Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

It probably doesn't need to be said here yet again but just in case anyone has complaints about sustain on their Thunderbird like I did...

I replaced the standard 3 point bridge on my Black Bird with a Hip Shot 3 point and the sustain improved immensely, I feel like it at least doubled. Huge difference, easy to install, easy to set up.

If anyone is interested here's the eBay seller I bought it from for $87.99, they have since raised the price to $89.99:

NEW Hipshot SuperTone 3-Point Replacement Bridge for 4-String Gibson Bass BLACK 889406421561 | eBay

Cheers, y'all.

There is an awful lot said here that doesn't need to be said...

I like the hipshot bridge. I recently put one each on my bird and on my Midtown. It made a bigger difference on the Midtown. For me, the biggest selling feature is individual string adjustment. YMMV.

For any thinking about it, join the cult; we have cookies.

 

[Unclejackrock]

I'd like to apologize for my statement about Pink Floyd. I didn't mean to offend anyone. Saying they suck probably wasn't the wisest choice of words. It would be a horrible world if we ALL liked the same things. I'm horribly sorry, and I hope no one thinks any less of me, or at least no less than you already do. Lol. Christine, I would really hate to have you dragged down by having such a horrible bass as Day Glo, it's just gotta be my cross to bear.

 

[Unclejackrock]

That is not the required alteration agent. PF requires other mind scramblers.

I don't have the mental fortitude to withstand them.

 

[Christine]

There is an awful lot said here that doesn't need to be said...

I like the hipshot bridge. I recently put one each on my bird and on my Midtown. It made a bigger difference on the Midtown. For me, the biggest selling feature is individual string adjustment. YMMV.

For any thinking about it, join the cult; we have cookies.

And there's an awful lot said that shouldn't be too

I'm a big fan of Hipshot bridges but no interest in changing out the 3 points on my birds but new builds....

 

[Christine]

I'd like to apologize for my statement about Pink Floyd. I didn't mean to offend anyone. Saying they suck probably wasn't the wisest choice of words. It would be a horrible world if we ALL liked the same things. I'm horribly sorry, and I hope no one thinks any less of me, or at least no less than you already do. Lol. Christine, I would really hate to have you dragged down by having such a horrible bass as Day Glo, it's just gotta be my cross to bear.

No need to apologise about the PF comment on my behalf but you do on that last sentence Gutted!

 

[Gaolee]

And there's an awful lot said that shouldn't be too

I'm a big fan of Hipshot bridges but no interest in changing out the 3 points on my birds but new builds....

I haven't tried a Hipshot, but became a fan of Babicz bridges when I got the EB. The 2015 'Bird sealed the deal. I don't think they do all that much for sustain, but I like how adjustable they are. Not string spacing. I don't need that so I don't miss it. I like the way they look. I don't like the way Hipshot bridges look. I am shallow, full stop.

 

[Unclejackrock]

No need to apologise about the PF comment on my behalf but you do on that last sentence Gutted!

I’m sorry. Wanna come play it?

 

[JJR58]

For any thinking about it, join the cult; we have cookies.

You forgot the Kool-Aid!

 

[Christine]

I haven't tried a Hipshot, but became a fan of Babicz bridges when I got the EB. The 2015 'Bird sealed the deal. I don't think they do all that much for sustain, but I like how adjustable they are. Not string spacing. I don't need that so I don't miss it. I like the way they look. I don't like the way Hipshot bridges look. I am shallow, full stop.

I haven't seen the Babicz in the flesh, I like the look and idea of them. I'm a believer in anything that couples the components on the guitar must make the points of contact of the string vibrate less and allow the string to ring truly (said the worlds shytest bassist), whether or not that difference is audible of course is a matter of debate and even if it was whether that difference could be heard over the rest of a band and so on

 

[Christine]

I’m sorry. Wanna come play it?

No I don't, I want to bloody own it!! God do some people never take a hint!!!

 

[PillO]

You forgot the Kool-Aid!

Don't talk about the koolaid!

 

[JJR58]

Don't talk about the koolaid!

 

[PillO]

And there's an awful lot said that shouldn't be too

Often punctuated by Ehem, Ahem, Hey now, Hiyoooo, and/or Archer saying phrasing (although that is now retired)

I'm a big fan of Hipshot bridges but no interest in changing out the 3 points on my birds but new builds....

