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Thunderbird Club

#323,901
Report on La Bella DTFs on the '64 Thunderbird. Wow!
It did sound different in some ways from rounds, as you can imagine, but every bit as amazing. I just put some SIT NPSs on it a couple weeks ago and tried these for kicks, but not sure I want to take them off. After they age-in I might change my mind, but right now I just want to use it again (but I always do). I bought the DTFs for a Pbass, but that might have to wait. Everyone is well acquainted with my neurotic tone issue, but not once did I want to adjust anything. I used the Ampeg tube head, but did turn the ABM on after our run through just to see how it sounded, and was equally impressed (but with no band), but stayed with the Ampeg for the service. I think I need another '64......
 
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#323,902
Masker said:
hanks! Happy to be here, and honored to join the club with the '66 Non Reverse II. Let’s keep the Thunderbird spirit alive and soaring in Part 8!
Click to expand...

Welcome to Talkbass and the Thunderbird Club, we would love to see a picture of your Non Reverse '66 II, pretty please! 😺
 
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#323,903
@Engle

Hey, Irv (and anyone else who knows)
Any idea what the normal radius should be on the wing & body edges of yer typical Gibson 'bird?

I spent yesterday re-profiling the rear faces of the wings on my kit build to a 1.25-degree angle. Took a little head-scratching, a little trig, and a bunch of benchmarking to work out where the new outside edge should be compared to where it was... then careful application of a powered hand planer and a whole bunch of hand sanding to connect that new edge to the current 'root' flat and level.

Worked pretty well, but once the front is done and I get the sides sanded, I'll need to re-radius all the edges.

I'd like to be authentic where I can.

Next big decision; to belly-carve or not to belly carve.

Pics of the prep and sweaty progress. I should get a belt sander, as this was a few hours of upper-body work. Mahogany is for sure slower to cut than basswood or alder.

1000011768.jpg

Before
1000011764.jpg


1000011767.jpg


1000011774.jpg


1000011775.jpg


After
1000011776.jpg

The off-center position of the jack hole is problematic; not a lot of wood there and will be less once radiused and the cover route is done. 99% sure Im going to fill it and go with a front jack. Which I kind of prefer anyway.
 
Last edited:
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#323,905
BuddhaFingas said:
@Engle

Hey, Irv (and anyone else who knows)
Any idea what the normal radius should be on the wing & body edges of yer typical Gibson 'bird?

I spent yesterday re-profiling the rear faces of the wings on my kit build to a 1.25-degree angle. Took a little head-scratching, a little trig, and a bunch of benchmarking to work out where the new outside edge should be compared to where it was... then careful application of a powered hand planer and a whole bunch of hand sanding to connect that new edge to the current 'root' flat and level.

Worked pretty well, but once the front is done and I get the sides sanded, I'll need to re-radius all the edges.

I'd like to be authentic where I can.

Next big decision; to belly-carve or not to belly carve.

Pics of the prep and sweaty progress. I should get a belt sander, as this was a few hours of upper-body work. Mahogany is for sure slower to cut than basswood or alder.

View attachment 7279719
Before
View attachment 7279721

View attachment 7279722

View attachment 7279723

View attachment 7279730

After
View attachment 7279724
The off-center position of the jack hole is problematic; not a lot of wood there and will be less once radiused and the cover route is done. 99% sure Im going to fill it and go with a front jack. Which I kind of prefer anyway.
Click to expand...
I prefer a nice gut cut myself.
 
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#323,911
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#323,912
My new Greco:


IMG_6936.jpeg


IMG_6937.jpeg


So dark green it looks mostly black outside of direct light.

I had the bridge setup changed to be a 2 pt. Purely for aesthetic reasons.

Is this the standard wiring?:
IMG_6938.jpeg


It looks like a pair of wires from what would normally be the unused plug on the volume pots and ground to the tone pot?

This thing sounds fantastic, but:
The bridge pickup is kinda dropping/fizzing out and I hope it’s a wiring issue and not a problem with the pickup.

Also, unfortunately it’s a buzzy beast, and I can’t seem to dial it in. It’ll probably be going to my luthier to find out if it’s in need to a fret leveling or total te-fret. It looks straight, slight relief, but the action is pretty high and it buzzes a bit at almost every note on every string.
 
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#323,913
Ringhammer said:
My new Greco:


View attachment 7279840

View attachment 7279841

So dark green it looks mostly black outside of direct light.

I had the bridge setup changed to be a 2 pt. Purely for aesthetic reasons.

Is this the standard wiring?:
View attachment 7279842

It looks like a pair of wires from what would normally be the unused plug on the volume pots and ground to the tone pot?

This thing sounds fantastic, but:
The bridge pickup is kinda dropping/fizzing out and I hope it’s a wiring issue and not a problem with the pickup.

Also, unfortunately it’s a buzzy beast, and I can’t seem to dial it in. It’ll probably be going to my luthier to find out if it’s in need to a fret leveling or total te-fret. It looks straight, slight relief, but the action is pretty high and it buzzes a bit at almost every note on every string.
Click to expand...


Sorry about the electrical and set up - BUT THAT COLOR IS AWESOME!
 
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#323,915
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#323,917
Ringhammer said:
My new Greco:


View attachment 7279840

View attachment 7279841

So dark green it looks mostly black outside of direct light.

I had the bridge setup changed to be a 2 pt. Purely for aesthetic reasons.

Is this the standard wiring?:
View attachment 7279842

It looks like a pair of wires from what would normally be the unused plug on the volume pots and ground to the tone pot?

This thing sounds fantastic, but:
The bridge pickup is kinda dropping/fizzing out and I hope it’s a wiring issue and not a problem with the pickup.

Also, unfortunately it’s a buzzy beast, and I can’t seem to dial it in. It’ll probably be going to my luthier to find out if it’s in need to a fret leveling or total te-fret. It looks straight, slight relief, but the action is pretty high and it buzzes a bit at almost every note on every string.
Click to expand...
Killer!

I love the color. A green like that or some kind of burgundy is what my '66 NR will end up being.
 
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#323,918
GBassNorth said:
@Engle
Happy birthday brother! Wishing you many many more!

I was just up in your, Veronica’s and Will’s neck of the woods (kinda - around Sand Point Idaho) for the last week. Beautiful country. Met one of my nephew in laws that came out to visit from Seattle and is looking to get into more bass playing for his worship band. He really loves the look of the NR but has never heard or played a Thunderbird before. He lives in Shoreline Washington if that’s close to any of you Seattle bird brains maybe you could connect with him if he needs more Tbird info.
Click to expand...
I live within a few miles of Shoreline, just down 5 or 99, depending on where he lives. I am up that way off and on because the dive shop is pretty close to the border between Shoreline and Seattle.
 
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