Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

I know, I know. And he's even here in the states.
I haven't formally contacted Carlo yet but I think I read that he's not keen on using customer provided electronics. Probably a lot of good reasons for that. I've kicked his NR Fenderbird model around a lot in my head and I might still go that route but right now I'm really jonesin for a NR with 2015 Thunderbird guts. I've built a number of very nice basses in the past so I would normally do a simple reroute and gut swap myself but I no longer have the shop space or proper tools to do the wood work easily.

Talk to Lowe Custom Guitars. Brad would probably build you most of it and then send it to you to install the electronics. It's a guess, but I have had good luck dealing with him.

 

[Nocturnal]

Yeah, I have a 2013 EB 5 string and love that sound even more than my TBird but love the look and feel of the Bird better. Was hoping to meld the two into a NR for a total win. Rethinking that now. I might still do it but I hate to hack into a NR, those buggers are hard to find and I'd be reducing the gene pool by one if I did it.

You might get lucky and find one with a headstock repair. In that case the value has already taken a big hit so you might as well modify it.

 

[kat888]

Would he make a red one, by any stretch?

I'm sure he'd do dayglo pink if you asked him.

 

[Gaolee]

I'm sure he'd do dayglo pink if you asked him.

Like this only with the proper number of strings?

 

[Nevada Bob]

I imagine the pickups are quite versatile in that thing. Am I right?

Yeah, wide range of tone in these, especially with the coil split.

I'm like you and prefer a larger neck. If the EB neck was a little deeper, I wouldn't complain.

 

[veebass]

Well guess who dropped into my Tort thread today?. Kat888 and Drestakil . I specifically created that thread so Tort lovers had a place to rave about Tort. As the Tort simmered down over here at our Bird club they must have been feeling withdrawal symptoms. it just wont end!.

Without this post I would have been blissfully unaware of that salami splattered thread.

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah, wide range of tone in these, especially with the coil split.

I'm like you and prefer a larger neck. If the EB neck was a little deeper, I wouldn't complain.

That's exactly the issue with it if you want a big neck. It's not so much how wide it is. It's a bit flattened out. I suspect the fiver version of it would be flattened as well, which would make it feel very much like the Precision. Except with five strings instead of four. The 2015 'Bird has a bit of a flattened back to the neck as well. I guess it's just the evolution of guitar necks to whatever they are evolving to. Given a choice, I like a V shaped back or U shaped back, but that's not an option. Fortunately, it isn't that big a deal for me.

 

[GBassNorth]

Like this only with the proper number of strings?

What's that called - Peptoburst?

 

[MCF]

In the world of guitars, there are unwritten rules. Things ya do & things ya don't do. For instance... painting a beautiful flame topped Les Paul. Ya just don't... and for more than just monetary reasons. You, being actively involved with Epiphone Thunderbirds on a regular basis, are obviously passionate and extremely knowledgable about them. I was particularly interested in your opinion on the matter. I'm flirtin' with the idea of doin' somethin' irreversible to the one I just got. I guess I'm lookin' to see if anybody's got a good enough reason for me not to.

Do as you please to any Epi as long as you don't mess with a Pelham Blue one.

 

[MCF]

I will digress back into the Thunderbird world.
I'm sure there are the lot of you that know this bass.
And probably have already have seen this.
Am i correct in my understanding this was a Tom Peterson Bass?
Did Hamer build this specifically for him?

View attachment 1182548

Oh my. That is beautiful.

 

[MCF]

A couple dozen pages back I asked a Bird brained question but I don't recall getting a response so I'll ask again.

Does anyone know if the 2015 TBird pups (the exposed coil humbuckers) will fit in an earlier model Gibson TBird without routing the body?

Said another way - if anyone can post the dimensions of the 2015 Bird pups I'd appreciate it.

So I get home after six hours on the road for a three hour meeting and try to catch up with you guys before I get way behind. I'm tired, but I feel compelled to answer this for you G because you asked nicely.

length 3 and 5/8th
width 1 and 5/8th
height 5/8th

They are wonderful pickups in an amazing bird.

 

[JIO]

It's the only reason I haven't bailed on my current band.

I would have to believe that once a bass-player and drummer get linked - it would be incentive for the rest of the band to get their act together. If not, the rhythm-section could always jump ship (find a guitarist/keys or horn player) and start their own band!

 

[Count Bassie]

Picked up a Mackie Onyx Satellite for $70 today. Now I can finally do those collaborative internet-abled projects I got asked to do a couple years ago. I hope my collaborating partners haven't totally written me off. Ha...

