Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

What I have done since 1984 is electronic security (burglar alarm systems). My dad started his company in 1971. There was barely a such thing as an actual “control panel when he started in ‘65. Just a bypass keyswitch, magnetic contacts(probably closed loop/NO), a bell and dry cell batteries. Open a door, close the circuit and the bell would ring. Viola, a burglar alarm.
When I came into it, I saw and had to work on the early control panels, with led indicators and “zones”, delay circuits, so you could enter and disarm with 30 seconds, etc. and I also had to do the old stuff, like window foil. Super ‘60’s -‘70’s stuff.

Many times a customer would want something unusual and we’d have to figure a way to make it work with causing false alarms and all while being convenient to use.

I still work with my dad’s long time GM, who was my boss as far back as the late ‘80’s. He is now out of the industry, and is currently the president of a local casino here near SFO. That casino was my father’s company’s client since the late ‘80’s and one of my assigned “job sites”. I know that building inside out. Wired and installed over 100 access control doors virtually alone when they added a huge new part of the building in 1990-91. Now all these years later, it is my client. This is one place where I still have to figure ways to do unique things they want to do.

Such as, two doors with access controls/electric locks, and each door also has a mag lock. When one door opens the other doors mag lock will engage and vice-versa. Simple man trap, but maybe reverse(?).

They have a flood gate in the driveway that will fill with water if it starts to flood, and float up to block any water from getting in the basement garage. I had to make it so when it raises, a light will blink, and it will interrupt the access control system so that no one can run a card by the reader to raise the gate/arm and open the rollup gate into the garage. Oh, and install a test/bypass keyswitch on the whole thing so it can be tested.

A lot of the stuff I used to have to figure out a way to do with PS, timers, and relays can be done with the more sophisticated control panels now, but it still happens that someone wants something weird.

I’m not aware of too many people that stayed in this industry as long as I have, and I’m lucky I was able to go out on my own and be reasonably successful. Not rich, but comfortable, which is fine by me.

interesting industry…has changed a lot seems like…doing access control as well?

 

[Stealth57]

If it’s normally green, I’d bet it means you need a new backup battery.

Replaced the battery. Charger circuit?

 

[Ringhammer]

Possibly.

…And, I see stuff that old now and it’s upgrade time! I do not want to be responsible for antiquated equipment anymore. Not to mention I am standardizing. Bosch and Resideo(Honeywell).

 

[Ringhammer]

interesting industry…has changed a lot seems like…doing access control as well?

Yep, Access Control, Surveillance Systems, and Fire Alarms. I only take on small fire alarm systems as they have become very elaborate and new installs of commercial fire systems in medium to large and multi-story buildings are usually pretty massive. And I’m a one-man-shop.

 

[GonePlaid]

Idk, my singing voice is shot.
Like a wounded moose. would take a looooong time to revive it.
I’d rather be the bass player without the responsibility of singing.

Been listening/watching some of our tapes from 80-83. I had wider range(and narrower hips), but if we were working more, like we were 2 years ago, it'd take very little time-and practice-to get close to what I used to had.
Then again, if the frog had wings...

 

[JJR58]

Been listening/watching some of our tapes from 80-83. I had wider range(and narrower hips), but if we were working more, like we were 2 years ago, it'd take very little time-and practice-to get close to what I used to had.
Then again, if the frog had wings...

All the harmonies I used to do were in an upper range, was so easy back then.
Well, this frog sounds like a frog, and has no wings

 

[Ringhammer]

Replaced the battery. Charger circuit?

Is there voltage on the battery leads when the battery is disconnected? If not, is there a “battery” fuse?

If there is voltage on the battery leads when no battery connected, Is it the right voltage?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Yep, Access Control, Surveillance Systems, and Fire Alarms. I only take on small fire alarm systems as they have become very elaborate and new installs of commercial fire systems in medium to large and multi-story buildings are usually pretty massive. And I’m a one-man-shop.

Congratulations, “one-man-shop” sounds very cool..

 

[GonePlaid]

All the harmonies I used to do were in an upper range, was so easy back then.
Well, this frog sounds like a frog, and has no wings

I have a decent low and lower mid range; definitely not a tenor but a remarkably high falsetto. Like A above the treble clef staff anytime; on up to C on a good night. Basically a 3.5+ octave range.

 

[Ringhammer]

Gotta love a rainy Sunday when I can play bass and admire my cat tolerating my noise at the end of my bench:

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Is there voltage on the battery leads when the battery is disconnected? If not, is there a “battery” fuse?

If there is voltage on the battery leads when no battery connected, Is it the right voltage?

careful, next you know he’ll show up at your place with that panel….

 

[JJR58]

careful, next you know he’ll show up at your place with that panel….

 

[Stealth57]

careful, next you know he’ll show up at your place with that panel….

Or at his next gig

 

[JJR58]

Or at his next gig

With the panel?

 

[MCF]

All the harmonies I used to do were in an upper range, was so easy back then.
Well, this frog sounds like a frog, and has no wings

Maybe cut back on a certain vice?

 

[JJR58]

Maybe cut back a bion a certain vice?

Even if I did.
Would take a long time to be able to sing again.
And I’m just not motivated enough to want to sing tbh

 

[MCF]

Even if I did.
Would take a long time to be able to sing again.
And I’m just not motivated enough to want to sing tbh

Well, I haven’t been able to sing since my voice changed around 12 years. The only song my bands ever let me “sing” was “Monster Mash.”

 

[Stealth57]

Is there voltage on the battery leads when the battery is disconnected? If not, is there a “battery” fuse?

If there is voltage on the battery leads when no battery connected, Is it the right voltage?

UB1280 battery, 12v. Charging circuit read 13.6v but the battery reads 6.5v. Time for a new battery it appears. Thanks.

 

[Ringhammer]

I recommend these.
All the other batteries I have seen and used over the years don’t last as long as these.

UB ones are possibly generic labeled or maybe “UltraTech”? Either way, the all black batteries are the ones I avoid. They dry out internally, and only seem to be good for 2-3 years.

These Yuasa, grey body black top are IMO the best. Power Sonic are grey body/blue top and those tend to be good as well.

 

[ectoflanger]

I have one, a first-year 2009 model...it's kind of a unique thing, I guess.

Pretty wide at the nut, imo (1.9 inches, I think?), but narrow-ish string spacing (17mm, slightly less than 4-string Thunderbird's 17.5, a bit more than the 16.5mm on my Ibanez 5-strings).

The only Thunderbird I've owned that truly has neck-dive, but not unmanageable, lighter tuners might help.

Not very heavy overall though, mine weighs more or less the same as the other Thunderbirds I have/had.

Most folks have a dislike for either the pickups, pre-amp, or both, that were used in the Pro 4 & 5. I can get sounds I like from mine, but my plans have been to replace the pre-amp at some point; I've no issues with the pickups.


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Not sure if that answers your question, but maybe it helps a bit?

That’s beautiful