Thunderbird Club

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

So, my Vintage Pro arrived last week. It took me a couple of days to warm to it - I'm not used to shiny brand-new instruments, fresh from the factory - but I'm struggling to put it down now! Seriously chuffed with the playability, and the tone! I play through a Tech 21 Leeds and I'm getting a tonal dead ringer for Tom Petersson on the first Cheap Trick LP - this thing ROARS! Very happy with the sound.

I have noticed a rather odd issue however with the pickup and bridge placements - compared with every other pic I've seen on here, mine seem to be placed approx 5mm closer to the neck when lined up with the scratchplate and knobs.
Now, logic tells me this is highly improbable on a mass produced instrument, but also, surely if the bridge is indeed closer to the neck, shouldn't the whole bass be out of whack? It plays fine and in tune (intonation slightly out but I haven't tweaked it yet) but it's annoying the hell out of me now I've noticed it!

Very nice bass!

As for the placements, it's a lot more probable that the pickguard is the one that is different, as it isn't an important dimension... it won't affect performance if it was located 4" down.
And just from comparing it to the pictures on Sweetwater, I'd say that is exactly what's causing it to look out of place.

 

[dukeorock]

Very nice bass!

As for the placements, it's a lot more probable that the pickguard is the one that is different, as it isn't an important dimension... it won't affect performance if it was located 4" down.
And just from comparing it to the pictures on Sweetwater, I'd say that is exactly what's causing it to look out of place.

Being the owner of a couple randomly place pickguards, that was my first hunch as well.

 

[theFixer]

I was a guitar player in my former life[/QUOTE]
me too

 

[GBassNorth]

I was a guitar player in my former life

me too[/QUOTE]
I was a guitar hack before I became a bass hack.

 

[Gaolee]

Ya I suppose so. I haven't played a modern P neck.

My Precision is about 1-3/4, but flat as a pancake, like you said. But my EBMM is probably @theFixer certifiable. It's just a hair wider than my Precision (still nominally 1-3/4), but is a log. It's oddly comfortable though, to the point where my Precision feels wider.

Some girth makes a wide neck feel a whole lot better. I'm not sure why, but my guess is that it is shaped like your grip, not like roadkill.

 

[Gaolee]

Couldn’t take the gaps around the pickups, so went ahead and got rings. I kinda like it...
View attachment 2919781
Wow, that’s a terrible picture!

Terrible picture? I disagree. It's a picture of CHROME! Ohhhh! Shiny!

 

[Gaolee]

What do you think is inside these?
View attachment 2920005

Cat hair, of course.

 

[bylar13]

View attachment 2919916 View attachment 2919918 Met a Thunderbird Valentine at a gig on V-Day. Vivian plays with a super fun band called Cowbell Superstar and was sporting a new white Vintage Pro.
Go check em out sometime if you’re in the Philly/ Bucks County region.
I encouraged her to come join the club of course...

Nice! We (not a glam band) are playing with Creem Circus (Glam band that plays often with Cowbell Superstar) on 3/1 at Ortlieb's if your in the area...

 

[Gaolee]

I think the Fender fanboyz realize deep down that the Thunderbird could easily give a P bass or a Jazz bass a run for the money in just about any setting. It threatens the very existence of their favorite instruments if left un-checked. Consequently, many of them freely chime into the echo chamber and feed themselves and anyone else listening a bunch of half truths, outdated information and just plain lies. All that negative confirmation creates a bias in the mind of those that overhear it but don't have any first hand experience to refute it (I was one of those).

It wasn't until I bought my first SG Supreme 4 years ago that I realized 90% of the players in the TB GenPop don't have a freaking clue about what they're talking about. Here I am 6 Gibby/Eppi instruments later and I still haven't found one loudly proclaimed fault of Gibson basses to be true. Three Thunderbirds, Two SG Supremes and a 2014EB all purchased on line (no try before you buy) and not a bit of neck dive, no mud, no quality control issues, no boat anchors, no self detaching headstock, no garbage bridges, no noodle necks, not even any hate mail from a$$hole Henry.

TB GenPop is where the delusional persuade the gullible to believe the improbable.

Nothing conspiratorial about it. They just don't know and repeat what they hear. No problems.

 

[bylar13]

Quick FYI for the group. Some folks, like me, have struggled with the T-bird's propensity to "fall away" from your body while playing. Some brace the bass on their left leg (or right, don't want to forget my left handed friends...) to stabilize it. Some have no issue with it whatsoever.

