Thunderbird Club

[godofthunder59]

Thanks Mark! 2015 is going to be a big year. The Badbird II, bridge and pickup covers, more pickguards and finally my as accurate a possible 60's spec Nonreverse Bird. I am anxiously awaiting a sample of the Badbird II to do a final test installation. I will post pictures just as soon as I have it.

 

[Klondike]

So my Thunderbird brethren the Badbird II is about to drop. This is a 60's style two piece bridge for all post 1989 Gibson and Epiphone Thunderbirds. Machined from solid brass and nickle plated the bridge features a 60's style airfoil shaped tailpiece that gives a greater angle string break across the saddles improving sustain and tone. I'd like it if you guys could give me a idea of demand. Pictured here is my 2001 Gibson Thunderbird aka the Butcherbird with the original Badbird installed. Obviously not wide enough to set intonation but the increase in sustain was noticeable, also it was possible to get the action super low!

Love it Scott!
Question: what kind of p'ups are you using?

And for others to answer as well, what brand(s) of p'ups are appropriate for a sixties piece TBird?

 

[godofthunder59]

Love it Scott!
Question: what kind of p'ups are you using?

And for others to answer as well, what brand(s) of p'ups are appropriate for a sixties piece TBird?

Thunderbuckers from the Thunderbucker Ranch of course.

 

[mistergoats]

So my Thunderbird brethren the Badbird II is about to drop. This is a 60's style two piece bridge for all post 1989 Gibson and Epiphone Thunderbirds. Machined from solid brass and nickle plated the bridge features a 60's style airfoil shaped tailpiece that gives a greater angle string break across the saddles improving sustain and tone. I'd like it if you guys could give me a idea of demand. Pictured here is my 2001 Gibson Thunderbird aka the Butcherbird with the original Badbird installed. Obviously not wide enough to set intonation but the increase in sustain was noticeable, also it was possible to get the action super low!

Hot dang! Might have to convert mine.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Do you have a ballpark price on the BadBird II, Scott? That might help to figure the demand.

 

[Klondike]

Ok guys tell me if this is a crazy stupid idea or a smart one?

Buy a cheap beat up TBird on FleaBay, something that has seen better days and wants a total makeover. Strip her down to bare wood, instal a retro bridge(say mid sixties era), pups(say thunderbucker or similar), new pots(of course), paint say a color available for TBirds 60-65. Clearly not in that exact order. ???!!??!!

The wood would be completely different and it would not have a resale value reflecting a true vintage Bird. But not really expecting that either.

Is this idea a good one? Indifferent? Or just plain not good at all?

Sometimes I gotta think out loud.
Thanks all.

 

[wolfkeller]

anyone interested in selling me their epi blackbird? I need to make a reverse for my crue tribute, I think this will be my best bet to do as im not finding a spector classic X at a good price. I hate having to use soapbars, it shoud be a PJ and I don't like the headstock becoming a reverse but...
I will be routing the reverse side for the kill switch and routing for a strat jack as well.

 

[Haji]

The problem with Fleabay basses is that they're often rode real hard and put away wet. I see a lot of them with significantly more than honest wear, and definitely signs of abuse and lack of maintenance. You'll see a lot of weird stuff like neck issues.

 

[imdkoz]

The problem with Fleabay basses is that they're often rode real hard and put away wet. I see a lot of them with significantly more than honest wear, and definitely signs of abuse and lack of maintenance. You'll see a lot of weird stuff like neck issues.

+1 on that Haji. The last fleabay bass I bought had quite a bit more "wear" than was stated buy the seller. Not enough for me to send back, but still kind of disappointing.

 

[wolfkeller]

Myself, if u plan on redoing a bass like your saying, (I've done many this way) I don't mind eBay, however I think that the prices are generally too high there with the fees and crap. I always try craigslist. I also will see search tempest which let's you search craigslist all over areas near you. When I do mine, I usually toss everything but the neck and body and they always get body work and paint so long as the neck is good (frets, good TR) I'm good. If the price is right take a chance. That said, I see a few epi bodies for about $100 and necks even more, hell no!

 

[Haji]

Standard Epi TBirds around here routinely go for $200-$250 on CL.

 

[TBird1958]

Ok guys tell me if this is a crazy stupid idea or a smart one?

Buy a cheap beat up TBird on FleaBay, something that has seen better days and wants a total makeover. Strip her down to bare wood, instal a retro bridge(say mid sixties era), pups(say thunderbucker or similar), new pots(of course), paint say a color available for TBirds 60-65. Clearly not in that exact order. ???!!??!!

The wood would be completely different and it would not have a resale value reflecting a true vintage Bird. But not really expecting that either.

Is this idea a good one? Indifferent? Or just plain not good at all?

Sometimes I gotta think out loud.
Thanks all.

