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Thunderbird Club

I don't know if you can tell but my BlackBird has 2 flush-mount Dunlop recessed straplocks.
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Similar location on my Lowe-bodied StatusBird and also my Spector Legend 4X, but no picture of that. Works very well in that location.
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iMO, putting the Optigrab back on would really suit that Thunderbird. But I get it if it would just be in the way.
 
Do you know when Gibson added the very slight/modest belly cut to the Reverse?

1988 would be my thought, that's the first year of the re-issue. The exception might be any of the custom shop stuff that was done in '86-'87.
 
What Ive found there so far was either not wide enough, not long enough, or far too thick or too thin.
I have limited thicknessing tools.
There was one piece I almost bought (at rediculous cost) that was big enough, but reading the specs, the thickness in inches and mm did not agree by a factor of 2. And it looked like it had glue all over it at the ends, like it was reclaimed from some other project.
It might have been wax on the end grain. That's common when seasoning wood. It stops the moisture coming out of the end grain, so the wood doesn't split.
 
Again: cannot leave well enough alone!
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TRC screws now black
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Pickguard screws now black
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Control plate screws now black.
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Black knobs!!

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Opened her up: what nice clean wiring.
No cavity shielding :( will copper tape when replacing the pots.
Already B500k linear Alphas !? Nice.
(Tokyo Cosmos wil still be an improvement)
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I have no idea what the cap value is, or the tone pot resistance.
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Plate has shielding.
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Did someone say: OTHERBIRD SUNDAY?
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You know way more than I do. But what would be the benefit of shielding the cavity it you are not having issues? I know you’re replacing the pots. And it is a “might as well” type of thing more than any else. Just wondering for future reference.
 
You know way more than I do. But what would be the benefit of shielding the cavity it you are not having issues? I know you’re replacing the pots. And it is a “might as well” type of thing more than any else. Just wondering for future reference.
Might as well:
Also, haven’t hit that bar that we play , filled with neon, and and fans over the stage that looks like they’ve been there untouched since 1960, that there are visible sparks from the brushes when the air pressure changes.

Just enough ambient EMF that my wireless is useless.

I’m shielding it for that :) !
 
Did the Gibson knobs with the gold metal insert ever come stock on any Thunderbirds? Thinking of putting some on my 2014 Heritage Cherry. I'm assuming Gibson basses and guitars come with the same diameter pots.
Yes, on the 50th Anniversary edition.
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Cool, my 2014 will get a black pickguard with gold Tbird, I'll also get the gold medal insert tophats.

Since my 2014 Cherry will be sporting the Gibson Vintage Re-Issue pickups (chrome) with rings, and also a chrome 3-point and chrome Hipshot’s, I will be putting a shiny chrome ‘bird on a black pg and a shiny “Gibson” on a replacement black trc. The only choice is if I go for single ply black or b-w-b.

I had @Engle make me so many a while back, just to be prepared for such future purchases. I just hope the holes line up. There’s different patterns and the cutoff point seems to be about ‘99-‘00. I certainly do not want to make any extra holes in a 2014 anniversary model.
 
I started yesterday's rehearsal with the 7enderbird, picked this up halfway through, it just kicked @$$, one of the best Thunderbirds ( unknown by most!) ever!

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I feel the same way about my Ebony Studio. Not quite sure what it is. The set neck? The particular run of Tbird+ pickups? Whatever it is, mine sounds awesome. It was an absolute bargain.

I think those pickups sound good with set neck basses, how does your Studio compare with your 2013 Non Reverse?

TB+ I think are really underrated, especially of that era. The 2001 pickups sounded just as good in my 2013 NR as my 2013 Reverse. It's the pickups. If there are any differences, they'd get lost in a mix.
 
It might have been wax on the end grain. That's common when seasoning wood. It stops the moisture coming out of the end grain, so the wood doesn't split.
Mighta been it... but it was also more than $60 plus shipping.

Got my final shape established, and improved the truss wrench access.
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Now I can gin up the overlay template.

Going to have to work out nut dims soon too, since the provided one is no help.
 
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