Haji
Supporting Member
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
Hello everyone. I am new to TB and new to playing Bass, picked up a new Epi TBird about a week ago. Spent the last couple days reading a ton of threads here. Everything from websites for newbs to advanced stuff I don't understand yet. Some interesting stuff and people. I like that.
As a new owner of a TBird, Is there anything in particular that I need to know? I'm thinking cleaning, care, storage? I read a thread about having a rolled up towel under the neck, I presume that is for better support in the case. Any info is is appreciated and I apologize in advance for Knew Guy Questions.
As a new owner of a TBird, Is there anything in particular that I need to know? I'm thinking cleaning, care, storage? I read a thread about having a rolled up towel under the neck, I presume that is for better support in the case. Any info is is appreciated and I apologize in advance for Knew Guy Questions.
In a nutshell:
1. Rock out as hard as possible on a Thunderbird. The less hard you rock, the more the neck dives (kidding...kinda).
2. Take care in transporting and playing your Thunderbird. The rolled-up towel under the neck idea is to help support the scary-thin neck of the Thunderbird and to hopefully prevent a broken neck/headstock joint, though this issue is common for pretty much all Gibson instruments.
3. All Hail our Queen (TBird1958)!
I'm a new convert to T-Birds myself. They're just crazy addictive.
Haji
Supporting Member
When changing strings on a three point bridge, do it with the bass on its back. If you don't, the saddles will probably fall out of the bridge while you're changing strings.
- Mar 13, 2008
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- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
I'd have been here sooner but that whole "Don we now our Gay Apparel" thing really slows a girl down - Anyway, thank you for finding what we all know is the best club on TB, please be welcome and let me know if you'd like me to add you to the club roster.
We love the questions, and everybody learns by the asking.
My .02 on towel is that it relates more to older pre '88 built basses and cases, really mostly the '60s stuff as the cases weren't very good back then. But you should always take some care, I usually fold a dish towel lengthwise across the lower 'Bout for all of mine as the can move around in the case. I think Epi's cases are better than Gibsons so you may not have this problem.
Is your new Epi a "Classic" or a Standard bolt on neck?
You guys are killin' me
We love the questions, and everybody learns by the asking.
My .02 on towel is that it relates more to older pre '88 built basses and cases, really mostly the '60s stuff as the cases weren't very good back then. But you should always take some care, I usually fold a dish towel lengthwise across the lower 'Bout for all of mine as the can move around in the case. I think Epi's cases are better than Gibsons so you may not have this problem.
Is your new Epi a "Classic" or a Standard bolt on neck?
You guys are killin' me
Haji
Supporting Member
Klondike: Beyond the bridge saddles, there's not much that's different about maintaining your Bird that's different from other basses. Same tools, cleaners; all that is common. I use Fast Fret, which helps with string friction when you're playing and also works as a bit of cleaner. It's $6-$7, so its worth giving a try to see if you like it. If you wanna start amassing your own tools to do your own set ups (truss rod adjustment, etc.) I learned how to do that from these videos. Carl Pedigo knows a thing or two about basses.
If you have a gloss finished neck, you may find that it gets sticky as your hands get sweaty. What I do with all my basses (with the exception of my Goth) is to tape them by the nut and at the heel, then "sand" the neck with a grey Scotch Brite pad. What this does is to give the neck more of a matte finish; putting some very fine scratches on the gloss coat to get rid of that stickiness. Doesn't take much; you're definitely not taking the finish off.
On my Goth, which I bought used and is a much older bass, the clear was worn through in a couple spots and it was creating a different kind of sticky situation. Since I didn't have the facilities or equipment to spray another coat of clear on it, I sanded the finish off, including the paint. That's not recommended unless you REALLY want to do it; its a ton of sanding that took almost a day and caused massive soreness in my hands and elbows. Once I had the finish sanded off, I finished it with a dozen coats of Tru Oil. Pretty happy with the results, but it's my TBird IV that sees more use...but its also the bass with the cool Tone Monster preamp in it (pictures a few pages back).
I can't think of anything else at the moment. There's really not that much to it.
If you have a gloss finished neck, you may find that it gets sticky as your hands get sweaty. What I do with all my basses (with the exception of my Goth) is to tape them by the nut and at the heel, then "sand" the neck with a grey Scotch Brite pad. What this does is to give the neck more of a matte finish; putting some very fine scratches on the gloss coat to get rid of that stickiness. Doesn't take much; you're definitely not taking the finish off.
On my Goth, which I bought used and is a much older bass, the clear was worn through in a couple spots and it was creating a different kind of sticky situation. Since I didn't have the facilities or equipment to spray another coat of clear on it, I sanded the finish off, including the paint. That's not recommended unless you REALLY want to do it; its a ton of sanding that took almost a day and caused massive soreness in my hands and elbows. Once I had the finish sanded off, I finished it with a dozen coats of Tru Oil. Pretty happy with the results, but it's my TBird IV that sees more use...but its also the bass with the cool Tone Monster preamp in it (pictures a few pages back).
