Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

I don't recall. It was just enough that the sleeve wouldn't fit in the hole. I may have got the wrong size, too. I don't remember. It all worked out just fine, and the bass is a player's bass, not a collector's bass anyway. So, no harm no foul in my opinion. A little scary work was worth it for the minor weight advantage and major appearance advantage.

 

[rdwil191]

HB6C 3/8" Hipshot clovers (the big ones) on Epi's. Fit perfect with no drilling. They do hit each other. Just have to wind them carefully. I like the look better than the mini's. The set screw hole on the G tuner on the right one is a little off, making the tuner slightly wonky...(like it'$ owner ) one of the reasons that 'bird is a factory "2nd".

 

[Haji]

I found out after the fact that mine was a 2nd (lightly stamped "used" on the backa da headstock). I think it was probably because the tuners were junk, or maybe it had a wiring issue. Cosmetically that thing is factory new lookin'....or at least it was until I took a Scotch Brite sanding pad to the back of the neck to knock the shine off the poly. It ain't sticky now!

I've never liked the feel of painted or high gloss neck finishes versus a matte finish. Once you've got some sweat on your hands, those necks feel sticky to me, and I suck so bad I need every advantage I can get just to not be pelted with tomatoes, cabbage, and stones.

 

[veebass]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I am not that keen on taking a drill to the headstock of my pretty well mint 2008 Gibson TBird, even though I have reasonable skills with power tools.
I note that there appears to be some difference in what will work on Epi Birds and Gibsons, without enlarging the holes by drilling.
I am really after a replacement chrome tuner for a relatively modern Gibson TBird that can be fitted without enlarging the holes already in the headstock. My preference would be for the keys not to touch.
Anyone done this successfully?

 

[Bent77]

Another round of the "Which strings " debate.

Looking for rounds, something that will compliment the Birds growl, but not eat the frets.
Mind you, mine is Medium scale, so it is a touch more "middy" than it was as a 34"

Currently has 34" scale Dadarrio Nickles, 45-105. They sound just a touch dark

Worst case I will go to 45-100s

 

[Haji]

You might try Dunlop Super Brites. Most other strings I'm aware of are darker in tone than the Dunlops.

 

[Bent77]

Are those more abrasive on the frets?

 

[TBird1958]

Another round of the "Which strings " debate.

Looking for rounds, something that will compliment the Birds growl, but not eat the frets.
Mind you, mine is Medium scale, so it is a touch more "middy" than it was as a 34"

Currently has 34" scale Dadarrio Nickles, 45-105. They sound just a touch dark

Worst case I will go to 45-100s

I use DR stainless 45-105 and Ken Smith Rockmasters, neither will hurt Gibson frets anytime soon, I've used them on my '89 since it was new and it show minimal fret wear.

 

[Gaolee]

I have Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on my '91. It has a complete angry piano vibe to it with those. I actually have been thinking about what to put on it to darken the sound a bit. They are flats, and I realize that's not what you said you were looking for. The point is that there are flats out there that have a serious amount of aggression and brightness.

 

[Bent77]

I use DR stainless 45-105 and Ken Smith Rockmasters, neither will hurt Gibson frets anytime soon, I've used them on my '89 since it was new and it show minimal fret wear.

These are the frets Brad used on the conversion neck, but they are pretty stout and show no wear yet thanks Brad.

These might be a nice fit, thanks!

 

[Bent77]

I have Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on my '91. It has a complete angry piano vibe to it with those. I actually have been thinking about what to put on it to darken the sound a bit. They are flats, and I realize that's not what you said you were looking for. The point is that there are flats out there that have a serious amount of aggression and brightness.

Haven't tried the EB flats on anything yet. Have used the Fender 9050 flats and I was surprised how aggressive and middy they were on a Jazz bass (it's ok it's a squier)

 

[Haji]

Dunlops are pretty gentle. They're about as close to the Anti-Rotosounds are stainless strings get.

Steve Harris (plays in a little band you prolly haven't heard of: Iron Maiden) plays a Bumper...er...Fender P with Rotosound flats. He says they change those strings every show because they're only capable of being bright enough for about three hours of constant use. Bear in mind, that's a metal band where a bright bass tone is the standard.

 

[Klondike]

This is a cool part of History. Wish I had the cash laying around.

http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/131697888813

 

[Bent77]

Pretty nice, not 3300$ nice, but nice

 

[Count Bassie]

This is a cool part of History. Wish I had the cash laying around.

http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/131697888813

Boy, them Japanese could sure enough knock out a beauty of a beastly axe. That is a sweetie.

 

[Haji]

Dang, that's a nice bass! Im a huge, huge fan of Japanese crafted instruments. Luckily, there aren't a whole lot of them yet that people have figured out are awesome and the prices aren't yet commensurate with the quality of the instruments....but that's changing, much to my chagrin.

 

[Count Bassie]

Pretty nice, not 3300$ nice, but nice

Truly, I'm of the opinion that not a lot of wood planks with some hardware attached to them are. Still it's a fine centerfold of a T-Bird. In this working man's humble opinion...

 

[TBird1958]

This is a cool part of History. Wish I had the cash laying around.

http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/131697888813

I used to have one, great as a curio - the Greco was is a way better bass.

 

[Count Bassie]

Another round of the "Which strings " debate.

Looking for rounds, something that will compliment the Birds growl, but not eat the frets.
Mind you, mine is Medium scale, so it is a touch more "middy" than it was as a 34"

Currently has 34" scale Dadarrio Nickles, 45-105. They sound just a touch dark

Worst case I will go to 45-100s

Have you looked into D'Addario Half-Rounds? About most of the string is ground down to feel like a flat, but as the winding meets the core of the string it's a roundwound. There is behavior that is very much the character of a round, but the touch is a flats-feel. It's an interesting compromise, and they tend to sound darker than the garden-variety round.

They're a danged-site darker than those EB Cobalt flats too!

 

[Bent77]

Have you looked into D'Addario Half-Rounds? About most of the string is ground down to feel like a flat, but as the winding meets the core of the string it's a roundwound. There is behavior that is very much the character of a round, but the touch is a flats-feel. It's an interesting compromise, and they tend to sound darker than the garden-variety round.

They're a danged-site darker than those EB Cobalt flats too!

Looking to go a tad brighter actually.

Making it medium scale brings that low and low mid in quite a bit. More so than when it was a 34"


You have good luck with the Halfies on a Bird? I ran them on an old P bass, didn't care for them on other basses