Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

Even though thunderbird necks tend to break...I think that mahogany necks with that straight grain may be less prone to warping or twisting and tend to stay true. This has been my experience. I have had two maple necks go wonky over the years. The cool thing about the zebrabird edition is that the mahogany neck/centerboard is unfinished...an has it's natural almost orange/red color and . I think the natural epi pro may be unfinished as well, not sure...

Link Removed

And the fact that Thunderbird necks are laminated with about 5 main sections of wood. That's huge in preventing warping and is likely more of a factor than the Mahogany, though that certainly is part of it.

 

[dagrev]

I'd lean to the very first Non Reverse single pup TBird made in the rarest color.

...Or better yet...

Any vintage (pre 1970's) TBird owned and played on a released top ten recording from The Who or Rush or the original Lynyrd Skynyrd line up with full provenance.

Hummm. You just might be on to something there! A Leon bass would certainly make me happy.

 

[dagrev]

My theory is the number of detached headstocks on Thunderbirds is inversely proportional to the number of players that use guitar stands for their Thunderbirds.

The average joe player back in the 1960's utilized the "lean-it" method for their bass when not playing, transporting or storing. The TBird body shape being what it is doesn't lend itself well to standing up while leaning against something. That propensity to fall over combined with the tilt back headstock design, the thin volute free neck, and the headstock truss rod access make the perfect trifecta for breakage.

In a secure stand or in its hard case it's not nearly as much of an issue. For the average joe player, stands weren't really much in use until the 1970's and coincidentally not nearly as many 1970's and newer birds are running around with broken necks.

That's my theory and I'm stickin to it!

Stick to it. That is as sound a theory as it gets. Newtonian even! I don't really recall using stands much in the 80s.

 

[fasterpussycat]

I'm curious... what's the TBird holy grail ?

One each 64 Reverse II and 66 Non-reverse II not in sunburst.

 

[Bassmike62]

Cleaned up bass and case and changed the knobs, Hipshot Bass XTender on the way. Following the advice of a few fellow ornithologists, I won't be changing the PG, but I did get her a Gibson strap though. I went a leg overboard only.

 

[TBird1958]

Cleaned up bass and case and changed the knobs, Hipshot Bass XTender on the way. Following the advice of a few fellow ornithologists, I won't be changing the PG, but I did get her a Gibson strap though. I went a leg overboard only.

View attachment 3646337

Do I have you in the club already?

 

[Bassmike62]

Do I have you in the club already?

Yup, #513.

 

[RedVee]

I'm curious... what's the TBird holy grail ?

For me, a 60’s Gibson T’bird, either shape, prefer a II but a IV acceptable.

but a Bicentennial must be up nearby as well. A ‘76 would be the pinnacle of those I guess, but any of them for me - special interest in ‘77 & ‘79.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

For me, a 60’s Gibson T’bird, either shape, prefer a II but a IV acceptable.

but a Bicentennial must be up nearby as well. A ‘76 would be the pinnacle of those I guess, but any of them for me - special interest in ‘77 & ‘79.

yup...

 

[Bassmike62]

You can see by the number of posts that I really missed owning a Bird (don't really know why but Dennis Hoppper's famous Waterworld quote came to mind while writing my opening statement...).

On to my point: I've always struggled with ergonomics with a TBird and got good pointers when I asked the question here a few months ago (I'd rented a bolt-on model for a few weeks). Now I looked at videos featuring Martin Turner, Nikki Sixx and @TBird1958 videos (in our Queen's case, the Sanctuary, Hungry like the wolf and I want you to want me vids) and notice that most of the time, they play between pick-ups of course, but closer or just over the bridge pick-up. I'm guessing that's where most players are comfortable ?

 

[BklynKen]

You can see by the number of posts that I really missed owning a Bird (don't really know why but Dennis Hoppper's famous Waterworld quote came to mind while writing my opening statement...).

On to my point: I've always struggled with ergonomics with a TBird and got good pointers when I asked the question here a few months ago (I'd rented a bolt-on model for a few weeks). Now I looked at videos featuring Martin Turner, Nikki Sixx and @TBird1958 videos (in our Queen's case, the Sanctuary, Hungry like the wolf and I want you to want me vids) and notice that most of the time, they play between pick-ups of course, but closer or just over the bridge pick-up. I'm guessing that's where most players are comfortable ?

I always play off the bridge pickup on every bass I've had. I like the tighter tension and sharper attack there.

 

[Bassmike62]

I always play off the bridge pickup on every bass I've had. I like the tighter tension and sharper attack there.

