I "need" to do one of those as well.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
Looks like one bad 'red pro' tip out of the bag of 10.
Hope it didn't bugger up my first coat.
Body got some spits, hopefully they will shrink out as they dry. Not like you can sand out metallic - at least not final coats!
2nd coat on the neck looks like final. Not going to be much grain showing, but maple is like that.
We'll see if wind and prior coat corrections if needed let me get a second gold on the body today.
Not looking too bad, but hitting the balance between 'grain colored to the bottom of the recesses' and 'grain vanishing under the paint' will be tricksy, precioussss... yesssss...
Happy just to be making progress,TBH. Frustrations have been manifold.
Almost forgot I wanted my inserts sub-finish. Too focused on paint.
Got'em in. And the ground.
Hope it didn't bugger up my first coat.
Body got some spits, hopefully they will shrink out as they dry. Not like you can sand out metallic - at least not final coats!
2nd coat on the neck looks like final. Not going to be much grain showing, but maple is like that.
We'll see if wind and prior coat corrections if needed let me get a second gold on the body today.
Not looking too bad, but hitting the balance between 'grain colored to the bottom of the recesses' and 'grain vanishing under the paint' will be tricksy, precioussss... yesssss...
Happy just to be making progress,TBH. Frustrations have been manifold.
Almost forgot I wanted my inserts sub-finish. Too focused on paint.
Got'em in. And the ground.
Popped down to my local music shop, and came home with this:
The top one there, that is. Now I have two originals. I do really love these things, if I had to go down to just a couple pedals, it’d probably be one of these on each pickup, and the Parachute Wah. I had some store credit, so walked out with it for $10. Still want to pickup one of these earliest models with the rectangular dial indicators instead of the dots, and plan on building some more clones when the tariffs stop making it so expensive to get my parts.
But the real reason I went in to the shop was they just got a RMI 368x in, and I’ve been looking for one for ages. It sounds amazing, now I just gotta figure out what I can trade in for it…
The top one there, that is. Now I have two originals. I do really love these things, if I had to go down to just a couple pedals, it’d probably be one of these on each pickup, and the Parachute Wah. I had some store credit, so walked out with it for $10. Still want to pickup one of these earliest models with the rectangular dial indicators instead of the dots, and plan on building some more clones when the tariffs stop making it so expensive to get my parts.
But the real reason I went in to the shop was they just got a RMI 368x in, and I’ve been looking for one for ages. It sounds amazing, now I just gotta figure out what I can trade in for it…
You are doing a tremendous job from the start! It’s funny how a kit bass, when done right can be so great. I won’t ask how many hours you have in it. But it’s the end result that really counts. Awesome!
I can’t wait to play it at the August GTG in Santa Cruz!
Thanks for the enciuragement.
I am hoping it will be done (cured and polished) by then. Got a lot of coats of clear to get though.
If it is done and I can get there, I will try to fit both birds in my loadout.
Would be a challenge in the Miata.
really like the warmoth stuff....we've come a long way from the monthly "Build your own Electric Guitar" column in late 70's (when Herb Mikman had the bass column) Guitar Player magazine....I looked for something like this for a long time and finally just opted for building it...should have done it long ago....
Really good deal if it includes the soft case.a good price -
Used Epiphone Thunderbird '64 Bass, Ember Red | eBay
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Changed the knobs with spares I had as the original plastic knobs broke as I took em off 
Cleaned the fretboard, polished the frets, changed the tuners, started messing with the bridge... Strange bridge to set up.
The bass is quite light (under 3.95kg) has a bit of neck dive but not bad at all, the thing that's disturbing me is that the bass leans forward... Seems to be a common issue but I need to find a proper solution. Putting the strap over the wing works perfectly but is not an acceptable solution for me.
How high do you folks set the pickups?
Cleaned the fretboard, polished the frets, changed the tuners, started messing with the bridge... Strange bridge to set up.
The bass is quite light (under 3.95kg) has a bit of neck dive but not bad at all, the thing that's disturbing me is that the bass leans forward... Seems to be a common issue but I need to find a proper solution. Putting the strap over the wing works perfectly but is not an acceptable solution for me.
How high do you folks set the pickups?
