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Thunderbird Club

#40,201
theFixer said:
Hey... You've logged more than a few hours with a Jazz Bass in your hands. In your opinion... how does that T-bird neck compare to a J neck? I've never done a side-by-side comparison. I know they share the same nut width, but I'd wager that the T-bird neck is more "shallow" (not as thick) than the Jazz...
Click to expand...

The neck on this Epi is just a tad chunkier.
But very comfortable. The Jazz neck is definitely flatter, more shallow.
But all in all, more similar than not.
 
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#40,206
JJR58 said:
Right now our thread is at the top of the heap, I hope that's chapping someone's hide right now.
Click to expand...
Ya know... in retrospect... I believe his entire MO was to come in here & f*** with us, for no other reason than the fact that we're always at the top of the list.:rollno:

No matter... onward & upward! There are 49,999 other bitch-friendly threads out there for him to follow;)
 
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#40,207
theFixer said:
Ya know... I haven't been able to achieve super low action outa the Goth or the Korean model I have now. I've been able to achieve decent buzz free playability, but I just can't quite get it down where I'd really like it. @hillerup ... is this common among Epi 'birds, or am I missing something?
Click to expand...

IME, you probably need a fret leveling. The Epi's I have played in the store all could have used some fret work. Also, if you can track down a used Babicz or Hipshot bridge, they both allow for finer adjustment (individual strings) of string height than the 3 point bridge.

I also bought myself one of these:

BASS GUITAR NECK STRAIGHT EDGE (Notched) LUTHIERS TOOL | eBay

My 2014 Gibson T-Bird came with almost no tension on the truss rod. The neck had a significant bow in it. I tightened by eye but after a day or so, it would be over tightened and buzz. After using this and making much smaller adjustments, I was able to get the neck almost flat. A slight amount of relief is what I like, and it has remained there ever since. I am not skilled enough to do it by feel. This tool allowed me a visual confirmation before doing anything.

I then was able to determine that I had a fret (number 19) that was a good bit higher than its brethren by using the tools below:

GeetarGizmos THERMO-FORMED Fret Crowning Dressing Level File Luthier Tool Stick

STAINLESS STEEL FRET ROCKER LUTHIER GUITAR TOOL

Set of 2 Fret Guards Sanding Fingerboard Protector for Guitar Bass Ukelele | eBay

Small Fret End Dressing File with one smooth edge to prevent fingerboard damage

Now the action is right where I like it, no buzz. This tool helped in setting the string radius:

Fret Board Under String Radius Gauge Set, 089453 | eBay

In the 34 years that I had been playing I always took my bass to a luthier, sometimes with less than desirable results. I had been away for so long from playing, I no longer had "my guy".

When I got my first T-Bird, the 2006 that I have since sold, I took it o a local "master" for set up that I had been referred to. My bass came back pretty close to the way I gave it to him and I paid $125 for it. He was cool and told me that if I did not like the set up, I could it bring back for adjustments at no charge but that meant travel and not having the bass for a week or more at a time. I just figured it was time to jump in the pool and learn how to swim....
 
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#40,209
bylar13 said:
IME, you probably need a fret leveling. The Epi's I have played in the store all could have used some fret work. Also, if you can track down a used Babicz or Hipshot bridge, they both allow for finer adjustment (individual strings) of string height than the 3 point bridge.

I also bought myself one of these:

BASS GUITAR NECK STRAIGHT EDGE (Notched) LUTHIERS TOOL | eBay

My 2014 Gibson T-Bird came with almost no tension on the truss rod. The neck had a significant bow in it. I tightened by eye but after a day or so, it would be over tightened and buzz. After using this and making much smaller adjustments, I was able to get the neck almost flat. A slight amount of relief is what I like, and it has remained there ever since. I am not skilled enough to do it by feel. This tool allowed me a visual confirmation before doing anything.

