Thunderbird Club

[Off-Beat]

Ashdown... that's a name I'd like to get familiar with. Once again... nobody local carries them.

Is that Allen Woody a hollow body, or does it have a solid center block?

Centerblock.

My ashdown is a mag 300 2x10 combo. Pretty good sounding for the price. Got it refurbished for 300€ from a shop.

My cat peed in it so I cleaned and resoldered the PCB. Although Agedhorse suggested it will die on me it still runs years later. Guess that's a sign of quality.

Sonically it's somewhere between modern and vintage. Can't really compare as I didn't have alot of amps in my hands.

Description says I should not run the preamp VU into the red, but that's happening at 11 o'clock already if I dig in. The pre actually produces a nice overdriven tone when pushed, but also smell of cooling paste. So I'll let the power stage do the heavy lifting as I don't want do destroy those transistors.

 

[GBassNorth]

?....
My cat peed in it so I cleaned and resoldered the PCB. Although Agedhorse suggested it will die on me it still runs years later. .....

The pre actually produces a nice overdriven tone when pushed, but also smell of cooling paste. ....

"Cooling paste" is that code for "cat piss"?

 

[Off-Beat]

"Cooling paste" is that code for "cat piss"?

Fortunately not.

 

[Korladis]

Centerblock.

My ashdown is a mag 300 2x10 combo. Pretty good sounding for the price. Got it refurbished for 300€ from a shop.

My cat peed in it so I cleaned and resoldered the PCB. Although Agedhorse suggested it will die on me it still runs years later. Guess that's a sign of quality.

Sonically it's somewhere between modern and vintage. Can't really compare as I didn't have alot of amps in my hands.

Description says I should not run the preamp VU into the red, but that's happening at 11 o'clock already if I dig in. The pre actually produces a nice overdriven tone when pushed, but also smell of cooling paste. So I'll let the power stage do the heavy lifting as I don't want do destroy those transistors.

Fire the cat.

 

[hillerup]

In truth I'm much more into Radio Birdman and the whole 'Detroit by the Beach' school of Sydney garage music. I have seen the Chris Bailey Saints and Ed Kuepper many times though.

I like both too, but have always been a huge fan of the Bailey/Kuepper Saints line-up - First two albums in particular.

Would have loved to see them back in the days.

 

[hillerup]

INXS should get a mention I guess

Oh yes!

Now, how could we forget them?!

 

[Count Bassie]

@Dadagoboi, hey man I hope you're on a good healing trend. Matter is energy I always say, intention walked in is a real road. (I got a million of 'em!...)

Good to have seen you appear here- I'm missing a lot I know, just buzzing by here and there these days...

 

[hillerup]

Well that certainly is an interesting idea! I'd joked about that before... but I'd never thought about actually doing it. I'll dig around online for neck specs on that 5 string & see if that would be practical...

Here you go, Fix!:

Epiphone Thunderbird Pro-V Bass

As you can see, the fretboard is a friggin' aircraft carrier! But the good thing is (if you want to go that way), that other than the neck width and the 5-string bridge the rest is pretty much identical to a Pro-IV - Pickups and electronics are the same and the headstock is the same size with the 5th tuner added on the treble size.

So, with a new 4 string nut and bridge and removed 5th tuner, you're basically where you want to be on a budget.
However, you may want to swap out the anaemic active pickups and electronics for a passive set of chrome Chinabuckers with matching pickup rings and while you're add it, you might just get that 4-string bridge in chrome and a set of affordable chrome tuners - EBay is your frind for this...

Although the Pro-V is out of production, they do shows up now and them at reasonable prices.

 

[JJR58]

Here you go, Fix!:

Epiphone Thunderbird Pro-V Bass

As you can see, the fretboard is a friggin' aircraft carrier! But the good thing is (if you want to go that way), that other than the neck width and the 5-string bridge the rest is pretty much identical to a Pro-IV - Pickups and electronics are the same and the headstock is the same size with the 5th tuner added on the treble size.

So, with a new 4 string nut and bridge and removed 5th tuner, you're basically where you want to be on a budget.
However, you may want to swap out the anaemic active pickups and electronics for a passive set of chrome Chinabuckers with matching pickup rings and while you're add it, you might just get that 4-string bridge in chrome and a set of affordable chrome tuners - EBay is your frind for this...

Although the Pro-V is out of production, they do shows up now and them at reasonable prices.

Not a bad plan at all.
What do you think Fix?

 

[Nevada Bob]

Not a bad plan at all.
What do you think Fix?

This seems like a very fun project. If it were me, I'd need professional help with the nut, but the rest is very doable for a home tech. And as long as it's being modded, a guy wouldn't feel bad painting it Pelham Blue at some point down the road...

hillerup, great idea!

I'm not in the same boat as the Fix, I get along just fine with the EB and fingers crossed for the Vintage Pro - I'm just undecided on color

 

[JJR58]

This seems like a very fun project. If it were me, I'd need professional help with the nut, but the rest is very doable for a home tech. And as long as it's being modded, a guy wouldn't feel bad painting it Pelham Blue at some point down the road...

hillerup, great idea!

