Thunderbird Club

[fasterpussycat]

Knew you’d be back. It was only a matter of time.

Back maybe, but not rolling out a mattress in the floor this time 'round.

 

[GBassNorth]

Quoi de neuf biches?

Still chuntering on about the same old stuff? I have been ~busy with band stuff.

Just pissed the old one off and getting into a new project -- hopefully the g*****d is less of a snugglemuffin. When something comes of it, may even put it up on the intertubes.

As you were.

#888

(In my best Tom Jones voice) Welcome back pussycat!

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Back maybe, but not rolling out a mattress in the floor this time 'round.

You say that now.

 

[RedVee]

Quoi de neuf biches?

Still chuntering on about the same old stuff? I have been ~busy with band stuff.

Just pissed the old one off and getting into a new project -- hopefully the g*****d is less of a snugglemuffin. When something comes of it, may even put it up on the intertubes.

As you were.

#888

G’day stranger.

 

[Band Mom]

I have a lot of pages to catch up on, but I was hoping for some expertise. I just received a 50th Anniversary Bird from GC, but wanted to know if this is truly just a finish crack, or something

more serious. The fact that the crack runs along the page where the wing meets the central block of wood has me concerned.

 

[JIO]

To those interested - I transferred the song I posted yesterday (page 5058 / post #101153) to SoundCloud for those who had problems with my original download.

 

[JIO]

I have a lot of pages to catch up on, but I was hoping for some expertise. I just received a 50th Anniversary Bird from GC, but wanted to know if this is truly just a finish crack, or something View attachment 3280670 more serious. The fact that the crack runs along the page where the wing meets the central block of wood has me concerned.

I'm impressed. That outlines the "V" joint that was used on the original '63-'65 T-birds wing sections. Nothing to worry about, it's what paint does at seams sometimes. I'm impressed because they constructed it the same way as the original.

 

[GBassNorth]

I have a lot of pages to catch up on, but I was hoping for some expertise. I just received a 50th Anniversary Bird from GC, but wanted to know if this is truly just a finish crack, or something View attachment 3280670 more serious. The fact that the crack runs along the page where the wing meets the central block of wood has me concerned.

Not a finish crack.
The Anniversary models utilized a unique finish process that didn't use a filler to fill and seal the pores and joining gaps of the wood. What you are seeing is a typical (actually not bad at all) gap where the wing was cut to a V shaped tounge that was glued into the V shaped groove of the center block. On a standard color and finish TBird you don't usually see that joint because it has filler material in it then is painted over. It's nothing to be alarmed at, just a "feature" of this finish method.

 

[Band Mom]

Not a finish crack.
The Anniversary models utilized a unique finish process that didn't use a filler to fill and seal the pores and joining gaps of the wood. What you are seeing is a typical (actually not bad at all) gap where the wing was cut to a V shaped tounge that was glued into the V shaped groove of the center block. On a standard color and finish TBird you don't usually see that joint because it has filler material in it then is painted over. It's nothing to be alarmed at, just a "feature" of this finish method.

Whew. That's a relief. I was pretty sure it wasn't a finish crack, but your explanation on the lack of filler makes sense. Great news!

 

[Count Bassie]

Funny thing about it is that it took me a while to nail down the sound. Thunderbird pickups can be a bit overwhelming at times. I tried a compressor and hated what it did. I tried a different compressor. No better. I tried a ToneHammer preamp. It didn't sound right. The part that finally made it all come together, no matter which 'Bird (or other bass for that matter) is a Broughton Hi and Low Pass filter. It doesn't do anything audible, really, but it does somehow make the bass sit exactly right where it belongs. I expect that it suppresses low frequencies that we cannot hear but that soak up power. It also suppresses high overtones that detract from the sound, leaving the meat in a big, even, glorious cascade. I find that I turn up a whole lot less with it than I was without it, and it cuts better now, too. But, it sounds like a 'Bird just the same. The P sounds like a P with it, too. No particular changes.

This is interesting. I got a loaner fDeck HPF3 to use for a week or two, and noticed a remarkable difference in the conciseness and manageability of my sound, esp from a Kustom Groove 310C combo I recently bought. So the High Pass I get, but I'm now intrigued with the function of a Low Pass filter. Gonna go look that up now!
Thanks, I think...

 

[Count Bassie]

Quoi de neuf biches?

Still chuntering on about the same old stuff? I have been ~busy with band stuff.

