Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

In other news, my Lighten Up project is coming along.
View attachment 3577973 View attachment 3577974

So far so good

 

[Thumper]

2 7/8 for bridge pu and 5 3/4 for the neck on a VP. I didn't get either Gibson's' out but assume they are the same or close.

My project is proceeding, a B neck, rosewood board, clay dots, vintage white headstock inbound, as is a vintage white J body. Thinking maybe routing it for Thunderbuckers or ?

To that end, perhaps I should get measurements from the Thunderbird bridge center (saddles) to the bridge edge of the Pickups?

Thoughts or input would be appreciated.

 

[dagrev]

You are right to be angry. However, from my understanding of the problem*, the fault does not fall solely with PG&E. By my understanding, state regulation has made errors in forest management that has resulted in the accumulation of dry tinder (ahem). Further, regulation of the generation and distribution of electric power has had deleterious effects on the California power grid.

All that aside, I will point out a couple of things about corporations and the BoD. By law in the US, the board is required to act in the best interests of shareholders. Failure to do so can result in the members of the board being jointly and severally sued by shareholders. Contrast with Canadian law that requires board members to act in the best interest of the corporation; a subtle but sometimes important difference. Having said that, I don't think that the actions of the board can be described as criminal. If anything, I suspect that they have adhered zealously to the law. I have no insight to determine that the same can be said of management. But, as I understand it, adherence to state regulations has resulted in the current situation with the exception of maintenance of the power grid. It appears that the maintenance may have been neglected/under-performed for reasons that we do not understand.

* My understanding may be ill informed and/or inaccurate

Bingo! Unfortunately.
They make our state pols look good. A difficult feat to accomplish I would add.

 

[dukeorock]

So the power is back on - for now. No way of gauging as information is constantly changing. I've read where they most likely will turn it off again tomorrow morning. Just bought two bags of ice to keep food things from spoiling the fridge and recharging of phones and computer while electricity is here.

thank goodness you get a small bit of good stuff for now! We’re rooting for you!

 

[dagrev]

My project is proceeding, a B neck, rosewood board, clay dots, vintage white headstock inbound, as is a vintage white J body. Thinking maybe routing it for Thunderbuckers or ?

To that end, perhaps I should get measurements from the Thunderbird bridge center (saddles) to the bridge edge of the Pickups?

Thoughts or input would be appreciated.

I measured from the front edge of the saddle "tray" to the middle of the PUs (screws) if that helps any. Saddles vary and the tray should not. I should have mentioned where on the bridge I used as reference.

 

[PillO]

Without wanting to further move down this path - I very much doubt that regulation is the main issue here, and if it is, it is the under-enforcement of regulations. Errors in forest management may enter in, especially when attempts at proper management are being continually cut back and defunded by the libertarian mindset that corporations embody. PG&E are responsible for the last couple of very destructive fires due to THEIR lack of upgrading and maintenance of THEIR systems which instead was funneled into making them and the BoD rich. Thanks to politicians being owned by these corporations softening laws to regulate them, their "best interest" is to make money with no regard for the people they actually serve - the users and payers of their service. When laws are being paid for and written by the corporations - it only makes it look legal on paper and does not relate to what is just or unjust.

I can agree that a meaningful portion of the problem is political and a result of failure to serve the people. I do not know enough of the detail to opine on who is doing what to whom for what payments. I am aware that forestry management has been poor as has been management of power generation and distribution. The same problems exist elsewhere, but they seem to be more acute in California.

 

[PillO]

Our power was shut off again this morning (that's three out of the last 5 days). Again, no wind, no fires within 50 miles of us. Just a "claim" by the electric company that power to our area has to be cut off due to the current fire hazard situation, I call BS on that claim.

Down here in SoCal we have a windy season, that runs roughly from Oct to Jan, where dry Santa Anna winds of 40 to 50mph may go on for a day or two in a row each week with gusts of up to 75mph also possible. There isn't a state in the union (except inept California) that can't handle that type of wind event as long as they trim the trees near the power lines. The outages down here are getting so absurd, disruptive and unsafe that I'm hearing rumblings of class action lawsuits and a possible recall. I'm supportive of both at this point, heck, I'll even add City Council, Mayors and Environmental groups to the mix that should feel the wrath of the consumers on this issue.

Fortunately I have a couple of Acoustic basses I can noodle on in the meantime. Hmmm, Gibson needs to put out a Thinline Tele equivalent of the Thunderbird! I'd buy one, right after I buy the newly released Eppi NR VP Thunderbird.

Indeed, your troubles seem to be a result of the network effects of dunces in close proximity.

