Thunderbird Club

[SubHuman]

you can shim the whole brass nut underneath with quality (thicc) printer paper, go slow, so you don't have to.

I just file a bit and then play it, once I'm close, I file less OR play it the next day and see if my opinion has changed on whether it's low enough...

It's fine to pay somebunny to do it, but they will just do it to a set specification, it may not be what your mood that day/week/month likes...

I have brass on a few basses and it's mostly because I have some brass stock laying around, not for "tonal" qualities...

I do one light stroke at a time. It takes forever, but I haven’t screwed up yet.

And Ahem.

I do this on all my basses related to the nut; I depress the 3rd fret and file each slot so that the string barely touches the 1st fret. I use a post-a-note leaf to test it - it should lightly grab when sliding it under the 1st fret. When filing - 2 rules; be patient and don't over-file. Better to keep going back & forth a little at a time until it's spot-on.

I've never measured the string height at the nut, but here is what I do anyway:
I file a bit, put the string back, press down between frets 2 & 3, tap the string against the first fret to check, and repeat as necessary. There should be just enough clearance for the string to make a tapping sound.

Make sure you are always filing at an angle, so where the string leaves the nut at the fingerboard is the high point of the slot.

Thanks for all the great replies! I (finally) got the brass nut filed and my 7ender parts bass is playing nice! One more toy for the toy box.

 

[SubHuman]

I had done the body a couple years ago, (boring black prior) then I decided I was eliminating maple boards on my telecasters (except one) and still had some paint left over.






One left out of the groop pic…

Suweeeet Collection

 

[Stealth57]

nice looking bass, short scale? does it sound like an EB?

30” scale. It sounds nice but I have no frame of reference for a real EB. Mudbucker isn’t muddy at all and the mini humbucker adds some nice top end.

 

[JIO]

Thanks for all the great replies! I (finally) got the brass nut filed and my 7ender parts bass is playing nice! One more toy for the toy box.
View attachment 5382916View attachment 5382917

The more you do your own work on your bass - the better. It not only saves you money, but you gain a sense of accomplishment being able to fine-tune your instrument to your specific requirements. And at the end of the day - it's not that difficult!

 

[JIO]

must be generational……..

egg-zackly

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Porter sampling day. Needs another week or two to develop a nice head. It is nicely carbonated with a smooth coffee flavor.

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I hope some of that makes it to the gtg!

 

[SubHuman]

Why does the T.bird logo on my 2018 look a little different than the other ones I've seen? Is this a known variant or an aberration (aftermarket or otherwise)?

View attachment 5381297

@Engle could you make a T-Bird decal based off this photo? I think it looks unique!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Hamilton & Perry (Aerosmith) backstage in 1976 before a concert at Madison Square Garden (Finn Costello // Getty Images)

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Marshall Mon…..

 

[Stealth57]

I hope some of that makes it to the gtg!

4+ months is a bit of a stretch. I am planning on driving, so I can bring whatever is available.

 

[SubHuman]

Hamilton & Perry (Aerosmith) backstage in 1976 before a concert at Madison Square Garden (Finn Costello // Getty Images) View attachment 5382963

Wow what a tiny room at Madison Square garden! Plus cement block walls. I always imagined a larger room for the bands!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Yes, I'm not a 3TSB fan either. If I found one that was fantastic (many are) I would consider it, but would be praying it wasn't: 1) 3TSB, and worse, 2) Antigua. Ken likes them as I recall, but I just can't, especially after they age.

I love a good 3TSB. I loathe the mediocre and worse ones.

 

[Stealth57]

I’m now inclined towards the EB being made in the Chushin Gakki factory. They also made the Greco EB. The Greco is the only other one I found with the funky string guard, 2 point bridge, and top jack. All the others I found were missing at least one of those features. Ibanez was close, but has a side jack.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

what do you use? mine are looking pretty pale, have never oiled them..

I still use clarinet bore oil. Chris or Bobby at Clark Music in Atlanta turned me onto that circa 1977…

 

[MCF]

Hamilton & Perry (Aerosmith) backstage in 1976 before a concert at Madison Square Garden (Finn Costello // Getty Images) View attachment 5382963

That was before the major renovation in the early nineties. I think it’s nicer than that these days.

 

[SubHuman]

I love a good 3TSB. I loathe the mediocre and worse ones.

Dumb question but what is a 3TSB?

 

[JIO]

Dumb question but what is a 3TSB?

3 Tone Sun-Burst

 

[Rickplaysbass]

Dumb question but what is a 3TSB?

Don't worry, I'm full of them. Matter of fact, I'll ask one at the end of this so you're not alone.

3 tone sunburst

5 string pickup options? Since I can't convince Spencer to sell me a pair.

 

[JIO]

it is a TBird club so…..JIO’s design made it across the world….Birds at the Taj….
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Awesome! You know... you popping up all over the world, I'm starting to suspect you are a spy...

 

[kyral210]

The more you do your own work on your bass - the better. It not only saves you money, but you gain a sense of accomplishment being able to fine-tune your instrument to your specific requirements. And at the end of the day - it's not that difficult!

You also feel better paying a good luthier to do repairs you can’t and appreciate a good job better.

While I can fit nuts etc., my specialist repair shop does a fantastic job that I am willing to pay for.