I can't think of anything else at the moment. There's really not that much to it.
Carl Pedigo knows a thing or two about basses.
You sure got that right! Great videos! Thanks for sharing that.
We love the questions, and everybody learns by the asking.
My .02 on towel is that it relates more to older pre '88 built basses and cases, really mostly the '60s stuff as the cases weren't very good back then. But you should always take some care, I usually fold a dish towel lengthwise across the lower 'Bout for all of mine as the can move around in the case. I think Epi's cases are better than Gibsons so you may not have this problem.
I will take the precautions anyway. Already have a towel under the neck and had planned on keeping an anti microbial towel for cleaning anyway. It's there now as well.
Is your new Epi a "Classic" or a Standard bolt on neck?
I'm not sure what the difference is.
I'd have been here sooner but that whole "Don we now our Gay Apparel" thing really slows a girl down
No worries Maan. That sorta thing happens.
...let me know if you'd like me to add you to the club roster.
Yes please
We love the questions, and everybody learns by the asking.
Good, I will have plenty of them
good ideas some of which I will wait on. First is set up, of which I think is pretty good for now. Second is DVD's and looking for an instructor I like. Thanks again everyone.
You sure got that right! Great videos! Thanks for sharing that.
We love the questions, and everybody learns by the asking.
My .02 on towel is that it relates more to older pre '88 built basses and cases, really mostly the '60s stuff as the cases weren't very good back then. But you should always take some care, I usually fold a dish towel lengthwise across the lower 'Bout for all of mine as the can move around in the case. I think Epi's cases are better than Gibsons so you may not have this problem.
I will take the precautions anyway. Already have a towel under the neck and had planned on keeping an anti microbial towel for cleaning anyway. It's there now as well.
Is your new Epi a "Classic" or a Standard bolt on neck?
I'm not sure what the difference is.
I'd have been here sooner but that whole "Don we now our Gay Apparel" thing really slows a girl down
No worries Maan. That sorta thing happens.
...let me know if you'd like me to add you to the club roster.
Yes please
We love the questions, and everybody learns by the asking.
Good, I will have plenty of them
good ideas some of which I will wait on. First is set up, of which I think is pretty good for now. Second is DVD's and looking for an instructor I like. Thanks again everyone.
Haji
Supporting Member
Two birds one stone: Epiphone Classic Pro thunderbirds are neck through. Difference between both the standard bolt on and these classics, are that the classics have a single center block which constitutes the headstock/tuners, whole neck and middle of the body which houses the pickups and bridge. Where as the bolt on thunderbirds have a separate neck and body that attach with 4 bolts in the back of the bass at the heel.
Epiphone classic Pro, neck through
Epiphone Goth series thunderbird Bolt on
Epiphone Goth series thunderbird Bolt on
AMEN for Carl! That man is an incredible luthier and tech. He helped me diagnose an issue with my Sadowsky and was recommended to me by Roger Sadowsky (since I lived in Chicago at the time Roger said there's no reason to ship my NYC to Brooklyn when Carl is just a few El stops away).
Actually the classic pros arent that much of a stretch from the standard bolt ons. probably a few 100$ more but well worth it im sure. gibson tone at half the price.
If my memory is correct I think my local GC had a couple pro models for a couple hundred more. I believe you are correct. However I also needed an amp, case and cable. Altogether I spent $500 that I probably shouldn't have but my wife went a little overboard earlier in the year so I knew she wouldn't give me static over this.~
Haji
Supporting Member
The premium cables at Monoprice.com are a good deal, and Sam Ash usually has the Strukture cables at 3 for $14 or so. Oddly enough, you can't buy just one for a third of that, but you can buy three for a big discount. I've got a 35 foot Monoprice cable (blue and gold woven sheath) that I've had for several months that's now my backup to my wireless.
Don't forget to get a decent strap; I've got a Comfort Strapp and one from Planet Waves. Both are good stuff. So are Neotech.
Just so you know, it never really ends.
Don't forget to get a decent strap; I've got a Comfort Strapp and one from Planet Waves. Both are good stuff. So are Neotech.
Just so you know, it never really ends.
I got a nice black leather strap with red stitching. I like it so far. What I really need is strap locks!
I knew going in that this will never end. It's like my motorcycle. Always something else to spend my money. Lol
I knew going in that this will never end. It's like my motorcycle. Always something else to spend my money. Lol
YES for the strap locks! My personal favorite are Schallers but there are others out there that work just as well. Aside from the obvious benefit of lessening your chances of the strap coming off, if you have more than one bass, you can quickly change basses if they all have the same type of strap locks. Unhook one bass and hook the next one in. Depending on your setup, you may need two straps, 1 to accommodate a side strap button and one to accommodate a rear strap button. Where you only have the one TBird at this point it's not a concern yet but i would urge you to invest in strap locks asap. And you are right, it will never end, there is ALWAYS something!
