Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

That's a fairly radical alteration. Are you going to paint over the cut off logo or just leave it like that? No problems with a little thumb in the eye action! I kinda like it.

I thought circumcision was out of vogue with most folk these days. Is that bass Jewish?

 

[JJR58]

Your onger only makes me stranger.

 

[GBassNorth]

Your onger only makes me stranger.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I recall this being played on the radio several years before HeeHaw came out. Still, well done.

 

[JJR58]

After my beer going everywhere, except on my computer, it's the kinda thing where you have to call uncle, i can't take it anymore.

Hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Gaolee]

I thought circumcision was out of vogue with most folk these days. Is that bass Jewish?

Or maybe Islamic. One more thing Thunderbirds can do that nobody expects.

 

[BtaylorTheRogue]

Are you going to paint over the cut off logo or just leave it like that?

I'll probably leave it as-is. In a perfect world, I'd have the bevel run across the tip like it is on the sides, but that feels suspiciously like effort. I'll probably just keep it as-is. Other musicians will find it a talking point, and the audience will be too far away to really notice.

Thanks for the positive vibes, I'm glad you like it. ^_^

There's been some talk on other threads that headstock size or shape can effect tone, resonance, sustain or dead spots as well as changing the balance of the bass.

I had this done by a luthier, but I was kind of worried. By 'kind of worried' I mean that over the past month or so, I've laid awake in bed for hours thinking 'am I ruining the tonality of the neck by doing this'. Insofar, I've not really noticed any major differences.

The major reason this was done is the blasted thing was too long. Wouldn't fit in any of my cases. This cut cost me 60 bucks, and it now fits in all my cases including my Mono 2-bass case. I also hoped it would fix the neck dive, but sadly, no major difference in the balance of the bass. This makes me wonder if Epi Tbirds use super light wood for the headstock(neck strap thingy is directly behind where a bolt on plate would be).

Thanks for the interest and inquiry.

 

[GBassNorth]

?....
The major reason this was done is the blasted thing was too long. Wouldn't fit in any of my cases. This cut cost me 60 bucks, and it now fits in all my cases including my Mono 2-bass case. I also hoped it would fix the neck dive, but sadly, no major difference in the balance of the bass. This makes me wonder if Epi Tbirds use super light wood for the headstock(neck strap thingy is directly behind where a bolt on plate would be).
Thanks for the interest and inquiry.

Makes sense. I would have had the same worries as you. Glad it turned out to be a non issue.

As for dive, strap location is important, but it sounds like yours is in the right spot. Next on the list is a wide leather bass strap (no thin nylon or slippery cloth guitar straps). Failing that, try slinging your bass much lower than a lot of Fender players position their basses (shoot for your belt buckle at or above the centerline of the body) and aim the headstock towards the 1:00 or 2:00 position vs the 3:00 position. If none of that works you can loop the butt end (not the neck end) of the strap over the front of the body vs behind the body. And last but not least you can replace the tuners with Hipshot ultra lights.

Sounds like a lot of work to do something that shouldn't have to be done, but understand that many of us haven't had to do any of this or maybe only one of the options above to get our birds where we like them. Good luck, and keep us posted on what works best for you.

 

[Engle]

My assumption as well.

My tongue in cheek post was meant as satire for all the folks that assume if they had the best gear out there they would be a drastically better player. My experience is, unless there is something seriously wrong with your bass it's probably not limiting you. Sure an expertly set up bass that feels comfortable in your hands and responds well to your playing style will always make it easier to play and consequently a bit better sounding because you're not fighting it. However, I've personally experienced handing an unquestionably better player one of my beater basses and he made it sing better than the best I could do on my best bass.

Bottom line, assuming there's nothing wrong with the bass or the rig, the quality of the sound and playing is at least 90% determined by the skill of the player. That last 10% is a function of the rig, bass, electronics and strings. IMHO

I agree. We spend a lot of time and money obsessing over details and nuances of tone. We have first world problems!
If you can play, you can get it done with an Eppi TBird 4.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Makes sense. I would have had the same worries as you. Glad it turned out to be a non issue.

As for dive, strap location is important, but it sounds like yours is in the right spot. Next on the list is a wide leather bass strap (no thin nylon or slippery cloth guitar straps). Failing that, try slinging your bass much lower than a lot of Fender players position their basses (shoot for your belt buckle at or above the centerline of the body) and aim the headstock towards the 1:00 or 2:00 position vs the 3:00 position. If none of that works you can loop the butt end (not the neck end) of the strap over the front of the body vs behind the body. And last but not least you can replace the tuners with Hipshot ultra lights.

Sounds like a lot of work to do something that shouldn't have to be done, but understand that many of us haven't had to do any of this or maybe only one of the options above to get our birds where we like them. Good luck, and keep us posted on what works best for you.

 

[JIO]

Orson Wells did a similar monologue on TV back then telling a story where every numerical word was upped by 1. "No-one" became "no two", and "she did it for ..." became "she did it five..." etc. Clever word play. (on TV) Not likely these days with dumbed-down propaganda-speak.

edit: I looked for it but don't know what TV show he was on or what year etc - but I just remember it fondly because as a teen I was drawn to clever wordplay. (puns etc) His monologue celebrated such.

 

[JJR58]

Well, looks like hurricane Florence is on it's way to the beast coast.
My cousin had to bail 90 miles west from SC. Mandatory evacuations.

What a massive looking thing it is.

 

[JIO]

Well, looks like hurricane Florence is on it's way to the beast coast.
My cousin had to bail 90 miles east from SC. Mandatory evacuations.

What a massive looking thing it is.

good luck to everyone involved -

 

[JJR58]

good luck to everyone involved -

I asked him to bring his Les Paul with him.
Priorities you know.

 

[JIO]

I asked him to bring his Les Paul with him.
Priorities you know.

I can't imagine... living 1/2 block from the Pacific Ocean in the event of a possible earthquake triggered tsunami... definitely my '64 T-bird, '66 P-bass and my '75 Ampeg B-15. (and as many other basses as I could throw in the Element) and "head for the hills", which are relatively close - would be my goal.

 

[IamGroot]

I thought circumcision was out of vogue with most folk these days. Is that bass Jewish?

Probably real popular with the ladies. But I already get favorable comments from the audience...


.... about my T Bird.

 

[GBassNorth]

Probably real popular with the ladies. But I already get favorable comments from the audience...


.... about my T Bird.

...and don't forget to keep your big thick strap on, you wouldn't want your headstock to fall to the floor.

 

[RedVee]

...and don't forget to keep your big thick strap on, you wouldn't want your headstock to fall to the floor.

I’m not touching that!

 

[JIO]

I’m not touching that!

...with a 10' pole? (sorry...)

 

[Ukko]

Orson Wells did a similar monologue on TV back then telling a story where every numerical word was upped by 1. "No-one" became "no two", and "she did it for ..." became "she did it five..." etc. Clever word play. (on TV) Not likely these days with dumbed-down propaganda-speak.

edit: I looked for it but don't know what TV show he was on or what year etc - but I just remember it fondly because as a teen I was drawn to clever wordplay. (puns etc) His monologue celebrated such.

Victor Borge, not Orson Welles.