the Greco 3 point directly with an Epiphone 3 point, on my former tb-70, so if the hipshot will replace an Epiphone I don't see why it wouldn't work, and I am always amazed by companies that don't know their own product.

(I do believe I used the Epiphone studs with the Greco bushings with no issue)


Personally I like the 3 point with the claw tailpiece and have them on my Gibson's and Epiphones with a 3 point

View attachment 5305259

I replaced my Greco 3-point bridge with an Epiphone 3-point AND the screws. They were a direct fit with the Greco body inserts. I believe that means the Hipshot would fit the Greco as well since the Hipshot fits both Gibson and Epi Tbirds.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

amazing how good this valvetrain looks after almost 100k miles….

 

[MCF]

Ok, I checked with Wikipedia:
There has been much speculation regarding which city of Jackson the song is about, but Wheeler said: "Actually, I didn’t have a specific Jackson in mind. I just liked the sharp consonant sound, as opposed to soft-sounding words like Nashville." Though Wheeler had no particular Jackson in mind when writing the song, some subsequent singers have specified Jackson, Tennessee. The previous source also quotes Charlie Daniels as having recorded "Jackson" with these lines, "I ain't talking 'bout Jackson, Mississippi. I'm talking 'bout Jackson, Tennessee". And, Johnny Cash is quoted in the video from the same source: "Well, I was gonna take her down to see Carl Perkins in Jackson." Carl Perkins lived in Jackson, Tennessee.

Wow. Above and beyond Miles. That is why we’re bros. What a great club. I’m guessing the brain trust here, altered over the years by only God knows what, can answer almost any question. And be pretty darn accurate. I love you people.