Thunderbird Club

[RedVee]

I just got done spending almost two hours with my Gibson TBird IV and my Classic Pro. Ran through a bunch of songs the kids are currently playing or learning. I ran them with Ultimate Guitar Pro playing their parts for me and me trying to keep up. That’s such a great tool for practice. I turn down the bass part and run it all through my amp.

That’s the longest I’ve played at one time for as far back as I can remember. My backs a bit sore as I only practice standing and now I’m ready for my recliner but boy that was fun!

I was just steered towards an app to assist learning a song “Amazing Slow Downer”. It does what it says. The free app only does the first 30 secs or n% of a song, but it seems to work and I’ll look into the paid version.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

You'd want those flat and thin toothpicks. TBH, inserting toothpicks and 'gently tapping the inserts home with a hammer' ... I'd be slightly worried I'd split the body. If it were me I'd go straight for the glue. It's not like you're going to wreck the resale value of a $70 bass.

That was my plan from the beginning… glueing… not damaging. For as tight as it is, I don’t think I could get paper in there. But even still, I’d have to buy the small toothpicks, I can get epoxy and superglue from work, so oddly, toothpicks are more expensive.
But glueing it in seems like a better long term fix.

 

[Larry V]

I was just steered towards an app to assist learning a song “Amazing Slow Downer”. It does what it says. The free app only does the first 30 secs or n% of a song, but it seems to work and I’ll look into the paid version.

I spent the $50 for the lifetime membership for UG Pro and it’s so worth it. My three kids plus me all sign into it and my oldest son(lead guitar) uses it with an iRig and uses pedal samples to make his guitar sound just like the songs he’s playing straight into his amp or headphones. With the iRig interface, it’s amazing.

 

[Haji]

I'll try to wait a bit then. Emphasis on "try". Anyone actually know when the Pro will be hitting stores?

Nope. I'm betting even Epi doesn't know for certain.

 

[RedVee]

I spent the $50 for the lifetime membership for UG Pro and it’s so worth it. My three kids plus me all sign into it and my oldest son(lead guitar) uses it with a iRig and uses pedal samples to make his guitar sound just like the songs he’s playing straight into his amp or headphones. With iRig interface, it’s amazing.

Thanks, I’ll look into it and the iRig

 

[Haji]

I spent the $50 for the lifetime membership for UG Pro and it’s so worth it. My three kids plus me all sign into it and my oldest son(lead guitar) uses it with a iRig and uses pedal samples to make his guitar sound just like the songs he’s playing straight into his amp or headphones. With iRig interface, it’s amazing.

I are intreegd. Tell me more bout how UG Pro works and how you use it.

 

[dukeorock]

The Shure MOTIV interface is good for using with iPads and iPhones too. I use one with an iPad to do soundclips from time to time. You can get it with a mic or use your own

 

[BklynKen]

Beware of those tab sites. It’s sometimes like the blind leading the blind.

If you’re on a Mac, Capo is really nice. I’ve been using it for years.

 

[Larry V]

I are intreegd. Tell me more bout how UG Pro works and how you use it.

I turn down the bass part while letting the the other parts, guitar 1, 2, drums and keyboard play. It scrolls in the proper time signature or you can slow it down and play along at a pace you can learn at. I use 75% while I’m learning and go to 100% when my muscle memory is ready.

If the song has brass, often times there’ll be instrumentation for that as well. You play with a band that doesn’t mess up. It’s an amazing learning tool.

 

[Larry V]

Beware of those tab sites. It’s sometimes like the blind leading the blind.

If you’re on a Mac, Capo is really nice. I’ve been using it for years.

UG Pro is a cut above UG.