As long as you can find a good bass to start with it's a fine idea - however, I wouldn't do it with the notion of reselling at a profit.

Personally, I've had 3 Birds re finned and have a fourth that I bought knowing it was, I enjoy having something no one else does.

 

[wolfkeller]

As long as you can find a good bass to start with it's a fine idea - however, I wouldn't do it with the notion of reselling at a profit.

Personally, I've had 3 Birds re finned and have a fourth that I bought knowing it was, I enjoy having something no one else does.

Agreed. Forget about any kind of resale value, people get real funny if it's been changed, even for the better...unless its one of us who would appreciate the changes, improvements ect.

 

[ThaCoast]

Once the snow is gone in my part of the woods, i'll break out the left over wood and see if i can make two bass bodies for 2 different future projects (my slab body p/hum thunderbird & replica gibson ripper in blood red with black GFS lipstick tube humbuckers - all wired like the original) But i'll only have the bodies for both nothing else. I can move the thundebird along further since i have the precision pickup and i'd take my goth neck to mark the 34" scale for the bridge. Route a cavity control for the kill siwtch and tube jack and tiger stripe it after all the routing is done. Sick project, longer wait since some parts i need to purchase online (truss rod, frets & fretboard)

 

[wolfkeller]

EMG pickup question.
When I get my reverse together ill need to swap pick ups because this bass will need a PJ sound. Now, I wont find a bass/body that has PJs so im looking at the emg TBP and TBJ. its my understanding that these are regular active P&Js in the TB housings. Anyone have any knowledge or exp with this? Seems like a lot of hasstle...im crazy about the details and to me, it ALL matters. If I had the $ id have a custom made but I just found a lefty Warlock, that cost some $ for the bass and the replacement parts.

 

[Sneezy]

Ok guys tell me if this is a crazy stupid idea or a smart one?

Buy a cheap beat up TBird on FleaBay, something that has seen better days and wants a total makeover. Strip her down to bare wood, instal a retro bridge(say mid sixties era), pups(say thunderbucker or similar), new pots(of course), paint say a color available for TBirds 60-65. Clearly not in that exact order. ???!!??!!

The wood would be completely different and it would not have a resale value reflecting a true vintage Bird. But not really expecting that either.

Is this idea a good one? Indifferent? Or just plain not good at all?

Sometimes I gotta think out loud.
Thanks all.

I am doing the same thing however with Lollar pickups. I heard clips of Thunderbuckers and Lull pickups but I just seemed to like these better. Anyway, I got my body on a website called Guitar Huggers. It came well packaged and it seemed like a pretty good deal.

Link Removed

 

[SVTbird]

EMG pickup question.
When I get my reverse together ill need to swap pick ups because this bass will need a PJ sound. Now, I wont find a bass/body that has PJs so im looking at the emg TBP and TBJ. its my understanding that these are regular active P&Js in the TB housings. Anyone have any knowledge or exp with this? Seems like a lot of hasstle...im crazy about the details and to me, it ALL matters. If I had the $ id have a custom made but I just found a lefty Warlock, that cost some $ for the bass and the replacement parts.

The TBP and TBJ should drop right in, and you should be able to fit the pre and the battery in the control cavity.
The classic I picked up had the TBDCs and doesn't show any signs of additional routing. Very clean install actually.

 

[wolfkeller]

The TBP and TBJ should drop right in, and you should be able to fit the pre and the battery in the control cavity.
The classic I picked up had the TBDCs and doesn't show any signs of additional routing. Very clean install actually.

What do you think of those emgs?

 

[SVTbird]

Ok guys tell me if this is a crazy stupid idea or a smart one?

Buy a cheap beat up TBird on FleaBay, something that has seen better days and wants a total makeover. Strip her down to bare wood, instal a retro bridge(say mid sixties era), pups(say thunderbucker or similar), new pots(of course), paint say a color available for TBirds 60-65. Clearly not in that exact order. ???!!??!!

The wood would be completely different and it would not have a resale value reflecting a true vintage Bird. But not really expecting that either.

Is this idea a good one? Indifferent? Or just plain not good at all?

Sometimes I gotta think out loud.
Thanks all.

You talking epi or gibson? I probably wouldn't on a gibby, but I say go for it on an epi. That and a "cheap gibson" is like $700.
I'd say find a goth or a reg epibird and have at it.
You could practice some luthier skills like crowning frets too.
It'll be a fun project.

 

[SVTbird]

What do you think of those emgs?

Lmao...they go from "hell ya!" to "hell NO!" Depending on the settings. Very wide range.
I do like them though, I'm still more of a passive guy, but these are pretty awesome. Thunderous lows and as hot as these pups are it's a lot easier to get loud. I keep the vol at 50% and its still crazy loud compared to passives at 10

I think you would dig these.