I solved the neck strap button issue by buying much better basses than I need/deserve. My Lulls balance most excellently without moving anything
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
Bird watcher here, looking for some opinions from those who know before I buy. I would like to have a Bird that looks and sounds like the classic old Gibsons (Entwistle's birds being a good example), but I don't have the coin for an old Gibby. Would I be better served by:
1) getting an Epi Classic Pro and leaving it stock
2) picking up an inexpensive second hand bolt on Epi and upgrading with some nice pickups
3) try and score an Orville if I can find a deal in the classic pro price range?
Kicking myself for having a slow trigger finger; one of the online music stores was blowing out those TV Silver models for $175 last year; I saw the deal Saturday, went back Monday to place my order and they were sold out! I could have put some second hand Lollars or Thunderbuckers in there and had a great sounding T bird at reasonable cost. I am attracted to the Classic Pro because I like the neck through and narrower nut. Attracted to it, but not married to the idea, which is one thing I'd like your opinions on as well, from both the bolt on and neck through guys. So, in the spirit of the holiday, help me make a better Bird! What gets me a classic Thunderbird sound and look without going the vintage route?
1) getting an Epi Classic Pro and leaving it stock
2) picking up an inexpensive second hand bolt on Epi and upgrading with some nice pickups
3) try and score an Orville if I can find a deal in the classic pro price range?
Kicking myself for having a slow trigger finger; one of the online music stores was blowing out those TV Silver models for $175 last year; I saw the deal Saturday, went back Monday to place my order and they were sold out! I could have put some second hand Lollars or Thunderbuckers in there and had a great sounding T bird at reasonable cost. I am attracted to the Classic Pro because I like the neck through and narrower nut. Attracted to it, but not married to the idea, which is one thing I'd like your opinions on as well, from both the bolt on and neck through guys. So, in the spirit of the holiday, help me make a better Bird! What gets me a classic Thunderbird sound and look without going the vintage route?
I'd like to hear about Freez's question as well... Got some mods that will come along and am collecting info...
Haji
Supporting Member
To me the best bang for the buck in Tbirds is the Pro. They're really hard to beat for the price vs quality. The Tbird IV's are good basses for the price. I got mine for $199 on clearance and have been really happy with it, but for the relatively small price increase you get a legit neck through construction with a no hassle bridge and a platform to mod that you won't lose your shirt on if you have to move it along at some point.
I have yet to own a Classic Pro but have tried a couple in the store. They seemed well made and played and sounded great and I would have bought one but was paying for something else at the time. I would have no problem buying the Pro and trying it out for a while to see what I liked and didn't like about the sound/parts. At that point I would decide if I wanted to install Thunderbuckers (or other replacement option) and change any hardware (replace bridge or tuners). Same goes for any of the bolt neck Birds. If you like the feel of the bolt on version and like the neck (the newer have the narrow neck now if I am not mistaken) they are a great platform for mods. I totally gutted and rebuilt a Goth model and it is a fine bass. I have a sunburst bolt Epi that will get a couple more minor mods to it but not sure I want to change the pickups on it. There is/was an Orville in the TB classifieds that had a headstock repair but looked good otherwise is was priced nicely. Orvilles are supposed to sound fantastic and have the vintage look/feel to them with the larger headstock, big tuners, and chrome hardware. Any of these basses are great choices and can be purchased for reasonable amounts which makes modifying them an attractive option, at least this is how I view the Epi line. Best of luck in your quest and you know we are always here to serve as a bad influence and encourage you to spend $$$
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
I have yet to own a Classic Pro but have tried a couple in the store. They seemed well made and played and sounded great and I would have bought one but was paying for something else at the time. I would have no problem buying the Pro and trying it out for a while to see what I liked and didn't like about the sound/parts. At that point I would decide if I wanted to install Thunderbuckers (or other replacement option) and change any hardware (replace bridge or tuners). Same goes for any of the bolt neck Birds. If you like the feel of the bolt on version and like the neck (the newer have the narrow neck now if I am not mistaken) they are a great platform for mods. I totally gutted and rebuilt a Goth model and it is a fine bass. I have a sunburst bolt Epi that will get a couple more minor mods to it but not sure I want to change the pickups on it. There is/was an Orville in the TB classifieds that had a headstock repair but looked good otherwise is was priced nicely. Orvilles are supposed to sound fantastic and have the vintage look/feel to them with the larger headstock, big tuners, and chrome hardware. Any of these basses are great choices and can be purchased for reasonable amounts which makes modifying them an attractive option, at least this is how I view the Epi line. Best of luck in your quest and you know we are always here to serve as a bad influence and encourage you to spend $$$
+1 on what Andy says...
Got some work done today. sanded off the excess from the fretboard - there's still some final side shaping before i can radius the board. It's 3/8" thick ~ 10mm. So i'm bringing it down to about 5mm like my Ibanez GaxB because it shares the same nut width & i'm going to try & reshape the bird neck so that it's bit flatter in my hands thus making it faster & easier to play articulated grooves. I've yet to make my radius block but i will do that sometime 2mrw. & no i'm not keeping that much excess to the top of the neck pickup 
no reach + i'd have to play my bass very high if i wanted to reach those notes 
little bit of trimming at the nut end to make it flat & have the strings centred.