Just pissed the old one off and getting into a new project -- hopefully the g*****d is less of a snugglemuffin. When something comes of it, may even put it up on the intertubes.

As you were.

#888

Heart quietly uplifted... yeah, I'm a sap...

 

[Dadagoboi]

Whew. That's a relief. I was pretty sure it wasn't a finish crack, but your explanation on the lack of filler makes sense. Great news!

None of these has that crack and the youngest is 42 years old.

Even this poor baby doesn't.

It has nothing to do with filler, it's a bad glue job. Can only get worse IMO.

 

[Count Bassie]

To those interested - I transferred the song I posted yesterday (page 5058 / post #101153) to SoundCloud for those who had problems with my original download.

Haven't heard that yet, looking at getting a sched break....

 

[Gaolee]

Quoi de neuf biches?

Still chuntering on about the same old stuff? I have been ~busy with band stuff.

Just pissed the old one off and getting into a new project -- hopefully the g*****d is less of a snugglemuffin. When something comes of it, may even put it up on the intertubes.

As you were.

#888

We have been a little too canine for a while. And domesticated. A dose of feral feline is a relief!

 

[Inky13]

To those interested - I transferred the song I posted yesterday (page 5058 / post #101153) to SoundCloud for those who had problems with my original download.

Got it. Good job man, I really enjoy hearing original songs.
I need to figure out how to employ darker minor key voicings in my songs. They all end up sounding like 80’s new wave pop.

 

[GBassNorth]

Whew. That's a relief. I was pretty sure it wasn't a finish crack, but your explanation on the lack of filler makes sense. Great news!

Here's some close up pics of mine that I posted a few years ago when I did a TBird vs Spectorbird shootout...

Gibson pick guard close up near the neck. Note how the pick guard edge (near the screw) is no longer flush with the raised center block due to the center block tapering down... (Note the look of a rough finish along the body edge radius, its an optical illusion, that edge and all others are smooth as glass, the reflections on the body side in this pic accurately show the near perfect gloss nitro top coat)...

Gibson body wing "V" joint visible....

Gibson finish has tremendous depth and looks very unique. Its hard to photograph - you can see every grain and pore in the wood but the nitro gloss looks and feels like a layer of glass over the top...

It's really a strange finish that looks and feels exceptional and ultra deep and glassy in person but photographs odd on close ups due to the open grain feature of the finish. I really like it. Had they completely filled all the grain and then painted it in gold and finished with a clear coat it would look like every other gold color bass out there. As somebody who gravitates towards finishes that showcase the grain of the wood, it really appeals to me.

 

[Count Bassie]

None of these has that crack and the youngest is 42 years old.
View attachment 3280726

Even this poor baby doesn't.
View attachment 3280727

It has nothing to do with filler, it's a bad glue job. Can only get worse IMO.

For the price of a Gibson I don't want to se joints ghosting through the finish. Being famous for an imperfection is a novelty... taken with a grain of salt and a wink...

 

[Gaolee]

This is interesting. I got a loaner fDeck HPF3 to use for a week or two, and noticed a remarkable difference in the conciseness and manageability of my sound, esp from a Kustom Groove 310C combo I recently bought. So the High Pass I get, but I'm now intrigued with the function of a Low Pass filter. Gonna go look that up now!
Thanks, I think...

I was using an fDeck for a long time, and it makes a huge difference. Especially when dealing with feedback and the upright. The low pass cuts the top. I didn't expect a difference, and didn't know where to start. So I asked a feral feline what she does with hers, and she said 5k Hz. Turns out that was just abiut perfect. It has the effect of taming the edges without killing dynamics or feel like a compressor does. To me anyway. I found the bass more audible with less volume, and no loss of 'Bird-Ness.

 

[GonePlaid]

Quoi de neuf biches?

Still chuntering on about the same old stuff? I have been ~busy with band stuff.

Just pissed the old one off and getting into a new project -- hopefully the g*****d is less of a tw@t. When something comes of it, may even put it up on the intertubes.

As you were.

#888

Always glad to hear from you. Stick around, por favor.

 

[PillO]

Quoi de neuf biches?

Still chuntering on about the same old stuff? I have been ~busy with band stuff.

Just pissed the old one off and getting into a new project -- hopefully the g*****d is less of a tw@t. When something comes of it, may even put it up on the intertubes.

As you were.

#888

The prodigal kat...

Edit:

@JJR58 can no longer run amok...