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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
When I bought the blue Epi, she feigned disapproval. But it really was a good deal. Three of the last four basses I bought were used and very reasonably priced. And the Goth was “new” old stock at the average price for a used one. She knows I’m a careful buyer. I’ve gone to “check out” a lot of basses and guitars on CL and come home empty handed. TBO, the ‘15 is the only one worth more than a grand. But to me, the others, especially my MIM P, my Foundation, and the new blue THUNDERBIRD are priceless.
Hey! Save some for the rest of us.
can’t go wrong with those sidewinders into that Ashdown...
Yes, I agree, but the Vintage Pro seems to be all the rage now, and there is a coordinated effort here to make me buy one
Lol! Wish me luck - I'll need it.
OK let's try this again:
I was about to leave GC & my girlfriend now wife said "where you going? Go get your Bass!!" Apparently she used my discontent to work a "deal" with the manager on the "sly" lol
Then she said "Happy Birthday!!"
What a Gal eh!?
The first thing I researched was the PU'S, I discovered that Epi in their "infinite wisdom" decided to use the same PU for the Pro 4 AND 5!! The originals are 3.620" & the replacements are 4.000" (width) SO I had to route out .380 or a tad over 3/8 in order to install the new PU's
Why Epi decided to do this defies all logic!!
When it came down to "which PU's"
I decided to contact Mr Lull after hearing much praise about what he uses, after stating my case to him, he was only too happy to sell me a set (GREAT GUY!! BTW)
The only problem was a set would cost as much or more than the bass LOL
I also found out that SD's "Custom Shop" makes the PU's that he uses & i've used plenty of those over the years SO I figured I would just take a chance & buy a matched set (see pics) on "FleaBay" for about $100
Once I got them in I figured all I had to do was install a "defeat switch" on the existing
Active circuitry after installing the PU's & that would "do it"
Although it was better, still wasn't
Next Step: tear out the existing/remaining circuitry, wiring,pots, input jack & replaced it ALL with standard Gibson Issue (passive all the way!!)
I mean the very idea of active electronics on a TBird is nothing short of "sacrilege" is it not?? LOL
Finally after all this painstaking effort she "Reigned Thunder" as I knew she could!!
Another Epi "***" was a steel nut??
Yanked that puppy like a "bad tooth" & installed a proper "Graph Tech"
The only thing I'm on the fence about is the bridge, it seems adequate, according to Epi they were made by "Leo Quan"?!
Can anyone verify that??
Perhaps someone can point me in the right direction IF I decide to replace it although before I get to that, what would take priority replacement wise is those tuners, I mean I suppose E through G is ok but the B tuner isn't cutting it, gonna have to replace those next for sure!!
SO there you have it!!
Cheers & thanks for letting me "Rant"
Mine (used off the net) came with a bridge that was offset from center and with a wood screw in at about 20 degrees from the factory, warping the bridge. These appeared to be original problems! I plugged two of the four screw holes, drilled three new ones, and installed a Hipshot A. It looks right at home and works great. Fits the Cobalt flats better, too- silks off the saddles.
I haven’t had a chance to play it through anything decent yet but I anticipate pulling the preamp, and possibly replacing the pickups. Hence my question as to what you installed.
Thanks for the tip!!
Once I get everything else straight I just may re visit the option of replacing the PU's with the "ML's" or perhaps some custom wound to my specs, in the meantime these will work out just fine, IF I do that within the time line you decide to do the same, I would be glad to shoot em your way!!
Cheers!!
Once I get everything else straight I just may re visit the option of replacing the PU's with the "ML's" or perhaps some custom wound to my specs, in the meantime these will work out just fine, IF I do that within the time line you decide to do the same, I would be glad to shoot em your way!!
Cheers!!
And thank you for all that info, and the offer.
I'd been wondering about the stock pickups. Even after re-centering the bridge, they look too narrow, and the outer strings drop in volume- especially the B. Those SDs look a lot more rational.
The Pros are a weird mix of gorgeous genius and "say what?"
What's the switch?
Bridge would be the last thing to think about if it works, accommodates your preferred action, if the string spacing is correct and it intonates. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
For what it's worth, I saw there are now 5-string Thunderbuckers.
- Jul 1, 2005
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- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Yes, same cans but wider bobbins and magnets. Full B string coverage. Here's a pair of the prototypes:
I either hear differently from most other people here or there have been variations on the PRO IV electronics. I tried one out in a store before I bought my VP and it sounded pretty good to me. It had a pretty broad range of tones.
I didn’t buy it, but I certainly didn’t walk out thinking “nice bass, but the electronics should be crushed and burned”
Once I had seen the chrome on the VP, shallow as I am, I had to have a VP.
I played my nephews active Pro IV and liked it enough to send me on this quest.
Hey No Prob, after all the GREAT info I have indulged in over the years on TB, I figured it was my turn! The switch was originally a defeat & then re purposed as a 3 way PU toggle i.e. Les Paul (middle = both, up= neck, down = bridge) I suppose some "purists" would scoff at that notion but this "dirty bird" is anything but pure & had been majorly violated lol
It was either that, leaving it non functional or a hole in the face. Generally I leave it in the middle & use the pots in the conventional sense..
For those interested, I've added a few more pedals to the demos 
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A long time ago in a galaxy far far away ...
Awesome demo! I always wondered about a few of those especially the Ibanez Tube Screamer.For those interested, I've added a few more pedals to the demos
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Nice dull finish on the nickel (?). Is it unfinished?Yes, same cans but wider bobbins and magnets. Full B string coverage. Here's a pair of the prototypes:
