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Thunderbird Club

'64 Thunderbird, Ashdown, SWR.

From last night, we played well but I don't mind saying I was really gassed by the time we were done, each hand cramped once as did my right foot - Good times!

 
So my weekend was preparing for winter. Had a cord delivered (in a Thunderstorm) two weeks ago. I had to wait for it to dry before doing the final stacks. Just call me Jeremiah Johnson. RIP Bob. You will be missed.

“Winter is coming.”
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Sadly, the arborist confirmed this pine didn’t recover from bark beetle. It goes week after next. I hate taking away the woodpeckers’ food source, but it is too close to the house. If it fell in the wrong direction, and it leans toward the house, it would cause a lot of damage.
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I don't think Jeremiah Johnson has his fire wood "delivered."
Will that last the Winter or will you go through more than that?
 
'64 Thunderbird, Ashdown, SWR.

From last night, we played well but I don't mind saying I was really gassed by the time we were done, each hand cramped once as did my right foot - Good times!


Maybe drink something like Gatorade before if that's common. The potassium could help with that, and the hydration aspect. Potassium can help relax muscles.

*This is internet advice and in no way be considered medical advice.
 
Maybe drink something like Gatorade before if that's common. The potassium could help with that, and the hydration aspect. Potassium can help relax muscles.

*This is internet advice and in no way be considered medical advice.

I had downed two bottles of Gatorade by the time we started our third set, in addition to Advil.
 
each hand cramped once as did my right foot

Hydration, lots of water. Even more than you think…

I make it a point to match every caffeine beverage and any alcohol beverage with a glass of water. Cup of coffee, glass of water. Pint of beer, glass of water. Mixed cocktail, glass of water. Along with just drinking water during the day, virtually never drink sodas or stuff like that.

Even with all that, sometimes I get the hand cramps too, just not usually too severe. It’s usually associated with too much caffeine and stress with me.
 
I don't think Jeremiah Johnson has his fire wood "delivered."
Will that last the Winter or will you go through more than that?

Hah! I know. But I like to pretend.

We have forced central heating and a/c. But because we are exempt from air quality regs, we use the almond to supplement during the winter and save on propane and electricity. The almond gets burned anyway at co-gen plants. So I tell myself I’m not adding to the carbon emissions. We’ll use about 3/4 of a cord, depending on the weather, from late October through April. Probably saves us about a grand or so. Although given my hourly rate, and all the time it takes, we’re probably in the hole. But it’s good exercise moving and stacking, and it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
 
Here’s a nice black one. Not sure if there’s something going on with the knobs, I thought they were supposed to be all three in line but these aren’t. Maybe Marshall can chime in with some knob insight.
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Edit: I see Andy just beat me to the post, still a pretty good price on a very hard to find bird.
Headstock looks modified - - isn't the "margin" beyond the overlay missing on the tuner side?
Or is that a factory variant I'd not seen yet?
 
Headstock looks modified - - isn't the "margin" beyond the overlay missing on the tuner side?
Or is that a factory variant I'd not seen yet?


It's stock, modeled after the "Studio" Thunderbird.


6crq5ZO.jpg
 
Finally had a Saturday I could spend in the garage, and I got nearly all the "machine" cutting and drilling on the body done.

I decided to opt for the brass insets for the pickup mount screws, so those holes look way big but it's on purpose.

Got the bridge insert holes exactly how I wanted them, 3 descending diameters in each I should ride about a half mm below the finished sanded surface.

Still trying to convince myself that installing the bridge inserts under the finish is "right," even though my Gibson DC Tribute bass was done that way. Seems questionable.

Still need to drill the output jack hole; I notice there's a fair bit of variation on different year factory 'Birds regarding the location in comparison to the knob.

Almost down the the 'lots and lots of sanding' stage. Still need to do my finish tests on scrap wood, too.

Pix, 'cause it did happen:

20250927_141130.jpg
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20250927_153048.jpg


Set the inserts partway in (single tap, removable) to check bridge alignment, and she sits true and square on all three pegs. Yay - no dowels needed!!

20250927_154233.jpg

20250927_154250.jpg


20250927_184448.jpg
 
Headstock looks modified - - isn't the "margin" beyond the overlay missing on the tuner side?
Or is that a factory variant I'd not seen yet?
Go back a few pages. That’s the factory configuration for the ‘11 shortie. Which of course GC didn’t properly identify as a shortie. Or that they are set necks. They supplied nice pics, so there’s that.

Any progress with the build this weekend? We’re curious what you think at the end of the day. Can’t wait to see the final result!
 
Finally had a Saturday I could spend in the garage, and I got nearly all the "machine" cutting and drilling on the body done.

I decided to opt for the brass insets for the pickup mount screws, so those holes look way big but it's on purpose.

Got the bridge insert holes exactly how I wanted them, 3 descending diameters in each I should ride about a half mm below the finished sanded surface.

Still trying to convince myself that installing the bridge inserts under the finish is "right," even though my Gibson DC Tribute bass was done that way. Seems questionable.

Still need to drill the output jack hole; I notice there's a fair bit of variation on different year factory 'Birds regarding the location in comparison to the knob.

Almost down the the 'lots and lots of sanding' stage. Still need to do my finish tests on scrap wood, too.

Pix, 'cause it did happen:

View attachment 7332532View attachment 7332533
View attachment 7332534

Set the inserts partway in (single tap, removable) to check bridge alignment, and she sits true and square on all three pegs. Yay - no dowels needed!!

View attachment 7332536
View attachment 7332539

View attachment 7332538
Oops! Cross posts. Looking good!