Same here on my Fender and Squiers. But a little harder on a Bird for me, perhaps arm length being a factor, who knows. I'm no giant at 5'11", but still, wouldn't have figured this to be an isssue.

 

[BklynKen]

Same here on my Fender and Squiers. But a little harder on a Bird for me, perhaps arm length being a factor, who knows. I'm no giant at 5'11", but still, wouldn't have figured this to be an isssue.

I don't know. I'm pretty short and the reach is just fine for me. I guess it depends on how your bass hangs? Not sure which you have. Where's the strap pin?

Edit: scrolled up a bit and see you also have a Gibson. Same bass. Not sure what the difference is, other than left vs right-handed.

 

[StephnG]

Yup, I was thinking about doing the same for my Epi Pro 5er, the stock bridge seems to be adequate although the tuners most definitely need to be replaced. From what I understand "Leo Quan" was supposed to have made the bridges for that series, don't Know it true or not, speaking of them, it sure is a shame that no one picked up the torch after Leo's passing IMHO nothing sounds like a "Bad Ass "
Let us know how that works out!!

 

[GonePlaid]

Same here on my Fender and Squiers. But a little harder on a Bird for me, perhaps arm length being a factor, who knows. I'm no giant at 5'11", but still, wouldn't have figured this to be an isssue.

I'm 5' 8", play between the pups mostly. No problems reaching anything. 'Course I've had it since '73 so I'm kinda used to it.

 

[Bassmike62]

I don't know. I'm pretty short and the reach is just fine for me. I guess it depends on how your bass hangs? Not sure which you have. Where's the strap pin?

Edit: scrolled up a bit and see you also have a Gibson. Same bass. Not sure what the difference is, other than left vs right-handed.

View attachment 3646417

I might have to angle it more like you do, then. I have a 2008 Gibby (IV ?), neck pin is smack in the middle of the neck base and bridge pin also in the middle of the main piece. Same place as they were on my Epi Classic Pro IV, if memory serves me right.

 

[Nocturnal]

You can see by the number of posts that I really missed owning a Bird (don't really know why but Dennis Hoppper's famous Waterworld quote came to mind while writing my opening statement...).

On to my point: I've always struggled with ergonomics with a TBird and got good pointers when I asked the question here a few months ago (I'd rented a bolt-on model for a few weeks). Now I looked at videos featuring Martin Turner, Nikki Sixx and @TBird1958 videos (in our Queen's case, the Sanctuary, Hungry like the wolf and I want you to want me vids) and notice that most of the time, they play between pick-ups of course, but closer or just over the bridge pick-up. I'm guessing that's where most players are comfortable ?

I play between the pickups, just in front of the bridge pickup most of the time. When sitting and practicing I will test different spots like close to the neck, but when I wear the bass and play I always pick in the same spot.

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

You can see by the number of posts that I really missed owning a Bird (don't really know why but Dennis Hoppper's famous Waterworld quote came to mind while writing my opening statement...).

On to my point: I've always struggled with ergonomics with a TBird and got good pointers when I asked the question here a few months ago (I'd rented a bolt-on model for a few weeks). Now I looked at videos featuring Martin Turner, Nikki Sixx and @TBird1958 videos (in our Queen's case, the Sanctuary, Hungry like the wolf and I want you to want me vids) and notice that most of the time, they play between pick-ups of course, but closer or just over the bridge pick-up. I'm guessing that's where most players are comfortable ?

I play between the neck pickup and the neck edge of the fretboard, same as I do with most other basses.

 

[TBird1958]

You can see by the number of posts that I really missed owning a Bird (don't really know why but Dennis Hoppper's famous Waterworld quote came to mind while writing my opening statement...).

On to my point: I've always struggled with ergonomics with a TBird and got good pointers when I asked the question here a few months ago (I'd rented a bolt-on model for a few weeks). Now I looked at videos featuring Martin Turner, Nikki Sixx and @TBird1958 videos (in our Queen's case, the Sanctuary, Hungry like the wolf and I want you to want me vids) and notice that most of the time, they play between pick-ups of course, but closer or just over the bridge pick-up. I'm guessing that's where most players are comfortable ?

Seeing pics of Nikki I remember thinking his right hand playing position was a bit odd, then I saw pics of me playing - my right hand is in almost the same place.

 

[WillyW]

Cleaned up bass and case and changed the knobs, Hipshot Bass XTender on the way. Following the advice of a few fellow ornithologists, I won't be changing the PG, but I did get her a Gibson strap though. I went a leg overboard only.

View attachment 3646337

I like that Gibson strap, I have the one like this...

“Hate” is not a strong enough word to describe it... most expensive worthless music related purchase I ever made.