Thunderbird Club

[Bighouse]

Assuming I'm understanding you correctly...

4. How do you ever adjust to the HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE machine head????
Pay small person to stand on a stool to do it for you with a monkey wrench.
Okay, that one I made up. The monkey wrench part anyway.
They can be a bit of a reach and they are big, but you'll get used to it in no time. The originals were really tall.

No, I just meant VISUALLY how do you adjust. That thing’s HUGE. If it was a person, they would be a bobble head. It’s kinda like the clown shoes of machine heads.

 

[AllieCat]

And, while I’m getting familiar with this TBird, I see that I can’t put it on any of my current guitar stands as it’s got such a funky bottom. Anyone use a, preferably small, Hercules stand that works?

I have a Hercules GS412B that I'm pretty happy with. The GS414B or GS415B probably should work too. I think others around here have the GS414B's.

 

[Stealth57]

And, while I’m getting familiar with this TBird, I see that I can’t put it on any of my current guitar stands as it’s got such a funky bottom. Anyone use a, preferably small, Hercules stand that works?

Hercules. Single or multiple.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

The thought crossed my mind to do a Willy on the Donor Embassy. I have long wanted a fretless. Chuck's "Stanley" Pbass doesn't help.

Thx D,
LaBella flats..... @JIO nailed this one.....

 

[Bighouse]

So, my TBird didn’t come with a case. Not sure if that’s normal for used instruments, but I still feel like I got a good enough deal on it. But now I have to spend more to get a case…OR, I happen to have a duplicate free case for my PBass that Fender sent to me because my original case for my PBass was dented.
Anyone ever mod a Fender case to fit another body shape in it?

 

[AllieCat]

So, my TBird didn’t come with a case. Not sure if that’s normal for used instruments, but I still feel like I got a good enough deal on it. But now I have to spend more to get a case…OR, I happen to have a duplicate free case for my PBass that Fender sent to me because my original case for my PBass was dented.
Anyone ever mod a Fender case to fit another body shape in it?

Typically Thunderbirds are too big for a lot of the more generic cases. If it's made to fit a Precision I'm not sure it'll have room to fit a Thunderbird.

The Epiphone tolex cases seem to be well regarded though. I have two of the older Epiphone cases and they're reasonably well built

 

[GBassNorth]

So what is that thing just above the bridge pickup? (No, I am not looking to buy this; I have two Grecos, both in better shape. If I hadn't gotten the Thunderbuckers, I might have bought it for the pickups...)

Pardon Our Interruption...

It’s a thumb rest in a bizarre orientation.

Oh dear. I just put an offer in on a second 1977 Greco Thunderbird II that was accepted. Twin is on the way.

Congrats! You’re now officially infected with the Tbird virus.
You’ll find it increasingly hard to resist good deals on nice birds. Eventually your significant other will notice and question the build up of basses in your practice room, at which time you’ll just claim, “Oh that one, I’ve had it for years, it was just in its case for a long time”. Your spouse will demand a “one in one out policy”, which you will interpret as one bass in (purchased) means you’ll have to put one bass out (of view, in a closet or case).

FOK, now that I’ve had the bass (thank you all for the welcome to the TBird Club) for a hot minute, I have some immediate questions.
1. Straps. I like to use Schaller locks on my other basses- though the straps rarely come off. It would seem to me that if I use it on the back of the neck, I might suffer some kind of self-impalement as the peg sticks out of the back of the instrument and not a horn cuz, well, there ain’t no horn. What do I you do?
2. Bump in back. With the raised section in the back, does anyone make any kind of an application that smooths out the bump so you don’t feel it or it doesn’t get caught on shirt buttons, etc.?
3. This is a dumb question that’ll expose my ignorance, but this is a totally passive bass, right? The cover on the back must be on access the pots, and doesn’t house a 9V battery, right? I know…I should do my research before buying a bass.
4. How do you ever adjust to the HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE machine head????

All non issues, you’re just over thinking it.
1) Schaller strap locks work great (as long as you check the body screw every now and then to make sure it’s still tight). No Vlad the impaler worries there.
2) A bump in the back is a fine thing. Rest assured, “baby’s got back” but she won’t rip your shirt off.
3) Yes your stock Tbird is a passive bass, unless it’s a Greco, then it’s Passive Agressive.
4) As for the Huuuuuge head, just remember - size doesn’t matter, unless of course it’s yours.

And, while I’m getting familiar with this TBird, I see that I can’t put it on any of my current guitar stands as it’s got such a funky bottom. Anyone use a, preferably small, Hercules stand that works?

Fits fine in a cradle stand as long as the strap pin on the butt of the bass is in place. Fits fine on a rack stand as long as you don’t mind only two contact points for the reverse bird (NR bird touches all three points of a rack stand). But the best solution is a captive Hercules hanging stand that has hinged tabs that swing into place to retain the headstock (you know, that huuuuuge thing that always breaks off the neck of a Tbird).
Seriously, I use all three with no issues on all my birds and I’m in earthquake country.

 

[Stealth57]

Fits fine on a rack stand as long as you don’t mind only two contact points for the reverse bird (NR bird touches all three points of a rack stand).

The CP and VP touch all three places. My bolt ons and Gibsons don’t.

