Thunderbird Club

[ThaCoast]

I'm playing a halloween gig with my alt band, if i get any pics i'll post (although i'm still torn as to which bass i actually wanna bring) Gotta do some a/b ying

 

[hillerup]

Awesome shots Michael - Fantastic job on the make up!

If nothing else you may have a slight appreciation for what I have to do before each show

Indeed I have my friend...

Here's a little close-up before we went on stage...

 

[TBird1958]

Looks great!

There's nothing like packing your face with oily stuff before each show!

 

[hopsbb]

Started the refinish and install of the Gibson pickups in the Goth. Got the pickup holes routed and everything sanded down. Going to have to buy some trim rings to cover the small gaps on the ends due to the Gibson pickups not being quite as long as the Epi pickups. That's fine though gonna chrome it out anyway. Decided it would look cool Powder Blue with a white pearl pick guard and all chrome hardware.

 

[hillerup]

Started the refinish and install of the Gibson pickups in the Goth. Got the pickup holes routed and everything sanded down. Going to have to buy some trim rings to cover the small gaps on the ends due to the Gibson pickups not being quite as long as the Epi pickups. That's fine though gonna chrome it out anyway. Decided it would look cool Powder Blue with a white pearl pick guard and all chrome hardware.

That didn't make sense to me - You had to route the pickup holes to make them fit the Gibson pickups, and yet you have to get pickup rings because the Gibson pickups are not quite as long as the Epi pickups???

Are the Epi pickups narrower than Gibson pickups?

 

[hopsbb]

That didn't make sense to me - You had to route the pickup holes to make them fit the Gibson pickups, and yet you have to get pickup rings because the Gibson pickups are not quite as long as the Epi pickups???

Are the Epi pickups narrower than Gibson pickups?

As you can see from the pic the Gibson pickup is shorter and wider than the Epi one. So I had to route the pickup cavities wider but I'm gonna have to get some trim rings to hide the gaps on the end because the Gibson pickups are shorter.

 

[hopsbb]

This is how much of a gap there is with the pickup pushed all the way to one side of the cavity. Centered up its not so bad but there is still a gap on the ends. So a trim ring will be needed.

 

[hillerup]

View attachment 709899

As you can see from the pic the Gibson pickup is shorter and wider than the Epi one. So I had to route the pickup cavities wider but I'm gonna have to get some trim rings to hide the gaps on the end because the Gibson pickups are shorter.

Ah, now I get it... Thanks!

While you're at it, you might as well also get some spacers to go under the pickup rings so you can raise the pickups enough, since they are so shallow compared to the Epi ones...

 

[TBird1958]

View attachment 709899

As you can see from the pic the Gibson pickup is shorter and wider than the Epi one. So I had to route the pickup cavities wider but I'm gonna have to get some trim rings to hide the gaps on the end because the Gibson pickups are shorter.

If you're going to chrome it out, are you going to peel the plastic off the pickups?

 

[Haji]

Indeed I have my friend...

Here's a little close-up before we went on stage...

View attachment 709781

Looks like you've lost a little weight there.

 

[Nocturnal]

That didn't make sense to me - You had to route the pickup holes to make them fit the Gibson pickups, and yet you have to get pickup rings because the Gibson pickups are not quite as long as the Epi pickups???

Are the Epi pickups narrower than Gibson pickups?

When I was reworking my Goth I was originally going to use the black TBird Plus pickups and there was definitely a size difference between the Epi and Gibson pickups. I routed for the Gibson's but then went with the pickups from a Les Paul Standard bass (guitar humbucker sized pickups) stuck inside 1970's Tbird pickup covers. I would have needed the larger routed even just for the chrome covers. Thankfully the pickup rings helped cover the sloppy routing I did on the body.

 

[hopsbb]

If you're going to chrome it out, are you going to peel the plastic off the pickups?

Good question,I'll probably leave them intact and just form my own covers to go over them.

 

[Klondike]

I like this!

 

[TBird1958]

Hi guys!

First of all I have a few questions for you.
4 weeks ago my main bass, a '97 Thunderbird in VSB was stolen. It was THE perfect bass. Loud, played like a dream, sounded clear with just the right amount of grind,...it was perfect. So as a replacement I got myself a (new) 2013 Thunderbird in Ebony. The action is low and it plays fine but it isn't really the same. The D-String buzzes when played clear so I guess I'll have to get a new nut (will a Jazz-Bass nut fit?). And as I've never done a real setup on my '97 t-bird I don't know what to look for in a t-bird setup. Can you guys give me any tips or telly me anything I have to watch out for? Anything specific with the neckthru design or the three-point-bridge?

Also the tone knob doesn't really do anything. It changes the sound from wooly to a little bit more wooly (maybe the tone knob on my '97 was a replacement pot as I've bought it used) which brings me to my next point: Can you guys give me your pickup-heights please? The new bass sounds so wooly and the different notes are blurred completely (the eq on the amp is the same as with my '97 bird)

Also it would be appreciated if you guys could tell me where I'd get a gold three-point-bridge and a black pickguard (with the thunderbird on it).

Oh and I'd like to have a number in the club here is my bassView attachment 708861

Just got this baby a couple weeks back in a trade. It's nice for school so I don't have to bring my beautiful Schecters back and forth anymore!

Welcome AkaGoal #547 and AxxGrey #548!

Love those Thunderbirds, remember we love pictures, videos, and general non sense




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AkaGoal #547
AxxGrey #548

 

[fjadams]

Another coat of Tru-Oil. It's an interesting looking finish. It looks bluer when it dries. Much easier to use dyes and Tru-Oil than laying down coat after coat of lacquer.

 

[Haji]

Neat! It really brings out the contrast in the grain.

 

[AphekGreg]

Thought you guys might be interested in this. I have solved the neck dive issue on my T-Bird. Where it previously had the worst neck dive I've ever encountered, it now has none. I got the idea from Dingwall, who recess a Dunlop strap button at the back of the bass, to make it easier to reach the low C on the 37" scale neck, but it also helps the bass balance better. My T-Bird already came with regular Dunlop strap buttons, so I was half way there. To work out where the extra strap lock needed to go, I looped wire between the existing buttons, and through the tail of a strap, attaching the other end at the neck as usual. I then slid the tail along until it balanced perfectly. Marked the spot and drilled the hole there. Worked perfectly and the bass is now extremely comfortable to play. It now balanced as well as my old Steinberger L2.

 

[BassmanMetzger56]

Hello all! Just a bit of an update on one of my new birds. Finally got around to installing my Lollar pickups and chroming out the hardware. You'll note that I took inspiration from the Greco T-birds and their use of a three point bridge as well as a classic style tailpiece.

Full body shot

Close up of the tailpiece, bridge and pickups (note, the trim rings are not yet drilled in as I am waiting on screws to come in the mail).

Headstock.
All in all, I really really like how this bass has turned out. With the Lollar pickups, and some Roto heavy gauges, this thing sounds awesome!

 

[TBird1958]

It's amazing what chrome will do!

FANTASTIC!

 

[BassmanMetzger56]

It's amazing what chrome will do!

FANTASTIC!

It really is amazing what chrome does. And I have all of you beautiful thunderbird lovers to thank for showing me the light... well, chrome that is.