Thunderbird Club

[theFixer]

Mike, some of us need sleep okays? This is what I have.

gibson wiring

• kat888
• Sep 3, 2016

I'm sorry... I'm electronically ignorant. I don't know what to do with a schematic. I need one o' them fancy pitcherz that shows the pups & pots & stuff with the li'l lines connecting 'em (this is my first attempt at removing/replacing electronics in a guitfiddle). I took a hundred photos, & rewired everything how it was when I took it out, but my neck pup is dead, & I can't figure out why...

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

SD Custom Shop

Seymour Duncan Custom Shop

Ok thanks, was at their site thinking it would be advertised with the other pups and I never looked into the custom section.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Really??? We just assumed they were yours because every time we see them, they're flying away from Cananda...

If I could fly I would join em. Friggin' tax evaders!.

 

[kat888]

I'm sorry... I'm electronically ignorant. I don't know what to do with a schematic. I need one o' them fancy pitcherz that shows the pups & pots & stuff with the li'l lines connecting 'em (this is my first attempt at removing/replacing electronics in a guitfiddle). I took a hundred photos, & rewired everything how it was when I took it out, but my neck pup is dead, & I can't figure out why...

In that case, just find a picture for J wiring, it will look the same. You can also look for images of Bird control cavities but they tend to look pretty messy.

 

[theFixer]

In that case, just find a picture for J wiring, it will look the same. You can also look for images of Bird control cavities but they tend to look pretty messy.

Why are there no T-bird diagrams in the world?

I tried referencing the J-bass diagram at Duncan's website, but it didn't match up to what I have here...

 

[veebass]

Apart from some caps not being audio grade, I think it's largely snake oil. That's not to say you can't or shouldn't use orange drops or oil and paper caps. Part of it is using a high grade part, ie not skimping, when you have spent money on all the other components.

I agree- I have mucked around with different types of caps in a few of my basses. I can't hear much difference.

 

[kat888]

...another thing @theFixer, a digital multimeter is very handy to have. Mine was really cheap -- should have spent a little more for one with an audible continuity tester.

If I've been fiddling around in the guts I always ensure that everything is properly earthed before I plug into anything. You can also test continuity between bits to find a dry joint or no connection. If your wiring matches those diagrams and your neck pickup is dead, I'd try reheating the joins on the pot tags and work back towards the output jack from there.

 

[theFixer]

...another thing @theFixer, a digital multimeter is very handy to have. Mine was really cheap -- should have spend a little more for one with an audible continuity tester.

If I've been fiddling around in the guts I always ensure that everything is properly earthed before I plug into anything. You can also test continuity between bits to find a dry joint or no connection. If your wiring matches those diagrams and your neck pickup is dead, I'd try reheating the joins on the pot tags and work back towatrds the output jack from there.

well... that's not any fun...

 

[kat888]

well... that's not any fun...

So your V pots have 3 tags, with one tag bent back and soldered onto the case (or maybe a fragment of wire soldered onto the case).

Connect the hot wire from your pickup to the centre tag. Solder the earth ground wire to the pot case. You need to do this with both pickups.

Run a wire from the outside tag of the neck pup V to the outside tag of the bridge pup V and from there to the T pot. The T should have the cap wired between the centre tag and the pot case.

It's a daisy chain dude.

Run a wire to connect all the grounds together -- the pot cases and the bridge ground wire which should also be soldered to the case of one of the pots. These all end up connected to the output jack ground pin.

 

[Fletz]

Of all the Basses I’ve owned and sold, there are two that I’ve done it twice with: one was Tony Franklin fretless and the other was Thunderbirds. I found this at a local guitar guy and had to come back to the Thunderbird club. It’s a 1991 closet queen. Store owner told me he’s had it for over a year and when I dismissed the $1400 price tag he came down to $1,000 out the door. When I say it’s practically brand new, I mean it. Still has the warranty card, “manual” and truss tool. When I changed the strings I had to adjust the relief and the truss cover seems like it has never come off (the screws were untouched). There was dust on it and on the case but as you can see from the pictures, it cleaned up perfectly. I would dare say better condition than any off the wall “New” bass you’d buy at whatever store. There’s no cracking in the pots and the case is immaculate. Im-mac-yoo-late.

Oh and it sounds fantastic with brand new hi-beams.

 

[theFixer]

So your V pots have 3 tags, with one tag bent back and soldered onto the case (or maybe a fragment of wire soldered onto the case).

Check

Connect the hot wire from your pickup to the centre tag. Solder the earth ground wire to the pot case. You need to do this with both pickups.

Check

Run a wire from the outside tag of the neck pup V to the outside tag of the bridge pup V and from there to the T pot. The T should have the cap wired between the centre tag and the pot case.


