Thunderbird Club

[Nocturnal]

Great job Michael and a great choice of covers too!!!

 

[hillerup]

Thanks for sharing, Michael! I dug it all, great job and great takes on these covers!

I am familiar with Neotek, and I agree: it is a very pretty industrial sound.

Those covers rock, brother! That's great stuff. Since we're Nashville based, I think I'll see if Threshing Floor wants to metalize Ghost Riders in the Sky. I love what you guys did with both of those tracks!

Great job Michael and a great choice of covers too!!!

Thanks guys, I'm glad you liked them... We're pretty satisfied with how they came out, and I am looking forward to play them live and see the crowd's reaction... I can very well see them becoming regulars in future gigs, and not just this forthcoming gig.

Mind you, these are the finished demo's - We might eventually do some proper mixing and mastering, and just release them on Bandcamp or similar services...

 

[Mike A]

Question for you guys... a poll of sorts:

I'm 75% sure I'm going to use my 2nd Pelham Blue Epi 'Bird to make a 7enderbird variant. I have more necks available than I really should and need some opinions on which to use. All three types will require modification to fit, so that's not a huge issue. I can live with any of the three and am a little drawn to something more "unique" than the regular 7ender headstock, but what say ye?

Items to consider:
1) Appearance, of course!
2) Potential resale desirability, should that be necessary down the road.
-----------------------------------
A) Pull the MIM Fender Jazz neck (Rosewood board) off my project parts P that lives in a closet. (I keep it around because it didn't cost me much to build it and I usually end up having to try to like a P once every few years before deciding again that it's not for me.) This neck would be most "7enderbirdish" of my options. It would also mean disabling an otherwise working bass that plays quite well.

B) Squier '51 Reissue Precision neck (Maple board, glossy! coating.) I kinda like the idea of a "Tele" style neck on a 7enderbird, and the heel is already square, so that might shorten modification/fitting time, although to be happiest with using this one, I'd have to remove/dull the glossy finish all over and remove the headstock decals. I also generally prefer a jazz width neck, but it's not too big a factor for me.

C.) G&L (Tribute) Lefty (Reverse!) jazz-width neck. (Can't remember if it's maple or rosewood offhand. I have three of these necks in different sizes/orientations, great feeling neck.) This is the one I'm really leaning toward for maximum playability comfort. The drawbacks would be that I'd have to fashion a nut for this one (doesn't currently have one,) It's longer and would require probably the most modification overall of the three. There's also the G&L headstock to consider, which seem to be a love/hate deal for most of TB. But it'd be a reverse no-logo headstock and that'd be pretty cool.

Whatcha think?

 

[Larry V]

Go true 7enderbird. 1) The look is proven and 2) it has to be more resell-able because it's a proven mod.

 

[Gaolee]

I would probably go with the G&L if it felt best. But, the idea of having a 7enderbird with a Squier logo on it makes me really happy. It gets all my orneriness all warm inside. Plus, I have played a Squier 51 bass and thought the neck felt great. That's my own personal quirk, not yours, so take it for that. Plus, I generally take steel wool or scotchbrite to the backs of shiny necks anyway, so there's no problem there. The front? Well, the body would be shiny, so why not the front of the neck?

 

[Gaolee]

Yep. Sounds like vibration is rattling a bad connection of some sort, whether it's a solder joint or pot internals.

They used push on connectors in there. I probably have the preamp and other stuff I pulled out of mine when converting it to a passive fretless. There's no telling what kind of hacked up condition it's in, or if I can even find it, but if you want it, send me a PM.

 

[Mike A]

They used push on connectors in there. I probably have the preamp and other stuff I pulled out of mine when converting it to a passive fretless. There's no telling what kind of hacked up condition it's in, or if I can even find it, but if you want it, send me a PM.

@
DonovanJM

 

[Gaolee]

@
DonovanJM

Ah, yes. Thank you.

