Thunderbird Club

[Dadagoboi]

I've got a few 70's T-Birds, and they're all 4" wide.
I got one pair of covers (bridge and pickup) from Steve at Link Removed
They're excellent pieces, and well-priced, BUT they're nickel plated, not chrome.

Does anyone with an old (60s/70s) Bird know what the width of the middle section is? I'm looking at getting pickup covers for the Greco and want to know if ones that'd fit the old Gibsons would fit the Greco as well.

ThunderBucker Ranch covers aren't plated, they're solid nickel silver. Steve will make them to whatever width you need!

They're nickel because Nickel Rules!... for old farts like us, anyway.

 

[jamersonburton]

new bass and first tbird. The almighty epiphone classic iv pro.
I love the look of the 3 point but not the mechanics of it so I'll probably replace it with a Babicz 3 point if I can hunt one down.

 

[kat888]

Perfect! I actually much prefer nickel, but, sadly, Gibson opted for chrome hardware in the 70s. Which sucks a LOT when they begin to get pitted and corrode and look awful.

[GASP]

 

[BklynKen]

I have an intellectual understanding of the protection afforded by gig bags as well as the sturdiness of modern basses, but I keep everything in a hard case. I just couldn't see me actually using a gig bag. Besides, you can't put one of these stickers on a gig bag.

Iron-on?

 

[BklynKen]

new bass and first tbird. The almighty epiphone classic iv pro.
I love the look of the 3 point but not the mechanics of it so I'll probably replace it with a Babicz 3 point if I can hunt one down.

Also consider the Hipshot SuperTone.

 

[jamersonburton]

Also consider the Hipshot SuperTone.

I have but I'm not into the aesthetics of that bridge. I'm also considering exposed core strings or something. Would that solve the problem of the anchor to saddle distance?

 

[TBird1958]

new bass and first tbird. The almighty epiphone classic iv pro.
I love the look of the 3 point but not the mechanics of it so I'll probably replace it with a Babicz 3 point if I can hunt one down.

Welcome!

Shall I add you to our club sir?

 

[jamersonburton]

for sure!

 

[KingFace]

ThunderBucker Ranch covers aren't plated, they're solid nickel silver. Steve will make them to whatever width you need!

They're nickel because Nickel Rules!... for old farts like us, anyway.

Ah, my mistake!
And yes, nickel is just so lovely.

 

[KingFace]

So, she's arrived!
Cosmetically, not in terrible shape, and no breaks/repairs, which is a big plus. The pickups, particularly the bridge pup, have some corrosion, but work fine. The pickguard has a Bicentennial bird (it should be without the '76'). The neck is in fantastic shape, straight and true, though it's probably the beefiest of the five I have. Still and all, it's still a narrow T-Bird neck.
Perhaps it's nitpicking, but one thing that really bummed me out is that the vintage shop where it came from couldn't be bothered to put on a new set of strings and set it up! I know it's not a deal-breaker, but I mean....

 

[Dadagoboi]

Epi Pro IV with the full ThunderBucker Ranch treatment.

 

[KingFace]

Epi Pro IV with the full ThunderBucker Ranch treatment.

Whoa! That looks fantastic!
Not being used to four knobs, is it a Vol.- Tone/ Vol.- Tone configuration?

 

[Dadagoboi]

Whoa! That looks fantastic!
Not being used to four knobs, is it a Vol.- Tone/ Vol.- Tone configuration?

Yes. Active electronics removed and stock bridge replaced with Cataldo bridge/tailpiece. Also from ThunderBucker Ranch

 

[kat888]

Yes. Active electronics removed.

Idle curiosity - have you tried the Thunderbuckers with the Pro IV electronics?

 

[Dadagoboi]

Idle curiosity - have you tried the Thunderbuckers with the Pro IV electronics?

Why would I subject them to a $5 preamp with inferior pots and jack?

 

[kat888]

Why would I subject them to a $5 preamp with inferior pots and jack?

Answers my question.

 

[BklynKen]

Yes. Active electronics removed and stock bridge replaced with Cataldo bridge/tailpiece. Also from ThunderBucker Ranch

I was gonna ask about the bridge. How do you retrofit the bridge to the newer Thunderbirds? Bridge mounts existing holes and you drill new holes for the tailpiece? Tempted to do that for my 2013 since I love the two-pieces. But for me there's the third mounting hole and the concern that the Hipshot has left an impression I won't be happy exposing. Did you fill in the third hole?

 

[kat888]

And while you are answering questions Carlo, I take it that the NR41 KB will have nickel hardware yes?

 

[PillO]

Why would I subject them to a $5 preamp with inferior pots and jack?

So, if you were looking for an active thunderbird, you would replace the pre-amp, not the pickups?

 

[Dadagoboi]

I was gonna ask about the bridge. How do you retrofit the bridge to the newer Thunderbirds?

I don't. The Pro IV has a normal type bridge so the Cataldo just mounts to the body.

For my '77 (and any later TBird with a 3 point) I came up with this. Fully adjustable for individual string height, string spacing and intonation travel. Plus it gets the silk off the saddle and uses original studs without modification.

The NEVERTILT 3 point solution:

There's a cap for the front stud anchor.