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Thunderbird Club

#102
I bought a short scale Tbird two years ago, but have been playing in bands where I needed 5 strings and more versatility since then so I haven't had a chance to play it on a gig until last night.

It sounded great, and is very lightweight and comfortable. The short scale makes the reach to the first fret much easier than on my long scale Tbirds. The nut is basically in the same spot it would be on a Fender style long scale bass, so I don't have to reach for that low F.

I don't have a pic with me playing it, but here it is on stage waiting for us to start.

AnnaOBriens_zps0331384c.jpg
 
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#103
Andii Syckz said:
No worries about the late reply. Knowledge is power! I'm glad i don't have to change the bridge cause action is perfect now thanks to having leveled and crowned frets (done by me). Maybe in the future with another thunderbird. Best of luck with your bass man. Hope it becomes a great player to your liking. Are you just swapping the tuners because of neck dive and asthetics, or because your tuners dont keep tune? Just a curious questions since mine hold tune pretty good.
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Late reply again, I should check my subs more often, my tuners are GREAT at holding tune, I can bring it out my bag and go on stage confident I am In tune (I always check still). I wanna change them to see if they help combat the neck dive, and the vintage styled tuners in black are very aesthetically pleasing. I do love my 'bird, I'm just sure I'd love her more if she was working all good.
 
#104
When we met in '77 I knew we were meant to be together. Off the rack, with money saved for college. A year later the store owner offered me an identical one for half the $. Then in college for real, I passed. Sighhhhhhhhh.
 

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#107
I bought this Bach TH-1 from Carlo (Cataldo basses) a few weeks ago I finally got around to getting it sorted out. Yesterday I used silicone caulk to attach the cover (bought on ebay made in Germany I think) to the Model G. Today was spent cutting and installing the pg, installing the tail piece, tug bar and doing the wiring. As always I love the sound of the model G. Sure makes a pretty convincing NR!
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#108
Funderbird said:
Late reply again, I should check my subs more often, my tuners are GREAT at holding tune, I can bring it out my bag and go on stage confident I am In tune (I always check still). I wanna change them to see if they help combat the neck dive, and the vintage styled tuners in black are very aesthetically pleasing. I do love my 'bird, I'm just sure I'd love her more if she was working all good.
Click to expand...

Loll, i havent gotten a chance to be around online much when my gf stays over and when we go out :D. I've toyed with the idea of installing clover tuners on my goth. But i figured, why change other than looks wise of the bass. I have no neck dive like i said cause i hang it pretty low & when i let it go, it stays in place or places itself parallel to the floor. It's also cause of the homemade leather belt straps that i make.
 
#109
godofthunder59 said:
I bought this Bach TH-1 from Carlo (Cataldo basses) a few weeks ago I finally got around to getting it sorted out. Yesterday I used silicone caulk to attach the cover to the Model G. Today was spent cutting and installing the pg, installing the tail piece, tug bar and doing the wiring. As always I love the sound of the model G. Sure makes a pretty convincing NR!
Click to expand...


Looks great Scott.
 
#114
Yes, no and yes. HB6C's 3/8" drop right in, I just put some on my 2014 and no new holes/filler was required. If you buy them off the shelf, the full size ones will overlap and touch when parallel. Call Hipshot sales directly and ask to order these with 'mini-clovers' for a Thunderbird - they are 7/8 size and do not touch at any point:

14RearHeadstock.jpg
 
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#116
Andii Syckz said:
Loll, i havent gotten a chance to be around online much when my gf stays over and when we go out :D. I've toyed with the idea of installing clover tuners on my goth. But i figured, why change other than looks wise of the bass. I have no neck dive like i said cause i hang it pretty low & when i let it go, it stays in place or places itself parallel to the floor. It's also cause of the homemade leather belt straps that i make.
Click to expand...


The middle of my bass is always just above my waist, and when I let her go she just slowly falls, it saddens me, but to boycott it I use my opti-grab handle :D. How was the build quality on your goth? Mines was honestly about 5/10, nut needed filed, bridge kept lifting out, and when I play it heavier the bridge buzzes slightly, and the body isn't consistent round the edges. Has yours had any problems?
 
#117
Just bought a 2013 non-reverse T-bird. I'm trying to figure out the proper settings on my Genz-Benz shuttle series amp. It sounds quite different than my Musicman Stingray (which has active pickups). Any thoughts on it? I'm trying to get a fat, warm, old-style sound out of the T-bird
 
#118
QORC said:
Just bought a 2013 non-reverse T-bird. I'm trying to figure out the proper settings on my Genz-Benz shuttle series amp. It sounds quite different than my Musicman Stingray (which has active pickups). Any thoughts on it? I'm trying to get a fat, warm, old-style sound out of the T-bird
Click to expand...

Old-style fat and warm is not really a modern TBird sound. But try this:
Start with neck pickup only. Set the Shuttle at 2 o'clock bass, 10 o'clock treble. Then play around with the mids. Gradually work in the bridge pickup if necessary.

To get closer to an old style sound, get a Streamliner. This is where I set mine for vintage TBirds:
P1050653_zpsf44fec65.jpg


If you want the real thing, get this:
P1040137_zps5d10a807.jpg


You can substitute an original NR for the Reverses.
 
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#119
I've got a chance at getting either two usa gibson thudnerbird pickups for 80$ (the post 88 thunderbirds) or a dimarzio model G pickup for 35$. Which should i get? If i get the tbird pups, i'd swap out my epiphone goth pickups for them, but if i get the model G, i'd have that pickup and be a step closer to recreating my dad's first thunderbird
 
#120
I would install Model G under a chrome cover over modern Thunderbird pickups (black plastic.) While Model Gs are higher output (about 14k) than a 60's Tbird pup they are a true humbucker and to my ears have some of the qualities of a 60's Thunderbird pup. The Model G will have the harmonics and mid range shimmer of a 60's pickup but they can be a little woffie on the low end. Next to 60's Thuderbird pickups Model Gs are my favorites. Having said all that I would put Thunderbucker pickups in your bass. They are the best sounding repro Thunderbird pickups out there imho. Link Removed My model G powered NR Fenderbird through Hiwatts and Marshalls. http://youtu.be/gvFX4GmKiYo
 

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