 

[GBassNorth]

Question for you guys... a poll of sorts:

I'm 75% sure I'm going to use my 2nd Pelham Blue Epi 'Bird to make a 7enderbird variant. I have more necks available than I really should and need some opinions on which to use. All three types will require modification to fit, so that's not a huge issue. I can live with any of the three and am a little drawn to something more "unique" than the regular 7ender headstock, but what say ye?

Items to consider:
1) Appearance, of course!
2) Potential resale desirability, should that be necessary down the road.
-----------------------------------
A) Pull the MIM Fender Jazz neck (Rosewood board) off my project parts P that lives in a closet. (I keep it around because it didn't cost me much to build it and I usually end up having to try to like a P once every few years before deciding again that it's not for me.) This neck would be most "7enderbirdish" of my options. It would also mean disabling an otherwise working bass that plays quite well.

B) Squier '51 Reissue Precision neck (Maple board, glossy! coating.) I kinda like the idea of a "Tele" style neck on a 7enderbird, and the heel is already square, so that might shorten modification/fitting time, although to be happiest with using this one, I'd have to remove/dull the glossy finish all over and remove the headstock decals. I also generally prefer a jazz width neck, but it's not too big a factor for me.

C.) G&L (Tribute) Lefty (Reverse!) jazz-width neck. (Can't remember if it's maple or rosewood offhand. I have three of these necks in different sizes/orientations, great feeling neck.) This is the one I'm really leaning toward for maximum playability comfort. The drawbacks would be that I'd have to fashion a nut for this one (doesn't currently have one,) It's longer and would require probably the most modification overall of the three. There's also the G&L headstock to consider, which seem to be a love/hate deal for most of TB. But it'd be a reverse no-logo headstock and that'd be pretty cool.

Whatcha think?

LOL - you already have votes for two of the three options (Fender Jazz and G&L neck). So in true TB form I'll take option 2 - the Tele neck just to make it even. Seriously, I've always thought the Tele headstock would look better on a Tbird than even the Tbird headstock. So I'd go that route, and if it were a reverse Tele it'd be even cooler! Of course if you go this route you'll also have a unique instrument - not just another Fenderbird but a much more unique Telebird.

 

[Mike A]

LOL - you already have votes for two of the three options (Fender Jazz and G&L neck). So in true TB form I'll take option 2 - the Tele neck just to make it even. Seriously, I've always thought the Tele headstock would look better on a Tbird than even the Tbird headstock. So I'd go that route, and if it were a reverse Tele it'd be even cooler! Of course if you go this route you'll also have a unique instrument - not just another Fenderbird but a much more unique Telebird.

...And that's exactly why I decided to post! Honestly, I think I'll love any of the three options, just having a hard time deciding.

 

[hillerup]

...And that's exactly why I decided to post! Honestly, I think I'll love any of the three options, just having a hard time deciding.

If it were me - I would keep one of the Pelham Blue ones stock with black hardware and a black pick guard - The other I would mod to vintage specs with chrome hardware (chrome pu covers + rings, clover tuners and maybe even a 2-point bridge) and a white pick guard - and if I wanted something even more radical I might even turn one of them into a fretless...

But that's just me...

Should you go the 7enderbird route and want to have a sellable bird, I suggest the Squier neck and mod it to fit the body - not the other way around, and keep the Epi neck to sell with it, in case someone would like to bring it back to original state.

 

[Mike A]

Should you go the 7enderbird route and want to have a sellable bird, I suggest the Squier neck and mod it to fit the body - not the other way around, and keep the Epi neck to sell with it, in case someone would like to bring it back to original state.

This is definitely the route I've planned to take, assuming I can mod whatever neck I choose enough to fit. Mainly to keep the Epi Tbird all original so it can be reassembled, but also to eliminate any risk of chipping the finish... although, I'm going to drill a new strap pin hole or two anyway.

 

[hillerup]

This is definitely the route I've planned to take, assuming I can mod whatever neck I choose enough to fit. Mainly to keep the Epi Tbird all original so it can be reassembled, but also to eliminate any risk of chipping the finish... although, I'm going to drill a new strap pin hole or two anyway.

