Thunderbird Club

[Nocturnal]

Does anyone know what that (metallic?) plate next to the bridge is? Always wondered..

The "mute" but missing the felt pieces??

 

[kat888]

Does anyone know what that (metallic?) plate next to the bridge is? Always wondered..

A mute.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

A mute.

Yeah that's what I thought. Thank you. It's nowhere near the strings though..

 

[wolfkeller]

Endless modifications and changes are half the fun.

Indeed. My problem is being lefty. I made my white bird to look like a 76 for early era crue then changed it to black hardware for different era, now I need early era if i was rightly id have a vintage pro for it

 

[wolfkeller]

Lefys birds are hard to come by and im NOT dropping another grand on another bass.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

This one looks pretty good too
Gibson Thunderbird II Sunburst 1967

 

[JJR58]

After all those years of using RS66s, I'm trying to remember the last set I had. They went on really bright, to the extent they were making that 'wick wick' sound and then went dead really quickly.

Switching to nickels was a big improvement.

Besides killing them instantly, perfect description of how they play out.

 

[RedVee]

A snail bought a Nissan 300Z. He asked them to paint out the "Z" and put on an"S". That way as he drove past people would say "Look at that "S"car go!.................................

Never seen one of these ?

Nissan S-Cargo - Wikipedia

 

[theFixer]

Never seen one of these ?

Nissan S-Cargo - Wikipedia

HAH!!! That's CRAZY!!! I'd hafta get 2 of 'em... and put 'em on like skates!

 

[JJR58]

HAH!!! That's CRAZY!!! I'd hafta get 2 of 'em... and put 'em on like skates!

, alright, what's going on here now? That ones a roller for sure.

 

[GonePlaid]

I'm personally really happy you get through strings as fast as you do. That way I don't have to try quite so many different strings to have an idea of what they are like.

So he's the "Official String Tester"?

 

[JIO]

Does anyone know what that (metallic?) plate next to the bridge is? Always wondered..

As others have answered, it is a thin flexible bent brass plate pop-riveted to the underside of the bridge that held white felt mute pads (sorta look like sugar cubes) with slots cut through the center of each. The strings would sit within each pad in the slots. Most players took them off. I owned two gen1 T-birds (still have one) and took them off both basses. I still have both plates, one with pads in perfect condition. Some guy on eBay has been posting one sans pads for $350 (if I remember correctly) and it's been there quite a long time. I was surprised to see the late 60's gen2 birds still had them.

 

[GonePlaid]

I hesitate to post this in the case one of you poaches it while I try to scrounge money...on a totally unrelated note, anybody need a Rick?

Vintage 1968 Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird II

A little tlc and somebody's getting a buy!

 

[GonePlaid]

I presume you'll keep the BooKoo BTU unit. Sounds like you're gonna need it. I'll be needing a new one myself. Dread the thought of spending money on that.

My central hasn't been off for 9 months.

 

[GonePlaid]

Does anyone know what that (metallic?) plate next to the bridge is? Always wondered..

Mute. It used to have felt on it. (Mine rotted away years ago) What JIO said

 

[theFixer]

My central hasn't been off for 9 months.

You ain't in Michigan, iz ya

 

[GonePlaid]

This one looks pretty good too
Gibson Thunderbird II Sunburst 1967

Notice it has both covers And upside down tug bar-like mine.

 

[GonePlaid]

You ain't in Michigan, iz ya

I gloat now but come August.................

 

[GonePlaid]

HAH!!! That's CRAZY!!! I'd hafta get 2 of 'em... and put 'em on like skates!

Looks like a lifeboat for a real van.

 

[theFixer]

I gloat now but come August.................

yup... time to pull up a chair, crack open a beer, & watch the meter spin off the side o' the house