Thunderbird Club

[Engle]

That raised the action, right? Also, where did you get the anchor bolts?

No that didn't raise the action. It was 40 years ago, so I can't remember where I got the bolts
They are 5/16-24, so should be easy to find in the States.

It may take a bit of experimentation to figure out exactly how tall the block should be.
The good thing about this approach is it preserves the look of the bass. I tried a Hipshot 2 point on it once (bought it for another bass) and it looked wrong to my eyes.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Well, the eagle (or should I say Thunderbird) has landed!

It’s a very sweet playing ‘67 NR II with tons of patina, checking and player wear. Appears to be mostly original. A sturdy pro neck repair with dual splines, the obligatory aged cracked/warped/broken pick guard and what looks like newer pots and possibly an after market hardtail. Action is super low and super smooth at 2/64ths on the open strings at the 12th fret, bridge is completely on the deck and the truss rod works smooth and easy. Sounds fantastic with the Pino Palladino light gauge Cobalt flats (more on those in another post).

Some pics…
Played hard but maintained nicely…
View attachment 7431313

Nice checking…
View attachment 7431314

Pick guard as it should be. I had to remove it and gently sand a bit of the pickup opening on the guard, it had shrunk up around the pickup preventing the pickup from moving when the height screws were adjusted…
View attachment 7431315

The back isn’t too badly abused, just honest player wear and nice checking there as well…
View attachment 7431316

The headstock repair was done some time ago with dual splines and appears to be holding steady, some light finish cracking around some spline seams but nothing structural. I’ve seen better jobs, but I’ve seen a lot worse as well. It came with some incredibly high tension rounds on it (to the point that it was a real chore to turn the D and A tuners to pitch, honestly thought I was going to snap them off). I put some noticable back bow on the neck with the high tension strings up to pitch and everything held in tune overnight with no visible change in the repair area. This morning I strung it up with low tension EB Pino light gauge cobalt flats, backed off a bit of the back bow and was able to achieve a very low 2/64ths action on the open 12th across all strings with zero fret buzz…
View attachment 7431317

So far she seems to be a keeper. GC Vintage Gear return policy is only 72 hours after pickup, so unless I find a glaring issue by Saturday I’m stuck with her. Now to get some quality side by side time with the ‘67 and the ‘79 to see if I drastically favor one over the other.

score George!

 

[dagrev]

Well, the eagle (or should I say Thunderbird) has landed!

It’s a very sweet playing ‘67 NR II with tons of patina, checking and player wear. Appears to be mostly original. A sturdy pro neck repair with dual splines, the obligatory aged cracked/warped/broken pick guard and what looks like newer pots and possibly an after market hardtail. Action is super low and super smooth at 2/64ths on the open strings at the 12th fret, bridge is completely on the deck and the truss rod works smooth and easy. Sounds fantastic with the Pino Palladino light gauge Cobalt flats (more on those in another post).

Some pics…
Played hard but maintained nicely…
View attachment 7431313

Nice checking…
View attachment 7431314

Pick guard as it should be. I had to remove it and gently sand a bit of the pickup opening on the guard, it had shrunk up around the pickup preventing the pickup from moving when the height screws were adjusted…
View attachment 7431315

The back isn’t too badly abused, just honest player wear and nice checking there as well…
View attachment 7431316

The headstock repair was done some time ago with dual splines and appears to be holding steady, some light finish cracking around some spline seams but nothing structural. I’ve seen better jobs, but I’ve seen a lot worse as well. It came with some incredibly high tension rounds on it (to the point that it was a real chore to turn the D and A tuners to pitch, honestly thought I was going to snap them off). I put some noticable back bow on the neck with the high tension strings up to pitch and everything held in tune overnight with no visible change in the repair area. This morning I strung it up with low tension EB Pino light gauge cobalt flats, backed off a bit of the back bow and was able to achieve a very low 2/64ths action on the open 12th across all strings with zero fret buzz…
View attachment 7431317

So far she seems to be a keeper. GC Vintage Gear return policy is only 72 hours after pickup, so unless I find a glaring issue by Saturday I’m stuck with her. Now to get some quality side by side time with the ‘67 and the ‘79 to see if I drastically favor one over the other.

Sweet! Congratulations George!

 

[JIO]

There's a story about him buying a Caddie (convertible?) while on break from doing stuff at the factory, getting shunned by a salesman for not looking like a real Cadillac customer.