 

[TBird1958]

Purple silks would go well.

It has purple silks, you're not looking closely enough, Ken Smith Rock Masters - Not a Flats kind of Girl!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Looks like a brass thumb rest placed in a weird position/location.

That’s what it looks like. But whyyyy???

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I thought “that’s a strange place for a nut”

I also thought similarly.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Assuming I'm understanding you correctly...

1. Straps. I like to use Schaller locks on my other basses- though the straps rarely come off. It would seem to me that if I use it on the back of the neck, I might suffer some kind of self-impalement as the peg sticks out of the back of the instrument... What do I you do?
It will be fine. Unless you maybe hold a bass like Bill Wyman. Might seem odd, but it's not. I have them on all my basses.

2. Bump in back. With the raised section in the back, does anyone make any kind of an application that smooths out the bump so you don’t feel it or it doesn’t get caught on shirt buttons, etc.?
After playing you will find it poses no problem. Had a Thunderbird since about '81/82 and never thought about it or had a problem.

3. This is a dumb question that’ll expose my ignorance, but this is a totally passive bass, right?
Yes, passive, and just an access.

4. How do you ever adjust to the HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE machine head????
Pay small person to stand on a stool to do it for you with a monkey wrench.
Okay, that one I made up. The monkey wrench part anyway.
They can be a bit of a reach and they are big, but you'll get used to it in no time. The originals were really tall.

Well said, as usual!

I’ll add that the only active Epiphone bird (the PRO) has a standard battery compartment cover and a big, rectangular bridge.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

And, while I’m getting familiar with this TBird, I see that I can’t put it on any of my current guitar stands as it’s got such a funky bottom. Anyone use a, preferably small, Hercules stand that works?

I have a single, double, and rack (holds 5+) Hercules stands with my birds. I’ve also used a triple. They work great. Not the smallest but IMO very reasonable.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

No, I just meant VISUALLY how do you adjust. That thing’s HUGE. If it was a person, they would be a bobble head. It’s kinda like the clown shoes of machine heads.

Ah, you mean the headstock! I don’t look at it much while playing. And the Thunderbird is so different, anyway, no one will notice the headstock (until it flies off).

 

[GBassNorth]

So, my TBird didn’t come with a case. Not sure if that’s normal for used instruments, but I still feel like I got a good enough deal on it. But now I have to spend more to get a case…OR, I happen to have a duplicate free case for my PBass that Fender sent to me because my original case for my PBass was dented.
Anyone ever mod a Fender case to fit another body shape in it?

I suspect the only way your thunderbird will fit in a Fender P bass case is if you’ve already experienced the detachable headstock phenomenon and haven’t bothered to repair it yet. Generally speaking, Tbirds are longer tip to toe than many Fender offerings.

 

[MCF]

Unfortunately the holes would show a lot and need some kind of paint. But it's doable. I don't think it will work, but I do have an extra Gibson bridge that J.T. gave me. Might be a little bigger but I'm thinking the studs are too small on Epis. I can dig it out just to make sure, but it may not provide any more travel.

Jeez. Now I can’t find your post noting the problem.

The D and G saddles don’t travel forward towards the nut enough? Is that it? When this issue came to light on those basses, I vaguely recall some reported that changing string gauge helped to improve intonation. There were also reports of a few early VPs with the opposite problem where the E and A could not adjust back enough. Going to a lighter gauge helped improve intonation for those. If you are not able to move D and G forward enough, consider trying heavier gauge strings. Just a thought.

 

[MCF]

But one has tapes...

Oh. Sorry. That’s a special use Thunderbird to get close to McCartney-like tone. I forgot to mention that. But they aren’t flats.

 

[MCF]

The thought crossed my mind to do a Willy on the Donor Embassy. I have long wanted a fretless. Chuck's "Stanley" Pbass doesn't help.

That’ll fix the intonation issue right up.

 

[MCF]

Assuming I'm understanding you correctly...

1. Straps. I like to use Schaller locks on my other basses- though the straps rarely come off. It would seem to me that if I use it on the back of the neck, I might suffer some kind of self-impalement as the peg sticks out of the back of the instrument... What do I you do?
It will be fine. Unless you maybe hold a bass like Bill Wyman. Might seem odd, but it's not. I have them on all my basses.

2. Bump in back. With the raised section in the back, does anyone make any kind of an application that smooths out the bump so you don’t feel it or it doesn’t get caught on shirt buttons, etc.?
After playing you will find it poses no problem. Had a Thunderbird since about '81/82 and never thought about it or had a problem.

3. This is a dumb question that’ll expose my ignorance, but this is a totally passive bass, right?
Yes, passive, and just an access.

4. How do you ever adjust to the HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE machine head????
Pay small person to stand on a stool to do it for you with a monkey wrench.
Okay, that one I made up. The monkey wrench part anyway.
They can be a bit of a reach and they are big, but you'll get used to it in no time. The originals were really tall.

I think #4 Is one reason I rarely reach for the VP. My arms are too short.

 

[MCF]

And, while I’m getting familiar with this TBird, I see that I can’t put it on any of my current guitar stands as it’s got such a funky bottom. Anyone use a, preferably small, Hercules stand that works?

I think the hanging Hercules works leaving enough ground clearance.