I then was able to determine that I had a fret (number 19) that was a good bit higher than its brethren by using the tools below:

GeetarGizmos THERMO-FORMED Fret Crowning Dressing Level File Luthier Tool Stick

STAINLESS STEEL FRET ROCKER LUTHIER GUITAR TOOL

Set of 2 Fret Guards Sanding Fingerboard Protector for Guitar Bass Ukelele | eBay

Small Fret End Dressing File with one smooth edge to prevent fingerboard damage

Now the action is right where I like it, no buzz. This tool helped in setting the string radius:

Fret Board Under String Radius Gauge Set, 089453 | eBay

In the 34 years that I had been playing I always took my bass to a luthier, sometimes with less than desirable results. I had been away for so long from playing, I no longer had "my guy".

When I got my first T-Bird, the 2006 that I have since sold, I took it o a local "master" for set up that I had been referred to. My bass came back pretty close to the way I gave it to him and I paid $125 for it. He was cool and told me that if I did not like the set up, I could it bring back for adjustments at no charge but that meant travel and not having the bass for a week or more at a time. I just figured it was time to jump in the pool and learn how to swim....
Click to expand...
That's quite a shopping list!

Does the Babacz conceal the post holes from the 3 point?
 
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#40,210
bylar13 said:
The festival provided the backline. It was an Eden combo amp. While I was appreciative of the nice backline equipment, it took some doing to get a sound I liked out of it. I have gotten used to the Orange amp w/ the overdive.

Eventually I just turned every control up to its maximum (except volume) and then dialed back some low end. It ended up pushing the amp really hard and it sounded pretty good. I have a difficult time with subtlety....:smug:
Click to expand...

Do you use an overdrive pedal also, or just the amp? This is one of the reasons why I use a pedal. For the versatility.

TBird1958 said:
I hate it when my hide chaps.........:roflmao:
Click to expand...

A little lube never hurts.
 
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#40,211
JJR58 said:
Alright gang, my explanation as promised and a pic to follow. My cousin knows about the Vintage Pro and my love for Thunderbirds. And he knows what a whack job I am when it comes to basses. He just bought a house down here in SC. But told me he could absolutely not afford a '76 for me. So, I got to SC yesterday afternoon and says I got a gift for you. Now I'm still getting the Vintage Pro.........
N+1 has commenced. It's a bolt on, we all have to start somewhere.

View attachment 1363887
Click to expand...

Thundery day! So pleased for you.
 
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#40,214
BklynKen said:
Do you use an overdrive pedal also, or just the amp? This is one of the reasons why I use a pedal. For the versatility.

The amp is foot-switch-able. That said, I just leave it on all the time now. The Orange splits the signal so you always have clean, low end. The driven tone is a combo of distorted highs and clean lows so the tone doesn't get "small" when the distortion is kicked on.
Click to expand...
 
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#40,216
theFixer said:
That's quite a shopping list!

Does the Babacz conceal the post holes from the 3 point?
Click to expand...

True but now I can do most of the basic maintenance myself. I also used the tools to get my 73' Jazz bass back in fighting shape and to set up 2 guitars for the guy in the band I play with. So, that's about $350 or so in additional cost I/we didn't have to pay.
 
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#40,218
hillerup said:
Next time a troll like that starts posting like that in the club, I think it would be best not commenting and just ignore the comments - No need to fuel the fire. He obviously achieved what he came for: namely stirring up things.
Click to expand...
There really is a sense of pride in this club and it was pretty fn disturbing to see how far that:poop: got carried over for. I agree 100% about letting it be after the first shot is fired, I think of outsiders looking in and getting entertainment value from that:poop:. We even had a few poking in to see what was going on and I had never seen them here ever before.
 
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#40,219
JJR58 said:
Alright gang, my explanation as promised and a pic to follow. My cousin knows about the Vintage Pro and my love for Thunderbirds. And he knows what a whack job I am when it comes to basses. He just bought a house down here in SC. But told me he could absolutely not afford a '76 for me. So, I got to SC yesterday afternoon and says I got a gift for you. Now I'm still getting the Vintage Pro.........
N+1 has commenced. It's a bolt on, we all have to start somewhere.

View attachment 1363887
Click to expand...
FINALLY A BIRD!!! Happy for you Dude!:hyper::bassist:
 
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