Thunderbird Club

[BklynKen]

This is the better one. LJ at Music Central in Hopkinsville, KY plugged the holes and spent way too much time matching the paint, but he's a perfectionist like that. Likely that this bass is gonna get sanded down and repainted at some point, I just haven't decided on a color yet.
View attachment 1407721

Nice. If I didn't think it would be hard to do the same plugging/painting/matching with the Vintage Sunburst, I'd seriously consider replacing with a two-piece bridge/tailpiece.

 

[theFixer]

I wish I was in a position to try/buy this. Not sure why but I love the look of these.

"Why"??? I'll tell ya why! 'Cuz it's the coolest, most unique, interesting finish that Gibson has come up with in decades! You know me. I'm all about the natural finishes, sunbursts, etc. I love to see the beauty & character of the wood... but for quite a while now, "new" finishes have included nothing more than the same thing they've been doing for a hundred years, but in different colors (like blue-burst ). I have no idea what they were shootin' for with this finish... I just know it's bad as hell! Henry J. musta been on vacation when they slipped this one into production

 

[Gaolee]

Are they what's advertised here as "Mini Clover" (HB6MC)?

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Call them. The standard mini-clovers are a little too big, but they make slightly smaller ones, too.

 

[theFixer]

Nice. If I didn't think it would be hard to do the same plugging/painting/matching with the Vintage Sunburst, I'd seriously consider replacing with a two-piece bridge/tailpiece.

Vintage style 2 piece, without plugging/filling/painting, made by our own @godofthunder59

Badbird II bridge for post 1989 Gibson and Epiphone Thunderbirds

 

[JJR58]

After a little more adjusting to the 3 point, I've got the action a lot lower. Going to let it rest as is right now before I slightly tighten the neck. But it is way better. And I'm getting that low action growl without any buzzing.

 

[BklynKen]

It is but I cannot live there, as the rule is I must live on the east coast of any country I am in ... which puts me in Newfoundland, home of Diamond Guitar Pedals.

You're always welcome here in NYC.

Call them. The standard mini-clovers are a little too big, but they make slightly smaller ones, too.

Ah, ok. Just curious. I'm fine with my stock Grovers.

Vintage style 2 piece, without plugging/filling/painting, made by our own @godofthunder59

Badbird II bridge for post 1989 Gibson and Epiphone Thunderbirds

Not really what I had in mind, plus it's the wrong color.

 

[JJR58]

Same here Kat, you've got some friends here in NYC.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

This is the better one. LJ at Music Central in Hopkinsville, KY plugged the holes and spent way too much time matching the paint, but he's a perfectionist like that. Likely that this bass is gonna get sanded down and repainted at some point, I just haven't decided on a color yet.
View attachment 1407721

Awesome thats a good view, Thank you.

 

[theFixer]

After a little more adjusting to the 3 point, I've got the action a lot lower. Going to let it rest as is right now before I slightly tighten the neck. But it is way better. And I'm getting that low action growl without any buzzing.

View attachment 1407761 View attachment 1407762

Looks really good man! It would appear that the 2 of you are getting along well

 

[JJR58]

Looks really good man! It would appear that the 2 of you are getting along well

So far so good, I also adjusted the pick ups a bit. Lowered both the neck and bridge, everything is making a huge difference so far for the better.

 

[theFixer]

So far so good, I also adjusted the pick ups a bit. Lowered both the neck and bridge, everything is making a huge difference so far for the better.

Yeah man! That's something I've noticed (and enjoyed) about the 'bird. Subtle/slight changes have a profound effect on tone, growl, etc., more than they do on any other basses that I'm familiar with, and waaaaay more than on any guitar I've messed around with. Have you played around with picking/plucking locations at all? If I pluck directly over the bridge pup, I get the sharper, brighter sound you'd expect. If I move one inch closer to the neck, I get all the bite, with a lot more body (or depth?)... and it seems to change like that, all the way up & down. Of course this happens on any stringed instrument... but the effect is way more noticeable on the 'bird than on anything else I've experienced! I like tweaking my tone for different songs & stuff, so I've really been enjoying that!

