Thunderbird Club

[WillyW]

Mostly how you really can't get the action as low as some people (including me) want it. Aside from that, it's fine.

There is an easy cure.... I defretted a bass with a 3 point and had zero issues lowering the nut and saddle height.

So a set of saddle files for $80 that can fix multiple basses, vs $130 for a bridge to fix one bass... I can see why the hatred for the 3 point.

 

[JJR58]

As for The Hipshot. I highly recommend it.

 

[Count Bassie]

There is an easy cure.... I defretted a bass with a 3 point and had zero issues lowering the nut and saddle height.

So a set of saddle files for $80 that can fix multiple basses, vs $130 for a bridge to fix one bass... I can see why the hatred for the 3 point.

View attachment 3633595

I'm not sure I understand this post...

 

[BklynKen]

I am pretty sure they do. I got a set and the chrome covers before just putting Chinabuckers in the Flamingo. The original TB pickups were epoxy potted, so I didn't attempt to peel them. That's a '91, but I don't believe the pickup shape or size has changed. The guts seem to change all the time.

So you fit those rings around stock plastic-covered TH+ pickups? I've been thinking on and off (for years) about black rings for the TB+, which I'm quite happy with, but when I tried Carlo's, they didn't quite fit. A little too small.

 

[MCF]

So I have read on the interwebz how horrible the stock 3 point bridge is, but I have no problems with them.

What exactly am I supposed to hate about it?

Nothing. When properly set up with the front post slightly higher than the two rear posts, the main issue of pulling up the inserts is resolved. The radius is preset so long as the saddles, which are numbered, are in their proper place. Some don’t like that string height isn’t individually adjustable. But it is an elegant design. IMO the Hipshot and Babicz are better for me, but I’m a bit of a tinkerer. The three point isn’t as bad as some claim, but it takes some patience and common sense to get it right. Once the quirks are mastered, it works fine.

 

[GonePlaid]

I'm not sure I understand this post...

Yer not alone.

 

[BklynKen]

So I have read on the interwebz how horrible the stock 3 point bridge is, but I have no problems with them.

What exactly am I supposed to hate about it?

You're not supposed to hate it. It's purely subjective. I replaced it with a Hipshot mostly for the adjustable string spacing.

 

[TBird1958]

So I have read on the interwebz how horrible the stock 3 point bridge is, but I have no problems with them.

What exactly am I supposed to hate about it?

Really its a lot of chatter.......
If one knows what they're doing its possible to have very low action with a three point contrary to what quite a few claim.
Here's a couple of shots of my '89. While some contend the center post should be raised you see that it's actually lower than the two outboard ones.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

So you fit those rings around stock plastic-covered TH+ pickups? I've been thinking on and off (for years) about black rings for the TB+, which I'm quite happy with, but when I tried Carlo's, they didn't quite fit. A little too small.

13’s are slightly wider than 60/70’s

 

[Count Bassie]

Nothing. When properly set up with the front post slightly higher than the two rear posts, the main issue of pulling up the inserts is resolved. The radius is preset so long as the saddles, which are numbered, are in their proper place. Some don’t like that string height isn’t individually adjustable. But it is an elegant design. IMO the Hipshot and Babicz are better for me, but I’m a bit of a tinkerer. The three point isn’t as bad as some claim, but it takes some patience and common sense to get it right. Once the quirks are mastered, it works fine.

Elegant, somewhat quaint, entirely functional.
I like the fact that its use depends on certain physical forces the bridge needs to be "calibrated" to. It's very steampunk: primitive and mechanical in design and function, and works nicely as long as you exercise a little understanding of what it is. That doesn't make it a poor design at all, it is tailor-made for the instrument.

 

[BklynKen]

13’s are slightly wider than 60/70’s
View attachment 3633612
View attachment 3633613

Yeah, but I don't know what those rings are supposed to fit.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Really its a lot of chatter.......
If one knows what they're doing its possible to have very low action with a three point contrary to what quite a few claim.
Here's a couple of shots of my '89. While some contend the center post should be raised you see that it's actually lower than the two outboard ones.
View attachment 3633609
View attachment 3633610
View attachment 3633611

Yup...

 

[TBird1958]

13’s are slightly wider than 60/70’s
View attachment 3633612
View attachment 3633613

A lot of the difference is the plastic "coating" the newer pickups have. I've potted a newer one into '76 covers.

 

[MCF]

Really its a lot of chatter.......
If one knows what they're doing its possible to have very low action with a three point contrary to what quite a few claim.
Here's a couple of shots of my '89. While some contend the center post should be raised you see that it's actually lower than the two outboard ones.
View attachment 3633609
View attachment 3633610
View attachment 3633611

And if the center post needs to be lowered like @TBird1958’s beautiful ‘89, IMO there is nothing wrong with a drop of glue to hold the inserts. Some may scream Noooooo, but it doesn’t offend me to do that.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Yeah, but I don't know what those rings are supposed to fit.

i would suspect, 60s/70s widths..

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Elegant, somewhat quaint, entirely functional.
I like the fact that its use depends on certain physical forces the bridge needs to be "calibrated" to. It's very steampunk: primitive and mechanical in design and function, and works nicely as long as you exercise a little understanding of what it is. That doesn't make it a poor design at all, it is tailor-made for the instrument.

keep in mind the bridge on an upright is held down by the strings only...

 

[PillO]

So I have read on the interwebz how horrible the stock 3 point bridge is, but I have no problems with them.

What exactly am I supposed to hate about it?

As for The Hipshot. I highly recommend it.

View attachment 3633599

Nothing. When properly set up with the front post slightly higher than the two rear posts, the main issue of pulling up the inserts is resolved. The radius is preset so long as the saddles, which are numbered, are in their proper place. Some don’t like that string height isn’t individually adjustable. But it is an elegant design. IMO the Hipshot and Babicz are better for me, but I’m a bit of a tinkerer. The three point isn’t as bad as some claim, but it takes some patience and common sense to get it right. Once the quirks are mastered, it works fine.

You're not supposed to hate it. It's purely subjective. I replaced it with a Hipshot mostly for the adjustable string spacing.

Really its a lot of chatter.......
If one knows what they're doing its possible to have very low action with a three point contrary to what quite a few claim.
Here's a couple of shots of my '89. While some contend the center post should be raised you see that it's actually lower than the two outboard ones.
View attachment 3633609
View attachment 3633610
View attachment 3633611

And if the center post needs to be lowered like @TBird1958’s beautiful ‘89, IMO there is nothing wrong with a drop of glue to hold the inserts. Some may scream Noooooo, but it doesn’t offend me to do that.

What can I say that hasn't already been said?

There is nothing wrong with the 3 point bridge. I have replaced all mine with Hipshots because I like the Hipshots better than I like the 3 point. And that is all there is to it.

Yer not alone.

Well now I feel all warm and squishy inside.

 

[WillyW]

I'm not sure I understand this post...

Yer not alone.

1. Action too high at the nut or at the saddles.

a. File string slots deeper.

 

[TBird1958]

And if the center post needs to be lowered like @TBird1958’s beautiful ‘89, IMO there is nothing wrong with a drop of glue to hold the inserts. Some may scream Noooooo, but it doesn’t offend me to do that.

The detail to note about Gibson that differs from Epiphone is that the inserts are countersunk into the body vs. Epi's having a rim around the top. And there are some subtle detail differences between a Gibson 3 point and an Epiphone.

 

[PillO]

keep in mind the bridge on an upright is held down by the strings only...

Keep in mind that on an upright the bridge is the only thing holding the strings up.*


* The third thing Newton had to say on the matter.