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Thunderbird Club

#294,902
Did a string change and a full setup on the new Epi VP. I knew the factory strings sucked but I didn't realize quite how much until I installed a new RS66 45-105 set. [Angry piano has entered the chat/] Now this is the Thunderbird tone I was looking for! The extra string tension was also welcome. The Pau Ferro board got a dose of Fret Doctor oil as well and it really came to life. I addressed a couple of shallow nut slots and previously filed, crowned, and polished the 8th and 9th frets that were high. Action is buzz free and measures .60 on the G string and .70 on the E string at the 20th fret. I have a three-ply white truss rod cover coming which I think will suit the bass better and match the pickguard. I'm not in love with the Wilkinson tuning machines and will probably replace them. I do want to stick with the vintage vibe. I'm going to order a single Hipshot HB-1 to check fitment and if it works I'll order two more and a matching BT-1 Bass Xtender. This bass really sounds great in drop D. Best Father's Day present ever!
 
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#294,903
JJR58 said:
Mine was amazing through an SVT when i gigged it.
Click to expand...
my white 74 01 sounded really good….had it strung with RS steel rounds (.90E!) and would play through a Kustom 2x15 200 Watt amp and sounded really good….later it went through my beloved GK 400B and a custom 2x15 enclosure with RCF drivers and was jut bliss with a pick……unfortunately never found the comfy for pizzicato…..
 
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#294,904
KB5 said:
I'm not in love with the Wilkinson tuning machines and will probably replace them. I do want to stick with the vintage vibe. I'm going to order a single Hipshot HB-1 to check fitment and if it works I'll order two more and a matching BT-1 Bass Xtender.
Click to expand...

I did this on my 2017 VP. The HB-1’s and BT-1 are not an exact fit but they are close. I recall the top two screw holes on each tuner didn’t line up exactly. I filled the holes and drilled new pilot holes and it went together good. The other thing is that the shoulder of the string post sits a little low inside the ferrule. Enough to bug me but not enough to be a problem.

I might try adding a washer at the base of the string post to bring it out a little so the strings don’t rest on the ferrule edge, but on the shoulder of the post. It flares down a little from the top to a shoulder.

Then again I might not….
 
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#294,906
Chucky Stiletti said:
everything heating up….94 today…
3 gigs this week, gotta look at this one for Fri at Crows…..Shirley Manson is my Nikki…,,
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The drums are the key, we looked at playing this a long time back, good song!
I'd love to bring TNH to The Crow's Nest! Have a great show :)
 
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#294,910
KB5 said:
Did a string change and a full setup on the new Epi VP. I knew the factory strings sucked but I didn't realize quite how much until I installed a new RS66 45-105 set. [Angry piano has entered the chat/] Now this is the Thunderbird tone I was looking for! The extra string tension was also welcome. The Pau Ferro board got a dose of Fret Doctor oil as well and it really came to life. I addressed a couple of shallow nut slots and previously filed, crowned, and polished the 8th and 9th frets that were high. Action is buzz free and measures .60 on the G string and .70 on the E string at the 20th fret. I have a three-ply white truss rod cover coming which I think will suit the bass better and match the pickguard. I'm not in love with the Wilkinson tuning machines and will probably replace them. I do want to stick with the vintage vibe. I'm going to order a single Hipshot HB-1 to check fitment and if it works I'll order two more and a matching BT-1 Bass Xtender. This bass really sounds great in drop D. Best Father's Day present ever!
Click to expand...

If it isn't obvious that string height should read 0.060" on the treble side and 0.070" on the bass side. Lol.
 
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#294,913
KB5 said:
Did a string change and a full setup on the new Epi VP. I knew the factory strings sucked but I didn't realize quite how much until I installed a new RS66 45-105 set. [Angry piano has entered the chat/] Now this is the Thunderbird tone I was looking for! The extra string tension was also welcome. The Pau Ferro board got a dose of Fret Doctor oil as well and it really came to life. I addressed a couple of shallow nut slots and previously filed, crowned, and polished the 8th and 9th frets that were high. Action is buzz free and measures .60 on the G string and .70 on the E string at the 20th fret. I have a three-ply white truss rod cover coming which I think will suit the bass better and match the pickguard. I'm not in love with the Wilkinson tuning machines and will probably replace them. I do want to stick with the vintage vibe. I'm going to order a single Hipshot HB-1 to check fitment and if it works I'll order two more and a matching BT-1 Bass Xtender. This bass really sounds great in drop D. Best Father's Day present ever!
Click to expand...
Fantastic!

I have found my two VPs sound really good with about anything, and fantastic with a fair amount of strings. They can handle more variety of strings than any bass I own.
 
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#294,916
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#294,917
I've been busy building a BC Rich warlock inspired guitar over the last couple of days. Today, I adorned it with Tiki God graphics, which actually creep me out.

DSC03674.JPG

DSC03676.JPG

My band shall be playing a festival next week and I plan to use it there.
 
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#294,920
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