Needless to say, I didn’t spend much time outside
Home is a little better. It will only be -14 tonight
Ouch!
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- club thunderbird
Ouch!
I’ve never tried rockmasters before… I’ll keep an eye out for them.
If I go with the Gibson I would get a second hand 1995 onwards, it’s really the only time period Gibson that goes for a price I’m willing to pay on reverb… so on that topic is the three point bridge as bad as people say it is? And if it is are there good mods for it?
I have five Gibsons, ‘95, ‘97, 2x’01’s and an ‘03. They are all awesome and feel great. I will tell you there is a difference between my ‘95 and ‘97 and the ‘01’s and ‘03. The ‘95 and ‘97 used different tuners than the post 2000’s ones, with the set screw being offset, while the 2000’s models the set screw is centered. Also the pickguard screw holes in the ‘90’s ones are in a different location than the post 2000 ones.
I have my eye on a ‘99, and it has all the same above characteristics as the ‘95 and ‘97, so I think there was some change right around 2000.
Also, to me, my ‘90’s ones feel a little more handmade where the 2000’s ones are more “manufactured” feeling. The 2 ‘01’s and the ‘03 I have are just kind of “precise” feeling while the ‘95 and ‘97 feel a little more rugged.
As far as the 3 point bridge, I replaced it on all of them with the Babicz. I also replaced the TB+ pickups with various aftermarket versions, ala, Lollar, Novak, Thunderbucker, and Gibson re-issue. And trim rings all around.
From left to right, ‘95, ‘97, ‘01, ‘03, and ‘01
I also have 2 Eppi VP, and they are great basses, I’m definitely in love with my white 2017, with TI “Power Bass” rounds.
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I’m generally ok with the three-point for most of my Thunderbirds. But I prefer the Babicz drop in replacement. Some like the Hipshot Supertone. Great company, but I’ve tried one on two Thunderbirds now and just couldn’t get the action as low as I like. I also think the Babicz looks better.
You know me..I'd talk him down to $5 if I had the wall space.
Gotta love that svelte 7.7 weight.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,237
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Needless to say, I didn’t spend much time outside
Home is a little better. It will only be -14 tonight
A balmy 20 tonight in Seattle, Fraser River outflow!
Yes - Happy B-Day Frank - Capricorns rule!
Mine was on the 9th, and I just unboxed my first Thunderbird today!
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In keeping with the unofficial policy in this club to continue to perpetuate negative myths and exaggerations about Tbirds in an effort to drive the desire to own one down and thereby make them more affordable so we can buy more of them - the answer is YES, the three point bridge is a horrid abomination that should never have even been invented much less used, never purchase a bass with a three point bridge!
Now, the dirty little secret that’s just between us club members - the three point bridge is a perfectly functional design that is easy to adjust and holds perfect intonation. It’s a robust design void of cheap little easily lost grub screws and is preset to exactly match the radius of the neck. It’s relatively smooth on top if you like to rest your hand on the bridge for palm muting and is more windmill friendly than some after market bridges.
Things to know - the bridge saddle and intonation screw assembly is not locked into the bridge body. That means if you take the strings off the bass and flip the bass over, the saddle assembly will fall out. No BFD - just drop them back in, takes one second. Better yet, don’t flip the bass over in the first place and you’ll never have to worry about it. On rare occasion, it is possible for a body anchor to pull loose, it happens but the fix is usually easy and painless. Of my 15 Tbirds it’s only happened on one, and that was a bass I got used which had been thoroughly abused by its previous owner, so they may have messed it up. About the only other problem area is that some string silks are long enough they come in contact with the saddle, you can cut the silk off if it bothers you or you can install a mod bar or claw behind the bridge to seat the ball end in.
If you’re so inclined - there are a couple of perfectly good after market bridge options you can use to replace your perfectly good three point bridge. They will run you a bit over $100 each and offer some advantages over the stock three point. Hipshot makes one, it allows adjustable string spacing. Babicz makes one and it offers….a cool design.
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HAPPY THUNDERBIRTHDAY !!!!!!
Just unboxed this beauty, my first Thunderbird two days after my birthday-
Rather gonsmacked as it was listed B-stock (40 % off) with pictures of some paint missing from spots on the upper and lower edges of the headstock and a tear in the case near the handle -
However the bass was flawless- the only flaw was the tear in the case cover-
The case has that tear but that’s what a case is for- I will say that it’s quite heavy to lug around though the bass itself is light.
Rather gonsmacked as it was listed B-stock (40 % off) with pictures of some paint missing from spots on the upper and lower edges of the headstock and a tear in the case near the handle -
However the bass was flawless- the only flaw was the tear in the case cover-
The case has that tear but that’s what a case is for- I will say that it’s quite heavy to lug around though the bass itself is light.
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Some went with G; others went with L.
So now it's the G|L Clubs... ("|" is the logic symbol for "or")
Most days, my commute is from the breakfast table to the other end of the house - 15 seconds? Once every week or two it's about a half hour each way (I can cherry pick the commute times most days).
That binding is sharp…really sets it off nice!
I know at one point Gibson guitars had a variety of QC issues such as fret ends that would bite and claw like something nasty out of Harry Potter. That's been a while, though.
No, It was the suggestion that he needed to end the song with a bend on the G string at the 28th fret.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Well, my EB-2 isn't entirely flawless, but it's also more than 50 years old. It probably was flawless in about 1968. I haven't had my hands on a 1970s or 1980s Gibson that I can remember. The 1991 Thunderbird was pretty well battered when I got it, but the finish had held up really well considering the obvious heavy use it went through. The only nearly new Gibson I ever had is the 2015 Thunderbird, and it really is well made and about as perfectly finished as possible.
It was the binding that got me!
Another cool thing was it was listed as ‘used B-stock’ but actually new with a full Gibson warranty-
Oh and the neck is phenomenal with a low and easy action.
It sounds great with a nice acoustic resonance, and though the neck pickup hearks back to that dark Gibson tone, the bridge pup is quite toppy with good articulation and makes for a good blend with the other one-
The icing on the cake was the case candy including this nifty multi-tool in addition to the requisite Allen key-