 

[Gaolee]

What's that called - Peptoburst?

I dunno, but I like it in it's awfulness.

 

[JJR58]

That's exactly the issue with it if you want a big neck. It's not so much how wide it is. It's a bit flattened out. I suspect the fiver version of it would be flattened as well, which would make it feel very much like the Precision. Except with five strings instead of four. The 2015 'Bird has a bit of a flattened back to the neck as well. I guess it's just the evolution of guitar necks to whatever they are evolving to. Given a choice, I like a V shaped back or U shaped back, but that's not an option. Fortunately, it isn't that big a deal for me.

I'm the opposite. I prefer flat and wide. Not to wide.
My hand just seems to fit those types of necks better.

 

[Gluvhand]

I would have to believe that once a bass-player and drummer get linked - it would be incentive for the rest of the band to get their act together. If not, the rhythm-section could always jump ship (find a guitarist/keys or horn player) and start their own band!

I would've believed once the drummer and I locked in they would've stepped it up too. They haven't. And jumping ship and hijacking the drummer isn't really an option. This is just a fun side gig for him so he isn't motivated to be a part of a "from the ground up start up". I have a few irons in the fire. Something will turn up. I'm not particularly keen on the proposed new direction of the band so my motivation level just got raised.

 

[silky smoove]

My StatusBird is finished. Needless to say... It rocks. It was built to rock, and it rocks, so... Mission accomplished!

The pickup combination (pair of EMG GZR Ps in a dual reverse P configuration) is great. The typical mid-scoop you get in a two pickup bass with both on full is more pronounced than on any bass I've ever played. Roll the neck pickup off even a tiny amount and it's bursting with mids. Interesting characteristic. The neck pickup solo sounds like any great P-Bass, but with better string-to-string tonal balance because of the reverse configuration. The bridge pickup solo is basically a fatter bridge J solo sound, but also has more of a barky midrange character. I'm not sure I'll use that pickup solo very often, but it's a cool sound if I need it.

 

[JIO]

I would've believed once the drummer and I locked in they would've stepped it up too. They haven't. And jumping ship and hijacking the drummer isn't really an option. This is just a fun side gig for him so he isn't motivated to be a part of a "from the ground up start up". I have a few irons in the fire. Something will turn up. I'm not particularly keen on the proposed new direction of the band so my motivation level just got raised.

I'm in process of formulating our trio into a sextette myself - you never know how it will end up but so far so good.

 

[JIO]

My StatusBird is finished. Needless to say... It rocks. It was built to rock, and it rocks, so... Mission accomplished!

The pickup combination (pair of EMG GZR Ps in a dual reverse P configuration) is great. The typical mid-scoop you get in a two pickup bass with both on full is more pronounced than on any bass I've ever played. Roll the neck pickup off even a tiny amount and it's bursting with mids. Interesting characteristic. The neck pickup solo sounds like any great P-Bass, but with better string-to-string tonal balance because of the reverse configuration. The bridge pickup solo is basically a fatter bridge J solo sound, but also has more of a barky midrange character. I'm not sure I'll use that pickup solo very often, but it's a cool sound if I need it.

View attachment 1182972 View attachment 1182973 View attachment 1182975

That's pretty badass - I wanted to do my Fenderbird w/a carbon neck but ended up with a nice (vintage '89) maple/rosewood one instead. Mine runs 2 Wilkinson buckers w/a 9v Kubicki pre - absolutely killer.

 

[Nocturnal]

My StatusBird is finished. Needless to say... It rocks. It was built to rock, and it rocks, so... Mission accomplished!

The pickup combination (pair of EMG GZR Ps in a dual reverse P configuration) is great. The typical mid-scoop you get in a two pickup bass with both on full is more pronounced than on any bass I've ever played. Roll the neck pickup off even a tiny amount and it's bursting with mids. Interesting characteristic. The neck pickup solo sounds like any great P-Bass, but with better string-to-string tonal balance because of the reverse configuration. The bridge pickup solo is basically a fatter bridge J solo sound, but also has more of a barky midrange character. I'm not sure I'll use that pickup solo very often, but it's a cool sound if I need it.

View attachment 1182972 View attachment 1182973 View attachment 1182975

That is a beauty!! The pickguard would have been dark black pearl if this were mine, but aside from that it is soooo my taste. Well done!! And I agree, the Geezer's are great pickups!