Thunderbird Club

[Dark Horse]

A little while back I bought an older MIM Fender Jazz to flip. It needed some love, but it was only $250 and I could set it up, clean it up, and make a tidy profit. The downside is that it’s a 2001, which has the two pickups that are the same size, so it’s not as desirable to some people. But I figured if I offered a great playing Jazz up for $400 it should sell. Well, it didn’t, and it’s been a couple weeks. And it’s a cool bass…. Awesome neck, weights just under 8.5lbs, and get this, the body is made of Ash !!! Yep…. Ash ! Overall it’s weird because it was also factory oversprayed, started as black and then they sprayed it white. So it’s definitely an odd one. But that neck is killer.

But I digress…..

It didn’t sell. Two weeks at $400 and no real bites on it, other than some trade offers for stuff I didn’t want.

So today I decided I’d give it a facelift. I have a set of the EY Thunderbird pickups sitting here, and I thought “I have several great Jazz basses, but I don’t have a single Thunderjazz !!!” So I decided that I’d convert it to a Thunderjazz. A little routing, a bit of soldering, a set of fresh Ernie Group 3 flats, and some quality J bass pickups… now it’s honestly a flat out BEAST of a bass.

I certainly increased the value and desirability of the bass.

I also increased the likelihood that I’ll keep it.

Here’s how it turned out !

 

[GonePlaid]

A little while back I bought an older MIM Fender Jazz to flip. It needed some love, but it was only $250 and I could set it up, clean it up, and make a tidy profit. The downside is that it’s a 2001, which has the two pickups that are the same size, so it’s not as desirable to some people. But I figured if I offered a great playing Jazz up for $400 it should sell. Well, it didn’t, and it’s been a couple weeks. And it’s a cool bass…. Awesome neck, weights just under 8.5lbs, and get this, the body is made of Ash !!! Yep…. Ash ! Overall it’s weird because it was also factory oversprayed, started as black and then they sprayed it white. So it’s definitely an odd one. But that neck is killer.

But I digress…..

It didn’t sell. Two weeks at $400 and no real bites on it, other than some trade offers for stuff I didn’t want.

View attachment 7476575

So today I decided I’d give it a facelift. I have a set of the EY Thunderbird pickups sitting here, and I thought “I have several great Jazz basses, but I don’t have a single Thunderjazz !!!” So I decided that I’d convert it to a Thunderjazz. A little routing, a bit of soldering, a set of fresh Ernie Group 3 flats, and some quality J bass pickups… now it’s honestly a flat out BEAST of a bass.

I certainly increased the value and desirability of the bass.

I also increased the likelihood that I’ll keep it.

View attachment 7476576View attachment 7476577View attachment 7476578View attachment 7476579



Here’s how it turned out !



View attachment 7476580

 

[Instagator]

That pic needs a song.


I’ll take the T-40 off you…

I just shipped a Warmoth Iceman one state over from me. USPS for $160 bucks.
I can’t imagine what shipping a T-40
To California would cost. $$$
Cheers!

 

[Dark Horse]

I just shipped a Warmoth Iceman one state over from me. USPS for $160 bucks.
I can’t imagine what shipping a T-40
To California would cost. $$$
Cheers!

I shipped a Jazz bass (that has a heavy Wenge neck) on Saturday using Pirateship. It always saves me a ton of cash. I shipped it UPS Ground. Arrived safely at its destination yesterday.

Grand total : $38.37, including insurance.

Bonus: because I pack it, weigh it, and purchase the shipping label at home, I never have to wait in line at the post office. And at UPS, it’s a quick and easy drop at the UPS store.

If you aren’t using Pirateship, you’re spending more money than you need to.

Here’s the purchase receipt.

If I would’ve shipped USPS it would’ve been around twice the price (even though still substantially less than what you paid). UPS is typically cheaper on large packages.

 

[MCF]

I just shipped a Warmoth Iceman one state over from me. USPS for $160 bucks.
I can’t imagine what shipping a T-40
To California would cost. $$$
Cheers!
View attachment 7476589

Well over $200.

 

[dagrev]

Which labella's?

Deep Talkin Flats.