 

[JJR58]

Yeah man! That's something I've noticed (and enjoyed) about the 'bird. Subtle/slight changes have a profound effect on tone, growl, etc., more than they do on any other basses that I'm familiar with, and waaaaay more than on any guitar I've messed around with. Have you played around with picking/plucking locations at all? If I pluck directly over the bridge pup, I get the sharper, brighter sound you'd expect. If I move one inch closer to the neck, I get all the bite, with a lot more body (or depth?)... and it seems to change like that, all the way up & down. Of course this happens on any stringed instrument... but the effect is way more noticeable on the 'bird than on anything else I've experienced! I like tweaking my tone for different songs & stuff, so I've really been enjoying that!

All of what you said Fix.
On a side note though, seems like the saddles are plastic. If I don't trade this one for a neck through, will have to replace the saddles. But for what this particular Epi is, I'm rather impressed. I have yet to hear it through my own rig though. Got to wait another week for that.

Edit: or is the major portion of the bridge on this bass plastic?

 

[theFixer]

All of what you said Fix.
On a side note though, seems like the saddles are plastic. If I don't trade this one for a neck through, will have to replace the saddles. But for what this particular Epi is, I'm rather impressed. I have yet to hear it through my own rig though. Got to wait another week for that.

Edit: or is the major portion of the bridge on this bass plastic?

Mine appears to be some sorta cheap cast alloy. I don't know what it's coated with, but it does have a "plastic-y" feel to it. When I first got this one, it had a burr in the G string saddle. Upon removal, I learned that the saddle was indeed metal of some sort. Also... the finish is worn away underneath the strings, which revealed a shiny metal finish. You might loosen one of your strings & take a look at the saddle beneath & see what you can see.

What year is yours?

 

[JJR58]

Mine appears to be some sorta cheap cast alloy. I don't know what it's coated with, but it does have a "plastic-y" feel to it. When I first got this one, it had a burr in the G string saddle. Upon removal, I learned that the saddle was indeed metal of some sort. Also... the finish is worn away underneath the strings, which revealed a shiny metal finish. You might loosen one of your strings & take a look at the saddle beneath & see what you can see.



What year is yours?

Yeah, the bridge seems kind of cheapish, guess I shouldn't complain though, cause it works.
Year?, oh hell, like I know, haven't looked up the serial number. I kind of don't really care though. And no snark intended.

 

[theFixer]

Yeah, the bridge seems kind of cheapish, guess I shouldn't complain though, cause it works.
Year?, oh hell, like I know, haven't looked up the serial number. I kind of don't really care though. And no snark intended.

None taken

I'm in the same boat with my bridge. I'll change it when the opportunity presents itself... but I'm not too pressed about it. I want to swap out the bridge, and I need to swap out the tuning machines, but I'm happy enough with the pickups. I'm still going back & forth between keeping it black or going chrome. Of course the chrome is cooler, but I have a hard time investing that much more money into such an inexpensive piece. Maybe I'll wait until I find out what my next bass will be before I try to figure it out.

 

[kat888]

This is the better one. LJ at Music Central in Hopkinsville, KY plugged the holes and spent way too much time matching the paint, but he's a perfectionist like that. Likely that this bass is gonna get sanded down and repainted at some point, I just haven't decided on a color yet.
View attachment 1407721

Are those still the grub screws from out of my chrome bridge, or are they new ones?

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Yeah, the bridge seems kind of cheapish, guess I shouldn't complain though, cause it works.
Year?, oh hell, like I know, haven't looked up the serial number. I kind of don't really care though. And no snark intended.

Dude for real?, I honestly didnt think a plastic bridge would pass the conceptual stage. First Ive heard of this.

 

[kat888]

All of what you said Fix.
On a side note though, seems like the saddles are plastic. If I don't trade this one for a neck through, will have to replace the saddles. But for what this particular Epi is, I'm rather impressed. I have yet to hear it through my own rig though. Got to wait another week for that.

Edit: or is the major portion of the bridge on this bass plastic?

Oh man, you can't trade your first Bird! Easy enough to replace with an alternative all metal 3-point...

 

[Gaolee]

Are those still the grub screws from out of my chrome bridge, or are they new ones?

Those are Sears grub screws.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Move to Victoria. It's on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Water to the east, land to the west. More or less. You didn't specify how wide the water had to be.

Now that is being very specific. Spacific Ocean.......ya know?.......specific?........Pacific?......ocean?..........