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Thunderbird Club

#28,601
Spoono Ghiefardi said:
Well my real point was that Thunderbird players bash epiphones unless there the most expensive one. That school of thought is horrible. If you like Gibsons cool, but the price tag and name don't make it a better bass.
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Some Epiphones are great and most are pretty decent. I was only able to afford a Gibson because I lucked out on an auction and won it at a price that I never thought would win. Especially with set neck and Gibson pickup models, they are a reasonable choice for most players.
 
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#28,602
rodv66 said:
Some Epiphones are great and most are pretty decent. I was only able to afford a Gibson because I lucked out on an auction and won it at a price that I never thought would win. Especially with set neck and Gibson pickup models, they are a reasonable choice for most players.
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I miss the neck-thru build of the Pro IV I had. Sold it to get the passive Blackbird, which I like the sound of, and the look of more. But I miss the neck-thru...
 
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#28,603
rodv66 said:
Just played my Gibby standing up for 3 hours straight. No pain or discomfort, felt no different than standing up for three hours with any other bass I ever owned. People hear that birds are too heavy and uncomfortable and assume that is the truth. Maybe it's better that that trype of person doesn't play them. I tend to consider Thunderbird players to be generally non conformists.
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Honestly I find my Gibson Thunderbird IV to be fairly light. But my Studio V is heavy as hell, nearing 10 pounds. Probably due to being a thick 1 piece solid body.
 
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#28,604
I think TBird said it a while ago, they're just two different instruments that look the same. If you dig neck through cool. I personally like bolt ons for their attack. I understand its more cost effective, but a fender can cost just as much as a Gibson. I appreciate Gibsons, but have never had a drive to own one. I chose my epi because it had all the features I wanted, not because I couldn't afford the gibson version and settled. Thats why I really love this thread. Everyone has a general love of our favorite shape.
 
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#28,605
Spoono Ghiefardi said:
I think TBird said it a while ago, there just two different instruments that look the same. If you dig neck through cool. I personally like bolt ons for their attack. I understand its more cost effective, but a fender can cost just as much as a Gibson. I appreciate Gibsons, but have never had a drive to own one. I chose my epi because it had all the features I wanted, not because I couldn't afford the gibson version and settled. Thats why I really love this thread. Everyone has a general love of our favorite shape.
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In the past (as was Leo Fenders intent) yes, more cost effective to have a bolt-on neck. But with the advent of CNC machines - it may be more cost effective to produce a neck-thru. I'm only conjecturing but it seems probable. Neck thru's are nice and do offer sonic advantages but the repair/neck replacement factor still makes bolt-on's more attractive for active/pro players.
 
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#28,606
Today I took the bridge p'up out of my modded Epi Blackbird. Now it's got a much darker, woofier, gnarlier sound: As a result it's less well-balanced sounding, perhaps a little less "general-use". All the "polite" has been taken out of it. I'm good with that. (Edited....)

(Edit: Coulda happened by just desoldering and without removing the p'up perhaps, but that wouldn't be my way of doing things. :) )

Just have to decide how to fill a couple holes now!

20170415_171307.jpg


20170415_172047.jpg
 
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#28,607
Count Bassie said:
Today I took the bridge p'up out of my modded Epi Blackbird. Now it's got a much darker, woofier, gnarlier : As a result it's less well-balanced, consequently, perhaps it's a little less "general-use". All the "polite" has been taken out of it. I'm good with that.

(Edit: Coulda happened by just desoldering and without removing the p'up perhaps, but that wouldn't be my way of doing things. :) )

Just have to decide how to fill a couple holes now!

View attachment 1107549

View attachment 1107561
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You could put a plastic plat over it.
 
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#28,610
Count Bassie said:
Today I took the bridge p'up out of my modded Epi Blackbird. Now it's got a much darker, woofier, gnarlier : As a result it's less well-balanced, consequently, perhaps it's a little less "general-use". All the "polite" has been taken out of it. I'm good with that.

(Edit: Coulda happened by just desoldering and without removing the p'up perhaps, but that wouldn't be my way of doing things. :) )

Just have to decide how to fill a couple holes now!

View attachment 1107549

View attachment 1107561
Click to expand...

I used some black nylon fasteners on mine. A bit of nail polish or Loctite will keep the nut in place in the control cavity, or forget the nut and use superglue - but that's a one time, one way operation. Can't offer much advice about the pup cavity, suppose it depends if you want it to be reversible or not.

blanking

blanking

  • Media owner kat888
  • Date added
 
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#28,611
kat888 said:
I used some black nylon fasteners on mine. A bit of nail polish or Loctite will keep the nut in place in the control cavity, or forget the nut and use superglue - but that's a one time, one way operation. Can't offer much advice about the pup cavity, suppose it depends if you want it to be reversable or not.

blanking

blanking

  • Media owner kat888
  • Date added
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Over on the FB Thunderbird page @marko57 suggested a pickup cover. I replied wondering if I could get one in black?...
 
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#28,614
kat888 said:
Hehe.

A block of polystyrene and some black gaffa tape would do, if that fits the aesthetic.
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I'd most like it to disappear. Which is a little inconsistent with the inclination to do such a rash move on this axe, with its patina and maybe off-to-match coloring. But the p'up cover might lend some forgiveness, and enable a proper camouflage when I can work it out.

However, that quasi-steampunk idea has found occasion to rear its auld head again. Maybe a blackened-bronze colored grate?
 
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#28,618
Count Bassie said:
Today I took the bridge p'up out of my modded Epi Blackbird. Now it's got a much darker, woofier, gnarlier sound: As a result it's less well-balanced sounding, perhaps a little less "general-use". All the "polite" has been taken out of it. I'm good with that. (Edited....)

(Edit: Coulda happened by just desoldering and without removing the p'up perhaps, but that wouldn't be my way of doing things. :) )

Just have to decide how to fill a couple holes now!

View attachment 1107549

View attachment 1107561
Click to expand...
Props for the Trace Elliot
 
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