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Thunderbird Club

#114,903
Cuzzie said:
Cheers - May be sacrilege, but even if there are any non Gibson/Epi options I would be interested to know
Click to expand...
Cuz - first, welcome to the club! It's a veritable fountain of Thunderbird knowledge. This club easily has more knowledge of the product in its many variations since inception than even Gibson or Epiphone headquarters has. Not to mention our fixation on shoes, coconuts, trains, motorcycles, cars, photo backgrounds, and even Fender products. It's a great place to hang out and chat about just about anything. Only a couple of self governing rules here - be kind to our brothers and sisters, and keep the number of Tort pickguard photos to a minimum. :thumbsup:

As for the neck replacement, there's a number of examples here of Fender necks on bird bodies and many of us (including myself) have drooled over the possibility of making or obtaining one someday. Generally speaking we call that combo a Fenderbird. I believe you can fairly easily modify the heel of the neck to fit the pocket of the bird. If given the option I'd modify the neck vs the pocket. Fender necks are a dime a dozen and can be purchased new or used in a million different places. Not the case with a TBird body, which is a bit harder to come by without having to purchase the entire bird. Just pay attention to scale length as you layout your build. You might also need to shim the neck since TBirds normally have a tilt designed into the layout of the body/neck joint.

Count Bassie said:
One of the best parts of my day. My respite before entering the pits...
View attachment 3409909
Click to expand...
Dude, shoes (on cord)!

Count Bassie said:
View attachment 3409971
Work time, verbiage later...
Click to expand...
Interesting pin placement, never seen that done before.
So does your strap go over your left shoulder, around your back, and then around your front towards your belly (kind of a standard strap routing); or do you just hang the bass on your left shoulder only; or I guess you could possibly just put your head and left arm through the strap so it actually hangs on your right shoulder. Which is it?

TBird1958 said:
I'm happy to add you to the club and will bring the list forward later today.

Here's a pic of a quasi 7enderbird I made using a beater lefty neck that I shaved down to fit the Epi pocket, I don't own this bass anymore (except the PG, I kept that), I'm thinking I might need to put another one together.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...
Now be honest V - do you "Proudly" host that picture on Photobucket?

JIO said:
The raised center section is a separate piece glued to the body. (purely aesthetic) Not sure why it's coming apart or what caused it, but the minimal fix is getting wood-glue (Titebond) as far in the separated section as possible and clamping it. If you don't have clamps weighing it with something heavy. (stack of books or whatever). Make sure you wipe away the excess glue and once it cures a line of satin black paint will make it mostly disappear. Using enamel (thinner based paint) the closest match is a blend of flat and satin which can both be bought in pint-sized cans (Rustolium) as satin alone will be shinier than the finish on the body.
Click to expand...
Very helpful!
I wonder if the opti-grab pinky anchor is the culprit in pulling the face up on that bird, never seen one separate like that. Might be a good idea to remove the opti-grab, drill some slightly oversized holes just thru the raised portion on the center block then reinstall it with longer screws while glue is still wet. Then it would actually act as an aid in clamping force while the glue is drying and would no longer be anchored in the raised center block wood.
 
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#114,904
GBassNorth said:
keep the number of Tort pickguard photos to a minimum
Click to expand...
I tort I taw a puddy tort, Torty McTortface.
upload_2019-5-8_13-22-6.png


I plan to replace it with either a WBW or a White Pearl PG... but it somehow manages to remain tort. It's like the bass has become sentient and needs the tort to survive and it, somehow, manages to manipulate my brain while I'm a the music store to buy other instruments, amps and pedals rather than buy a new PG... dun dun DUNNNNNNNNNNNN!!! o_O :nailbiting:
 
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#114,905
Kriegs said:
I tort I taw a puddy tort, Torty McTortface.
View attachment 3410299

I plan to replace it with either a WBW or a White Pearl PG... but it somehow manages to remain tort. It's like the bass has become sentient and needs the tort to survive and it, somehow, manages to manipulate my brain while I'm a the music store to buy other instruments, amps and pedals rather than buy a new PG... dun dun DUNNNNNNNNNNNN!!! o_O :nailbiting:
Click to expand...
Dude! Socks! Shoes?
 
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#114,907
GBassNorth said:
Cuz - first, welcome to the club! It's a veritable fountain of Thunderbird knowledge. This club easily has more knowledge of the product in its many variations since inception than even Gibson or Epiphone headquarters has. Not to mention our fixation on shoes, coconuts, trains, motorcycles, cars, photo backgrounds, and even Fender products. It's a great place to hang out and chat about just about anything. Only a couple of self governing rules here - be kind to our brothers and sisters, and keep the number of Tort pickguard photos to a minimum. :thumbsup:

As for the neck replacement, there's a number of examples here of Fender necks on bird bodies and many of us (including myself) have drooled over the possibility of making or obtaining one someday. Generally speaking we call that combo a Fenderbird. I believe you can fairly easily modify the heel of the neck to fit the pocket of the bird. If given the option I'd modify the neck vs the pocket. Fender necks are a dime a dozen and can be purchased new or used in a million different places. Not the case with a TBird body, which is a bit harder to come by without having to purchase the entire bird. Just pay attention to scale length as you layout your build. You might also need to shim the neck since TBirds normally have a tilt designed into the layout of the body/neck joint.


