Yeah I know Steve Harris uses heavy Guage flatwounds on his p bass the t bird neck just seems too thin even for roundwounds at that Guage. I won't need to tune it back up to standard for a while so I guess I can shell out for more strings then.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- club thunderbird
I tried the nickel ones in the same gauge and really tried to like them but they were missing something for me. Might give the pro steels a go after my cobalt hybrid slinkys are done but they're still going strong after 12 or so weeks
After being away for a week long gathering/party at a friends place in the suburbs, i'm back home & finally caught up with this club
No progress pics yet, but plan on doing some work on it sometime next week. trying to finalize a few things this week before tackling the bird build. It looks great & different from my goth one. I think the slab body with much rounded visual & less deep cut away give this bird a unique feel. More to come later, patience guys!!
Back in 1976 there was one for sale at a Rolls Royce repair shop in Edison, NJ. They only wanted $1,500 for it! The week before I had the money in my pocket but used it to buy a '62 Studebaker GT Hawk.
The Thunderbird was later used in Billy Joel's "I'm Moving Out" video.
Eventually, I did own one of these, though.
- Mar 13, 2008
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- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
The Queen will have some new car/bass pics soon 
- Jul 1, 2005
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I needed a bass to jam acoustic blues with an old pal. The Piezo pickup and tall rosewood bridge on my $20 Chinese ABG didn't cut it. One 1967 Thunderbird pickup, four single rail bridges later...
...ThundaCoustic!
32" scale, super low action and nasty attitude. That says "Blues" to me!
Tore out the active electronics and went with V and T...we don't need no stinkin' battery!
...ThundaCoustic!
32" scale, super low action and nasty attitude. That says "Blues" to me!
Tore out the active electronics and went with V and T...we don't need no stinkin' battery!
Damn Carlo!!! That looks insane!!!
Hey guys i thought id ask here instead of starting a thread because I'm guessing a lot of you own thunderbirds.
Is the neck of a thunderbird less wide than fender basses at the heel?
I know the nut width is 1.5", same as a jazz bass, but i get the feeling gibsons don't widen as much as fenders. The difference wouldn't be much. I had a SG bass and it was 2.25" at the heel as opposed to 2.5'' on a Pbass. Even though the SG had a slightly wider nut, the neck on the SG felt way more comfortable than my pbass all throughout the neck. Im wondering if thats because its short scale, or in general gibson necks don't widen as much.
.Is the neck of a thunderbird less wide than fender basses at the heel?
I know the nut width is 1.5", same as a jazz bass, but i get the feeling gibsons don't widen as much as fenders. The difference wouldn't be much. I had a SG bass and it was 2.25" at the heel as opposed to 2.5'' on a Pbass. Even though the SG had a slightly wider nut, the neck on the SG felt way more comfortable than my pbass all throughout the neck. Im wondering if thats because its short scale, or in general gibson necks don't widen as much.
Holy Mother of Mergatroid.
I needed a bass to jam acoustic blues with an old pal. The Piezo pickup and tall rosewood bridge on my $20 Chinese ABG didn't cut it. One 1967 Thunderbird pickup, four single rail bridges later...
...ThundaCoustic!
32" scale, super low action and nasty attitude. That says "Blues" to me!
Tore out the active electronics and went with V and T...we don't need no stinkin' battery!
- Jun 30, 2010
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- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I've been switching over to D'Addario's of late from being a primarily GHS user - I like the Balanced Tension Nickel line.
Hey guys i thought id ask here instead of starting a thread because I'm guessing a lot of you own thunderbirds
Is the neck of a thunderbird less wide than fender basses at the heel?
I know the nut width is 1.5", same as a jazz bass, but i get the feeling gibsons don't widen as much as fenders. The difference wouldn't be much. I had a SG bass and it was 2.25" at the heel as opposed to 2.5'' on a Pbass. Even though the SG had a slightly wider nut, the neck on the SG felt way more comfortable than my pbass all throughout the neck. Im wondering if thats because its short scale, or in general gibson necks don't widen as much.
I checked on 3 different TBirds and all seem to be right around 2 1/4". I also checked my RD and it seems to be about the same width as well.
Thanks a lot for checking dude. Even though I like the ergonomics of fender basses I'm really liking gibson necks. My next bass may be a thunderbird
- Jul 1, 2005
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hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
NBD today...!
Just received the Pro-IV I won on EBay Sunday.
Except for a small ding on the body edge behind the bridge, which is easily covered, it looks flawless and even came with a brand new OHSC without a scratch!
Can't get over I only paid $ 340 for this including shipping!
Will of course need a setup as the neck seems like it's either straight as an arrow or maybe even slightly back-bowed.
Sorry for the crappy cell photo...
Just received the Pro-IV I won on EBay Sunday.
Except for a small ding on the body edge behind the bridge, which is easily covered, it looks flawless and even came with a brand new OHSC without a scratch!
Can't get over I only paid $ 340 for this including shipping!
Will of course need a setup as the neck seems like it's either straight as an arrow or maybe even slightly back-bowed.
Sorry for the crappy cell photo...
NBD today...!
Just received the Pro-IV I won on EBay Sunday.
Except for a small ding on the body edge behind the bridge, which is easily covered, it looks flawless and even came with a brand new OHSC without a scratch!
Can't get over I only paid $ 340 for this including shipping!
Will of course need a setup as the neck seems like it's either straight as an arrow or maybe even slightly back-bowed.
Sorry for the crappy cell photo...
View attachment 648022
Wow! Very nice and great price too!
I've been switching over to D'Addario's of late from being a primarily GHS user - I like the Balanced Tension Nickel line.
I find the tension of the D'Addario strings is right for the way I play, for sure.
I needed a bass to jam acoustic blues with an old pal. The Piezo pickup and tall rosewood bridge on my $20 Chinese ABG didn't cut it. One 1967 Thunderbird pickup, four single rail bridges later...
...ThundaCoustic!
32" scale, super low action and nasty attitude. That says "Blues" to me!
Tore out the active electronics and went with V and T...we don't need no stinkin' battery!
Looks like you did the nut, too.
Hey guys i thought id ask here instead of starting a thread because I'm guessing a lot of you own thunderbirds
Is the neck of a thunderbird less wide than fender basses at the heel?
I know the nut width is 1.5", same as a jazz bass, but i get the feeling gibsons don't widen as much as fenders. The difference wouldn't be much. I had a SG bass and it was 2.25" at the heel as opposed to 2.5'' on a Pbass. Even though the SG had a slightly wider nut, the neck on the SG felt way more comfortable than my pbass all throughout the neck. Im wondering if thats because its short scale, or in general gibson necks don't widen as much.
I can't tell you from measuring because I'm at work right now and parted from my sweet instruments, but I know from feel that the 'Bird neck is narrower at the heel than both my P (by far) and my jazz just slightly.
- Jul 1, 2005
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- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Nut is ebony, I just cleaned it up when I dressed the frets. Strings are EXL 165 D'addarios.
