Thunderbird Club

[ubernator]

When Malaysia starts making basses, MIM will get confusing. And MII? My first guitar was a squier made in India. But I don't think that plant stayed around for long, at least in the us guitar market. India ... Indonesia...

MIM could also work for peavey, made in meridian.

And fugigen has chosen the TLA FGN as their own brand. Although that is an abbreviation not an acronym.

 

[kat888]

Here is an interesting custom:

Custom Lap King Thunderbird bass non reverse style by Jason DuMont

That's VERY nice...

 

[willsellout]

I was finally able to get back to my house after almost two weeks of hurricane avoidance, response, and recovery efforts. I was amazed to find my house relatively untouched. I think what saved us was that we were surrounded by mangrove trees. NO water intrusion. no damage to speak of. and I have power and internet at home. Tomorrow I get to go back for good and get the house back in order. Im exausted after the nonstop running around I've been doing for the past month or so. It's gonna be nice to have a break next week once we get back in port for three weeks.

 

[Count Bassie]

That's VERY nice...

Yes indeed. That one I'd almost ride a skateboard to work for. Sweet.

 

[Count Bassie]

I was finally able to get back to my house after almost two weeks of hurricane avoidance, response, and recovery efforts. I was amazed to find my house relatively untouched. I think what saved us was that we were surrounded by mangrove trees. NO water intrusion. no damage to speak of. and I have power and internet at home. Tomorrow I get to go back for good and get the house back in order. Im exausted after the nonstop running around I've been doing for the past month or so. It's gonna be nice to have a break next week once we get back in port for three weeks.

Glad you got a break man.

 

[hillerup]

???

Veebass, obviously... Didn't you just write that in a post..?

 

[hillerup]

WOW, 4 hours without a post! That must be a first!

Fixer must have been at sleep...

 

[Off-Beat]

The song yes, absolutely.

But.... I bought the LP as soon as it came out, took it home and gave it a burl. Extremely disappointed, put it away and I don't think I ever played it again.

Feel the same, that's where Acdc - no masters of diversity - became 100% repetitive and boring. Before most songs had something to it, that made them stand out.

That said, I like the Razor's Edge and Stiff Upper Lip.

View attachment 2760303

Eight minutes-twenty four seconds... that how far I got before I asked myself, "*** am I listening to?"

I'm assuming, Mr. Zappa is an acquired taste.

Zappa's nice, most of the time he flashes clips es of Rock n Roll at the right moment, so the listener feels home and safe again.

Sitting through Trout Mask Replica was a whole different experience.

I have to do whole albums. I can't not listen to whole albums. I watch concert videos & listen to albums, instead of watching TV (for the most part). I have to wait for a break between songs if I need to pause it for any reason. To me, it just feels like I'm being rude... like I'm walking out in the middle of a conversation or something. That's why I only listen to music in the car, when I'm going on a long trip. I hate the abrupt descent when yer groovin' on a tune & the ignition shuts off! It's like a bird flying into a picture window! I don't like speaking over the top of music that's playing, anymore than I like someone talking during a movie. If I'm truly OCD about anything... it's listening to music. I have specific "rules" that I've involuntarily applied to it, and it really rubs my fur the wrong way when those rules get broken. Sorta like a weird anxious feeling comes over me. I generally can't have it on in the background... cuz then my brain just works harder to try & hear the music, so it winds up being more of a distraction than if it was turned up... but still, my mind drifts to the music, instead of whatever else I'm supposed to be focussing on, so I have to shut it off. To me...music is the event. Why would you put it on, if yer not gonna pay attention to it? People who spend their lives with their iPods on shuffle... well... anybody ever watch "Dexter"?

One of my biggest pet peeves, is those people that change the song halfway through, and they usually do it ALL THE TIME. I just don't get it, they must not like music as much as they say.


I'd be up for a mini road trip to see them!

I have a rule for guests in my car. If the song plays for 30 seconds skipping isn't allowed anymore.

Usually I have my music on shuffle, but when something comes up that requires me to listen to the album, I do. DSOTM for example.

 

[Haji]

Its gone longer than that. Freaked me out; I thought something was broken.

 

[Off-Beat]

It doesn't make sense unless that instrument couldn't be sold there in the first place. I mean, aren't Gibson TBirds sold in Europe? If Gibson could send them to dealers, why wouldn't a purchaser be able to get one delivered from a private seller?

The accompanying papers are the problem I guess.

