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Thunderbird Club

#7,801
friendlybass said:
I've been slowly bouncing ideas around for a first build and these intrigue me. Good to gear you like em, did I catch you say youre thinking of adding a third pup?
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Yes Sir! Its gonna be a monster of a bass. Im also putting a pickguard on it. It reminds me of one of John Entwistle's basses. I can't wait till its done. Pics will follow
 
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#7,805
Haji said:
Not diving. Tipping, as in tipping away from me at the top.
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How high do you where you bass? I tend to go about crotch height but with the bird it tips away from me like your describing. If I raise it up further onto my belly it stops doing that. I'm mostly a pick player so its not a huge issue but if your right hand comfort relies a lot on your strap length it might not work.
 
#7,807
hillerup said:
You could other move the strap button to the upper foremost neck screw (depending on the screw and strap button you should be able to thread the neck screw through the strap button)
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So I thought this would be so easy and I'd just need a longer screw, but actually the neck screws are much too thick for the buttons that come on the bird.
Most vendors selling strap buttons don't list the diameter of the screw hole (probably not the technical term).
Allparts does but I have my eye on Planet Waves ellipticals and they don't sell them.
Anyone either used those buttons and can let me know whether they'd fit?

Or even better - anyone put a button on a neck plate screw and know which buttons fit?
I'll measure the screw later and post whatever I find that fits - for posterity if nothing else.
 
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#7,808
Bace Waulkin said:
So I thought this would be so easy and I'd just need a longer screw, but actually the neck screws are much too thick for the buttons that come on the bird.
Most vendors selling strap buttons don't list the diameter of the screw hole (probably not the technical term).
Allparts does but I have my eye on Planet Waves ellipticals and they don't sell.
Anyone either used those buttons and can let me know whether they'd fit?

Or even better - anyone put a button on a neck plate screw and know which buttons fit?
I'll measure the screw later and post whatever I find that fits - for posterity if nothing else.
Click to expand...

Epiphone uses two different kinds of neck plates - Depending on which type your bird has, the screw may fit through the original strap button or not...

The neck plates which are black/chrome with the serial number imprinted on them, uses pretty thick screws, which won't thread through the strap button without being drilled/filed larger.

The neck plates which says "Performance is our passion" tend to use slimmer neck screws, which thread through the strap button. On newer Epi Thunderbirds which uses this neck plate, the strap button is already at the neck plate with a longer screw.

For the older type neck plate with the serial number on them, I usually drill a hole for the strap button between the two neck screw holes towards the neck.
 
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#7,809
TBird1958 said:
Awesome! Glad you got it!

I'm pretty sure this is it, I took this when visiting with Mike, mine was off to one side.......Note the stripped '63 Gibson on the bench!
hills2.jpg


Me with your bass......

Hiils1.jpg
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Damn, I had to look twice, Mark ...

Could hardly recognize you out of drag - Is that what you look like when at work? ;)
 
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#7,813
So this is a sad, sad, sad, sad post my t-bird brothers and sisters and Queen. My beloved T-bird was killed while setting up for a gig. Knocked off it's stand by a clumsy owner (I swear my medicine flask was still filled to the brim)....the crack of it's laminated neck was captured by the bass drum mic and broadcast over the PA. That's right, killed in action, an official "KIA Bird".

In an interesting twist, subsequently I focused a bit more on my piano chops and ended up playing keyboards in a band that gets some really big, really fun gigs....like this...
View media item 5064
So, for the next bass gig with a different band (house party), I was obviously anxious about bringing my '76 bird. My Greco bird has a busted g-string. So I dug my old 7ender jazz bass (e-gads!) out of the closet and thought, *** I'll give it a try.
View media item 5065It wasn't the same. I almost slapped a bit while playing some Alice In Chains' Man in the Box. I lost my mojo. Or perhaps I lost my "T"ojo. Yes that's it.
 
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#7,816
Haji said:
A strap does not exist for me to run a bird low; I'm 6'6" and somewhere around 270 or 280.If I could run it a little bit lower, I might be able to fix that. It tips away at the forward strap pin, which is in the top forward neck bolt hole.
Click to expand...

How about running over to Walmart to their Men's department for a leather belt to chop up for strap extensions? Seems like something that could be done to get that 'Bird lower and perhaps remedy the tipping issue. Just thinking out loud.
 
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#7,817
hillerup said:
Damn, I had to look twice, Mark ...

Could hardly recognize you out of drag - Is that what you look like when at work? ;)
Click to expand...


Close, but back then I colored my hair a nice shade of eggplant purple, now I have a USMC "High n' tight" and it's silver/black 'cause I'm old.
 
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#7,818
Larry V said:
How about running over to Walmart to their Men's department for a leather belt to chop up for strap extensions? Seems like something that could be done to get that 'Bird lower and perhaps remedy the tipping issue. Just thinking out loud.
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I think my wife is trying to keep mine from tipping forward for me.

Got home from work and she surprised me with an early birthday present.

Lmao...

Link Removed
 
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#7,820
Larry V said:
Looks like a very expensive clothes hanger. :roflmao:

J/K, good luck on achieving whatever health goal you and she may have. :thumbsup:
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Yeah I know lol!

I know she had good intentions, but a ampeg 810, an new exhaust for my truck, or a new tool chest would definitely see more use.

I'll give it a shot though, just means she wants to keep me around longer lol
 
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