Thunderbird Club

[mistergoats]

Attractive partner?!?!

If that isn't political correctness run amok.

Let me fix that.

It's the sound a cartoon wolf makes at seeing a hot broad.

That's the guy!

Hey, I work in marketing for an international company. My PC game is necessarily on point. This is why I play hockey - let the dude out for a couple of hours a week.

 

[TBird1958]

Did you happen to document the Fenderbird-ing process? I assume there's a little more to it than bolting a neck on? I have a couple spare P necks around and have wanted to give it a try.

P.S. That's is quite a flock of beauties!

Thank you,

This pic probably explains my process best.............It's also further proof of my insanity. Who else buys a complete Epi 'Bird in a custom color and basically trashes the whole thing except the body......

I didn't want to mess with the body so I shaved the sides of the neck and the end of the fretboard until it nested into the pocket nicely. I used an Allparts bridge and potted some Seymour Duncan '51 P bass pups into '76 Gibson covers, it's wired VVTT.
The whole 7ender aesthetic doesn't appeal to me at all, don't even want to be seen playing one - but sometimes I've needed that "tone" at certain venues so it's good to have a bass that cops it.

The day it was new!

It took a dive off the stand at a show with a rickety stage - thus the split in the finish around the pocket.

I've never met a Single Malt Scotch I didn't like, thus my little friend on the PG

Sometimes at larger venues I bring a couple extra basses so it does get played live.

 

[Matt O]

Thank you,

This pic probably explains my process best.............It's also further proof of my insanity. Who else buys a complete Epi 'Bird in a custom color and basically trashes the whole thing except the body......

I didn't want to mess with the body so I shaved the sides of the neck and the end of the fretboard until it nested into the pocket nicely. I used an Allparts bridge and potted some Seymour Duncan '51 P bass pups into '76 Gibson covers, it's wired VVTT.
The whole 7ender aesthetic doesn't appeal to me at all, don't even want to be seen playing one - but sometimes I've needed that "tone" at certain venues so it's good to have a bass that cops it.

The day it was new!

It took a dive off the stand at a show with a rickety stage - thus the split in the finish around the pocket.

I've never met a Single Malt Scotch I didn't like, thus my little friend on the PG

Sometimes at larger venues I bring a couple extra basses so it does get played live.

Thanks for the great reply! I'm going to give it a shot.

Your Fenderbird looks fantastic!

 

[TBird1958]

I made that "AWOOOOO-GA!" noise from 60's cartoons when someone sees an attractive partner!

Works for me..........I swing both ways

 

[Larry V]

and potted some Seymour Duncan '51 P bass pups into '76 Gibson covers, it's wired VVTT.

How very, very cool! I didn't realize you stashed P bass pups in there. Clever, very clever.

 

[Off-Beat]

Sometimes at larger venues I bring a couple extra basses so it does get played live.

Block inlays on maple necks are the only thing I dig about Fenders lookwise. You did a great job here.

Sunny day....Thunderbirds, new Subaru

If you ever sell the purple one and I got the money at hand I'd take it in a heartbeat. Awesome colour.

 

[hillerup]

Thank you,

This pic probably explains my process best.............It's also further proof of my insanity. Who else buys a complete Epi 'Bird in a custom color and basically trashes the whole thing except the body......

I didn't want to mess with the body so I shaved the sides of the neck and the end of the fretboard until it nested into the pocket nicely. I used an Allparts bridge and potted some Seymour Duncan '51 P bass pups into '76 Gibson covers, it's wired VVTT.
The whole 7ender aesthetic doesn't appeal to me at all, don't even want to be seen playing one - but sometimes I've needed that "tone" at certain venues so it's good to have a bass that cops it.

The day it was new!

It took a dive off the stand at a show with a rickety stage - thus the split in the finish around the pocket.

I've never met a Single Malt Scotch I didn't like, thus my little friend on the PG

Sometimes at larger venues I bring a couple extra basses so it does get played live.

Any particular reason you chose a maple fretboard and not a rosewood one with blocks? (That would have been my choice, but I'm biased towards dark fretboards)...

 

[veebass]

Thank you,

This pic probably explains my process best.............It's also further proof of my insanity. Who else buys a complete Epi 'Bird in a custom color and basically trashes the whole thing except the body......

I didn't want to mess with the body so I shaved the sides of the neck and the end of the fretboard until it nested into the pocket nicely. I used an Allparts bridge and potted some Seymour Duncan '51 P bass pups into '76 Gibson covers, it's wired VVTT.
The whole 7ender aesthetic doesn't appeal to me at all, don't even want to be seen playing one - but sometimes I've needed that "tone" at certain venues so it's good to have a bass that cops it.

The day it was new!

It took a dive off the stand at a show with a rickety stage - thus the split in the finish around the pocket.

I've never met a Single Malt Scotch I didn't like, thus my little friend on the PG

Sometimes at larger venues I bring a couple extra basses so it does get played live.

What's the switching? Did you go series/ parallel?