 

[ThunderFox]

One of my biggest pet peeves, is those people that change the song halfway through, and they usually do it ALL THE TIME. I just don't get it, they must not like music as much as they say.

Guilty...Sorry about that..

 

[flashgod]

View attachment 2756416 New entry: Epiphone Thunderbird Classic. This little piece looks porn from head to toe. Sounds killer and is a Big Bang for the buck. Am I allowed to enter the club?

I am a newbie to the T-bird world and like to share my first impressions on that bass:

View attachment 2756416 New entry: Epiphone Thunderbird Classic. This little piece looks porn from head to toe. Sounds killer and is a Big Bang for the buck. Am I allowed to enter the club?

my update about quality appearance:
I was happy to put on new stings, because this is basically my first bass, where you can hang in the springs. So I thought it would be an easy job. No one told me, that the complete bridge will fall apart without the tention of the springs. All 4 saddles lay on the ground and intonation was gone and had to be adjusted again. I asume, same thing will happen with the 4 times expensiver Gibson. IMO a totally fail of contruction without any excuse. Everybody is complaining about the head drop thing (I do not care at all, mine is fine), but I never heard people complaining about the poor brigde design. Next thing I discovered were the loose cheap tuners. Even if this bass is crafted in Indonesia, one can expect (there is a quality aproved sticker just beside the tuners), that somone is tighten the screws properly. I think I will remove the cheap tuners against Gotohs and I´m fine again. After all I am still happy with the bass, because it is a good value for the money, but now I know the difference between a below 500 EUR bass and a 2000 EUR bass.

 

[theFixer]

I was finally able to get back to my house after almost two weeks of hurricane avoidance, response, and recovery efforts. I was amazed to find my house relatively untouched. I think what saved us was that we were surrounded by mangrove trees. NO water intrusion. no damage to speak of. and I have power and internet at home. Tomorrow I get to go back for good and get the house back in order. Im exausted after the nonstop running around I've been doing for the past month or so. It's gonna be nice to have a break next week once we get back in port for three weeks.

HOLY CRAP man!!! That is AMAZING!!! It's very good to hear from you, and I'm glad you're not suffering the devastation that was expected

 

[theFixer]

Veebass, obviously... Didn't you just write that in a post..?

I knew he had one... but I mistakenly thought it was red for some reason. The black is where the magic's at

 

[theFixer]

Fixer must have been at sleep...

daughter's birfday

 

[ubernator]

I am a newbie to the T-bird world and like to share my first impressions on that bass:

my update about quality appearance:
I was happy to put on new stings, because this is basically my first bass, where you can hang in the springs. So I thought it would be an easy job. No one told me, that the complete bridge will fall apart without the tention of the springs. All 4 saddles lay on the ground and intonation was gone and had to be adjusted again. I asume, same thing will happen with the 4 times expensiver Gibson. IMO a totally fail of contruction without any excuse. Everybody is complaining about the head drop thing (I do not care at all, mine is fine), but I never heard people complaining about the poor brigde design. Next thing I discovered were the loose cheap tuners. Even if this bass is crafted in Indonesia, one can expect (there is a quality aproved sticker just beside the tuners), that somone is tighten the screws properly. I think I will remove the cheap tuners against Gotohs and I´m fine again. After all I am still happy with the bass, because it is a good value for the money, but now I know the difference between a below 500 EUR bass and a 2000 EUR bass.

That is how all gibson 3 point bridges are. They should come with a warning manual. The saddles are numbered so you can get them back in the right order. Intonation should not be affected too much as long as the saddle is in the same place on the screw. It is worth learning how to adjust that bridge, since it can work just fine when used properly and care is taken when changing strings or making adjustments.

If you are referring to the tuners wobbling when there is no string tension, this is normal and I have experienced that on all 3 of my epiphones and in other forms on other basses with different types of tuners. Shafts and keys are known to have some play in them on the bigger open gear type tuners, and those schaller type mini tuners used on these thunderbirds tend to pivot where the whole key twists when there is no string tension. It does not cause a problem.

But I understand how you feel the first time changing strings on them.

You can always throw money at anything you don't like, and modify it with a hipshot or babicz or bad bird bridge, and other tuners.

But once you get the strings back on, it will be fine even stock. Occasionally the bridges rattle, which can happen on any bass.

Important, always set the bridge so the front bolt is higher than the 2 back bolts. The bridge should be tilted back slightly. This puts more tension over the saddle, and also prevents the 2 rear studs from pulling out, which can happen on these when the bridge is set up in a nosedive. And they commonly come from the factory, or a previous owner that way, because not everyone knows about the issue.

