Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

Thanks Marshall. May try going up a size if I find I'm having problems. I'll need to file the nut a bit and the neck it straight and the bridge is as low as it can go on the G side.

Worth a try. I wouldn’t file anything until you’re sure they’ll make it better.

 

[dagrev]

You’re a funny guy House. Not if you carry it backwards.

Since I misunderstood the one of the previous questions I played it safe and took this as a serious question....

 

[Miles_ONeal]

WRT the Thunderbird on ebay with a “slight neck bow”, I asked the seller what they meant by that and whether the hardware was original. Their reply:

“This bass was heavily modified by the previous owner, so details such as the pickups are unknown.

“The neck is slightly bent, but it does not interfere with playing.”

I also asked about the serial number but they didn’t reply to that. Caveat emptor.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

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.

Depending on the details, flipping the bridge the other way around may help. Wait. Was this a Tune-o-matic or three point?

 

[Count Bassie]

I have had good experiences with Femder Rumble heads. They are in my mind kind of the “modern, Peavey from the 80’s equivalent “. Sound good, take pedals well when set flat and reliable. I picked up one from eBay in near new condition for $325 . 500w head (350w @ 8 ohms) and like it just fine.

@bylar13 , I've messed around a minute at GC with one of those. I liked it... have you got a sound clip by chance, with a live band mix? What are you running it into for a cab?

@MCF , there's a TT-800 (right?) locally for about $1,000.

I think I need something that punches like Mike Tyson and stays clean when you push it. Reverie is a dense mix with two active guitars and a drummer who likes to lean hard over the edge, so I think clean and powerful is the way to be.

I have an Old Terrace Elliot Mk IV, basically it needs to be rehab'd and a box built for it. It might actually be my answer...

 

[Bighouse]

Are these the flat wound string of choice amongst many TB TBird members?

 

[Stealth57]

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

I was worried you were going in a different direction with where to look.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

They kept hitting the pickup with the strings so they gave the strings something else to hit?

They didn't like how far away a more normal placement would put their thumb?

They put it on sideways because a thumb rest the size of the pad of their thumb would result in very consistent finger placement?

I suspect the most likely thing is they just didn't know what they were doing though. I think "never attribute to malice what can be attributed to incompetence" may apply.

Agreed on the last bit, for sure.

 

[Bighouse]

@bylar13 , I've messed around a minute at GC with one of those. I liked it... have you got a sound clip by chance, with a live band mix? What are you running it into for a cab?

@MCF , there's a TT-800 (right?) locally for about $1,000.

I think I need something that punches like Mike Tyson and stays clean when you push it. Reverie is a dense mix with two active guitars and a drummer who likes to lean hard over the edge, so I think clean and powerful is the way to be.

I have an Old Terrace Elliot Mk IV, basically it needs to be rehab'd and a box built for it. It might actually be my answer...

If in NorCal, a local shop has a used Walkabout…

Home | Loud and Clear Music | Cotati, CA

Sonoma County's go-to music store for guitars, drums, keyboards, gear, expert repairs, and consignment, Visit Loud and Clear Music in Cotati or online.

www.loudandclearmusic.com

 

[Count Bassie]

I made the decision a few years ago to bite the bullet and buy once, cry once (sort of). I hope to get with a project as soon as I can retire. And I’m ready. I do not think I’ll be purchasing any more amps or cabs. Except maybe adding a Subway 115 to the family for a more portable cab option.
Heads: Mesa TT 800, Mesa M6 Carbine, Ampeg SVT VR
Cabs : Mesa Subway 410, Berg NV610
Lots of tone options.

I've got an offer to pick up a Peavey Alphabass pretty cheap. Anyone able to opine on that old garage rod?
It's 160 tube watts, apparently only runs at 4 or 2 ohms. I could put my Kappalites back into the old Carvin 215 for a 4 ohm load. Actually that cab was pretty good.

 

[Stealth57]

A Pbass case won’t work.

These work. They’re ok. The covering is a bit soft, so they can tear easier than standard Tolex if you’re not careful.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ETBCS--epiphone-thunderbird-bass-guitar-case/reviews

As far as I know, they work for every Thunderbird. I've tried CP, VP, 2015, and 64.

 

[Stealth57]

Does this Epiphone case for the TBird suffer from neck dive?
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...MIk4rlrtb6iwMV0yCtBh1sTjqEEAQYASABEgLhm_D_BwE

Yes, it's heavy.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Reverie played in Providence last night, and now I'm looking for a bass amp. The bass player in the second band, whom I used to work with several years ago, had a 2x12 Markbass combo and extension cab. Sounded great! Fat and lots of good, solid punch, really nice and solid in the upper registers. My Eden WT405 and mutt 15s (w/Kappalites) were anemic in comparison... I have to get my act together. I'll be looking for amplification stuff for a while. I'm open to recommendations...

