Thunderbird Club

[RedVee]

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?

I'm about as low now as I've ever gotten my Goth Bird.
I think because the bridge sits up on the body as it does it won't ever be low low action. Has anyone routed a recess to sit the bridge in? Or is it enough to mod the bridge at the 3 posts and the junction where they meet the body/hole?

 

[RedVee]

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....

Thanks mate

 

[PillO]

Can any of my Thunderbird Club Family,Gangster,Cult members guide me with this mod?. I want to replace my 3 piece bridge with a bridge commonly found on Jazz, Precision and other basses. I have been informed that I will need a shim to raise the bridge up to where the 3 piece height currently sits witch makes perfect sense but I have searched the internet and have not found a proper name for the shim,a brand name for the shim or even just one picture of the shim on any bass. Without the shim Im considering some custom methods, I can feel my Macguyver senses tingling.
This is the bridge that I want to put on my ThunderBacker.
View attachment 1370086

If it were me, I would go this direction.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[theFixer]

That's a great Thunderbird, not neck thru though, it's set neck. Love mine.

I'll be derned! At a glance it looked like a neck-thru... *oops*

 

[Dadagoboi]

That might be news to the US 5th district court...

Certainly architecture and administrative jurisdictions are based on the French and Creole traditions of the 1700s, but as far as law goes, they operate under US law which is based on British common law, not the French Napoleonic code.

Of course they follow federal laws (usually under duress). But STATE laws had the same roots as the Napoleonic code. The civil code is significantly different than the other 49 states. Trust me, I lived there for ten years and my ex wife is a Louisiana native as well as a historian.

Law of Louisiana - Wikipedia
"Legal careers are also molded by the differences. Legal education, the bar exam, and standards of legal practice in Louisiana are significantly different from other states. For example, the Louisiana Bar Exam is the longest of any state, at 21.5 hours. The Invalid Link Removed is not administered in Louisiana."

Thus my crack about not knowing what my daughter will do with a Louisiana law license. She's stuck there.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

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....

I love tackling something for the first time and getting it right and if it was just close to what I wanted then sometimes the second try is the answer. Ever pull out the bolt housings(wrong terminology) that screwdown the three point bridge?. Ive heard of them coming unseated on their own before but I dont think Ive heard of anyone deliberately pulling them out of the body.

 

[theFixer]

Wow - is that the secret???

Only if your name isn't Lemmy. It comes to him all natural like. I assure you though... if he were with us today, and you asked him how you could get his sound... I'm certain he would tell you to go fork yerself!

 

[theFixer]

It's not necessary to shim it depending on year. This '76 Bicentennial had a vintage 'threaded saddle' bridge on it when I got it. No problem...with the bridge anyway.

View attachment 1375637

What's going' on with that thing???

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

If it were me, I would go this direction.
Invalid Link Removed

I sure have looked at that option a few times but it hinges on whether I want to install a bridge cover on it or not, Thunderbird cover most likely will fit over it but Fender Jazz may not so thats something else I gotta figure out.

 

[JJR58]

@JJR58 , Happy Bird Day man! Nice catch.

Thanks man, I'm only getting started, but very appreciative of my cousin. These particular p/ups in this bass aren't half bad. I like it, a lot. Now there's a used neck through that I've been eyeing. Going to see if it's still at the store next week.

 

[Gaolee]

With regard to neck joins (or not) the accepted opionion always seemed to be neck through was best for sustain, while bolt/screw necks were not.

Thing is that I have recent experience with two detachable necked basses and neither is/was short of sustain. Even played through a DI/headphones with no in room feedback, or compression or other sustain 'enhancing' factors, the NR41 will sustain a fretted note for a ridiculously long time. I suppose if I had one of them superior quality Birds I could play a note in the morning and when I came home from work in the evening it would still be going.

My experiences has been that a good instrument will sustain and a not so good one won't, unless that's what you want. My upright doesn't sustain unless it's feeding back. The Zombiecaster is plywood, has a bolt on neck, and was originally a real cheapo Squier Bullet when it was new sometime in the 1980s. It will sustain for a month if you let it. My 'Birds generally sustain well, as does the EB which is set neck. The Precision sustains for a long time, too. The EB might be the sustain champion, but I haven't done any scientific tests. Set neck/neck through/bolt on doesn't seem to make much difference. Heavy or light doesn't seem to make a huge difference, because the EB is probably the lightest instrument I own with the exception of a full hollow acoustic archtop guitar.

 

[kat888]

I'm about as low now as I've ever gotten my Goth Bird.
I think because the bridge sits up on the body as it does it won't ever be low low action. Has anyone routed a recess to sit the bridge in? Or is it enough to mod the bridge at the 3 posts and the junction where they meet the body/hole?

You could also look for Badass style high mass/quick release bridge like the one which comes on the TBird Pro IV. It's not a direct replacement, but it will mount flat.

Personally, I'd go for a Babicz or a Hipshot as they are drop-in replacements.

 

[Count Bassie]

Anyone seen this one?

Lulled. That's a good thing.

 

[Gaolee]

Of course they follow federal laws (usually under duress). But STATE laws had the same roots as the Napoleonic code. The civil code is significantly different than the other 49 states. Trust me, I lived there for ten years and my ex wife is a Louisiana native as well as a historian.

Law of Louisiana - Wikipedia
"Legal careers are also molded by the differences. Legal education, the bar exam, and standards of legal practice in Louisiana are significantly different from other states. For example, the Louisiana Bar Exam is the longest of any state, at 21.5 hours. The Invalid Link Removed is not administered in Louisiana."

Thus my crack about not knowing what my daughter will do with a Louisiana law license. She's stuck there.

She could move to France. Or Quebec.

 

[TBird1958]

Anyone seen this one?

Lulled. That's a good thing.

The body is a bit bigger and thinner on those, super cool basses! I got to briefly play Jeff's two tone green one at the shop.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Kaminari has decided the BEST Thunderbird repro pickup rings should be made out of aluminum and cost $45.

KAMINARI GUITARS K-PUR1 Pickup Ring for Thunderbird Bass | eBay

Who am I to argue?

 

[theFixer]

I sure have looked at that option a few times but it hinges on whether I want to install a bridge cover on it or not, Thunderbird cover most likely will fit over it but Fender Jazz may not so thats something else I gotta figure out.

Dude! Dude! DOOOOOOOOOOD!!! You need to sweet-talk @Larry V into designing a bridge cover that looks like the hood of a car!!!

 

[theFixer]

Anyone seen this one?

Lulled. That's a good thing.

MAN!!! Can't vouch for the neck, but otherwise, it looks like that thing was designed for ME!

 

[Count Bassie]

The body is a bit bigger and thinner on those, super cool basses! I got to briefly play Jeff's two tone green one at the shop.

I kinda love this one. The wood is a pretty brilliant piece for the purpose: the dark section at the rear upper bout giving visual balance, the grain at the bass and treble sides of the instrument, the hardware, and the design all sum up to a super-sweet bass.

If I was of such means, I'd buy that one.

 

[theFixer]

Kaminari has decided the BEST Thunderbird repro pickup rings should be made out of aluminum and cost $45.

KAMINARI GUITARS K-PUR1 Pickup Ring for Thunderbird Bass | eBay

Who am I to argue?

B.S.