 

[Count Bassie]

I am a newbie to the T-bird world and like to share my first impressions on that bass:

my update about quality appearance:
I was happy to put on new stings, because this is basically my first bass, where you can hang in the springs. So I thought it would be an easy job. No one told me, that the complete bridge will fall apart without the tention of the springs. All 4 saddles lay on the ground and intonation was gone and had to be adjusted again. I asume, same thing will happen with the 4 times expensiver Gibson. IMO a totally fail of contruction without any excuse. Everybody is complaining about the head drop thing (I do not care at all, mine is fine), but I never heard people complaining about the poor brigde design. Next thing I discovered were the loose cheap tuners. Even if this bass is crafted in Indonesia, one can expect (there is a quality aproved sticker just beside the tuners), that somone is tighten the screws properly. I think I will remove the cheap tuners against Gotohs and I´m fine again. After all I am still happy with the bass, because it is a good value for the money, but now I know the difference between a below 500 EUR bass and a 2000 EUR bass.

You just have to change one string at a time, and keep the bass pretty much flat, face up. Other than that, and a set up issue, the bridge is fine, works as it should. The only adjustment it doesn't have is side-to-side string spacing.
The set up issue has to do with the front of the bridge (the single post) being slightly higher off the bass body than the rear of the bridge (the two posts). I'm sure others will chime in as well.
Nice 'Bird! Her Grace will be along to invite you in to our collective (resistance is futile- you have been chosen)!

Lol... see? I'm late already!

 

[theFixer]

I am a newbie to the T-bird world and like to share my first impressions on that bass:

my update about quality appearance:
I was happy to put on new stings, because this is basically my first bass, where you can hang in the springs. So I thought it would be an easy job. No one told me, that the complete bridge will fall apart without the tention of the springs. All 4 saddles lay on the ground and intonation was gone and had to be adjusted again. I asume, same thing will happen with the 4 times expensiver Gibson. IMO a totally fail of contruction without any excuse. Everybody is complaining about the head drop thing (I do not care at all, mine is fine), but I never heard people complaining about the poor brigde design. Next thing I discovered were the loose cheap tuners. Even if this bass is crafted in Indonesia, one can expect (there is a quality aproved sticker just beside the tuners), that somone is tighten the screws properly. I think I will remove the cheap tuners against Gotohs and I´m fine again. After all I am still happy with the bass, because it is a good value for the money, but now I know the difference between a below 500 EUR bass and a 2000 EUR bass.

The 3 point bridge does take some getting used to. When changing strings, I put the first new one on, before taking the last old one off. That keeps the bridge in place. You can also use electricians tape on the bridge anchor posts, and across the saddle screws, if you need to keep the bridge in place without strings on it. It's quite common to replace the stock bridge, and there are a number of options available.
As for the tuning machines... Whether it's a $200 piece, or a $2,000 piece... I've made it a habit to verify that all screws and nuts are snug the first time I change strings on any new instrument I've acquired, and I'm always glad that I did.

 

[theFixer]

You just have to change one string at a time, and keep the bass pretty much flat, face up. Other than that, and a set up issue, the bridge is fine, works as it should. The only adjustment it doesn't have is side-to-side string spacing.
The set up issue has to do with the front of the bridge (the single post) being slightly higher off the bass body than the rear of the bridge (the two posts). I'm sure others will chime in as well.
Nice 'Bird! Her Grace will be along to invite you in to our collective (resistance is futile- you have been chosen)!

Lol... see? I'm late already!

Indeed you are! He already has his digits mon frere

... and you let fly with a li'l lie. The mighty 3 point lacks the ability to adjust individual saddle heights (one of my main reasons for wanting the Hipshot)

 

[flashgod]

The 3 point bridge does take some getting used to. When changing strings, I put the first new one on, before taking the last old one off. That keeps the bridge in place. You can also use electricians tape on the bridge anchor posts, and across the saddle screws, if you need to keep the bridge in place without strings on it. It's quite common to replace the stock bridge, and there are a number of options available.
As for the tuning machines... Whether it's a $200 piece, or a $2,000 piece... I've made it a habit to verify that all screws and nuts are snug the first time I change strings on any new instrument I've acquired, and I'm always glad that I did.

thats how I do it. NOW I have passed my initiation into the holy T-Bird brigarde. Hail T-Brird