Thunderbird Club

[Larry V]

Michael's not going to making it to any Harbor Freight sidewalk sales anytime soon. The airline fare would make it cost prohibitive.

 

[Greg Potts]

OK gang, what are the rules here around Thunderbird clones?

This past winter I built a "Fenderbird" from scratch using an eBay sourced Fender Jazz bass neck from China and a body built from salvaged woods that were gifted to me by friends who had heard I had started building instruments. This build uses Ash, Bamboo, Cherry, Maple, Oak and Walnut in the body, while the neck is maple and rosewood. All the hardware was sourced on eBay; tuners, bridge, neck plate, etc.

Right now I have a pair of cheap knockoff jazz bass pickups in it, but they are soon coming out in favour of a pair of Deep Sixx pickups also sourced on eBay. (Way too much hum.)

Considering that NONE of the components currently in my build originated in a Gibson or Epiphone factory, I would understand if you turned me away; but considering that probably EVERY single epiphone/gibson component has probably been substituted here at one time or another I am just curious where y'all would draw the line.

 

[Nocturnal]

I'm pretty sure the "rule" here is that it's a Thunderbird style regardless of brand/build.

Looks like a cool project! Has a nice unique look to it

 

[hillerup]

Harbour freight has a monthly sidewalk sale. Some pretty good deals most times but go early, the best deals get taken quickly.

Good tip, but unfortunately we don't have Harbour Freight in Denmark...

 

[hillerup]

Michael's not going to making it to any Harbor Freight sidewalk sales anytime soon. The airline fare would make it cost prohibitive.

Too right!

Also we have 220 voltage in Denmark, which would be a problem for Powertools purchased in the U.S... :/

 

[hillerup]

I'm pretty sure the "rule" here is that it's a Thunderbird style regardless of brand/build.

Looks like a cool project! Has a nice unique look to it

+1...

This is neither an exclusive Gibson nor exclusive Epiphone club...

It's a Thunderbird club, and from what I've seen, the consensus seems to be: "if it looks like a Thunderbird - it is a Thunderbird"...

Besides, your'e putting a pair of DeepSixx pickups in your bird - So at least there will be some Epiphone in it...

 

[wolfkeller]

Always great to see guys figure out how to DIY rather than depend on the companies to do it for you. That said, who can make me a a brass nut??

 

[Larry V]

Always great to see guys figure out how to DIY rather than depend on the companies to do it for you. That said, who can make me a a brass nut??

Piece of cake if you've got a belt sander and some files which I do.

 

[wolfkeller]

Old saying, everything is easy when ya know how

 

[Larry V]

I've never made one but I'm pretty sure I could make a fairly exact reproduction of one as long as I had it in my workshop to compare to as I sanded and filed it into shape. I'd probably want to start with 1/4" sq. stk.

 

[SVTbird]

Ive got some copper blocks. Wonder how a copper nut would work out

 

[Larry V]

Ive got some copper blocks. Wonder how a copper nut would work out

It'll tarnish like a penny unless you use some form of sealer. Perhaps that tarnish could be what you're after but I don't see an issue with using copper as a nut material. Heck, even aluminum should work well.

 

[ThaCoast]

It'll tarnish like a penny unless you use some form of sealer. Perhaps that tarnish could be what you're after but I don't see an issue with using copper as a nut material. Heck, even aluminum should work well.

Aluminum works on danelectro basses so they should work on pretty much anything we build?

 

[ThaCoast]

OK gang, what are the rules here around Thunderbird clones?

This past winter I built a "Fenderbird" from scratch using an eBay sourced Fender Jazz bass neck from China and a body built from salvaged woods that were gifted to me by friends who had heard I had started building instruments. This build uses Ash, Bamboo, Cherry, Maple, Oak and Walnut in the body, while the neck is maple and rosewood. All the hardware was sourced on eBay; tuners, bridge, neck plate, etc.

Right now I have a pair of cheap knockoff jazz bass pickups in it, but they are soon coming out in favour of a pair of Deep Sixx pickups also sourced on eBay. (Way too much hum.)

Considering that NONE of the components currently in my build originated in a Gibson or Epiphone factory, I would understand if you turned me away; but considering that probably EVERY single epiphone/gibson component has probably been substituted here at one time or another I am just curious where y'all would draw the line.

Only one rule: if it looks like a thunderbird, you're in Heck i'm in the works of building my own bird (pbass pickup in the middle with Sd NYC soapbar at the bridge & high mass bridge with a b.c. rich style neck from the 80's - homebuilt) It'll still be a thunderbird, just for myself.