There's a 'story' (possibly folklore) that Grace Slick had a similar car dealer encounter. After the salesman chided her for looking at a Mercedes (if I remember correctly), she ignored him and paid cash for it.

 

[Nocturnal]

Well, the eagle (or should I say Thunderbird) has landed!

It’s a very sweet playing ‘67 NR II with tons of patina, checking and player wear. Appears to be mostly original. A sturdy pro neck repair with dual splines, the obligatory aged cracked/warped/broken pick guard and what looks like newer pots and possibly an after market hardtail. Action is super low and super smooth at 2/64ths on the open strings at the 12th fret, bridge is completely on the deck and the truss rod works smooth and easy. Sounds fantastic with the Pino Palladino light gauge Cobalt flats (more on those in another post).

Some pics…
Played hard but maintained nicely…
View attachment 7431313

Nice checking…
View attachment 7431314

Pick guard as it should be. I had to remove it and gently sand a bit of the pickup opening on the guard, it had shrunk up around the pickup preventing the pickup from moving when the height screws were adjusted…
View attachment 7431315

The back isn’t too badly abused, just honest player wear and nice checking there as well…
View attachment 7431316

The headstock repair was done some time ago with dual splines and appears to be holding steady, some light finish cracking around some spline seams but nothing structural. I’ve seen better jobs, but I’ve seen a lot worse as well. It came with some incredibly high tension rounds on it (to the point that it was a real chore to turn the D and A tuners to pitch, honestly thought I was going to snap them off). I put some noticable back bow on the neck with the high tension strings up to pitch and everything held in tune overnight with no visible change in the repair area. This morning I strung it up with low tension EB Pino light gauge cobalt flats, backed off a bit of the back bow and was able to achieve a very low 2/64ths action on the open 12th across all strings with zero fret buzz…
View attachment 7431317

So far she seems to be a keeper. GC Vintage Gear return policy is only 72 hours after pickup, so unless I find a glaring issue by Saturday I’m stuck with her. Now to get some quality side by side time with the ‘67 and the ‘79 to see if I drastically favor one over the other.

Congrats George!! Sounds like its a keeper!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Well, the eagle (or should I say Thunderbird) has landed!

It’s a very sweet playing ‘67 NR II with tons of patina, checking and player wear. Appears to be mostly original. A sturdy pro neck repair with dual splines, the obligatory aged cracked/warped/broken pick guard and what looks like newer pots and possibly an after market hardtail. Action is super low and super smooth at 2/64ths on the open strings at the 12th fret, bridge is completely on the deck and the truss rod works smooth and easy. Sounds fantastic with the Pino Palladino light gauge Cobalt flats (more on those in another post).

Some pics…
Played hard but maintained nicely…
View attachment 7431313

Nice checking…
View attachment 7431314

Pick guard as it should be. I had to remove it and gently sand a bit of the pickup opening on the guard, it had shrunk up around the pickup preventing the pickup from moving when the height screws were adjusted…
View attachment 7431315

The back isn’t too badly abused, just honest player wear and nice checking there as well…
View attachment 7431316

The headstock repair was done some time ago with dual splines and appears to be holding steady, some light finish cracking around some spline seams but nothing structural. I’ve seen better jobs, but I’ve seen a lot worse as well. It came with some incredibly high tension rounds on it (to the point that it was a real chore to turn the D and A tuners to pitch, honestly thought I was going to snap them off). I put some noticable back bow on the neck with the high tension strings up to pitch and everything held in tune overnight with no visible change in the repair area. This morning I strung it up with low tension EB Pino light gauge cobalt flats, backed off a bit of the back bow and was able to achieve a very low 2/64ths action on the open 12th across all strings with zero fret buzz…
View attachment 7431317

So far she seems to be a keeper. GC Vintage Gear return policy is only 72 hours after pickup, so unless I find a glaring issue by Saturday I’m stuck with her. Now to get some quality side by side time with the ‘67 and the ‘79 to see if I drastically favor one over the other.

Woohoo! I hope there are no show stoppers!

 

[MCF]

We are 73, 53, 51, 33, still playing and limited gigging Hard Rock/Classic Rock, patrons ALWAYS like it. But the best part is the fun playing it at weekly practice. Thankfully, I'll be playing it until I stop, so always play what you like.

Gives me hope.