 

[dagrev]

Well. Some good news on my quest to downsize my vintage monster rigs.
The 72 SVT went home with its new owner last weekend.
Just as I had suspected, the buyer was a more “mature” customer that wanted to reclaim a part of his youth.
No regrets on my part.
We got it up the stairs from the basement and into his truck. It took three of us for the cab.
Sold it on Saturday and had total left knee replacement on Monday. No injuries related to the move.
Mrs Gator and I looked at each other..I said “Well, we’ll never have to do that again “
Cheers to all!
View attachment 7476503

Hope you do well with the recovery and rehab.

FYI, I got a inguinal hernia just looking that the pic.

 

[bylar13]

A little while back I bought an older MIM Fender Jazz to flip. It needed some love, but it was only $250 and I could set it up, clean it up, and make a tidy profit. The downside is that it’s a 2001, which has the two pickups that are the same size, so it’s not as desirable to some people. But I figured if I offered a great playing Jazz up for $400 it should sell. Well, it didn’t, and it’s been a couple weeks. And it’s a cool bass…. Awesome neck, weights just under 8.5lbs, and get this, the body is made of Ash !!! Yep…. Ash ! Overall it’s weird because it was also factory oversprayed, started as black and then they sprayed it white. So it’s definitely an odd one. But that neck is killer.

But I digress…..

It didn’t sell. Two weeks at $400 and no real bites on it, other than some trade offers for stuff I didn’t want.

View attachment 7476575

So today I decided I’d give it a facelift. I have a set of the EY Thunderbird pickups sitting here, and I thought “I have several great Jazz basses, but I don’t have a single Thunderjazz !!!” So I decided that I’d convert it to a Thunderjazz. A little routing, a bit of soldering, a set of fresh Ernie Group 3 flats, and some quality J bass pickups… now it’s honestly a flat out BEAST of a bass.

I certainly increased the value and desirability of the bass.

I also increased the likelihood that I’ll keep it.

View attachment 7476576View attachment 7476577View attachment 7476578View attachment 7476579



Here’s how it turned out !



View attachment 7476580

I like everything about that!

 

[Gaolee]

That is a beautiful rig.

I think mine with the “lighter” Berg NV610 will stay in the basement next winter. I had moved it upstairs (by myself) for winter so that I didn’t have to play in the cold. My son helped me move it back down a couple of weeks ago. He’s 37. And man, did he complain. He just stared at me like I was insane when I told him about me wanting an ACC 360.

Moving a 360 up and down stairs is just time and technique. It would be harder with a second person. Next time you are in Seattle I will show you the easy way to move a big, heavy cabinet up and down stairs. You have seen the basement stairs. It only looks intimidating.

I am in the que for two knees over the next few years, for what that is worth.

 

[Instagator]

I

Moving a 360 up and down stairs is just time and technique. It would be harder with a second person. Next time you are in Seattle I will show you the easy way to move a big, heavy cabinet up and down stairs. You have seen the basement stairs. It only looks intimidating.

I am in the que for two knees over the next few years, for what that is worth.

Look away..
First one from December is healing well.
At my age I just had to get them done and hope for the best..
It must have been from the early damage when I was a “Youut”. Carrying gear like the SVT and a full Hammond B3 with two Leslie cabs..Voice of the theater PA..ect..ect.
I used to tell club owners “ You don’t pay for the band..you pay for the moving company”

Mrs Gator controls my meds so I’m on my best behavior.

 

[Lammchop93]

I have a set on my NR right now. I had Chromes 45-100 on the bass before, but after they broke in, they were a little too dull sounding for me. I put on EB Cobalt flats about 2 weeks ago, gauge 50-110 to accomodate for the lower tension compared to the chromes. I would say they have a similar tension feel to the chrome gauges I stated earlier.

They are still pretty zingy, so are breaking in. I have a 4 hour gig tonight, so will be curious to see what they sound like at the end of the night. I do feel they lost some of the low mid oopmh the Chromes had, but will see how they settle in. I will report back after tonight.

Post gig report. I like the EB flats! I got the growl I was wanting, and less mud than the chromes. We’ll see how they break in more over time, but for now I’m keeping these flats on. Tonight was one of the best tones I’ve had.

