Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

@taddarietta @ectoflanger

the folks here have been nice enough to compile a Wiki page, that will be of great benefit to you (including a nice setup guide)
https://www.talkbass.com/wiki/thunderbird-club-faqs-n-stuff/


Please don’t assume the wiki is the default to asking questions! Ask away and get every explanation and guidance from everyone here. We want your bass experience to be a success!

Plus, we like to talk. As if that wasn't clear yet.

 

[TBird1958]

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-

View attachment 5313694

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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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Congratulations! let me know if you'd like a club number

 

[ectoflanger]

What’s the Allen key for? Do they not use the standard crack pipe wrench for the truss rod?

I love the multi-tool. But it needs a 4mm Allen key to work Epi truss rods. The similar Dunlop tool has a 4mm one.

I dunno, being a T-Bird newbie, but between my various case candies and extra-curricular purchases, I probably have one-

 

[MCF]

Congratulations! let me know if you'd like a club number

I’m sure he does. Seems to be as crazy as the rest of us. And that’s a good thing.

 

[Gaolee]

Sharon had a flight from Seattle home at 12:46. It's currently showing a 15:30 departure, but that's nearly upon her and AFAIK, they haven't started boarding yet. It's supposed to get down to 6C overnight, which isn't horrid, but is expected to be -11C Tuesday AM, get back up to 0, then down to 9, with more overnights the rest of the week of 0 or a bit below. -11C for us is the comfort equivalent of y'all having a 45C day.
Praying the stupid grid doesn't melt down again. We're not expecting appreciable moisture so that helps a little.

I have flights on Alaska Airlines 737s next week, and was on one twice last week. Then another cross-country flight in February. And maybe another cross-country flight. All on 737s. Some are Max 900s, too. Been nice knowing y'all.

 

[MCF]

Plus, we like to talk. As if that wasn't clear yet.

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to defend you in an expert depo. Just answer the question Will.

 

[ectoflanger]

Congratulations! let me know if you'd like a club number

Sure- but I have a confession to make-

Until about a year ago, a T-Bird was one bass, along with most Gibsons, I was skeptical of, and thought I’d never own-

 

[MCF]

I have flights on Alaska Airlines 737s next week, and was on one twice last week. Then another cross-country flight in February. And maybe another cross-country flight. All on 737s. Some are Max 900s, too. Been nice knowing y'all.

My daughter’s airline, JetBlue, doesn’t fly Boeings. For that I am thankful. Helps me sleep instead of worry all the time. It’s too bad the money to buy planes goes overseas.

 

[Gaolee]

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to defend you in an expert depo. Just answer the question Will.

I don't need to be defended. Other people need to be defended against me. Something like that.

 

[MCF]

Sure- but I have a confession to make-

Until about a year ago, a T-Bird was one bass, along with most Gibsons, I was skeptical of, and thought I’d never own-

I didn’t like Chinese food until I got to college and my Chinese friends showed me the light.

 

[Gaolee]

Sure- but I have a confession to make-

Until about a year ago, a T-Bird was one bass, along with most Gibsons, I was skeptical of, and thought I’d never own-

That's how it is until you get chosen by a Thunderbird. Once a Thunderbird chooses you, then you know. Everything gets better. Dogs love you more, tofu tastes like bacon, your bathroom somehow stays cleaner. Plus, Thunderbirds behave well for you all of a sudden. It's amazing how life improves once you have been chosen.

 

[MCF]

I don't need to be defended. Other people need to be defended against me. Something like that.

That’s what I’d be afraid of.

 

[Gaolee]

My daughter’s airline, JetBlue, doesn’t fly Boeings. For that I am thankful. Helps me sleep instead of worry all the time. It’s too bad the money to buy planes goes overseas.

I'm not worried. It's snowing outside my office window, and I'm on the motorcycle for the commute. It's life on the edge.

 

[kyral210]

The three-point works just fine so long as you don't take off all the strings and then turn the bass over. If you do that, everything falls out. The saddles are marked, so that's not really an issue, but it is a PITA. I replaced the 3-points on mine with Babicz bridges because I like the way they look and adjust. They aren't really any better functionally once you get them set up. Hipshot makes a replacement bridge, too. Same thing about those.

When you say 1995 onwards, do you mean older or newer? There's something subtly magical about my 2001, so if you have a choice between a 2001 and something else, if the price and condition are the same, then the 2001 is the way to go in my opinion. Or maybe it is just that specific bass guitar.

Add to this, I detest the 3-point bridge because any bridge where the string wraps go over the saddle is a design floor that should not exist. Installing a stop bar behind the bridge solves this, but it’s a mod no one should need to do.

My Thunderbird has a Hipshot bridge on that fixes all the problems, while adding a little mass to the body to sound neck dive. It’s a win, win.

 

[RedVee]

-14 doesn’t happen very often in Vancouver and when it does it’s not for long. My colleague is flying back to Edmonton which will be -41 tonight! That’s if his flight stops being delayed.

Poodles!

Now I see why cousin Pete goes to Arizona this time most years….

(Sometimes Texas I think)

 

[KaraQ]

Add to this, I detest the 3-point bridge because any bridge where the string wraps go over the saddle is a design floor that should not exist. Installing a stop bar behind the bridge solves this, but it’s a mod no one should need to do.

My Thunderbird has a Hipshot bridge on that fixes all the problems, while adding a little mass to the body to sound neck dive. It’s a win, win.

I solved the string wraps/silks over the saddles problem on my three-point bridges by convincing my ocd that it didn't matter

 

[RedVee]

I must admit to being shocked with my Goth. It arrived without strings and with the bridge saddles in a little plastic bag. I was a bit nonplussed for a few minutes.

But TB Club put my mind to rest.

I went for DR Hi-Beams. The 2011 Gibson also has Hi-Beams on it.

 

[Stealth57]

This takes care of the “silks on saddles”issue
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As does a Mod Bar.

 

[GonePlaid]

I must admit to being shocked with my Goth. It arrived without strings and with the bridge saddles in a little plastic bag. I was a bit nonplussed for a few minutes.

But TB Club put my mind to rest.

I went for DR Hi-Beams. The 2011 Gibson also has Hi-Beams on it.

Do those have a dimmer switch?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I solved the string wraps/silks over the saddles problem on my three-point bridges by convincing my ocd that it didn't matter

…sustain is overrated…