Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

Yep, I’ve seen and had tilting claws, even seen one pull out, but haven’t ever seen a tilting VP bridge or one that has non meshing threads. I still think someone used a Gibson or other after market bolt on the Eppi metric bridge. That would cause both a bad thread fit and sloppy shoulder fit.

Yes, the tilting bridge is really odd. Something I have not encountered, fortunately. Makes sense. Indicating more QC is/was needed, but possibly it didn't begin tilting when initially installed. But seems like it would.

 

[dagrev]

How about a new out of the box unopened?
My 64 has Less but still looser than necessary for the turning of the height screw?
This is my VP.

The assertion that there is needed tolerance for the tilt of the bridge plate to allow a rake from high to low strings is valid.

The issue is a combination of loose thread meshing in the threads of the inserts and the posts.

Is it “workable “ yes, can it be improved? Most certainly!

View attachment 7271540
View attachment 7271545
Tell me that’s not leaning?

Sure looks like it. Maybe it's Epi's versoin of Peyronie's disease.

 

[sleddogn]

Maybe it's Epi's versoin of Peyronie's disease.

More bent carrots....

 

[Gaolee]

The sound of my thinking would terrify mere mortals.

The EEG machine broke the needle arm.


View attachment 7271282


Just kidding

The sound of my thinking would put an EEG machine to sleep. Really, that's all that's in there? Nap time.

 

[Gaolee]

See the gap?
Below the screw cap and the bridge plate?
View attachment 7271326
That is the slop. Next string change, check how loose the joinery is.

It's just like the original two point tilt-o-matic bridge on my EB-2. Except there's no stop bar on that bass. Once it tilts, then you intonate and mess with it until it stays like it should. At least that's the vintage Gibson bass way to do it. There's a reason I don't change strings on that bass.

 

[Gaolee]

Both of mine have the loose parts, the new 64 and the VP . The VP had very little play time on it, and the 64 was new.
Bad luck! Maybe.

I have many options to correct.
I’ll provide video later in the week of just how loose mine are.

It’s my OCD mostly

It is just a more perfect replica of the vintage Gibson experience.

 

[Gaolee]

I'm not sure about the very early ones with a black pickup, but any of the 60's/early70's EBO and EB3s with the pickup against the fingerboard will produce lots of sub bass. My wife rarely comments on the sound of any other bass, but she'll tell me various parts of the house were rattling - "you were playing the EBO weren't you?"

My EB-2 has a Dimarzio One in it. As you have all heard way too often. That pickup doesn't do the same thing that a mudbucker does. It's a beautiful sounding pickup, but it isn't an earthquake looking for a place to happen. Mostly. It did cause a ceramic beer stein to explode from sympathetic vibrations once. That was a surprise.

 

[Gaolee]

I should have read on down before ahemming!

Around here? Nah.

 

[Gaolee]

Question for this group - I have a 2001 Thunderbird that, despite enjoying it a ton, i cant really make the physical reach post-arm-surgery. Just doing the short scale thing now, and that ain’t a bad thing. But I’m selling off some stuff and the 2001 is on the block. I had replaced the pickups with Seymour Duncan’s, and I thought the originals were lost in a fire a few years back, but I was in my storage space digging and there they were. I recall hearing that the pickups from that year were special for some reason - did I just up the value of this bass?

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You probably didn't raise the value of the bass, but you found a set of pickups you can sell for a bit of money. If you end up selling, I'm sure somebody around here would be interested.

It might be interesting to dissect them and compare them to pickups from a different year to figure out what Gibson was doing in 2001.

 

[Engle]

It's just like the original two point tilt-o-matic bridge on my EB-2. Except there's no stop bar on that bass. Once it tilts, then you intonate and mess with it until it stays like it should. At least that's the vintage Gibson bass way to do it. There's a reason I don't change strings on that bass.

Here is how I dealt with the tiltomatic on my 68 EBO. Changing strings is no problem and I haven’t needed to adjust the height:

 

[Engle]

I bought a 2009 Epi EB-0. The "mudbucker" isn't. I can buy an Artec replacement p'up for a decent price, but the EB-0 is my backup bass. I'm not putting any more $ into it 'til gigs pick back up. Which seems highly unlikely(not to be confused with Haile Selassie).

Praise Jah, Rastafari!

 

[Jakeman]

Thanks to everyone that chimed in about the 2001 TBird pickups! Rather than sell them alone, I'm going to just include them in the case when I list the bass. I want the owner to have as much of the original hardware as possible - unfortunately the original bridge is long gone. Thanks again!

 

[MCF]

My EB-2 has a Dimarzio One in it. As you have all heard way too often. That pickup doesn't do the same thing that a mudbucker does. It's a beautiful sounding pickup, but it isn't an earthquake looking for a place to happen. Mostly. It did cause a ceramic beer stein to explode from sympathetic vibrations once. That was a surprise.

Speaking of earthquakes, Rainer still rocking’?

 

[MCF]

If you want to still have a Thunderbird, they did make a short scale. I have one and really like it.

https://reverb.com/item/88348561-gi...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=88348561

I love mine too. They are getting up there in value.

 

[MCF]

Thanks to everyone that chimed in about the 2001 TBird pickups! Rather than sell them alone, I'm going to just include them in the case when I list the bass. I want the owner to have as much of the original hardware as possible - unfortunately the original bridge is long gone. Thanks again!

That’s the proper way to handle it for the buyer. It ought to make selling it easier. I’d certainly choose yours over others were I in the market right now.

 

[GBassNorth]

Luckily someone has volunteered to test these out. After i get some of the packaging parts / baseplates made i will get these sent out. There was no real pickup available to disect or get coil readings from so all i was able to find eas a 76 t bird that was for sale with coil reads , not sure if the reads were from the pickup or taken fron a cable but the numbers were 9.19/ 9.88 iirc , These first coils are very close , close enough for proof of concept

Not sure who the lucky tester is but I hope they have a bicentennial Tbird to compare the sound with. Also, recall the very unique wiring schematic the bicentennial birds have since it will have a lot to do with converting the signal the pickups produce into a sound we all love.

I’m really pumped about your creativity and desire to offer new and exciting pickup options to Tbird fans. If you can get close to the bicentennial sidewinder look and sound I’ll definitely be buying a set or two.

 

[TBird1958]

Speaking of earthquakes, Rainer still rocking’?

I don't know why that got so much press, it's a regular occurrence.

 

[dagrev]

Some gaudy gold arrived today for the '66 NR. The Resolites are noticeably lighter than four regular tuners.
I've got to get some progress made this weekend.

 

[dagrev]

I bought some La Bella DTFs used, or more likely just opened from "Amazon Resale." Got a little over $10 off. If they don't look good I can still send them back. I never thought about looking there. (Formerly Amazon Warehouse).

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Three 45's at the Brass Tap tomorrow and another three at the Treehouse on Sat....this guy's turn tomorrow and for a TBucker Thursday....