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@MCF Since not much going on this morning, I thought I would bring back old memories with a legal story. Some yahoo in New Mexico Workforce Solutions issued a "subpoena" asking for all our financial records (e.g., general ledger, payroll for all our employees, etc.). Of course, he's not a judge. Really, all this is is an audit for unemployment insurance. They don't have email, won't give a fax number, don't answer their phones, and all their voicemail boxes are full. So, had the pleasure of writing him an old fashion USPS up yours. We have no real assets in NM and, since it is an interstate issue, I gave him the address for the US District Court in San Francisco. I love working with bureaucrats that think they have leverage. Happy Sunday 
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,211
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
We made the 60 mile drive north to Arlington, WA yesterday as we had a 90 minute opening slot at Mirkwood Public House
A really cool venue that we had played at before, had a great time, we played pretty well and I got to meet our Thunderbird Club member Russhhh, #890
(Rus) as he came out to see the show. Cheers to you, Rus! Thanks for coming out!
A little YT fun, the stage was really pretty, sound was good too.
A really cool venue that we had played at before, had a great time, we played pretty well and I got to meet our Thunderbird Club member Russhhh, #890
(Rus) as he came out to see the show. Cheers to you, Rus! Thanks for coming out!
A little YT fun, the stage was really pretty, sound was good too.
I use Dunlop straplocks and they make a flush mount option. So all of my ‘birds have one of these flush on the bottom upper edge:
For me, it mitigates the problem enough. I’d say it still leans forward a touch, but not enough to bother me anymore. It slightly pushes the bass a little more left, so a smidge more reach getting to F, etc.
Putting the strap across the front isn’t a solution for me either, but I know a lot here do it, and it’s probably the most effective way to prevent the forward tilt.
Well, crap.
Body is covered with spatter nibs; will have to gently sand back.
Inspected neck and found it ALMOST good enough and after drying it had shrunk down to show more grain... but spotted a couple spots that could stand better coverage.
So dithered a bit, decided on one final coat.... And botched it. Runs and edge puddling on the headstock.
Have to wait for it to dry but needs head sanded back.
The red tips are better suited to large area coverage, IMO. Got more paint than I expected.
Bummah. All part of the game I guess.
The human drama of "figuring it out on the fly."
Todays mood:
Body is covered with spatter nibs; will have to gently sand back.
Inspected neck and found it ALMOST good enough and after drying it had shrunk down to show more grain... but spotted a couple spots that could stand better coverage.
So dithered a bit, decided on one final coat.... And botched it. Runs and edge puddling on the headstock.
Have to wait for it to dry but needs head sanded back.
The red tips are better suited to large area coverage, IMO. Got more paint than I expected.
Bummah. All part of the game I guess.
The human drama of "figuring it out on the fly."
Todays mood:
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$
check out minute 1.11 trough 1.15..
do you use the button behind the heel? I use the bout one with no balance problem....(slight neckdive) but no worse than on a reverse....
check out minute 1.11 trough 1.15..
What? We don't get it?@MCF Since not much going on this morning, I thought I would bring back old memories with a legal story. Some yahoo in New Mexico Workforce Solutions issued a "subpoena" asking for all our financial records (e.g., general ledger, payroll for all our employees, etc.). Of course, he's not a judge. Really, all this is is an audit for unemployment insurance. They don't have email, won't give a fax number, don't answer their phones, and all their voicemail boxes are full. So, had the pleasure of writing him an old fashion USPS up yours. We have no real assets in NM and, since it is an interstate issue, I gave him the address for the US District Court in San Francisco. I love working with bureaucrats that think they have leverage. Happy Sunday
This show was fantastic and worth watching. Odd but really special concept with them. Band is great as well.
You could offer it online as "Letter Smackdown Pay Per View."
I smell revenue stream.
Yes, normal Dunlop pin in the stock neck/heel position and then the flush one there where pictured. The normal Dunlop pin shown in the picture at the stock position is there simply for aesthetics, but I never use it.
Adelaide Library
Adelaide Roy “Mo” Rene statue
Adelaide fountain
Some more McLaren Vale shots.
Adelaide Roy “Mo” Rene statue
Adelaide fountain
Some more McLaren Vale shots.