It's a daisy chain dude.

Run a wire to connect all the grounds together -- the pot cases and the bridge ground wire which should also be soldered to the case of one of the pots. These all end up connected to the output jack ground pin.

Ok... the cap's in place, but they ran one small coax from that third terminal on each volume pot to the third terminal on the tone pot, as well as having connected the ground of each wire to each pots casing. I mean... I guess it should accomplish the same goal, but should I remove that wiring & run from pot to pot the way you described?

 

[theFixer]

Of all the Basses I’ve owned and sold, there are two that I’ve done it twice with: one was Tony Franklin fretless and the other was Thunderbirds. I found this at a local guitar guy and had to come back to the Thunderbird club. It’s a 1991 closet queen. Store owner told me he’s had it for over a year and when I dismissed the $1400 price tag he came down to $1,000 out the door. When I say it’s practically brand new, I mean it. Still has the warranty card, “manual” and truss tool. When I changed the strings I had to adjust the relief and the truss cover seems like it has never come off (the screws were untouched). There was dust on it and on the case but as you can see from the pictures, it cleaned up perfectly. I would dare say better condition than any off the wall “New” bass you’d buy at whatever store. There’s no cracking in the pots and the case is immaculate. Im-mac-yoo-late.

Oh and it sounds fantastic with brand new hi-beams.

WOW man!!! Nice score!

 

[theFixer]

In that case, just find a picture for J wiring, it will look the same. You can also look for images of Bird control cavities but they tend to look pretty messy.

The process you described does indeed match the J-bass diagram I saw... it's just not how this bird was done. Obviously somebody's been eating my porridge...

 

[hillerup]

Rob Zombie - I like his music but he generally looks like he crawled out of a garbage heap.

Exactly! But he makes great music!

 

[kat888]

Check


Check


Ok... the cap's in place, but they ran one small coax from that third terminal on each volume pot to the third terminal on the tone pot, as well as having connected the ground of each wire to each pots casing. I mean... I guess it should accomplish the same goal, but should I remove that wiring & run from pot to pot the way you described?

Uhhhhh ... that sounds like le petit déjeuner d'un chien. I'm not trying to be a cheeky minx here, in my capacity as a 'no tone controls evangelist', but really, I would suggest first off removing the tone control from the circuit altogether and wiring the Vs as I suggested (daisy chaining them V V then jack and the same with the ground wire), ie the simplest possible config and see whether both pickups are working.

 

[Butcherboy]

The 91birds are great, I own two of them.......

Of all the Basses I’ve owned and sold, there are two that I’ve done it twice with: one was Tony Franklin fretless and the other was Thunderbirds. I found this at a local guitar guy and had to come back to the Thunderbird club. It’s a 1991 closet queen. Store owner told me he’s had it for over a year and when I dismissed the $1400 price tag he came down to $1,000 out the door. When I say it’s practically brand new, I mean it. Still has the warranty card, “manual” and truss tool. When I changed the strings I had to adjust the relief and the truss cover seems like it has never come off (the screws were untouched). There was dust on it and on the case but as you can see from the pictures, it cleaned up perfectly. I would dare say better condition than any off the wall “New” bass you’d buy at whatever store. There’s no cracking in the pots and the case is immaculate. Im-mac-yoo-late.

Oh and it sounds fantastic with brand new hi-beams.

Yeah great, I own two of them, IMO
still the best ones for studio use.....

 

[TBird1958]

... that sounds like le petit déjeuner d'un chien. I'm not trying to be a cheeky minx here..............

This made me smile, a lot. Thank you Kat.

 

[Larry V]

50 ft. to the stage, unobstructed view from the first row of the balcony... free VIP upgrade for us!

That pic is not zoomed in at all. We are close! Theory of a Deadman is gonna RAWK!

 

[theFixer]

Uhhhhh ... that sounds like le petit déjeuner d'un chien. I'm not trying to be a cheeky minx here, in my capacity as a 'no tone controls evangelist', but really, I would suggest first off removing the tone control from the circuit altogether and wiring the Vs as I suggested (daisy chaining them V V then jack and the same with the ground wire), ie the simplest possible config and see whether both pickups are working.

Dammit... I'll do it! I wanna see what that'll do for the sound anyway. I ain't doin' it right now though. I've had enough for today.

I certainly do appreciate you taking the time to help me figure this out!

(can I ask for a translation of the French?)

 

[theFixer]

50 ft. to the stage, unobstructed view from the first row of the balcony... free VIP upgrade for us!

View attachment 2776559

That pic is not zoomed in at all. We are close! Theory of a Deadman is gonna RAWK!

Have a ball, Lar! You deserve it!