 

[Larry V]

For example, my kids were playing Kryptonite waaaaaayyyu too fast. I got them back down to the right speed after I learned it and we played together and that was thanks to UG Pro.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

FACK!
I took @hillerup ’s suggestion and took 1 screw from each tuner and string it up. But the insert pulled up!
As I was taking the strings off I decided it was a good time to test it… with 2 strings. SOUNDS GREAT!
I remember people suggesting epoxy for this a while ago, any suggestion for what epoxy to use? Or any other suggestions?
View attachment 2817790

Some may call it butchery but if it works some may call it wizardry. I would try some Automotive Goop around the insides of the hole's. If that stuff keeps my leather ripped hockey goalie pads, glove and blocker together and seals oil leaks in my truck's return hoses while operating under pressure through all 4 seasons than your job should be a cinch. I would do it, but if you want to use what the pro's recommend than use their method. In a pinch it will be the answer and will be more than sufficient and not just temporary. Good luck either way

 

[theFixer]

FACK!
I took @hillerup ’s suggestion and took 1 screw from each tuner and string it up. But the insert pulled up!
As I was taking the strings off I decided it was a good time to test it… with 2 strings. SOUNDS GREAT!
I remember people suggesting epoxy for this a while ago, any suggestion for what epoxy to use? Or any other suggestions?
View attachment 2817790

I just had the same damn thing happen not my 'bird, but on the other side

I've been trying to dial my action in. I have to assume that the repeated detuning & retuning took it's toll

 

[Haji]

Oooo...two TBirds would be nice. How do they handle drop tunings, or even BEAD or CGCG using heavier strings?

Both my Goff with the Pro bridge and TBIV with the hated 3 poit are both tuned to Drop C (CGCF) an' strung with Dunlop Heavy Core "Heavier" sets. That's a .50 -.115 gauge, IIRC.

 

[Korladis]

Not a Thunderbird, exactly, but there's definitely some T-bird DNA in this:

Ferner Fine Instruments | Memphis Guitar Spa

 

[hillerup]

That was my plan from the beginning… glueing… not damaging. For as tight as it is, I don’t think I could get paper in there. But even still, I’d have to buy the small toothpicks, I can get epoxy and superglue from work, so oddly, toothpicks are more expensive.
But glueing it in seems like a better long term fix.

Alternatively you could try this:

Once the inserts are removed, you could damp the inside of the cavity with some wet q-tips and let it dry - That ought to expand the wood inside ever so slightly, so the inserts would fit more snug... In theory, that is...

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

I just had the same damn thing happen not my 'bird, but on the other side

I've been trying to dial my action in. I have to assume that the repeated detuning & retuning took it's toll

Im sorry to hear you guys are having to deal with this. Ive heard and believed that this was an engineering flaw from Gibson and that all of their basses had this issue and Ive read many times in different places that this agony is part of the package. I dont really know how to say without sounding like Im bragging here but Im not, actually surprised. Between my Bird and my EB3 Ive done waaaay to much fk'n around with different strings , tunings and leveling adjustments, stupid in fact how much time I messed around with the 3 point bastard. Well.....Ive had none of these loose ferule issues. What the hell?.

 

[Count Bassie]

FACK!
I took @hillerup ’s suggestion and took 1 screw from each tuner and string it up. But the insert pulled up!
As I was taking the strings off I decided it was a good time to test it… with 2 strings. SOUNDS GREAT!
I remember people suggesting epoxy for this a while ago, any suggestion for what epoxy to use? Or any other suggestions?
View attachment 2817790

I bet a flat toothpick jammed in along the grooves of the insert would do it.
Epoxy... if you must. Use a putty that comes in a tube. You only mix what you need.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Alternatively you could try this:

Once the inserts are removed, you could damp the inside of the cavity with some wet q-tips and let it dry - That ought to expand the wood inside ever so slightly, so the inserts would fit more snug... In theory, that is...

INTERESTING! I think I’ll give that a shot first.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Im sorry to hear you guys are having to deal with this. Ive heard and believed that this was an engineering flaw from Gibson and that all of their basses had this issue and Ive read many times in different places that this agony is part of the package. I dont really know how to say without sounding like Im bragging here but Im not, actually surprised. Between my Bird and my EB3 Ive done waaaay to much fk'n around with different strings , tunings and leveling adjustments, stupid in fact how much time I messed around with the 3 point bastard. Well.....Ive had none of these loose ferule issues. What the hell?.

It never has happened on my Gibson’s. I can’t even recall someone else saying it happened to their Gibson.