Thunderbird Club

[heatheroo1]

Making arrangements to send my beloved ‘77 Bird in for surgery. I may have related the story last year but i managed to snap the end off the truss rod a few years ago. I schlepped it from Lancaster PA to Athens OH to have Dan Erlewine repair the truss rod, which he did, but the neck wouldn't straighten. At Dans suggestion i eventually took it to Chris Maul in Lancaster and he clamped it under heat for a few weeks and got it straight again although he cautioned that he didn't know long it would last. It hung in for 6 months until the weather turned cold and then started bowing again. So........Chris is going to pull the fretboard and install a new dual action truss rod and 2 carbon fiber reinforcing rods.

i bought this bass new and I’m hoping there is a good outcome. Me and that Bird have been through some stuff over the last 40+ years.

 

[TBird1958]

Making arrangements to send my beloved ‘77 Bird in for surgery. I may have related the story last year but i managed to snap the end off the truss rod a few years ago. I schlepped it from Lancaster PA to Athens OH to have Dan Erlewine repair the truss rod, which he did, but the neck wouldn't straighten. At Dans suggestion i eventually took it to Chris Maul in Lancaster and he clamped it under heat for a few weeks and got it straight again although he cautioned that he didn't know long it would last. It hung in for 6 months until the weather turned cold and then started bowing again. So........Chris is going to pull the fretboard and install a new dual action truss rod and 2 carbon fiber reinforcing rods.

i bought this bass new and I’m hoping there is a good outcome. Me and that Bird have been through some stuff over the last 40+ years.

Glad to hear you're going to take care of that 'Bird! '70s ones are steadily going up in value so it won't be lost money.

 

[godofthunder59]

Looks great and sorely tempted! I have recently bought an Orange Terror and love my 76 through it. How is the VP through yours, do you think it would sound different to the 76 (enough to warrant buying one)?

The 76-79 Thunderbird pickups sound nothing like the original 60s units or the new Epi 760 pickups. Epiphone did a great job on the pickups the VP doesen't just look like a 60s bird it sounds like one. When the Bicentenials came out I found them anemic (sorry no insult intended) to the 60s birds. I think you will find the VP a great addition to your Thunderbird arsenal. Btw I do have a ' 77 and I like the VP better.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Stumbled accidentally into the bass tone that’s been in my head for my current band (rock‘n’ roll w/ a punk edge) the other day while on holiday...
2019 Gibson Thunderbird, TI jazz flat strings, Fender Rumble 200v3 amp w/ all EQ set flat, “vintage” voicing. Wow. This thing growls! My cheapest (and lightest weight) amp sounds better than my expensive Phil Jones rig? Hmmm...
View attachment 3645967

I bought a Rumble 100v3 based on comments here, and love it with my birds.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

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!

Agreed.

 

[JELLIS78]

The 76-79 Thunderbird pickups sound nothing like the original 60s units or the new Epi 760 pickups. Epiphone did a great job on the pickups the VP doesen't just look like a 60s bird it sounds like one. When the Bicentenials came out I found them anemic (sorry no insult intended) to the 60s birds. I think you will find the VP a great addition to your Thunderbird arsenal. Btw I do have a ' 77 and I like the VP better.

Cool, thanks for the response. That answers the question and gives me a reason to buy one!!! Happy days.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

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

that’s my personal holy grail, but my initial assumption was that the OP meant just as a bass.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

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 where I get the tone I want. As a guitar player, I played anywhere from right at the bridge to over the neck, though those extremes were infrequent. They are even more infrequent on a bird. I mostly stay mid-pickups to over the neck pickup.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Was on my way down a YouTube rabbit hole and stumbled upon this guy...

I like it! Kinda shades of Jimi Hendrix mixed in with Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

And for some real earth shaking fun, pull out your most ruckus baddest bird, crank the volume and grind along with this one...

An Austin original. Love the music but have somehow never seen him live.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Making arrangements to send my beloved ‘77 Bird in for surgery. I may have related the story last year but i managed to snap the end off the truss rod a few years ago. I schlepped it from Lancaster PA to Athens OH to have Dan Erlewine repair the truss rod, which he did, but the neck wouldn't straighten. At Dans suggestion i eventually took it to Chris Maul in Lancaster and he clamped it under heat for a few weeks and got it straight again although he cautioned that he didn't know long it would last. It hung in for 6 months until the weather turned cold and then started bowing again. So........Chris is going to pull the fretboard and install a new dual action truss rod and 2 carbon fiber reinforcing rods.

i bought this bass new and I’m hoping there is a good outcome. Me and that Bird have been through some stuff over the last 40+ years.

praying it goes better than you think possible!

 

[dagrev]

that’s my personal holy grail, but my initial assumption was that the OP meant just as a bass.

We can always dream!