Oh, there's no way I'd be able to do any of the work myself if it were me, but it is a great idea.
And the refin would make even more interesting.

 

[Nocturnal]

The Angels always put on a good show and could rock hard. I saw them many times as well, but were a pop band in comparison to Radio Birdman around '75- '77 and the The Saints to an extent, IMO.
There was something about Radio Birdman on a good night. You felt like this is a very special band I am watching- I felt it with Cold Chisel, ACDC, the Divinyls and Midnight Oil at times.
I always liked Rose Tatts too- they rocked very, very hard. I saw them open for Sabbath some time in the 70s (can't remember exactly when) and they outbrutaled Sabbath.

In truth I'm much more into Radio Birdman and the whole 'Detroit by the Beach' school of Sydney garage music. I have seen the Chris Bailey Saints and Ed Kuepper many times though.

Totally agree that Radio Birdman is the best of the bands mentioned. My jam buddy wants to cover 'Hand of Law' as one of our select few covers. Great band for sure but I do enjoy the others mentioned as well. I think we covered all of the better known Aussie bands about 1000 pages ago.

 

[Nocturnal]

Here you go, Fix!:

Epiphone Thunderbird Pro-V Bass

As you can see, the fretboard is a friggin' aircraft carrier! But the good thing is (if you want to go that way), that other than the neck width and the 5-string bridge the rest is pretty much identical to a Pro-IV - Pickups and electronics are the same and the headstock is the same size with the 5th tuner added on the treble size.

So, with a new 4 string nut and bridge and removed 5th tuner, you're basically where you want to be on a budget.
However, you may want to swap out the anaemic active pickups and electronics for a passive set of chrome Chinabuckers with matching pickup rings and while you're add it, you might just get that 4-string bridge in chrome and a set of affordable chrome tuners - EBay is your frind for this...

Although the Pro-V is out of production, they do shows up now and them at reasonable prices.

This could be a great idea and if executed properly could always revert back to a 5 if desired. Someone here at TB converted the 5er to a 12 string. I will look for the thread.

Found it. The process was not without its detractors or issues but it came out nice in the end.

12 (Twelve) String Thunderbird

 

[Nevada Bob]

I'm in no way connected to either, just aimlessly surfing Reverb and thought I'd pass 'em along

NYC area Dealer has a Used Heritage Cherry bolt-neck

Upstate NY Dealer has a Used 5-String Epiphone Pro

GAS is like beer, best when shared with friends.

 

[Larry V]

This could be a great idea and if executed properly could always revert back to a 5 if desired. Someone here at TB converted the 5er to a 12 string. I will look for the thread.

Found it. The process was not without its detractors or issues but it came out nice in the end.

12 (Twelve) String Thunderbird

That was a great TBird project that I was very happy to have a small part in putting a finishing touch on.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Odd, what do you get for a used LP over there?



Will do, but I really think it's the string either size or dead out of the box.



It's an Epiphone. By the dimensions I'd say it's got Firebird PUPs, but the strings are still well above them.

Other than my Chickenbacker having too small of a pickup it also had a a bridge with ridiculously wide string spacing that helped the top string bypass any magnetic chances it had with the pickup. My Chickenbacker has no quality standards and are produced underground so what you buy is what you get with no warranty at all. Your bass being an Epiphone brand I would think this shouldnt and couldnt happen. Sorry Dude, tell us how it ends.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

That was a great TBird project that I was very happy to have a small part in putting a finishing touch on.

OMG it was beautiful before it started and then just incredible when it finished. Is there anywhere on the internet we can hear this fine beast?.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Here you go, Fix!:

Epiphone Thunderbird Pro-V Bass

As you can see, the fretboard is a friggin' aircraft carrier! But the good thing is (if you want to go that way), that other than the neck width and the 5-string bridge the rest is pretty much identical to a Pro-IV - Pickups and electronics are the same and the headstock is the same size with the 5th tuner added on the treble size.

So, with a new 4 string nut and bridge and removed 5th tuner, you're basically where you want to be on a budget.
However, you may want to swap out the anaemic active pickups and electronics for a passive set of chrome Chinabuckers with matching pickup rings and while you're add it, you might just get that 4-string bridge in chrome and a set of affordable chrome tuners - EBay is your frind for this...

Although the Pro-V is out of production, they do shows up now and them at reasonable prices.

I like your thinking Dude, sounds like a great plan

 

[Larry V]

OMG it was beautiful before it started and then just incredible when it finished. Is there anywhere on the internet we can hear this fine beast?.

Somewhere in that long thread, Larry posted some clips. I'm not sure if the links are still active though.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Somewhere in that long thread, Larry posted some clips. I'm not sure if the links are still active though.

I raced by it the first time but your confirmation sent me back to find it. Found it thanks.