It was bothering me in that, when I was playing and not looking at the finger board, the bass would sometimes tilt forward (away from my body) and I would hit the E string while I was going for the A,D or G. I play with a pick and generally don't look at neck (too much) while playing.

So after using blue painter's tape a to add a second attachment point (at different points along where the strap meets the body on the back of the bass) I found one that kept the bass vertical, even while moving around.

Works great. Something to consider it you are having issues with titling.

 

[willsellout]

I never heard anything bad about Thunderbirds really other than neck dive. So when I ordered one I didn't have much bias. Not only is there no neck dive, it balances perfectly. Weight is 8 pounds, neck is strong thin and fast, and the sound is just beautiful. I love my Epi Tbird. I personally really like the 3 point bridge as well. It's not precise but it works just fine and is solid.

 

[willsellout]

Quick FYI for the group. Some folks, like me, have struggled with the T-bird's propensity to "fall away" from your body while playing. Some brace the bass on their left leg (or right, don't want to forget my left handed friends...) to stabilize it. Some have no issue with it whatsoever.

It was bothering me in that, when I was playing and not looking at the finger board, the bass would sometimes tilt forward (away from my body) and I would hit the E string while I was going for the A,D or G. I play with a pick and generally don't look at neck (too much) while playing.

So after using blue painter's tape a to add a second attachment point (at different points along where the strap meets the body on the back of the bass) I found one that kept the bass vertical, even while moving around.

View attachment 2920568

Works great. Something to consider it you are having issues with titling.

Thats a great idea. I don't have this problem personally but you can always pass the strap over the back portion of the upper body, which tucks it in to you as well. It's really comfortable that way.

 

[BklynKen]

Some brace the bass on their left leg (or right, don't want to forget my left handed friends...) to stabilize it.

Actually, I play left-handed and brace it with my left leg.

 

[bylar13]

Thats a great idea. I don't have this problem personally but you can always pass the strap over the back portion of the upper body, which tucks it in to you as well. It's really comfortable that way.

Yeah. I tried that but for me then it was too close! Picky, Picky! Certainly not a solve for everyone but in my case, its working.

 

[BklynKen]

Finally picked up a set of these. I’ve been really interested to try them, so one more to add to the experiment. It’s taped closed at the top because I wanted to see if there was any silk wrapping. None.

 

[bylar13]

Actually, I play left-handed and brace it with my left leg.

 

[dukeorock]

Quick FYI for the group. Some folks, like me, have struggled with the T-bird's propensity to "fall away" from your body while playing. Some brace the bass on their left leg (or right, don't want to forget my left handed friends...) to stabilize it. Some have no issue with it whatsoever.

It was bothering me in that, when I was playing and not looking at the finger board, the bass would sometimes tilt forward (away from my body) and I would hit the E string while I was going for the A,D or G. I play with a pick and generally don't look at neck (too much) while playing.

So after using blue painter's tape a to add a second attachment point (at different points along where the strap meets the body on the back of the bass) I found one that kept the bass vertical, even while moving around.

View attachment 2920568

Works great. Something to consider it you are having issues with titling.

Great idea!!!

 

[dukeorock]

Finally picked up a set of these. I’ve been really interested to try them, so one more to add to the experiment. It’s taped closed at the top because I wanted to see if there was any silk wrapping. None.

View attachment 2920583

Looking forward to your review, Ken!

 

[kat888]

So, my Vintage Pro arrived last week. It took me a couple of days to warm to it - I'm not used to shiny brand-new instruments, fresh from the factory - but I'm struggling to put it down now! Seriously chuffed with the playability, and the tone! I play through a Tech 21 Leeds and I'm getting a tonal dead ringer for Tom Petersson on the first Cheap Trick LP - this thing ROARS! Very happy with the sound.

I have noticed a rather odd issue however with the pickup and bridge placements - compared with every other pic I've seen on here, mine seem to be placed approx 5mm closer to the neck when lined up with the scratchplate and knobs.
Now, logic tells me this is highly improbable on a mass produced instrument, but also, surely if the bridge is indeed closer to the neck, shouldn't the whole bass be out of whack? It plays fine and in tune (intonation slightly out but I haven't tweaked it yet) but it's annoying the hell out of me now I've noticed it!

On a vintage spec Bird afaik the distance from the 12th fret to the edge of the neck pickup will be 250mm.

The rest is ... optional.

 

[dukeorock]

I’d love to have some sort of review/insight on anything ‘Bird related, but it’s a long day in the shop for me! Knocking out cabs