I think using the Dremel would be more work than it'd be worth. And like most everybody else that does any kind of modding, I have a bunch of them laying in a parts bin.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
-
- Tags
- club thunderbird
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,904
- 142,316
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
I drilled a hole in the black right above the "Hand Crafted" on the neckplate and screwed the strap lock button on there. I've done that on a couple of my Epi's and it works great.
I thought of that but wasn't sure how a strap would hang off of it. It is probably the cleanest and definitely the easiest solution.Put it here......
Yes, through the neck plate with a drill bit that matched the screw hole of the strap lock button. I can post a picture tomorrow.
Well I just got home from a reggae gig, it's a little past 3am. I played my Epi Pro-IV and I gotta say you really don't know what an axe will do until you play it with a band. Pretty total justice: The 'Bird does dub!
One dude kept going over to a spot about 30 feet from the band and hanging there during parts of our sets. He said he'd found the room's "sweet spot". It's got a pretty big bottom and a good selection of sounds. With a good amp this thing's hard to beat...
One dude kept going over to a spot about 30 feet from the band and hanging there during parts of our sets. He said he'd found the room's "sweet spot". It's got a pretty big bottom and a good selection of sounds. With a good amp this thing's hard to beat...
Ez process. A bench vise Is a great way, but you can fudge yet way through it if you're careful about not drilling your fingers.
I can't speak for the DR Blackbeauties on an Alpine White Bird, but they look great against any finish I've used them on. I can't imagine the white/black contrast not being perfect
Was better than I expected, hell, even my wife who is usually very apathetic about my basses and guitars thought it looked really good!
I have them on both my Alpine White Epi Limited Edition bolt-on neck and Classic Pro IV - They both look and sound fantastic on both of them,
Put them on last night and have to agree with you Michael!
Drill press is the answer. Could be done with a drill but that is really dangerous and I would never recomend anyone try that ever! But if one were super careful it could be done.
I did it.
I'm definitely a fan of using the neck-mounting bolt location, but if you use 8-32 stainless machine screws, you don't need to drill out the strap button:
Using 8-32 EZ LOK inserts (329-008) and stainless machine screws instead of wood screws provides a VERY solid body to neck joint and a super-strong attachment point for the strap button.
I've never had neck-dive on any of my Thunder'Luxe builds.
That said, I also use Ultralite tuning machines and my headstock shape is pretty light, too.
Here's how it's done:
Drill the 1/4" hole deep enough for the insert.
The Quick-Grip prevents the neck from rocking:
Tap the hole for the insert's 5/16-18 external thread:
Use a "sacrificial" insert (painted red so I can keep track of it) as a drill guide to make a center hole that allows the bolt to clear deeper into the neck.
This is important because of the heel contour:
Once the insert is in place, I use an 8/32 tap to "chase" the inserts threads and tap into the wood below the insert (not shown).
Here is a view of the inserts installed, and the drilled and tapped concentric holes:
Last edited:
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
I'm a Fender guy so far, but I've had my eye on one of these for quite some time. Lovely instruments, and I've played one a bit too. I'm hopeful that the Mrs. will bestow one on me in the near future...
We always welcome a convert from the dark side...
Here are a couple shots of how I have mounted the strap lock buttons on my basses. Excuse the crappy cellphone shots. On this Epi I used a black plastic washer to try to keep the button level. It wasn't necessary so I haven't used that on others. I just used a hand drill and haven't had an issue with any of the plates so far.
On my Warmoth Bird:
On my Warmoth Bird:
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
Why bother going through all that. It's much easier to just drill a 5th hole in the neck plate in the right size to fit the strap button, right between the two neck screws closest to the neck.
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
I'm definitely a fan of using the neck-mounting bolt location, but if you use 8-32 stainless machine screws, you don't need to drill out the strap button:
Using 8-32 EZ LOK inserts (329-008) and stainless machine screws instead of wood screws provides a VERY solid body to neck joint and a super-strong attachment point for the strap button.
I've never had neck-dive on any of my Thunder'Luxe builds.
That said, I also use Ultralite tuning machines and my headstock shape is pretty light, too.
Here's how it's done:
Drill the 1/4" hole deep enough for the insert.
The Quick-Grip prevents the neck from rocking:
Tap the hole for the insert's 5/16-18 external thread:
Use a "sacrificial" insert (painted red so I can keep track of it) as a drill guide to make a center hole that allows the bolt to clear deeper into the neck.
This is important because of the heel contour:
Once the insert is in place, I use an 8/32 tap to "chase" the inserts threads and tap into the wood below the insert (not shown).
Here is a view of the inserts installed, and the drilled and tapped concentric holes:
Very cool but WAY too much work for small problem that can solved with a much simpler approach...
Did anyone here buy the SplatterBird??
No argument here, but it's how I mount my necks to begin with.
I thought some might be interested in using this approach to kill two birds with one stone, especially on a new build.
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
Here are a couple shots of how I have mounted the strap lock buttons on my basses. Excuse the crappy cellphone shots. On this Epi I used a black plastic washer to try to keep the button level. It wasn't necessary so I haven't used that on others. I just used a hand drill and haven't had an issue with any of the plates so far.
This is exactly as I do it as well, and the best way to do it on the Epi's with the black neck plate, as they use larger neck screws that won't fit through a strap button. Epi's with the chrome neck plate use regular sized neck screws, that can be fitted through a strap button, and won't need to have an extra hole drilled - Unless you want to mount Schaller type strap locks on your bird, as these use screws with smaller screw heads than you average neck screws...
Last edited:
