Thunderbird Club

[theFixer]

If you can't find a Epi 'fat neck', you could always go FenderBird (FenderGoth?) and wack a Precision style neck on a Goth (or any Epi bolt on) body. Though I believe they are not a direct fit and require some modification.

Yeah... there are a lot of ideas like that that flutter through my mind (accordin' to my Dad, it cuz there's nuffin' in there to stop 'em). With the funds from the sale of my Les Paul, I wanna get the nicest bass I can. Though it's not a deal breaker... hopefully it will be new, too. It will be with me for life... so it's not a time to experiment & hope for the best. I want it to be something special. I'll figure it out. I got time

 

[kat888]

I will report back once I have taken a stab at using the VTBDI, with above gizmos.

After more messing about, try -- as a starting point -- all eq @ noon, character and drive @ 10.30ish with bite and speaker sim off. It seems better with the drive backed off and the blend full up, than with the drive at noon and the blend dialled down, although without proper headphones that's far from definitive.

 

[Larry V]

I have been slammed at work and at home and haven't been able to keep up with this juggernaut that is the Thunderbird Club. Just thought I'd say that since my participation has been scant at best this week. Carry on.

 

[JJR58]

May I be a pain and ask for the photo between those two, showing the end of the fretboard and part of the neck pickup???

My neck pickup is decidedly lower than the fretboard (and the bridge pickup) but looking at your photos it seems to be almost the same height.

Of course, give me a few, that picture was taken before I lowered the p/ups.
Right now I like how they are set, but I may lower the neck p/up, just a tiny bit more. Not the greatest pic.

 

[JJR58]

The entire bridge assembly and individual saddles are pot metal of some sorts on all of my Epi birds (12 - not counting the Pro-IV and Pro-V), regardsless of whether the neck is neck through or bolt-on.

Thank you sir.

 

[JJR58]

I have been slammed at work and at home and haven't been able to keep up with this juggernaut that is the Thunderbird Club. Just thought I'd say that since my participation has been scant at best this week. Carry on.

You know we feel your vibe.

 

[kat888]

Of course, give me a few, that picture was taken before I lowered the p/ups.
Right now I like how they are set, but I may lower the neck p/up, just a tiny bit more. Not the greatest pic.

View attachment 1426463

@RedVee

When the Epi had the 2 x Chinabuckers, I set the bridge pickup height then adjusted the neck pickup for balance, but that took away a lot of the growl, so I put the neck pickup back close to the strings and forgot about balance. This will be less of a problem with a proper neck/bridge pickup set.

 

[ThunderFox]

Hey guys, just thought I'd let the club know that I ordered a new Bird for the collection. Wanted another bass for Eb Standard/Drop C# Tunings on stage, and I couldn't think of a better choice, than another T-bird.

It's coming in Sunburst, but I'm changing the colour some time in the future, but not right away. Will post pictures when I change the colour, but until then, I'm keeping it a surprise.

 

[JIO]

Next as in whatever bass that puts the biggest smile on my face while accommodating my extraordinarily fussy left hand after my Les Paul is sold. From what I've been able to gather thus far... it sounds like, the only chance I'll have at that bass being a 'bird, will be a if I can find a Greco I like (or maybe wunna them Hamer Thunderunicorns). I'm constantly keepin' my eyes peeled for fat-necked smile makers in my price range. The options are few... but I have a list of possible candidates that I need to get my hands on before I can pass 'em or fail 'em.

I have a couple projects for down the road somewhere too. I loved my Goth. I gotta find a fat neck & put it on a Goth body. Of course I also wanna convert a Pro V into a 4 string too. All in good time I suppose.

Have 2 Goth necks that have very different profiles; one slim and one fat. I have no idea when each was made but other that looking the same they are very different. The carve on the hs is slightly different which may be the only way to tell them apart. I refinished them and exposed the carve which highlights the visual difference.

This is the fat necked hs - note how the carve dies into a peak at the ends. This version (the peak) is actually closest to a gen 1 T-bird, abet smaller. On a '63-'65 T-bird, it's a shallow step rout and not a flat angled carve.

This is the slimmer profile version - note that there is a quarter inch gap at the edges (no peak)

 

[BklynKen]

The entire bridge assembly and individual saddles are pot metal of some sorts on all of my Epi birds (12 - not counting the Pro-IV and Pro-V), regardsless of whether the neck is neck through or bolt-on.