 

[Stealth57]

I

Look away..
First one from December is healing well.
At my age I just had to get them done and hope for the best..
It must have been from the early damage when I was a “Youut”. Carrying gear like the SVT and a full Hammond B3 with two Leslie cabs..Voice of the theater PA..ect..ect.
I used to tell club owners “ You don’t pay for the band..you pay for the moving company”

Mrs Gator controls my meds so I’m on my best behavior.
View attachment 7476813View attachment 7476814

Let's not start comparing scars. This old, worn out group would make this thread look like a medical journal. I'm in for at least 6 surgeries. Likely could use one more and refuse to consider 2 others.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Curious if anyone here is using Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats and what your impressions are? I will be doing some recording and was thinking about trying them on my p-bass with a T-Bird pickup. Going for a late 60’s sound on the recording.

Also curious about tension/ feel in 1.05-.45 set. I am currently using the NYXL Nickel in that same gauge. Any idea if there is a meaningful difference in tension/feel?

I can’t help with tension but can get great late 60s from most of my birds with EBCFs. The VP less so until I put Thunderbuckers in it.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I shipped a Jazz bass (that has a heavy Wenge neck) on Saturday using Pirateship. It always saves me a ton of cash. I shipped it UPS Ground. Arrived safely at its destination yesterday.

Grand total : $38.37, including insurance.

Bonus: because I pack it, weigh it, and purchase the shipping label at home, I never have to wait in line at the post office. And at UPS, it’s a quick and easy drop at the UPS store.

If you aren’t using Pirateship, you’re spending more money than you need to.

Here’s the purchase receipt.

If I would’ve shipped USPS it would’ve been around twice the price (even though still substantially less than what you paid). UPS is typically cheaper on large packages.


View attachment 7476600

Yeah. I use USPS for small packages but big ones go UPS.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I’m disappointed you didn’t post more pics of her.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

A little while back I bought an older MIM Fender Jazz to flip. It needed some love, but it was only $250 and I could set it up, clean it up, and make a tidy profit. The downside is that it’s a 2001, which has the two pickups that are the same size, so it’s not as desirable to some people. But I figured if I offered a great playing Jazz up for $400 it should sell. Well, it didn’t, and it’s been a couple weeks. And it’s a cool bass…. Awesome neck, weights just under 8.5lbs, and get this, the body is made of Ash !!! Yep…. Ash ! Overall it’s weird because it was also factory oversprayed, started as black and then they sprayed it white. So it’s definitely an odd one. But that neck is killer.

But I digress…..

It didn’t sell. Two weeks at $400 and no real bites on it, other than some trade offers for stuff I didn’t want.

View attachment 7476575

So today I decided I’d give it a facelift. I have a set of the EY Thunderbird pickups sitting here, and I thought “I have several great Jazz basses, but I don’t have a single Thunderjazz !!!” So I decided that I’d convert it to a Thunderjazz. A little routing, a bit of soldering, a set of fresh Ernie Group 3 flats, and some quality J bass pickups… now it’s honestly a flat out BEAST of a bass.

I certainly increased the value and desirability of the bass.

I also increased the likelihood that I’ll keep it.

View attachment 7476576View attachment 7476577View attachment 7476578View attachment 7476579



Here’s how it turned out !



View attachment 7476580

AWESOME, congrats, would LOVE to try that....,

 

[Dark Horse]

AWESOME, congrats, would LOVE to try that....,

Thanks ! Im stoked with how it turned out,

Now I just gotta find something else to sell and make up for keeping it …

 

[RedNuk]

Ok, now I'm officially asking for membership

Just got(h) it badly needs setting up and tuners are dead but the seller included a set of new Gotoh tuners with it But it really sounds good as it is... Happy I am!

 

[MCF]

Thanks ! Im stoked with how it turned out,

Now I just gotta find something else to sell and make up for keeping it …

Nah. Selling stuff is overrated.

 

[MCF]

Ok, now I'm officially asking for membership

View attachment 7476857

Just got(h) it badly needs setting up and tuners are dead but the seller included a set of new Gotoh tuners with it But it really sounds good as it is... Happy I am!

Congrats! Tuners are really the only weak link with them. Cool seller to include new tuners. Play it awhile and tell us what you think. I’m one of the bolt-on fans here and like the pickups. I use stainless rounds. Those are the best Epi cases IMO..