 

[Haji]

The absolute, set in stone rule for Greg Potts is: I wanna see a LOT more photos of that Bird!

Clearly the solution for Hillerup is to move Neotek to Nashville, TN. Two reasons: Harbor Freight has about dozen stores in the area, and there are lotsa clubs where Neotek and Threshing Floor (my band) could do shows together.

Oh, and it's called Music City and stuff. Err'body should be here.

 

[TBird1958]

Except that it's Nashville..........I'm a devoted Seattle Girl - Travel here once, you'll see

 

[TBird1958]

OK gang, what are the rules here around Thunderbird clones?

This past winter I built a "Fenderbird" from scratch using an eBay sourced Fender Jazz bass neck from China and a body built from salvaged woods that were gifted to me by friends who had heard I had started building instruments. This build uses Ash, Bamboo, Cherry, Maple, Oak and Walnut in the body, while the neck is maple and rosewood. All the hardware was sourced on eBay; tuners, bridge, neck plate, etc.

Right now I have a pair of cheap knockoff jazz bass pickups in it, but they are soon coming out in favour of a pair of Deep Sixx pickups also sourced on eBay. (Way too much hum.)

Considering that NONE of the components currently in my build originated in a Gibson or Epiphone factory, I would understand if you turned me away; but considering that probably EVERY single epiphone/gibson component has probably been substituted here at one time or another I am just curious where y'all would draw the line.

7enderbirds are most welcome here, and so are you good Sir!

Here's an updated club roster, welcome to Doc George #514,acoustic 356 #515, aceytrixx #516 and Greg Potts #517.
Be Loud and Proud with your Thunderbirds - never stand in the shadows near the drummer!


