Thunderbird Club

[ThaCoast]

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.

Ever since i bought my Thunderbird Goth, it has sported its original 3 point bridge without flaw. Never had an issue setting it up, or string up. Yeah the fatter part of the string sat on the saddle (for the E always, & A string sometimes). Never bothered me much. Real reason i swapped for a Babicz instead were for:

- I was already upgrading pickups in my revamp/restore, so figured i'd dish for a new bridge too.
- Individual string height ajustement (as i'm used to with all my other basses, aside from my Ripper build, & 70's grabber copy).
- Less bulky looking than the Hipshot Supertone.

I've got other hipshot bridges on a couple of my basses (DA Plexi copy, Yamaha BB build. My former Tigerbird also got a black Kick4$$, as did another build for a friend), all of which were easy to set up too. I just didn't like the look of 3 point hipshot on, really any Gibson/epiphone bass (aside from perhaps the Jack Cassady semi hollow, & SG basses). But the Babicz is much more streamlined, & under my hand, feels more like the original 3 point bridge i've been used to. But with lots more range of setup, & flat mounted on the body. No more "floating", or side tilt, or anything the 3 point is "terrible" at in comparison to other bridges (7ender style & the likes).

But hey, to each their own, nothing wrong with the 3 point, if you take it at face value. It works, yes there's "better", but that's really subjective to who the player is, & how they have their setup. Most of us still rock the original 3 point, some sport Hipshot, others Babicz. Some even have @godofthunder59's badbird bridge (a more vintage look, but lots more intonation room). What stays the same, we all have thunderbirds, vastly different, that suit our needs.

 

[GBassNorth]

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.

Well, if you’re flying over SoCal feel free to “drop” in.

 

[Gaolee]

I had an Epi EB-3L. I couldn't remember what bridge it had on it so I Googled them. Apparently it had a * 3-point. This was B4 I got on TB and learned how terrible they are . IOW, I didn't know it was a POS, so I just put a set of flats on it and played it. Did the silks overlap the saddles? Damifino. The thing sounded good, the 3 position switch(1=bridge,2=both, 3=neck) made-to me-more sense than the 4 position switch that was on my 66 Gibby EB-3 and that I never really figured out. I prolly shoulda kept the EB-3L but, damn, did it neckdive!

With my '09 Epi EB-0 -that I bought in 2020-which came with a 3-point, I put on a Hipshot. Better sustain and looks cool-er. IMO.

*J/K.

Hey, a three-point is a huge improvement over the two-point tilt-o-matic bridge that's on my EB-2. Once it's set up, even the tilt-o-matic works just fine. I got out the EB-2 for the first time in a while last night. There's a reason it has stuck around for more than 40 years.

 

[Gaolee]

Did I mention how much I love the green color of this bass. I was expecting silver since its the TV Silver version. But this one is green - not a little green tinted, but totally green. It happens that a green bass with black pickguard is my favorite color combination!

I'm also getting used to wearing it and how to hold and play it. It feels comfortable and I'm getting used to playing it. I'm considering taking it to the gig this Saturday night.

View attachment 5314148

The finish texture is beautiful, too. I had not realized that the finish was translucent like that. The color along with mahogany grain patterns looks terrific.

 

[GBassNorth]

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 was in the exact same boat up until about 2015 when I purchased my first Gibson bass (2007 SG Supreme limited edition). It played and sounded and looked so nice I went out on a limb a year later and bought a Gibson Gold Anniversary Tbird. It too played and sounded and looked so nice I bought another Tbird then another and so on. I’m now sitting at about 15 Tbirds (all different types, no two are even close to the same). In all likelihood my next purchase will be a Tbird as well.

For the record I have plenty of Fender and other basses as well, but none of them get nearly the play time as my Tbirds.

 

[Gaolee]

Hi, Is there a master list of Thunderbird shaped objects that have wider than 1.5"/38mm nuts? I just saw a second hand Harley Benton TB-70 that I could have got for a song but alas the nut is a scrawny 38mm. Cheers

The biggest necks are early-ish Korean made bolt-on Thunderbirds. Those have a nut that's almost 1-3/4" wide.