 

[PillO]

Just as long as one keeps backing up to the source of the problem which begins with PG&E's lack of responsibility to upgrade and maintain their systems - if they had spent more of their earnings on this instead of making themselves and their shareholders rich - we would not be having issues like this.

No internet until tomorrow. Best not to drag this on on the THUNDERBIRD thread - I just had to rant being impacted by it all but still feel lucky that for me it is only an inconvenience.

I feel for you. I get upset when power goes out for 15 minutes because of a thunderstorm.

 

[JIO]

thank goodness you get a small bit of good stuff for now! We’re rooting for you!

Thanks Mark - like I said, I'm only inconvenienced which I consider a 'first world' problem all things considered. I know a guy (Lance) who grew up here in Pacifica who used to live down the street from me. He sold his house (that he grew up in) and moved just north of Paradise, where the last fire leveled a whole community. I hadn't seen him since then and ran into him recently. His house was spared by chance - and he described the former community to me. He lost both his elderly parents in that firestorm. I could see in his eyes how real and at the same time surreal it was. We have earthquakes here which can be devastating for sure - but this type of fire is hard to wrap your mind around. Send positive thoughts north of me.

 

[dukeorock]

Thanks Mark - like I said, I'm only inconvenienced which I consider a 'first world' problem all things considered. I know a guy (Lance) who grew up here in Pacifica who used to live down the street from me. He sold his house (that he grew up in) and moved just north of Paradise, where the last fire leveled a whole community. I hadn't seen him since then and ran into him recently. His house was spared by chance - and he described the former community to me. He lost both his elderly parents in that firestorm. I could see in his eyes how real and at the same time surreal it was. We have earthquakes here which can be devastating for sure - but this type of fire is hard to wrap your mind around. Send positive thoughts north of me.

always, brother!

 

[dagrev]

Thanks Mark - like I said, I'm only inconvenienced which I consider a 'first world' problem all things considered. I know a guy (Lance) who grew up here in Pacifica who used to live down the street from me. He sold his house (that he grew up in) and moved just north of Paradise, where the last fire leveled a whole community. I hadn't seen him since then and ran into him recently. His house was spared by chance - and he described the former community to me. He lost both his elderly parents in that firestorm. I could see in his eyes how real and at the same time surreal it was. We have earthquakes here which can be devastating for sure - but this type of fire is hard to wrap your mind around. Send positive thoughts north of me.

I do hope all goes well. I fear about the people being on edge as a result of the outages. I know around here when there is an ice storm and if the power goes out for a week (some areas) people get on edge and become irrational and take their frustration out in inappropriate ways at times. We don't have big outages often but they are indeed not pleasant. We all get used to what we are used to, first world or not.

I have a whole house generator (natural gas) which is worth it's weight in gold. Seeing that these outages may happen again, is something like a whole house generator a possibility in your area?

 

[JJR58]

Rant here. And random non-sense.
The nasty funk in this world just turns my stomach. And yes, i apologize for that comment, but truth.
But there is hope. Everyone here in the gang will ride one of these.
Ya don't have to if ya don't want to.
I want to.

 

[PillO]

Born, raised, educated and have lived the whole of my 61 years here. I just deleted what would have surely led to a ban. Totally with you @JIO.

I lived in Ca (silicon valley) from 2000-2002. I'm glad I lived there, but I have no desire to ever live there again.

 

[BakedMaple]

My fretless conversion is almost done, just some final leveling tomorrow.

I am going to take this opportunity to get rid of the hideous sunburst finish.

 

[Dadagoboi]

My project is proceeding, a B neck, rosewood board, clay dots, vintage white headstock inbound, as is a vintage white J body. Thinking maybe routing it for Thunderbuckers or ?

To that end, perhaps I should get measurements from the Thunderbird bridge center (saddles) to the bridge edge of the Pickups?

Thoughts or input would be appreciated.

I've done a few. Basically the centerlines on Jazz and vintage Thunderbird pickups are the same.

Similar with Jags

 

[PillO]

Rant here. And random non-sense.
The nasty funk in this world just turns my stomach. And yes, i apologize for that comment, but truth.
But there is hope. Everyone here in the gang will ride one of these.
Ya don't have to if ya don't want to.
I want to.

View attachment 3578059

I like some nasty funk...

 

[dagrev]

I am going to take this opportunity to get rid of the hideous sunburst finish.

You are a sign of hope for humanity!

 

[JJR58]

I like some nasty funk...

Eehhhhxcellent!

 

[JJR58]

My fretless conversion is almost done, just some final leveling tomorrow.

I am going to take this opportunity to get rid of the hideous sunburst finish.

 

[PillO]

Eehhhhxcellent!

And there is more where that came from...