Dude, shoes (on cord)!


Interesting pin placement, never seen that done before.
So does your strap go over your left shoulder, around your back, and then around your front towards your belly (kind of a standard strap routing); or do you just hang the bass on your left shoulder only; or I guess you could possibly just put your head and left arm through the strap so it actually hangs on your right shoulder. Which is it?


Now be honest V - do you "Proudly" host that picture on Photobucket?


Very helpful!
I wonder if the opti-grab pinky anchor is the culprit in pulling the face up on that bird, never seen one separate like that. Might be a good idea to remove the opti-grab, drill some slightly oversized holes just thru the raised portion on the center block then reinstall it with longer screws while glue is still wet. Then it would actually act as an aid in clamping force while the glue is drying and would no longer be anchored in the raised center block wood.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all that, much appreciated.
Long term lover of a Bird, but this will be my first.
I have to say my other love is Sandberg, and I was nearly drawn in by the 48, but it’s too pointy and not a Bird - his will be better for sure.
I do have a P bass lyte neck hanging around which is about 61mm instead of 63.5mm so I wonder if that may be an answer to my prayers, although it’s a righty, so no reverse headstock, but for sure I will pay attention to scale length and depending on how much pocket work it may do a job.
By no means an expert but I am happy to tinker with a shim etc so we’ll see, until I saw this I was going to try a self build variant like a T-Bird.

Love the simplicity of the Sixx. The body arrived next week so fingers crossed it will fit back - my tube of Titebond is ready!

Please can I ask as far as pick ups go - (I know it’s all subjective) are most people happy with the Stock Epi ones in the Nikki Sixx bass, or do people look to change them out?

And I bloody hate Tort (although 1 bass I have has it)

Cheers for the welcome
 
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#114,908
Kriegs said:
I tort I taw a puddy tort, Torty McTortface.
View attachment 3410299

I plan to replace it with either a WBW or a White Pearl PG... but it somehow manages to remain tort. It's like the bass has become sentient and needs the tort to survive and it, somehow, manages to manipulate my brain while I'm a the music store to buy other instruments, amps and pedals rather than buy a new PG... dun dun DUNNNNNNNNNNNN!!! o_O :nailbiting:
Click to expand...

In not keeping with, keeping tort to a minimum.................

IMG_1596.JPG
 
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#114,910
Kriegs said:
I tort I taw a puddy tort, Torty McTortface.
View attachment 3410299

I plan to replace it with either a WBW or a White Pearl PG... but it somehow manages to remain tort. It's like the bass has become sentient and needs the tort to survive and it, somehow, manages to manipulate my brain while I'm a the music store to buy other instruments, amps and pedals rather than buy a new PG... dun dun DUNNNNNNNNNNNN!!! o_O :nailbiting:
Click to expand...
OOOHHHH!!!! MY EYES!!!!!!!

Salami belongs on sandwiches. Which reminds me. It's time for lunch.
 
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#114,914
Cuzzie said:
Thanks for all that, much appreciated.
Long term lover of a Bird, but this will be my first.
I have to say my other love is Sandberg, and I was nearly drawn in by the 48, but it’s too pointy and not a Bird - his will be better for sure.
I do have a P bass lyte neck hanging around which is about 61mm instead of 63.5mm so I wonder if that may be an answer to my prayers, although it’s a righty, so no reverse headstock, but for sure I will pay attention to scale length and depending on how much pocket work it may do a job.
By no means an expert but I am happy to tinker with a shim etc so we’ll see, until I saw this I was going to try a self build variant like a T-Bird.

Love the simplicity of the Sixx. The body arrived next week so fingers crossed it will fit back - my tube of Titebond is ready!

Please can I ask as far as pick ups go - (I know it’s all subjective) are most people happy with the Stock Epi ones in the Nikki Sixx bass, or do people look to change them out?

And I bloody hate Tort (although 1 bass I have has it)

Cheers for the welcome
Click to expand...
That neck might just fit. It's worth finding out. If it works, then the whole thing will have a wonderfully found-art vibe to it. As far as pickups, I can't say anything about the Sixx pickups, but I will say that I have a bolt-on Epi and like the pickups well enough with stainless roundwounds. Those pickups are just different from other Thunderbird pickups. If you like 'em, they are good. If you don't, then swap 'em out. It's worth experimenting with strings a bit before springing for different pickups.
 
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