Updates to come, lots of work to be done.
EDIT: I've finished making my rough 12" radius block. Gonna trim the end excess that i don't need, radius the board til it's about 5mm thick on the edges, print out my fretboard fret layout, slot the lines, stain the board & insert the frets. Well maybe not the last two but still more progress than i was expecting & it's only 3pm!
no reach + i'd have to play my bass very high if i wanted to reach those notes little bit of trimming at the nut end to make it flat & have the strings centred.Updates to come, lots of work to be done.
EDIT: I've finished making my rough 12" radius block. Gonna trim the end excess that i don't need, radius the board til it's about 5mm thick on the edges, print out my fretboard fret layout, slot the lines, stain the board & insert the frets. Well maybe not the last two but still more progress than i was expecting & it's only 3pm!
Attachments
Last edited:
There is another option that is way cheaper than a vintage Gibson TBird and sounds great as well as looking vintage, if you can find one at that is priced reasonably. I guess some are "vintage" in their own right, if you count vintage as over 30 years old.
A number of us here have 70s/ 80s/ 90s Greco TBirds and would probably go with one of them over an Orville, I am guessing (?). The single pickup Greco TBirds are particularly brutal. They appear less common and often a bit more expensive than the dual pickup models. The pickups in these things are something else. Here's mine.
Here's some on eBay currently- a few have been there for a while and may be open to offers (?)
USED Greco 1982 TB Vintage from JAPAN
1990 Greco TB Used Worldwide Shipping!!!
[Rare] 1988 Vintage Greco TB Thunderbird Electric Bass Guitar Japan#YS70
There are also very nice Epiphone MIJ TBirds from the 90s that come up from time to time.
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,904
- 142,307
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
I really like the Epiphone Classic, it's well made and faithful in tone to Post '88 production Gibson and it has a very similar neck profile, were I dipping my toe in the water I'd start there. Used Gibson's might be worth it, and are easier to find than Greco's, Orvilles are less common yet but very nice.
My Orville is on the right, it's been refined and has a two point bridge, it's similar to a '63 overall except that it's a et neck bass.
My Orville is on the right, it's been refined and has a two point bridge, it's similar to a '63 overall except that it's a et neck bass.
I like the 66's a lot!! Based on the sound clips on Steve's site those are what I would buy (or have installed in one of Carlo's builds). Thanks for doing the demo!!
That was an entertaining and informative production, Vegas, thank you! Pickups are the most likely mod I'd be looking at, at this point, so much appreciated.
I did a reggae gig Fri night, and I did notice a "Brown Note" quality to the sound, even though it was acceptable and worked well. It's reggae, and you can do that...
I did a reggae gig Fri night, and I did notice a "Brown Note" quality to the sound, even though it was acceptable and worked well. It's reggae, and you can do that...
Great video! Kudos for playing a slightly obscure, off the beaten path (something that's NOT Closer) NIN riff
I've always contemplated chroming out one of my Tbirds, but haven't been able to decide on pickups or a bridge... I may have had my choice made for me!
is the Badass I really that good? Don't want to start a war, and I know lots of Tbird owners hate them, but I personally don't have a problem with the 3-point bridge, plus it works nicely with the Nikki Sixx opti-grab. I've always liked that the strings just drop in and they don't have to go thru a string hole like on Fendery bridges.
Great video! Kudos for playing a slightly obscure, off the beaten path (something that's NOT Closer) NIN riff
I've always contemplated chroming out one of my Tbirds, but haven't been able to decide on pickups or a bridge... I may have had my choice made for me!
Everyone's got their taste on it. Some like it, some dislike it. Our Queen has kept the 3 points on most (if not all) the birds. I personally have no problem with mine it's just a classic look. But the bird i'm building - known as tigerbird - has a hipshot A style bridge. Also drop in strings (could be strung through body but i don't wanna drill cause i find it useless) & it's more fender spec'd bird rather than gibson. But overall looks like a b.c. rich bird.
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 80
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
66 ThunderBucker set
66s are clones of a pair of my NR pickups. 63s are clones of my 64 Reverse pups.
66s are clones of a pair of my NR pickups. 63s are clones of my 64 Reverse pups.
Last edited:
Thanks for that link, Dadagoboi, I totally forgot you use Thunderbuckers in your basses.
That bass sounds SWEET!
There will always be flame wars over the Quan bridges but for me, they add a sustain and a top end zing that I prefer in my instruments. I've had a Badass on 90% of the instruments I've owned.
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 80
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Thanks for that link, Dadagoboi, I totally forgot you use Thunderbuckers in your basses.
That bass sounds SWEET!
Thanks, that's a great clip you did! I asked Steve to make me pickups when I started serious building. I named them ThunderBuckers. I've known Steve since 1972, great guitar player and an electrical engineer to boot. He built himself a Marshall 100 clone when he was around 20 and can fix just about anything except my Ampeg PF500
. I get a kick every time a new set of ThunderBuckers arrives when I see the serial numbers. Over 350. I've used around 170 of them.Your description was perfect. It's the harmonic content and clarity that distinguish them IMO. There's no substitute for AlNiCo magnets and 2 miles of thin copper wire.
