Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

And while we're on the topic of early '66 dot/bound Oly white J's... Mike Watt and Big Walnuts Yonder Announce Debut Album, Premiere Single (LISTEN)

(just to justify posting a J on the T-bird thread - I seem to recall Mr Watt being fond of T-birds...)

 

[ubernator]

As long as I don't think about the truss rod, I do have to admit I like my 2015 China bird, and I hope it can be restored to full adjustability.

My jazz bass needs a fret job, wore them down because it was my most played bass. It is currently retired to the vault along with my geddy Lee jazz, p bass and Warwicks. I am exclusively budget basses right now until situation improves. I have good taste in budget basses, I enjoy them immensely, and other than the rod issue on one of the t birds, they are all sweet players and sound great, no mod gas needed.

 

[JIO]

As long as I don't think about the truss rod, I do have to admit I like my 2015 China bird, and I hope it can be restored to full adjustability.

My jazz bass needs a fret job, wore them down because it was my most played bass. It is currently retired to the vault along with my geddy Lee jazz, p bass and Warwicks. I am exclusively budget basses right now until situation improves. I have good taste in budget basses, I enjoy them immensely, and other than the rod issue on one of the t birds, they are all sweet players and sound great, no mod gas needed.

Considering what you paid and if you have enough woodworking skills, a truss rod replacement is doable and the rod (only part needed) itself is cheap. Not sure what it would cost being done (by a luthier) at a shop but it would probably be at least the cost of your initial outlay.

 

[JJR58]

- DO NOT SELL -

View attachment 1120200

I won't good sir.

 

[ubernator]

Considering what you paid and if you have enough woodworking skills, a truss rod replacement is doable and the rod (only part needed) itself is cheap. Not sure what it would cost being done (by a luthier) at a shop but it would probably be at least the cost of your initial outlay.

Requires ripping off the fretboard and having a new one made. Probably not practical on a bass like that.

What my mind thinks about are ways to build up the hex walls again, or that idea about slotting it for a flathead. Worst case scenario, a new neck, or do the reverse bass smash at the end of a high paying big gig. Hold it by the body and piledrive the headstock and hope the neck screws don't destroy the body, lol. Then put a new neck on it. I do like the way the body resonates, and the wood grain looks good. Those epiphone TB+ pickups sound fine to me.

The less I worry about it, the more chance I have that it is salvageable as is. I think I am going to play it as main bass on thursday.

Edit, forgot to mention, I have no wood working skills.

 

[ubernator]

FML!!!!!

I never noticed till now.... It is stamped 2ND on the back of the neck.

That does mean I got ripped off doesn't it?

How much less did the 2nds sell for? What were the usual defects?

 

[JIO]

Requires ripping off the fretboard and having a new one made. Probably not practical on a bass like that.

What my mind thinks about are ways to build up the hex walls again, or that idea about slotting it for a flathead. Worst case scenario, a new neck, or do the reverse bass smash at the end of a high paying big gig. Hold it by the body and piledrive the headstock and hope the neck screws don't destroy the body, lol. Then put a new neck on it. I do like the way the body resonates, and the wood grain looks good. Those epiphone TB+ pickups sound fine to me.

The less I worry about it, the more chance I have that it is salvageable as is. I think I am going to play it as main bass on thursday.

Edit, forgot to mention, I have no wood working skills.

No no, it simply requires removing the fb (done using a heating iron and flat-blades), replacing the tr and gluing the fb back on the neck. If done correctly that's all there is to it. Not really for a novice but just pointing out what's needed. This is what a luthier at a shop would do. There may be a bit of fret-leveling after but if the frets were good to start with - not much.

 

[ubernator]

No no, it simply requires removing the fb (done using a heating iron and flat-blades), replacing the tr and gluing the fb back on the neck. If done correctly that's all there is to it. Not really for a novice but just pointing out what's needed. This is what a luthier at a shop would do. There may be a bit of fret-leveling after but if the frets were good to start with - not much.

My posts are too long, I had mentioned that the fretwork is pretty poopy as is, when I put the saddles in proper order, it was apparent on the g there are a few high frets. I have the action set high because I play hard and hate buzz. Good thing I don't need to go high on the neck much.

Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you. Bear ate me.

I am not spending penny one on major luthier work on a 2nd stamped cheapest epiphone made... Not worth it. One of my friends can probably level the frets though.

 

[RikiP]

God dammit I love this stupid Thunderbird. It's really perfect but I'm seriously considering dropping some aftermarket pickups in it. My initial thought are Lull's. I've heard them in person. Huge, ballsy, and pure rock and roll sex. Of course they are also 5 bills...what are some other good options?

If i'm not mistaken, there are 3 big Thunderbird pickup maker.
Lull (most expensive), Thunderbucker (least expensive) and Lollar.
Although it's hard to compare them, because the environment of sound sources are always different.
But i'm sure all of this 3 sounds fantastic. U can't go wrong with them.
I think this is the most decent video.

Heesey, bassist of The Yellow Monkey is a big Thunderbird fan and he tried the same type of Kaminari bass (which is a japanese non-reverse Gibson Thunderbird replica) with 2 different pickup (Lull and Lollar).
4:15 and 10:25 - Lollar
6:05 - Lull
(also there is an original 66's Thunderbird and u can hear a new 2010~ Gibson reissue how terribly bad it is)

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Mods, for someone seeking their tone/feel happy place, should be executed without guilt or cowing to peer pressure.

This has been learned after years of same...

For me the factory product is equivalent to an empty canvas, it is merely a starting point for me to add color to. I am a mad scientist, I customize the hell out of everything.

 

[JIO]

If i'm not mistaken, there are 3 big Thunderbird pickup maker.
Lull (most expensive), Thunderbucker (least expensive) and Lollar.
Although it's hard to compare them, because the environment of sound sources are always different.
But i'm sure all of this 3 sounds fantastic. U can't go wrong with them.
I think this is the most decent video.

Heesey, bassist of The Yellow Monkey is a big Thunderbird fan and he tried the same type of Kaminari bass (which is a japanese non-reverse Gibson Thunderbird replica) with 2 different pickup (Lull and Lollar).
4:15 and 10:25 - Lollar
6:05 - Lull
(also there is an original 66's Thunderbird and u can hear a new 2010~ Gibson reissue how terribly bad it is)

The sound quality on this vid is so low it's hard to hear much difference between them. The Reverb vid (a few posts back) on the '76 is much clearer and you can really hear the tone.

 

[JIO]

View attachment 1120205

I won't good sir.

Maybe that's an old pic of when you 1st bought it, but I noticed the saddles being straight accross at the top of the bridge-plate. After intoning, the saddles usually stagger from the E being the longer/lowest to the G being near where it is now. Makes a big difference in how it sounds up and down the fb.

 

[JJR58]

Maybe that's an old pic of when you 1st bought it, but I noticed the saddles being straight accross at the top of the bridge-plate. After intoning, the saddles usually stagger from the E being the longer/lowest to the G being near where it is now. Makes a big difference in how it sounds up and down the fb.

You don't miss a thing!
Impressive!

Most recent adjustments.

 

[kat888]

(at least) one of each

Birds and a Franken-P with a full width 2 bladed humbucker.

 

[JJR58]

Birds and a Franken-P with a full width 2 bladed humbucker.

Both neck and bridge would be quite acceptable.

 

[EdO.]

As long as I don't think about the truss rod, I do have to admit I like my 2015 China bird, and I hope it can be restored to full adjustability.
... I am exclusively budget basses right now until situation improves. I have good taste in budget basses, I enjoy them immensely, and other than the rod issue on one of the t birds, they are all sweet players and sound great, no mod gas needed.

Same thing here. Of my 7 basses 6 of them are "budget". They all sound great, play great, gig them regularly. My two Squires (Mike Dirnt '51 reissue, Matt Freeman P) are every bit the bass that the two early 70's P's I had back in the day were. Maybe I just got lucky with my two Epi T-birds (Pro V and Classic IV) but they're both fine quality instruments. Play great, sound great, no issues, no Mods required. They effing rock. Seems most here have good experiences with them, and considering the going prices for them IMO they're one of the best values out there. At that price point some perhaps don't give them the respect (read "care") they'd give a more pricey bass, and sounds like you got stuck with one. That sucks.

I do like the way the body resonates, and the wood grain looks good. Those epiphone TB+ pickups sound fine to me.

100% agreed. No mods required or desired. I'm completely good.

I am not spending penny one on major luthier work on a 2nd stamped cheapest epiphone made... Not worth it.

Around here I see them regularly for $200 - 250, occasionally with a case at that price. Sell it for what you can get out of it and get another one. Well worth investing another $100 - 200 IMO. The good ones are great, especially for the final total investment.

 

[RikiP]

The sound quality on this vid is so low it's hard to hear much difference between them. The Reverb vid (a few posts back) on the '76 is much clearer and you can really hear the tone.

Yeah, the earlier video was about how good is a Thunderbird with Orange amp and fuzz.
This is video is about which is the best custom Thunderbird pickup. That's really hard to answer, because the surroundings of pickups are always different which can cause difference in tone and sound. In this video the surroundings are almost the same (same camera and microphone, same amp, same cab, same type of bass, same strings i guess etc.) with two different pickup.
One thing is sure, all of them are really good compared to the modern stock Gibson pickups.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Early Cataldo with 66 ThunderBuckers...

Available in three degrees of hotness.
30 day money back guarantee from Link Removed

 

[Nocturnal]

Requires ripping off the fretboard and having a new one made. Probably not practical on a bass like that.

What my mind thinks about are ways to build up the hex walls again, or that idea about slotting it for a flathead. Worst case scenario, a new neck, or do the reverse bass smash at the end of a high paying big gig. Hold it by the body and piledrive the headstock and hope the neck screws don't destroy the body, lol. Then put a new neck on it. I do like the way the body resonates, and the wood grain looks good. Those epiphone TB+ pickups sound fine to me.

The less I worry about it, the more chance I have that it is salvageable as is. I think I am going to play it as main bass on thursday.

Edit, forgot to mention, I have no wood working skills.

This *might* be an option. It's cheap and you could make it your own style so to speak. You could sell off some of the other parts to recoup part of the $$. Not connected with the seller in any way, just thought I would share.

Epiphone Thunderbird Parts Kit and Neck

 

[JJR58]

Yeah, the earlier video was about how good is a Thunderbird with Orange amp and fuzz.
This is video is about which is the best custom Thunderbird pickup. Which is really hard to answer.
One thing is sure, all of them are really good compared to the modern stock Gibson pickups.

I hear what you're sayin bout, what I think is the TB+ pick ups.
Agreed they are nothing like an original.
But I wouldn't write off that TB+, if that's what you're talkin about.