 

[dagrev]

I put some LaBella Low Tension Flats on my white VP yesterday. Other than some newness feel, these babies are smooth. They sound really good at home (which means little or nothing). Was thinking of using that bass today but thought I'd give them at least a week to settle and thicken up a little. Seems like they will have a really nice low-end thump with some definition. I hope these further confirm my belief that flats (some) sound great on Thunderbirds. Currently only the '64 has rounds.

 

[Border]

Good afternoon everyone, I hope all are having a great weekend. I am wondering what I was thinking agreeing to rehearse at 5 this afternoon. Actually it was the only time everyone could get together, and as this is largely a new group with a gig coming up fast, will make it work. It will mean missing the Seahawks game later today. This fairly dysfunctional group needs to come together and soon. I was considering using my little Ashdown through a Rumble 2X10 as my stage monitor. It is light enough even with my my neck trouble I can schlep it. I posted in the amp forum, and have emailed Ashdown, but if anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it. I love the little amp, but it has an extraordinary amount of hiss in the gain stage. Basses, cables, nothing seems to help. Anything above 9:00 o'clock on the gain produces enough hiss to make it virtually unusable. I am planning on swapping out the tubes, but any advice would be most appreciated. I hope everyone has a great afternoon. Go 'Hawks.

 

[Patrick J]

Making arrangements to send my beloved ‘77 Bird in for surgery. I may have related the story last year but i managed to snap the end off the truss rod a few years ago. I schlepped it from Lancaster PA to Athens OH to have Dan Erlewine repair the truss rod, which he did, but the neck wouldn't straighten. At Dans suggestion i eventually took it to Chris Maul in Lancaster and he clamped it under heat for a few weeks and got it straight again although he cautioned that he didn't know long it would last. It hung in for 6 months until the weather turned cold and then started bowing again. So........Chris is going to pull the fretboard and install a new dual action truss rod and 2 carbon fiber reinforcing rods.

i bought this bass new and I’m hoping there is a good outcome. Me and that Bird have been through some stuff over the last 40+ years.

I made the mistake once of getting too involved with my truck. I ended up throwing good money after bad at it. There comes a point of diminishing returns. We have to know when we’ve reached it.

 

[dagrev]

Good afternoon everyone, I hope all are having a great weekend. I am wondering what I was thinking agreeing to rehearse at 5 this afternoon. Actually it was the only time everyone could get together, and as this is largely a new group with a gig coming up fast, will make it work. It will mean missing the Seahawks game later today. This fairly dysfunctional group needs to come together and soon. I was considering using my little Ashdown through a Rumble 2X10 as my stage monitor. It is light enough even with my my neck trouble I can schlep it. I posted in the amp forum, and have emailed Ashdown, but if anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it. I love the little amp, but it has an extraordinary amount of hiss in the gain stage. Basses, cables, nothing seems to help. Anything above 9:00 o'clock on the gain produces enough hiss to make it virtually unusable. I am planning on swapping out the tubes, but any advice would be most appreciated. I hope everyone has a great afternoon. Go 'Hawks.

I can't help with the problem. I can do pre tubes, but beyond that is not in my wheelhouse. I have three tube heads and know it can be a little tricky finding a problem. I don't think it would be caps, but you never know. Fortunately I haven't had many issues over the years. (But the tone is worth it.) It sure sounds like a great small rig and hope you get it figured out. By the way, I've always wanted on of those heads. I bet it sounds great.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I made the mistake once of getting too involved with my truck. I ended up throwing good money after bad at it. There comes a point of diminishing returns. We have to know when we’ve reached it.

some things are worth it, if only to us.

 

[PillO]

I made the mistake once of getting too involved with my truck. I ended up throwing good money after bad at it. There comes a point of diminishing returns. We have to know when we’ve reached it.

Perfect description of my ex-wife.

 

[Border]

I can't help with the problem. I can do pre tubes, but beyond that is not in my wheelhouse. I have three tube heads and know it can be a little tricky finding a problem. I don't think it would be caps, but you never know. Fortunately I haven't had many issues over the years. (But the tone is worth it.) It sure sounds like a great small rig and hope you get it figured out. By the way, I've always wanted on of those heads. I bet it sounds great.

Hey Dagrev, thanks for the reply. Yes, that little head does sound good. I have run it through an Ashdown 1×12 cab, and now through the Rumble. Just over time the hiss in the gain stage has increased. Hoping to get that tamed as it is great fun to dial it up! Take care.

 

[dagrev]

Hey Dagrev, thanks for the reply. Yes, that little head does sound good. I have run it through an Ashdown 1×12 cab, and now through the Rumble. Just over time the hiss in the gain stage has increased. Hoping to get that tamed as it is great fun to dial it up! Take care.

There are a few guys here who really know their stuff on amps and may be able to provide some guidance. Post back when I find the problem. I'm curious!

I hope the Seahawks do well this year. Not as well as the Ravens, however. Lamar played here in Louisville and is fascinating to watch. Have a great practice!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

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