 

[Gaolee]

I must confess to never having been a fan of the Tbird shape. But I must confess they have a cool factor. I was never a fan of fender shaped objects and inline headstocks regardless of make either and that has changed. Who said you can't teach a dog new tricks. I'm evolving as I get more into playing long scale basses now. A cheap entry into Tbirdism would have been good. Damn shame about that narrow nut

No worries. A Thunderbird will choose you when the time is right.

 

[Gaolee]

This club makes me smile.






And spend money.
Cheers!

Well, did you spend that $20 and find a place to put the Acoustic cabinet and head?

Ah, no, you didn't. What a pity. You need an ACC stack to be a complete person.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Sometimes I just put the ball end on the E string.

IIRC, the ball end didn't fit over an EBCF E string. It could have been the B string from a V set, though. It's been a while since I had to try that.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Did I ever mention the time my 2.5 hour Burbank to Seattle flight with Alaska turned into an 11 hour trip with a 9 or so hour layover in Sacramento? Alaska has bunged up my travel every time I've flown with them in the last two years, I'm hoping yours goes much MUCH smoother.

Alaska has been very reliable for us. This was the first glitchy trip I can recall. A slide sensor was causing problems. The trip was delayed about an extra 3.5 hours. Beats having a problem a few miles up.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Well, did you spend that $20 and find a place to put the Acoustic cabinet and head?

Ah, no, you didn't. What a pity. You need an ACC stack to be a complete person.

Does the non-folded-horn version count?

 

[Gaolee]

Did I ever mention the time my 2.5 hour Burbank to Seattle flight with Alaska turned into an 11 hour trip with a 9 or so hour layover in Sacramento? Alaska has bunged up my travel every time I've flown with them in the last two years, I'm hoping yours goes much MUCH smoother.

That really sucks. My experience with them has been different so far. I have been flying way too much for more than ten years now, and Alaska is the one airline who hasn't screwed it up completely for no apparent reason. Sometimes there's issues, but unlike other airlines, Alaska seems to be pretty forthright about what's going on. Nobody's perfect, so I'm not surprised that they did manage to foul it up. I'm just surprised that they have consistently fouled up your flights. I may be getting lucky. If so, I'll take it and say thank you.

 

[Gaolee]

Does the non-folded-horn version count?

Sure, why not? I had a 320 head and 408 cabinet which was an absolute beast of an amp. I miss it. It was two front firing 15s and two more in a slot firing at each other. It projected like a folded horn and also radiated like a front firing cabinet. It was fantastic, and it had a footswitch to go back and forth between the two channels and fitted covers. I probably shouldn't have let it go. It sure was huge, though.

 

[Gaolee]

Well, if you’re flying over SoCal feel free to “drop” in.

I'm make sure the emergency slide is good and long. No problems. See you soon!

 

[GBassNorth]

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

Same here. Once you get beyond the visual issue it’s really hard to find any negative impact to how the bass sounds or plays.

No, but they are brighter when it’s cold

Thanks mate, but I’m good.
Just as an aside, I thought less of the Epi T’bird IV and especially the Goth… until I got my Goth. They really are quite good and have a bit of a following here. A lot have the wide neck at (I just looked up) 1.73” (43.9mm). They are worth a shot and they use a bolt on neck and can be a mod platform if you are into that.

Really enjoying my Goth as well. The 1.73” nut does feel nice.

 

[JJR58]

I'm make sure the emergency slide is good and long. No problems. See you soon!

Seems like my only 2 non-stop choices to SEA from NY are United and Alaska.
I'm sticking with United.
If i get sucked out on the way, i'll light up a cig on the way down and wave at you all.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

dunno if still the case but for a pretty long time, Alaska was the only carrier who’d fly short nose breeds…..

 

[dagrev]

No affiliation, but in case anyone needs some Rotos. Strings and Beyond.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

fascinating how different bass guitar design criteria can be…..

 

[Instagator]

Seems like my only 2 non-stop choices to SEA from NY are United and Alaska.
I'm sticking with United.
If i get sucked out on the way, i'll light up a cig on the way down and wave at you all.

Don't take your Bass on United.