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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
That's what she said!
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
Very very nice indeed!
Only thing that bird needs is a graphite pickguard instead of tort....
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
Our paths might not have crossed when I told my story previously. I'll give you an abbreviated version of it, because it'll help you understand all the question asking & bass hunting I've been doing.
A very good friend gave me a beautiful flame-top Les Paul in an effort to help me through a hard time. He gave me that guitar with only one stipulation. I can't sell it. It dies with me. Well... his "spirit booster" didn't work. The guitar spent a little over a year in it's case, before the opportunity to play bass (thankfully) dropped in my lap. A couple weeks after I'd started playing... I was all in! I just fell in love with it, and started to feel alive again for the first time in a looooong while. I told my friend about my new obsession, & asked for his permission to turn that beautiful guitar into a bass. He was excited to hear about it, and granted permission... but the same rule applies. It dies with me. I seized the opportunity to share my good fortune with my best friend of over 30 years, by selling my Les Paul to him on terms that he can work with. When he pays that off, I get to buy the bass I'll die with. That gives me the next few months to find that bass. I don't have a decent shop within reasonable distance that has a bunch of different basses that I can walk in & try out, and it's hard to get the info I need online. That's why I'm constantly asking questions about necks & specs on different brands & models & all that stuff. The various cheap basses I've had over the past few months, have been a separate issue altogether. That has been the search for a "for right now" bass, intended primarily just to give me something to play on until I can get that bass. The search for a neck I was comfortable with, was difficult enough before I hooked up with you guys. After owning that Goth for a DAY... my entire perception of the electric bass guitar, and what I want to get out of it, changed. Now I've cut most of the basses in the world off the list of what will work for me & make me smile. The fantasy bass would be a fat necked Gibson Thunderbird. Those have apparently have never been built. The next logical step is a custom shop. I don't have the budget for that. So, I guess right now, I'm lookin' for another way to keep the Gibson vibe, on a versatile bass with a fat neck, at a price I can afford. That doesn't sound like too much to ask, but I'm starting to think it is. It's a good thing I have a few months to find the needle in the haystack.
<edit>
The fat necked Epi that I have now is only my second bass since being "born again" into the Gibson faith... and I'm quite happy with it!
I did read your story when you posted it originally, and all other posts here in the club - How can I not notice, they are kinda loud with all the YEEEEELLIIIING and stuff...
It's great the Thunderbird bass found you and you are excited about it - it makes for entertaining posts. But my advice still stands; Relax and don't rush it, you will find your bass in time...
When it's time for getting THE bass, go visit a shop with a good selection - Even if you have to go far for it.
Don't forget that, when you ask opinions about specific basses you will get subjective answers - What may be perceived as a fat neck by one person, may not by another - Better judge this by trying them out yourselves...
An idea: If you can't find a 4-string with the right neck - Maybe converting a 5-string could be an option?
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hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
MCF - in my book that stands for Mighty Cool Friend! Thanks so much for posting the pup info in spite of a long day. If you or @Gaolee are ever in the SoCal area look me up, drinks and dinner are on me.
Edit: just measured the pups on my Anniversary Bird and they are those exact same dimensions. This just made my day, it means I CAN in fact drop 2015 pups in a NR Bird without any routing. Now I just need to check the pot shaft lengths on my 2013 EB to see if they're long enough to mount in a rear cavity TBird vs the current pickguard mounting they have. As a side note, and much to my surprise, apparently the 5 string and 4 string EB pups are identical in size, who da thunk. The plan is starting to come together.
Glad to help. Should be an interesting swap if the pots fit.
I'm actually in two places; NoCal during most weeks for work and SoCal on most weekends. The commute keeps me from getting out much. Things should get easier though as I'm changing jobs at the end of the month and will be winding down the NoCal commitments by next summer.
Polyester neck? Hmmm.
If it has blue LEDs it will be excellent.
Mmmm, will stop in there tomorrow and get the scoop.
I have the 5 string EB. The TBird only comes in 4 string. MCF shared dimensions of the four string 2015 TBird pups which apparently are the same size as my 5 string pups. I just assumed the 5 string pups were at least longer than the 4 string ones but apparently that isn't the case.
Gibson has always been using their 4 string PUPs on 5 strings as far as I know. It's one of the reasons that the Studio V is said to have a weak B string which I found to be true on my first Studio V(the cherry one) but not to be true on my current Studio V(the ebony one).
Thanks, and that brings up another good point. Because the 2015 pups are an exposed pole style I'll need to confirm the 4 string EB string spacing at the bridge is roughly the same as the NR. I hate it when strings don't align properly over poles (even though it really doesn't make much difference in the playability).
Funny, the ad is on this page for me right now. Pedal tuner guy here, so no. But they certainly look to be highly visible. And the price is right.
Not wanting to derail too much, but has anyone tried one of those little tops that keep popping up in the ads?
In case anyone is interested, Pickguard Heaven makes carbon fiber pickguards for Birds. They will make a custom one for you if the Gibson/Epi don't fit your bass. I have a carbon fiber guard and truss rod cover that was on my 2001 Gibson for a few years. looked really cool on the ebony finish. Not great shots, especially the last one since it is washed out in the AZ sun.
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My Studio V definitely does not suffer from a weak B string.
Im with you Dude, Ive got that lefty P bass neck just sitting collecting dust when I was supposed to have modded it into my bird, I would be way happier with a thicker neck on my bird. When I play my P Ive got a large scale play area that my fingers can roam across freely while I pound and dig without getting caught up and tangled on the other strings Im not plucking at the time. I so need that neck on my bird but I cant bring myself to do it. I almost started it but I cant. I do like the look as well but cant imagine having this beautiful Bird headstock lying there collecting dust either. I feel sometimes like Im strangling a noodle and I expect it to snap. Need to form the "Big Hands Club" as a place where we can come to terms with this.
Super Sexy!droolIn case anyone is interested, Pickguard Heaven makes carbon fiber pickguards for Birds. They will make a custom one for you if the Gibson/Epi don't fit your bass. I have a carbon fiber guard and truss rod cover that was on my 2001 Gibson for a few years. looked really cool on the ebony finish. Not great shots, especially the last one since it is washed out in the AZ sun.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,980
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,980
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
In case anyone is interested, Pickguard Heaven makes carbon fiber pickguards for Birds. They will make a custom one for you if the Gibson/Epi don't fit your bass. I have a carbon fiber guard and truss rod cover that was on my 2001 Gibson for a few years. looked really cool on the ebony finish. Not great shots, especially the last one since it is washed out in the AZ sun.
Looks like one could make their own 'carbon look' pg using a clear guard over (faux) carbon-weave material found in auto supply stores.