TBird1958 #1
Godof Thunder59 #2
Funkster#3
Gibenbackerbass #4
Sidd Laroy #5
Jazzbo58 #6
Nocturnal #7
Showdown #8
The Mojo Hobo #9
Doctorpunch #10
Stiles72 #11
Brenner182 #12
Baird6869 #13
Poorbassist15 #14
PWV #15
Mr Typhus #16
Tracii #17
Aditya #18
amimbari #19
knifedge #20
Nitrofix #21
Atoz #22
bassphreak #23
Seydlitz #24
bassclef112 #25
bassplayer8953 #26
D.M.N. #27
Edhunter #28
kruno maestro #29
Tombowlus #30
Kalik #31
winterburn69 #32
Walter Vega 33
Carlos 840 #34
Shadowtippy #35
Saltymonkey #36
lel95 #37
gaffster787 #38
mc2ny #39
Low Sound Love #40
BrianKrashpad #41
Deep Six #42
BenEd #43
Bassmachine2112 #44
ponkoponk #45
Heatheroo #46
darkside 88 #47
GCool#48
TedhHernstorm #49
Darbo #50
uncletupelo #51
Vaider #52
Rip Topaz #53
bmb73 #54
Badfish #55
Afireinside #56
Redstrand #57
reptyls #58
dabido #59
96tbird #60
whilke #61
JIO #63
thebrain #64
Rob Martinez #65
bazzandeson #66
PhR #67
Dr.Eagle #68
lowend1 #69 Mopar or no car!
Basvarken #70
s mcsleazy #71
Burruss #72
Matty H #73
moonshinegtrs #74
bass lord mutha #75
jumbodbassman #76
davidprice #77
A-Step-Towards #78
birdman14 #79
Quadzilla #80
jbalou02 #81
johnk 10 #82
electrocoyote #83
ih8law #84
muzukman7 #85
3rdcurve #86
rdwil191 #87
BluesBear #88
JAF #89
Swin #90
TBirdie #91
bassplayerbob #92
trevorguns #93
Clammy #94
jammi_fool #95
Molochnik #96
Rocker47 #97
Shark1 #98
BlueTalon #99
Fab Superlative #100
Doragon #5150
ThumpsAlot #102
Doelle #103
AllyDetours #104
Southway #105
mav #106
tw63 #107
Casperrobo #108
Killa #109
roffe #110
SOB H.R.MC #111
icks #112
thepunisher #113
PatQ #114
Venom of God #115
Jirishman #116
Midas #117
GibsonBassCAZ #118
snowblinder #119
Tilli #120
3l3phantstomp #121
Thrust Meatnozl #122
gaudenti #123
Birdbrain #124
CBTB #125
greghol #126
DV6 #127
marlond #128
DWest1981 #129
Shinji #130
jaibeau #131
Warrioralex #132
jonesn4bass #133
Rono7003 #134
hillerup #135
Dadagoboi #136
MRDOOM #137
secretsound5 #138
trevorguns #139
J Sinister #140
Capitian Bob #141
guitarded #142
Fullback32 #143
Johnny78 #144
jelenko #145
Jools4001 #146
Porkbun #147
Lucas G #148
NOT #149
JtheB #150
Andii Syckz #151
sj bass #152
FrankenIbanez70 #153
Nosgoth #154
Artyom76 #155
D Bopp #156
CDRhom #157
Mark4 #158
thepest #159
TheCush #160
Pure eVal #161
iamthebassman #162
juankidiaz #163
Wilbur88 #164
WillMuderface #165
Evsm73 #166
JB66#167
brettsto #168
TheProphet #169
mikeowen17 #170
Pharaohamps #171
dial666 #172
faivy #173
HAVOK #174
Astroburn #175
aLLard #176
MissionTbird #177
Thebassman2011 #178
DaM13N # 179
LanOsb133 #180
Lowner #181
Frankiebass59 #182
Justice #183
tiger rich #184
spunkadizzle #185
quadrogong #186
Wolf C Red #187
guitarded #188
ledzep5296 #189
aussiebasshero #190
trackskinz#191
guns N rosesguy #192
Jamyi #193
Thunderbird90 #194
Cobra314 #195
Ric5 #196
ApocalypseDream #197
Gougedeye #198
okc-zee #199
NOLA Bass #200
AdamR #201
bassmaniac72 #202
pudge #203
BWileyTally #204
poomwah #205
chibfarm2001 #206
thisSNsucks #207
mr.mow #208
4005 #209
seansv #210
BassDoc51 #211
ben0099 #212
Trooper1911 #213
mordor #214
brotondo #215
HIaWATTha #216
Zerstorte Zelle #217
MrNecroVol #218
Freddy-G #219
Regininblood #220
ejaggers #221
gregoire1 #222
thundereagle #223
Geezer79 #224
cubanbass #225
Silverwolf1 #226
Mikaelbass #227
BruceBass3901 #228
Chris V #229
Mikaelbass #230
JayBassD #231
JMPeat #232
Phildogger #233
beebassdude #234
MrGotBass #235
2nd Wind #236
butter_fingers #237
Chumbly #238
roycroft 88 #239
finlover #240
recycled rocker #241
wolfmancharlie #242
balton4 #243
GregBummer #244
penguineman #245
TheOnlyJuan #246
nubs #247
Gringo Starr #248
PhR #249
georgestrings #250
cajunbass1985 #251
Wagz #252
armedmonkey #253
RedNeckBBQ #254
faviobarrio #255
PhantomApex #256
cmassa #257
vbass_2000 #258
MrMcHaggis #259
Linchpin72 #260
whitee96 #261
edpal #262
Ibanez Bassist #263
21petro #264
CiceroProfundo #265
Willncarolina #266
theweirdoid #267
Gaolee #268
TheLarch #269
Castagnier #270
diskovolos #271
fordkisskrazy #272
woodski #273
chipter #274
Unclejackrock #275
Bass173 #276
tbird99 #277
tore00 #278
lepreconbass13 #279
Junk420 #280
Tx Basser #281
epirokker #282
sugarsand #283
thebbconspiracy #284
Dionioann #285
LumberjackTBird #286
MikeyB5 #287