That's exactly what Mark did to his metallic red 7enderbird - maybe he can elaborate on this..?

 

[Off-Beat]

LOL - you already have votes for two of the three options (Fender Jazz and G&L neck). So in true TB form I'll take option 2 - the Tele neck just to make it even. Seriously, I've always thought the Tele headstock would look better on a Tbird than even the Tbird headstock. So I'd go that route, and if it were a reverse Tele it'd be even cooler! Of course if you go this route you'll also have a unique instrument - not just another Fenderbird but a much more unique Telebird.

Would go that route, too. Reverse maple 50s p bass. Don't know if any fender product has blockinlays on those basses, though. So it'd most likely be a warmoth.

 

[Mike A]

That's exactly what Mark did to his metallic red 7enderbird - maybe he can elaborate on this..?

It sure would be easier if I still had access to a Burr King belt sander like I used to, but I'll make something work. Biggest question is whether I can cut enough off the G&L neck without running into the truss rod to make it fit should I go that direction, but I've seen others cut these necks down to fit 7ender bodies without getting into metal.

 

[Mike A]

That's exactly what Mark did to his metallic red 7enderbird - maybe he can elaborate on this..?

I've read pretty much every 7enderbird thread on here a few times now, so I'll save Mark the trouble unless there's a key element he's not mentioned on TB before.

 

[TBird1958]

I've read pretty much every 7enderbird thread on here a few times now, so I'll save Mark the trouble unless there's a key element he's not mentioned on TB before.

I shaved the heel a lot on the neck I used, the sides and especially at the end, the fretboard hangs over the body a bit - I'm not going to mention the crude method I used to achieve this!

 

[Mike A]

Would go that route, too. Reverse maple 50s p bass. Don't know if any fender product has blockinlays on those basses, though. So it'd most likely be a warmoth.

I definitely will NOT be buying any more additional necks.

 

[veebass]

Question for you guys... a poll of sorts:

I'm 75% sure I'm going to use my 2nd Pelham Blue Epi 'Bird to make a 7enderbird variant. I have more necks available than I really should and need some opinions on which to use. All three types will require modification to fit, so that's not a huge issue. I can live with any of the three and am a little drawn to something more "unique" than the regular 7ender headstock, but what say ye?

Items to consider:
1) Appearance, of course!
2) Potential resale desirability, should that be necessary down the road.
-----------------------------------
A) Pull the MIM Fender Jazz neck (Rosewood board) off my project parts P that lives in a closet. (I keep it around because it didn't cost me much to build it and I usually end up having to try to like a P once every few years before deciding again that it's not for me.) This neck would be most "7enderbirdish" of my options. It would also mean disabling an otherwise working bass that plays quite well.

B) Squier '51 Reissue Precision neck (Maple board, glossy! coating.) I kinda like the idea of a "Tele" style neck on a 7enderbird, and the heel is already square, so that might shorten modification/fitting time, although to be happiest with using this one, I'd have to remove/dull the glossy finish all over and remove the headstock decals. I also generally prefer a jazz width neck, but it's not too big a factor for me.

C.) G&L (Tribute) Lefty (Reverse!) jazz-width neck. (Can't remember if it's maple or rosewood offhand. I have three of these necks in different sizes/orientations, great feeling neck.) This is the one I'm really leaning toward for maximum playability comfort. The drawbacks would be that I'd have to fashion a nut for this one (doesn't currently have one,) It's longer and would require probably the most modification overall of the three. There's also the G&L headstock to consider, which seem to be a love/hate deal for most of TB. But it'd be a reverse no-logo headstock and that'd be pretty cool.

Whatcha think?

I am thinking about a 7enderbird at present too. I am thinking a 51 neck. I like something different- Hell, I have RDs and Victorys.
But I do know what you mean about the G&L Jazz width neck- they are great. The neck on my Asat Bass is extremely comfortable.

 

[Gaolee]

I shaved the heel a lot on the neck I used, the sides and especially at the end, the fretboard hangs over the body a bit - I'm not going to mention the crude method I used to achieve this!

Sawzall?