Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

What color? I want another TV Silver. I love, love, love the skinny neck on that year.

This one is white but is scheduled for a refin to something more retro, possibly a fawn beige body with a black neck and two tone headstock. Will add ultra light tuners, a modified Hipshot bridge, proper positioned strap locks and will do a string, pot and cap job on it to get to the sound I want. It’ll be a birthday gift to a friend in Seattle who is just getting into basses after years of playing guitar.

 

[GBassNorth]

Any of you that have an Epiphone VP and a newer ‘64 model, can you confirm that the 2-point bridge is identical, specifically the individual saddle heights?

The one I have from PLS has shorter saddles than my VP, and therefore the strings touch “roll over” the back of the bridge. This does not happen on my VP because the saddles are taller.

View attachment 7284646

My current solution is to put a 1/8 or 3/16 piece of stainless steel bar stock under the claw, but the better plan is to get the higher saddles.

I just need confirmation that the VP and a ‘60’s or ‘64 have the same saddles.

If I can find a busted VP, 60’s or ‘64 Epi I would spend the $200-$300 for it, strip the bridge and pickups and give the rest away (for just the price of shipping) to anyone here who would want it.

Or just notch the back plate on the existing bridge to allow clearance for the strings.

 

[Engle]

Any of you that have an Epiphone VP and a newer ‘64 model, can you confirm that the 2-point bridge is identical, specifically the individual saddle heights?

The one I have from PLS has shorter saddles than my VP, and therefore the strings touch “roll over” the back of the bridge. This does not happen on my VP because the saddles are taller.

View attachment 7284646

My current solution is to put a 1/8 or 3/16 piece of stainless steel bar stock under the claw, but the better plan is to get the higher saddles.

I just need confirmation that the VP and a ‘60’s or ‘64 have the same saddles.

If I can find a busted VP, 60’s or ‘64 Epi I would spend the $200-$300 for it, strip the bridge and pickups and give the rest away (for just the price of shipping) to anyone here who would want it.

A couple of my basses with tailpieces have the strings touching the back of the bridge. I'd rather they didn't, but I don't see that it's causing a problem.
The guy selling the gold bridge had filed clearance notches on the back of the bridge.

 

[Albert Ross]

#908 checking in. I own a single Gibson Thunderbird, a 2018. I love it, and (for now lol), it's the only one I need.

No T.Bird pix, but check out the cactus that bloomed a few days ago.

 

[Nocturnal]

Club Member #7

Gibson - 5 (1977, 2001, 2001 Sixx BlackBird, 2010 Sixx (red version), 2013 50th Anniversary)
Epiphone - 5 (3 2017 VP, Custom shop red metallic, Goth rebuild - 2 Non-Reverse)
Greco - 2 (II and IV)
Hamer - 2 (1 Stock, 1 Custom order)
Spector - 2 (Euro 4X, Legend 4X)
Cataldo - 1 (Rev - Single pickup)
Status - 1 - (Status graphite neck, Lowe reverse body)
Nocturnal - 1 (Warmoth body, Carvin neck)
Schecter - 1 (Sixx (Tbird-ish) Pelham blue)

 

[Stealth57]

Club Member #7

Gibson - 5 (1977, 2001, 2001 Sixx BlackBird, 2010 Sixx (red version), 2013 50th Anniversary)
Epiphone - 5 (3 2017 VP, Custom shop red metallic, Goth rebuild - 2 Non-Reverse)
Greco - 2 (II and IV)
Hamer - 2 (1 Stock, 1 Custom order)
Spector - 2 (Euro 4X, Legend 4X)
Cataldo - 1 (Rev - Single pickup)
Status - 1 - (Status graphite neck, Lowe reverse body)
Nocturnal - 1 (Warmoth body, Carvin neck)
Schecter - 1 (Sixx (Tbird-ish) Pelham blue)

Wow, 007.

 

[Ringhammer]

Or just notch the back plate on the existing bridge to allow clearance for the strings.

On this PLS bridge, there’s not too much meat there, and the strings actually hits the screw head. I suppose I could reverse the screw head to be on the front side.

I know it’s not a big deal but I can be a hopeless perfectionist when it comes to these things…..

 

[BklynKen]

4 Gibsons, 2 BaCHs, 1 Greco...

And a partridge in a pear tree.

 

[TBird1958]

Nope, always oysters.

View attachment 7284668
View attachment 7284669

So, I'm I flying you two in so we can do this again?

 

[GBassNorth]

On this PLS bridge, there’s not too much meat there, and the strings actually hits the screw head. I suppose I could reverse the screw head to be on the front side.

I know it’s not a big deal but I can be a hopeless perfectionist when it comes to these things…..

I have a couple of those bridges as well and have noticed the same thing. My plan was to raise the claw if the bridge back was interfering with the string intonation. No problems noted to date, so I’ve left it alone. I’m as about OCD as you can get. If I can let go, so can you. Embrace the suck and focus on the joyous sounds your bass makes.

 

[TBird1958]

Any of you that have an Epiphone VP and a newer ‘64 model, can you confirm that the 2-point bridge is identical, specifically the individual saddle heights?

The one I have from PLS has shorter saddles than my VP, and therefore the strings touch “roll over” the back of the bridge. This does not happen on my VP because the saddles are taller.

View attachment 7284646

My current solution is to put a 1/8 or 3/16 piece of stainless steel bar stock under the claw, but the better plan is to get the higher saddles.

I just need confirmation that the VP and a ‘60’s or ‘64 have the same saddles.

If I can find a busted VP, 60’s or ‘64 Epi I would spend the $200-$300 for it, strip the bridge and pickups and give the rest away (for just the price of shipping) to anyone here who would want it.

I had a quick check with my caliper this AM and looked only at the E string, between an original VP and an Epi '64 there was no difference in saddle height. However, the E and A strings on the '64 do touch the screw heads in the same fashion as your picture, the VP does not have this issue.

 

[JJR58]

So, I'm I flying you two in so we can do this again?

I’ll pm you in a bit

 

[TBird1958]

My phone tells me this was a year ago today, lets do it again!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

“Try it. You’ll like it.” A saying that holds true for many things. Except oysters.

 

[Ringhammer]

I had a quick check with my caliper this AM and looked only at the E string, between an original VP and an Epi '64 there was no difference in saddle height. However, the E and A strings on the '64 do touch the screw heads in the same fashion as your picture, the VP does not have this issue.

Thank you!

The ‘64 has the bridge set a little higher off the deck I bet?

 

[Ringhammer]

Tonight’s selection, sort of (no ‘birds for tonight):

My ‘70 Jazz and ‘69 Precision. The amp is my Ampeg RB-112, but tonight the other band is providing the bass amp, an Ampeg RB115, this one’s big brother. Since we’re playing mostly mellower stuff I’m sure the 100w 1 x 15” will be adequate.

2 x 30 minute sets.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

View attachment 7284781

Capitola going off.....16k runners....

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

 

[MCF]

Capitola going off.....16k runners....
View attachment 7284816

You running?

 

[bylar13]

I don't know my club number

1, 2014, Gibson Reverse Thunderbird.

Its so good, I don't desire another.