Thunders #288
anonparrot #289
darren1970 #290
Egbert89 #291
seBASStien #292
Figas #293
Vikerlane #294
ps10black #295
eldo #296
GGirl #297
FenderLove #298
quite_angry #299
hover #300
bdkthunder #301
MoSlevin #302
Gbass75 #303
rocknroll mouse #304
hillerup #305
GBassNorth #306
KPJ #307
fjadams #308
Nino D #309
Ecko #310
Peepaleep #311
DethByDoom #312
wvbass #313
rockscott #314
CDHawkins #315
scourge #316
Astreaux #317
pedrodelawasp #318
66Atlas #319
YOU LAND #320
Hilton Marsh #321
lfbassguy #322
Wolfpack #323
jayceofbass #324
ZombieSpacebat #325
Rotwang#326
Instagator#327
NWOBHM Kid # 328
Puisher 911 #329
Gunner 77 # 330
shadven #331
Guiness20 #332
dukey donkey #333
Bassco #334
chnapz #335
marq1965 #336
1stnamebassist #337
Electric Wizard #338
Ces art #339
liquorsbass #340
MarkusBass #341
BigH #342
Tonyxtiger #343
jnumme #344
BklynKen #345 - First Gibson lefty!
HofnerVox #346
blackest frank #347
prafeston #348
snaverb #349
DrPFunk #350
Moonshine #351
mournblade #352
CreepyJack #353
Bluzman90 #354
N10 #355
WaboRat72 #356
undead menace #357
BlacknWhite #358
Snakeman1066 #359
brokencode #360
The Seabass16 #361
Thunderdrool #362
rick4001s #363
echoSE7EN #364
solderjunkie #365
DougieB #366
untamedhellion #367
TabaccoRipper #368
LAST C #369
Basssssist #370
Arial Bender #371
ptleftybass #372
JackThe Ripper #373
Sigmundklaus #374
RadioRob #375
Liam McMonigle #376 Prince Liam
Karlos69 #377
JonDark #378
bassgod0dmw #379
TomStuart #380
Electric Delta #381
Mastermold #382
scars #383
monkeybass68 #384
exiii #385
HengistPod #386
jason the fox #387
Tamoume #388
jakelly #389
MicG #390
rogerinoly #391
mcarp555 #392
BlkHeli #393
mattj1stc #394
Roadstar #395
Satyrnine #396
Spiffmeister #397
Tim68 #398
tomshepp #399
THE DANiMAL #400
Andy Sivyer #401
Ender_rpm #402
Count Vitriol #403
bassistjoe93 #404
Project7Bass #405
Furious_Man77 #406
j.kernodle #407
Glass Onion #408
EpiRipper #409
msact #410
BirdThunder #411
pfox14 #412
jdb72 #413
SlingBass4 #444
GemJam #414
Faky77 #415
Purplefowler #416
starmann #417
mr pablo #418
GabeXLeouz #419
Rutger56 #420
bass geetarist #421
Bassic Playing #422
dorknowitski #423
jastacey #424
Terracite #425
MoparMonster #426
HypersoulRocks #427
germanson13 #428
Larry V #429
REMBO #430
WalMark #431
BassPlummet #432
Fletz #433
HockeyDawg #434
lowendblues #435
James P #436
gunkle #437
jd56hawk #438
blocka #439
Earapeach1965 #440
TwyreZ #441
Bullitt5135 #442
JimSalomao #443
jassthebass #445
Rooster009 #446
kodiakblair #447
bahia0019 #448
awilkie84 #449
marko57 #450
Darchyboy #451
SonnyBassPlayer #452
Tbone76 #453
KF2B #454
RandomBox#455
BadBassDrummer #456
Cliffclone #457
yahtzee1280 #458
OldPlucker #459
Haji #460
ugobo #461
mistergoats #462 Formerly Geoffypants!
rickwebb #463
dannoman #464
Diddi #465
Butchboy #466
basscow #467
Graykong #468
Gilsdorf #469
mattbass6945 #470
Josh Thatguy #666
jgould 1124 664
TNF #471
Reservoir Dog #472
Chauncy - #473
GIBrat51 #474
giocalypse #475
veebass #476
Bamabird #477
Sneezy #478
Galvez11 #479
mule47 #480
Rexalot #481
Rob L #482
Righteous Thunderer #483
stingray68 #484
gafbass02 #485
vdub76 #486
heatoise #487
Winfred #488
Mike A #489
depalm #490
hopsbb #491
ubnomnar #492
denki109 #493
Ronbeast #494
Klondike #495
Trebeless #496
Jay_Dub #497
imdkoz #498
mz888 #499
The Bear GT500
probassace2 #501
L.L. Elwood #502
JELLIS78 #503
mrnylon #504
ProperModulation #505
BassicDesire #506
Twangster 101 #507
Mark Cult #508
Nowyn #509
the_stoot64 #510
Bass master Burt man #511
Deaky #512
Bassmike62 513
DocGeorge 514
Acoustic356 515
aceytrixx 516
Greg Potts 517

 

[SVTbird]

So...out of curiosity I did a rough tally of how much money I have in basses, guitars, and amps.

its official. If the wife finds out I WILL be dead

 

[TBird1958]

So...out of curiosity I did a rough tally of how much money I have in basses, guitars, and amps.

its official. If the wife finds out I WILL be dead

Yeah, that's bad luck - I try not to think about that kind of thing

 

[BadBassDrummer]

So...out of curiosity I did a rough tally of how much money I have in basses, guitars, and amps.

its official. If the wife finds out I WILL be dead

That's why I don't have one of them... well maybe not the only reason