Thunderbird Club

[JJR58]

Lol. I didn't even notice the little MB. I was blinded by all that shiny nickel plating.

Ha!!!!, easy to get mesmorized by chromed out Birds.

 

[GBassNorth]

Hi guys,

Is it safe to use regular long scale bass strings on the T-Bird or do they require extra long? I have regular long scale on mine at the moment, but just want to make sure I'm not causing any damage.

Thanks!

To the best of my knowledge, extra string length will not cause any damage to a bass. This assumes you trim the length of the string to obtain about 3 wraps (more or less) around the tuners. If you have too many wraps around the tuner and they are dragging against the nut at the base of the tuner post you can do damage to that tuner (learned that lesson on a Warwick bass). If you don't have enough string wrapped around the tuner it won't hold pitch and will keep dropping flat (learned that lesson on an Eppi VP TBird).

Also keep in mind that trimming a string below the silks on the main wrap portion of the string can cause the windings to relax and the string to sound dead if not done properly. You need to put a 90 degree kink in the string before you make the cut. There's YouTube videos out there by DR string manufacturer that show how to do this properly. Cutting on the silks usually does not require the pre kink step.

Seeing how it's TBird Thursday. I believe this NR would match all of @GonePlaid's requirements.
1965 Gibson Thunderbird IV Vintage Bass Guitar Non Reverse Body w/ Case

Looks like it even ticks off the "chipped pickguard upper horn screw hole" box. Looks to me like it's only missing the "free to a good home" requirement.

 

[Gaolee]

If you can’t hear the difference, then you’re good to go! It’s probably negligible at best anyway. To me, it’s way more noticeable on upright than electric anyway

No kidding! Amplified upright is a never ending quest to fix whatever it is that doesn't sound right at any given moment. And it changes all the time.

 

[Gaolee]

Hi guys,

Is it safe to use regular long scale bass strings on the T-Bird or do they require extra long? I have regular long scale on mine at the moment, but just want to make sure I'm not causing any damage.

Thanks!

Anything that sounds good is the right string.

 

[RickC]

I'm sure I posted this before, but what the hey. Circa '67 T-bird II in Frost Blue with yellowed patina. My third bass ever, still have it and owned for 46 years, still my favorite after dozens of others

 

[TBird1958]

I'm sure I posted this before, but what the hey. Circa '67 T-bird II in Frost Blue with yellowed patina. My third bass ever, still have it and owned for 46 years, still my favorite after dozens of others

No apology is ever needed for posting this gorgeous bass.

 

[GonePlaid]

I'm sure I posted this before, but what the hey. Circa '67 T-bird II in Frost Blue with yellowed patina. My third bass ever, still have it and owned for 46 years, still my favorite after dozens of others

Nice! Looks like it could use some new felt, though(j/k). I've had my 67 for the same amount of time. It goes when I go.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

TBT... the first time I saw my 'Bird. Ironically, I received it on July 12, 12018... a Thursday!
View attachment 3437570

12018? You are from waaaaaay in the future!

 

[RickC]

Nice! Looks like it could use some new felt, though(j/k). I've had my 67 for the same amount of time. It goes when I go.
View attachment 3437767

Yeah I never had the felt; it was already gone when I got this bass in '73. I did have the bridge cover like yours but never used it. Yours is a beauty

/rick

 

[JIO]

I'm sure I posted this before, but what the hey. Circa '67 T-bird II in Frost Blue with yellowed patina. My third bass ever, still have it and owned for 46 years, still my favorite after dozens of others

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I had tickets to see them, sadly Gary passed away before the show, I too really liked his playing and a lot of Uriah Heep's music from that time, Stealin' being an all time fave. That fact that they just let Gary pedal some simple notes for the first third of the song made the whole thing so much more powerful when the rest of the band kicks in, it's certainly Mick Box's signature guitar solo and lyrically has the best lines of any Heep song - ,"Take me across the water, cause I need someplace to hide, I done the rancher's daughter, and I sure did hurt his pride", and later, "Stood on a ridge and shunned religion, thinkin' the world was mine, I made my break and a big mistake, stealin' when I shoulda been buyin'

For me, that's Rock lyrics at it's best.

Agreed. Sunrise and Sweet Lorraine will still stop me in my tracks as well. And July Morning!

 

[GonePlaid]

Yeah I never had the felt; it was already gone when I got this bass in '73. I did have the bridge cover like yours but never used it. Yours is a beauty

/rick

My felt(s) were already dried up when I bought it in 73. I have a piece in there now but just kinda laying on the mount. The PG is custom 'cos the original(I still have)is warped and cracked by the upper bout screw hole-big surprise! Appreciate the "beauty". I'm rather proud of it.

 

[Kriegs]

12018? You are from waaaaaay in the future!

Yes, we've covered this, Mister O'Neal, please pay attention in class

 

[BklynKen]

A couple things - maybe the pots are original but the cap isn't and it has been soldered sloppily, and the back of the hs-neck area is sprayed tobacco which could mean a repair underneath. (not mentioned or shown in a detail pic) I'm also surprised the control cavity isn't coated with the same silver shielding paint as the Gen1 T-bird. Gibson just decided since they were reversing the design the cavity shielding wasn't needed anymore? Nice finish though.

The headstock/neck area is mentioned:

The headstock does have an older repair, typical for most Thunderbirds (few have survived the decades unscathed), and the repair is structurally sound, having held tension with ease for decades. There is black overspray across the back of the headstock and down the neck profile until fret 2. The serial number is still visible, and the original nickel plated tuning machines are intact and function as intended.​

 

[RickC]

My felt(s) were already dried up when I bought it in 73. I have a piece in there now but just kinda laying on the mount. The PG is custom 'cos the original(I still have)is warped and cracked by the upper bout screw hole-big surprise! Appreciate the "beauty". I'm rather proud of it.

So you got yours the same year as I got mine??? Too cool

 

[JIO]

The headstock/neck area is mentioned:

The headstock does have an older repair, typical for most Thunderbirds (few have survived the decades unscathed), and the repair is structurally sound, having held tension with ease for decades. There is black overspray across the back of the headstock and down the neck profile until fret 2. The serial number is still visible, and the original nickel plated tuning machines are intact and function as intended.​

Must not have scrolled down ... thanks for the clarification.

 

[MCF]

To the best of my knowledge, extra string length will not cause any damage to a bass. This assumes you trim the length of the string to obtain about 3 wraps (more or less) around the tuners. If you have too many wraps around the tuner and they are dragging against the nut at the base of the tuner post you can do damage to that tuner (learned that lesson on a Warwick bass). If you don't have enough string wrapped around the tuner it won't hold pitch and will keep dropping flat (learned that lesson on an Eppi VP TBird).

Also keep in mind that trimming a string below the silks on the main wrap portion of the string can cause the windings to relax and the string to sound dead if not done properly. You need to put a 90 degree kink in the string before you make the cut. There's YouTube videos out there by DR string manufacturer that show how to do this properly. Cutting on the silks usually does not require the pre kink step.


Looks like it even ticks off the "chipped pickguard upper horn screw hole" box. Looks to me like it's only missing the "free to a good home" requirement.

I always add kink anyway.

 

[GBassNorth]

I always add kink anyway.

A bit of kink never hurt anybody.

 

[GonePlaid]

I always add kink anyway.

Kinky!

 

[Rocker47]

Did I hear it’s Thunderbird Thursday? I’m in!!!