 

[TBird1958]

Any particular reason you chose a maple fretboard and not a rosewood one with blocks? (That would have been my choice, but I'm biased towards dark fretboards)...

Well, maple does have a bit brighter snap to it - I don't have any other basses with a it as a neck material so it adds some variety. I may re do it with a similar Allparts one at some point.

What's the switching? Did you go series/ parallel?

VVTT with a micro switch in parallel IIRC, Mike Lull wired it for me.

 

[Optofonik]

GBassNorth suggested I post my question in the "Thunderbird Club" and this appears to be it; I think.

So here it is:


Do all Thunderbird 3-point bridges pop out & does it damage the wood around the insert?
Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by Optofonik, Yesterday at 11:44 PM.


So, I just bought the bass, brand new, two days ago and the bottom rear insert is beginning to pop out. Should I just remove the bridge and tap the insert back in place or did it popping out undermine the integrity of the wood at the insert hole? Should I just return it or do they all do this? I know others have mentioned gluing the inserts into the body but that voids the warranty.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Haji]

Its an Epiphone, right? That generally happens when the nose of the three point (the one point by itself) is below the two anchor points. Its rather common with Epis as the anchors are not glued in. I epoxied the ones in my Usta-be-a-Goth and they still pulled up again, using a Supertone bridge. I've only seen this once, but it seems a good bet that if they start doing that, they're going to continue having issues. If this is a new bass, take it back and exchange it.

 

[Optofonik]

Thats what I thought. Thanks.

Its an Epiphone, right? That generally happens when the nose of the three point (the one point by itself) is below the two anchor points. Its rather common with Epis as the anchors are not glued in. I epoxied the ones in my Usta-be-a-Goth and they still pulled up again, using a Supertone bridge. I've only seen this once, but it seems a good bet that if they start doing that, they're going to continue having issues. If this is a new bass, take it back and exchange it.

 

[veebass]

Hey Thunderbuddies, I dug this up for another thread. Thought you might enjoy it.
Only ever seen this one and I regret to this day not buying it when I had the chance a few years ago. It is the only bass I really regret not buying when I had the chance.
A Greco Non Reverse.

: : Global Vintage Guitars & Accessories : :

 

[Klondike]

Well, maple does have a bit brighter snap to it - I don't have any other basses with a it as a neck material so it adds some variety. I may re do it with a similar Allparts one at some point.

VVTT with a micro switch in parallel IIRC, Mike Lull wired it for me.

I think this is damn sexy! I dig maple necks.

 

[AphekGreg]

Hi all, just picked up my first Thunderbird, a 1990 Orville by Gibson and I'm wondering about the pickups? It has the G serial number, which is supposed to indicate US made pickups. The seller says the neck pup has been replaced with a US model and so I'm wondering what the stock configuration was? The bridge pup is what I've discovered to be a split type and the neck looks like a regular humbucker. Any information would be welcome. Thanks, Greg.

Based on the level of tarnish, I'd say the pickups are the same age.

Every US Gibson guitar pickup I've come across has the braided shielding, where these are plastic covered.

 

[mistergoats]

Hey Thunderbuddies, I dug this up for another thread. Thought you might enjoy it.
Only ever seen this one and I regret to this day not buying it when I had the chance a few years ago. It is the only bass I really regret not buying when I had the chance.
A Greco Non Reverse.

: : Global Vintage Guitars & Accessories : :

She's so fine.

 

[TBird1958]

The pickup to right in the top photo is an early re issue one dating to 1988 and a few years after that. The twin coil on the left is the first of at four variations that Gibson has used since then. Both are U.S. made pickups.


Orvilles are fantastic basses too! Congratulations on a beauty!

Hi all, just picked up my first Thunderbird, a 1990 Orville by Gibson and I'm wondering about the pickups? It has the G serial number, which is supposed to indicate US made pickups. The seller says the neck pup has been replaced with a US model and so I'm wondering what the stock configuration was? The bridge pup is what I've discovered to be a split type and the neck looks like a regular humbucker. Any information would be welcome. Thanks, Greg.

 

[marko57]

Any particular reason you chose a maple fretboard and not a rosewood one with blocks? (That would have been my choice, but I'm biased towards dark fretboards)...

Me too. The only exception I would make would be the Steve Harris sig Fender.

 

[ThaCoast]

In the mix of trying to get my education settled (calling university to register for classes), today's work is focused on my MKII (or tigerbird)'s control cavity. Just drilling so far after tracing the design. Much smaller than my epiphone cavity as i'm just using a killswitch & a tube jack output. Also located the bottom strap pin off center so if i rest it on the ground the pin's bottom touches the ground as well creating a sorta stop & balance for the bass. I've also decided to go with countersunk neck bolt ferrules as i want to try my hand in that & it's different from all my neck plate basses xD + it's cheaper as well. I'll post pictures later.

 

[Gaolee]

T
I've never met a Single Malt Scotch I didn't like, thus my little friend on the PG

I knew I thought you were a great guy for a reason!