Is the 3-point bridge the same between the Gibsons and Epiphones or are the metals different?

 

[Gaolee]

The PCB for the piezo bits protruded far enough to prevent the bridge sitting flat. PCB was scraped flat and problem solved. Piezo no more.

I still like the idea. Thunderousness and some other more acoustic sound. I smell yet another windmill to tilt at someday.

 

[JJR58]

@RedVee

When the Epi had the 2 x Chinabuckers, I set the bridge pickup height then adjusted the neck pickup for balance, but that took away a lot of the growl, so I put the neck pickup back close to the strings and forgot about balance. This will be less of a problem with a proper neck/bridge pickup set.

It really just comes down to, balance to ones taste. It took me a bit to get what I was looking for on my jazz bass.

 

[hillerup]

Is the 3-point bridge the same between the Gibsons and Epiphones or are the metals different?

Can't really tell, unless going through the black/gold chrome which I won't do.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

I have been slammed at work and at home and haven't been able to keep up with this juggernaut that is the Thunderbird Club. Just thought I'd say that since my participation has been scant at best this week. Carry on.

I take note of the last page I read before I logout because its very likely that when I log in again I will have at least 10 to 12 pages to catch up on. 5 to 7 on a slow day.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Is the 3-point bridge the same between the Gibsons and Epiphones or are the metals different?

The 3 point on my bolt on Korean Epi Tbird is a cheap POS and metric.

The three points on my Bicentennials are USA made, heavier, and SAE thread. They are still, none the less, POS...IMO.

 

[theFixer]

@RedVee

When the Epi had the 2 x Chinabuckers, I set the bridge pickup height then adjusted the neck pickup for balance, but that took away a lot of the growl, so I put the neck pickup back close to the strings and forgot about balance. This will be less of a problem with a proper neck/bridge pickup set.

IMHO... the tone & snarl that comes from those pickups when they're adjusted close to the strings, is just too good to mess with. I keep 'em as high as possible, and adjust the "balance" with the knobs. In keeping with it's other various traits... the 'bird don't care much about what's technically "proper".

 

[JJR58]

IMHO... the tone & snarl that comes from those pickups when they're adjusted close to the strings, is just too good to mess with. I keep 'em as high as possible, and adjust the "balance" with the knobs. In keeping with it's other various traits... the 'bird don't care much about what's technically "proper".

That's why I'm still in the experimental stages in the p/up adjustments.

 

[theFixer]

Have 2 Goth necks that have very different profiles; one slim and one fat. I have no idea when each was made but other that looking the same they are very different. The carve on the hs is slightly different which may be the only way to tell them apart. I refinished them and exposed the carve which highlights the visual difference.

This is the fat necked hs - note how the carve dies into a peak at the ends. This version (the peak) is actually closest to a gen 1 T-bird, abet smaller. On a '63-'65 T-bird, it's a shallow step rout and not a flat angled carve.
View attachment 1426562


This is the slimmer profile version - note that there is a quarter inch gap at the edges (no peak)
View attachment 1426564

WOW!!! Nice job! I like that flash of natural wood around the perimeter!

I think it's RedVee that has a wide necked Goth as well. I'm constantly watching for them online. Every example I see for sale either has the 1.5" nut, or doesn't specify and is hard to tell by the photo. Based on the (possibly inaccurate) info on the Epi website... I'm guessing that, if I bought a brand new Goth, it would have the wider neck. I just have no way of knowing that for sure. I'm not in a position to do anything about it right now anyway... so I'll just keep my eyes peeled & wait for the right opportunity I guess

 

[theFixer]

The 3 point on my bolt on Korean Epi Tbird is a cheap POS and metric.

The three points on my Bicentennials are USA made, heavier, and SAE thread. They are still, none the less, POS...IMO.

Maybe it shouldn't... but it surprises the crap outa me to learn that, with the incredible collection of basses you own... a Korean bolt-on Epi is among them

 

[theFixer]

That's why I'm still in the experimental stages in the p/up adjustments.

It occurs to me that you're in a really great situation right now! Yer cuzn surprised you with a new 'bird, then left you alone for a couple weeks to fiddle with it & make it yours! The only thing that woulda made it any better, is if you had your own amp with ya!