It’s not as sexy as some but the Fender Rumble line does a great job. They sound good, and are light in weight. They should be easy to find in stores to try. Start with tone controls at 10/2/2/10 (flat).

 

[MCF]

I can tell that I likely need to have this instrument setup properly. My intonation needs quite a bit of work (all twelfth frets are sharp) but in looking at the bridge I have some questions. I’ve already got plans to have my PBass worked on, so I’ll adjust the TBird myself for now. But, I have questions as it’s an odd (T)bird.
1. To adjust the saddle location, looks like I have to loosen the string, move it aside, adjust saddle, reset string, retune. Is this correct or is there a way to turn that screw without moving the string?
2. And, do I have to loosen the nut on that saddle adjustment screw first, and retighten it after I’m happy with the intonation?
3. The height of my current bridge setting seems REALLY high. Is this typical for the model? (See picture.) It seems odd to have a bridge that has to extend so far away from the body floating in the air like that.
4. What’s the neck supposed to be like in terms of flatness? I know on my Ric, it’s supposed to be dead flat from the first fret to the last. Other instruments seem to want a bit of curve to the neck to allow for string vibration. It seems to me that if there was some curve to the neck on this instrument that the bridge wouldn’t have to be raised so high to allow for a reasonable action height.

I’ll be getting some good use out of my Petersen HDStomp tuner this today!

Thank you all for helping out a new Tbird caregiver. This place looks like a fun club to be a part of.

1. You only need to loosen the string.
2. You do not touch the nut on the other side of the bridge.
3. Your bridge is set high compared to my ‘17 VP. There is actually a good amount of adjustability on my VP. I like low action and have no issue setting it how I like it. Remember, set relief first (I set my necks pretty straight). Set string height. Set pickup height. Intonate.
4. Neck relief can vary from bass to bass, even among two identical basses. Remember, necks are made of wood and each one may need to be set slightly different from another one. This is especially true if you like really low action.

Take your time, relax and have fun. I find dialing in a bass to my liking can be therapeutic.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Does this Epiphone case for the TBird suffer from neck dive?
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...MIk4rlrtb6iwMV0yCtBh1sTjqEEAQYASABEgLhm_D_BwE

Thanks to great handle placement, no. It does hold stickers fairly well.

 

[Stealth57]

I have had good experiences with Femder Rumble heads. They are in my mind kind of the “modern, Peavey from the 80’s equivalent “. Sound good, take pedals well when set flat and reliable. I picked up one from eBay in near new condition for $325 . 500w head (350w @ 8 ohms) and like it just fine.

I like my Rumble 500c. It is loud and everything from clean to super distorted. With the 115 extension cabinet, it is ridiculously loud. Light weight combo and while the 115 is light, it does have wheels.

 

[MCF]

It’s not as sexy as some but the Fender Rumble line does a great job. They sound good, and are light in weight. They should be easy to find in stores to try. Start with tone controls at 10/2/2/10 (flat).

The V3 Rumble line is part of the Genz-Benz design lineage from when Fender purchased GB and shut down the brand. They do not use the typical Bassman tonestack.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I can tell that I likely need to have this instrument setup properly. My intonation needs quite a bit of work (all twelfth frets are sharp) but in looking at the bridge I have some questions. I’ve already got plans to have my PBass worked on, so I’ll adjust the TBird myself for now. But, I have questions as it’s an odd (T)bird.
1. To adjust the saddle location, looks like I have to loosen the string, move it aside, adjust saddle, reset string, retune. Is this correct or is there a way to turn that screw without moving the string?
2. And, do I have to loosen the nut on that saddle adjustment screw first, and retighten it after I’m happy with the intonation?
3. The height of my current bridge setting seems REALLY high. Is this typical for the model? (See picture.) It seems odd to have a bridge that has to extend so far away from the body floating in the air like that.
4. What’s the neck supposed to be like in terms of flatness? I know on my Ric, it’s supposed to be dead flat from the first fret to the last. Other instruments seem to want a bit of curve to the neck to allow for string vibration. It seems to me that if there was some curve to the neck on this instrument that the bridge wouldn’t have to be raised so high to allow for a reasonable action height.

I’ll be getting some good use out of my Petersen HDStomp tuner this today!

Thank you all for helping out a new Tbird caregiver. This place looks like a fun club to be a part of.

Almost no Thunderbirds set up well with a flat neck. I don’t have the reference handy but there’s a great post on setting birds up. It needs to be in the wiki. It focuses on three point bridges, but general principles are the same.

 

[Nocturnal]

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

The only thing I can think of is it was used as a "ramp" of sorts like some players add between the pickups. One of lifes great mysteries!!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Are these the flat wound string of choice amongst many TB TBird members?
View attachment 7170424

Yes!