I admit to being Babicz curious but currently only have experience with the Hipshot.

 

[PillO]

It probably doesn't need to be said here yet again but just in case anyone has complaints about sustain on their Thunderbird like I did...

I replaced the standard 3 point bridge on my Black Bird with a Hip Shot 3 point and the sustain improved immensely, I feel like it at least doubled. Huge difference, easy to install, easy to set up.

If anyone is interested here's the eBay seller I bought it from for $87.99, they have since raised the price to $89.99:

NEW Hipshot SuperTone 3-Point Replacement Bridge for 4-String Gibson Bass BLACK 889406421561 | eBay

Cheers, y'all.

I am curious - I bought my Hipshots direct from Hipshot. The eBay seller has a lower price than Hipshot. How does this seller offer a better price than the manufacturer? I have my own theories, but I wonder if any here have an actual information.

 

[Engle]

It probably doesn't need to be said here yet again but just in case anyone has complaints about sustain on their Thunderbird like I did...

I replaced the standard 3 point bridge on my Black Bird with a Hip Shot 3 point and the sustain improved immensely, I feel like it at least doubled. Huge difference, easy to install, easy to set up.

If anyone is interested here's the eBay seller I bought it from for $87.99, they have since raised the price to $89.99:

NEW Hipshot SuperTone 3-Point Replacement Bridge for 4-String Gibson Bass BLACK 889406421561 | eBay

Cheers, y'all.

Those are really nice bridges. With the 3 point on your Blackbird, the notes would just die off?
I’ve got a 3 point on my Jack Casady and the sustain is fine, even with flat wounds.

 

[theFixer]

I am curious - I bought my Hipshots direct from Hipshot. The eBay seller has a lower price than Hipshot. How does this seller offer a better price than the manufacturer? I have my own theories, but I wonder if any here have an actual information.

I reckon HipShot is selling at their own MSRP...

 

[Engle]

My daughter’s school band apparently took my case on a trip to Cuba by accident. If they would have asked, I would have told them to leave it there! It normally just gets used for our Attila/National frankenbass that lives at the high school during the school year.

 

[Marihino]

I am curious - I bought my Hipshots direct from Hipshot. The eBay seller has a lower price than Hipshot. How does this seller offer a better price than the manufacturer? I have my own theories, but I wonder if any here have an actual information.

Having made things for sale both directly and via dealers, I believe it's like this: Hipshot sells stuff to dealers at a wholesale price, which depending on each individual deal could be anything between 30 and 75% of Retail Price. Hipshot obliges not to sell stuff below Retail Price, to not undermine the dealers' business. The dealer however can go cheaper (there may or may not be a limit how low can they go), reducing their own profit on each sale but encouraging more sales.

 

[TBird1958]

Having made things for sale both directly and via dealers, I believe it's like this: Hipshot sells stuff to dealers at a wholesale price, which depending on each individual deal could be anything between 30 and 75% of Retail Price. Hipshot obliges not to sell stuff below Retail Price, to not undermine the dealers' business. The dealer however can go cheaper (there may or may not be a limit how low can they go), reducing their own profit on each sale but encouraging more sales.

This is correct.

 

[GBassNorth]

I am curious - I bought my Hipshots direct from Hipshot. The eBay seller has a lower price than Hipshot. How does this seller offer a better price than the manufacturer? I have my own theories, but I wonder if any here have an actual information.

I don't have any inside knowledge but I do have first hand experience with some Hipshot tuners I bought a few years ago.

The first set of five tuners were purchased from a bass parts supplier and were marked "licensed by Hipshot". One was defective so I had to send it back to Hipshot for replacement. The replacement was marked "Hipshot". The one that I got directly from Hipshot was priced about $5 higher than the ones I got from the bass supplier.

So I speculate that Hipshot has more than one manufacturer of their tuners (maybe the same for their bridges). The ones licensed by Hipshot are possibly built overseas or at a lower cost or to different specs than the ones you buy directly from Hipshot. There was a noticeable difference in quality. The lower cost ones looked identical but the tolerance in the gears wasn't as good so they felt a bit sloppy in comparison. Again just speculation on my part.