 

[MCF]

My question remains....

There is absolutely nothing wrong with abstinence from meat for a few days. I do it all the time. But I’m a Californian.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with abstinence from meat for a few days. I do it all the time. But I’m a Californian.

Yeah, it's a bit more dangerous here in beef country. Even our vegan products moo!

 

[MCF]

Happy holiday weekend everyone!

A boy and his dog.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Happy holiday weekend everyone!

A boy and his dog.
View attachment 7431539

Or maybe a dog and his boy ...

 

[TBird1958]

Nice to have my '64 back, it now has a Bad Bird bridge on it, which has really helped, it plays so nice now - like getting a whole new Thunderbird today!

 

[TBird1958]

Well, the eagle (or should I say Thunderbird) has landed!

It’s a very sweet playing ‘67 NR II with tons of patina, checking and player wear. Appears to be mostly original. A sturdy pro neck repair with dual splines, the obligatory aged cracked/warped/broken pick guard and what looks like newer pots and possibly an after market hardtail. Action is super low and super smooth at 2/64ths on the open strings at the 12th fret, bridge is completely on the deck and the truss rod works smooth and easy. Sounds fantastic with the Pino Palladino light gauge Cobalt flats (more on those in another post).

Some pics…
Played hard but maintained nicely…
View attachment 7431313

Nice checking…
View attachment 7431314

Pick guard as it should be. I had to remove it and gently sand a bit of the pickup opening on the guard, it had shrunk up around the pickup preventing the pickup from moving when the height screws were adjusted…
View attachment 7431315

The back isn’t too badly abused, just honest player wear and nice checking there as well…
View attachment 7431316

The headstock repair was done some time ago with dual splines and appears to be holding steady, some light finish cracking around some spline seams but nothing structural. I’ve seen better jobs, but I’ve seen a lot worse as well. It came with some incredibly high tension rounds on it (to the point that it was a real chore to turn the D and A tuners to pitch, honestly thought I was going to snap them off). I put some noticable back bow on the neck with the high tension strings up to pitch and everything held in tune overnight with no visible change in the repair area. This morning I strung it up with low tension EB Pino light gauge cobalt flats, backed off a bit of the back bow and was able to achieve a very low 2/64ths action on the open 12th across all strings with zero fret buzz…
View attachment 7431317

So far she seems to be a keeper. GC Vintage Gear return policy is only 72 hours after pickup, so unless I find a glaring issue by Saturday I’m stuck with her. Now to get some quality side by side time with the ‘67 and the ‘79 to see if I drastically favor one over the other.

Wow! great score, George! Love it!

 

[JIO]

Gives me hope.

TSC also has four members of widely different ages. Even more so when we had our 25yr old drummer. I went through many years trying to get in a band after playing with Eddie Taylor Blues Band in Chicago in the early '80s but after joining BG 13yrs ago, things opened up allowing me to form TSC. Both very different bands w/Paul (guitar/horn/songwriter/singer) and I being in both bands. Anything's possible if you want it bad enough.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

TSC also has four members of widely different ages. Even more so when we had our 25yr old drummer. I went through many years trying to get in a band after playing with Eddie Taylor Blues Band in Chicago in the early '80s but after joining BG 13yrs ago, things opened up allowing me to form TSC. Both very different bands w/Paul (guitar/horn/songwriter/singer) and I being in both bands. Anything's possible if you want it bad enough.

John Michael's 67, Becca 19.....

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

You wear that Thunderbird well my friend.

Thx M! When are you gonna get out there and start making some noise?

 

[Count Bassie]

Thx M! When are you gonna get out there and start making some noise?

Right?

 

[JIO]

John Michael's 67, Becca 19.....

Exactly - in its purist form, playing music together should have no age limitations or restrictions. If someone creates those barriers it's usually from someone you wouldn't want to play with anyway.

 

[BuddhaFingas]

Cool stuff.....
View attachment 7431230View attachment 7431231View attachment 7431233View attachment 7431232View attachment 7431235View attachment 7431236View attachment 7431237View attachment 7431238View attachment 7431239View attachment 7431240View attachment 7431234

I see one lonely looking lefty Vee...
And already have one.

Guess I could buy the clock.

 

[Stealth57]

Nice to have my '64 back, it now has a Bad Bird bridge on it, which has really helped, it plays so nice now - like getting a whole new Thunderbird today!

BadBird Friday