Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

So, what's the deal with Epiphone Embassies? ProBucker PUPs, check. Slightly wider nut, check (for me). Longer horn, better balance (again, for me). I get they are not VVT, but are VBT. Shouldn't they be able to get in the Thunderbird neighborhood tone wise (albeit not as sexily)?

Should indeed. I think they are also mahogany, so they should sound pretty close to a Thunderbird.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

If I had any use for a fiver, that would be high on the list of options. It would get modified, of course, but all the raw material is right there.

Yeah. I had plans for this bass, but my smallish hand just didn't like the neck. Since both my day job and my target job require a dexterous left hand, I'll stick to IVs.

 

[MCF]

Second that! It's a good watch.

NO! The great flats experiment was a bust and cobalt flats are like little cheese graters.

Unless your thought is to grind up my fingers with cobalt flats so that Rotos feel so much better... But still no.

im still confused about how you have a set of cobalt flats that are like cheese graters. The ones I'm using are nice and smooth; very much like chromes. Really sounds like an EB QC issue.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Second that! It's a good watch.

im still confused about how you have a set of cobalt flats that are like cheese graters. The ones I'm using are nice and smooth; very much like chromes. Really sounds like an EB QC issue.

Or string terrorists invaded the packages in transit.

 

[BklynKen]

Second that! It's a good watch.

im still confused about how you have a set of cobalt flats that are like cheese graters. The ones I'm using are nice and smooth; very much like chromes. Really sounds like an EB QC issue.

Aren't Cobalt rounds known to be rough like cheese graters? Could there be confusion between the rounds and flats?

 

[PillO]

Huh. I've had 3 sets. No problems with any. Weird-but so am I.

im still confused about how you have a set of cobalt flats that are like cheese graters. The ones I'm using are nice and smooth; very much like chromes. Really sounds like an EB QC issue.

Or string terrorists invaded the packages in transit.

Aren't Cobalt rounds known to be rough like cheese graters? Could there be confusion between the rounds and flats?

They were cobalt flats, not rounds. Going through the string forum at the time, I did see where others had the same complaint - that despite callouses, fingers became sore. The best theory is that tuning to pitch ever so slighty opens the ribbon creating a cheese grater effect.

The cobalts were replaced with chromes and the issue stopped immediately. So, it was clearly the strings.

It could be a QC issue at EB. They have had other issues with the cobalt flats in the past (along with weird installation instructions in an attempt to correct the problem), so it wouldn't surprise me if it were one (or more) bad batches. However, there are many strings available, so I have no need to go back to strings with which I had such a poor experience.

With poor experiences using cobalts and being very underwhelmed with the sound of slinkies, I think I am done with all strings coming from EB. I have favourites from D'Addario and DR. I have also had positive experiences with Rotos and still have an interest in trying SITs so it isn't as if I were out of options.

Perhaps one day I will try flats again (perhaps Roto 77s) but trying tapes is a higher priority.

 

[fasterpussycat]

Only a handful to 800. Sneaking up on 888 means the elusive 888 will become 8888 and skitter off into the future again.

No. I think I allow myself to be eclipsed.

Skittering is fun.

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah. I had plans for this bass, but my smallish hand just didn't like the neck. Since both my day job and my target job require a dexterous left hand, I'll stick to IVs.

I have hands and feet like a gorilla, according to a junior-high biology teacher. My hands get along just fine with baseball bat necks as well as noodle necks like Thunderbird necks. It took a bit for my hands to get used to the smaller size. It's an amazingly easy neck to play now. What's most difficult for me is a neck with a flat back like a road-kill 7ender neck. My Precision has a neck like that, and although it is a keeper, it would get more exercise if the neck was a bit deeper. The width is 1-3/4" but isn't a problem.

For the record, hand size is independent of anything else, so far as I know.

 

[GBassNorth]

?....
Only problem left is, the 130 string is too fat at the Ball end to pass though the clawpiece T.T
any suggestions for this other than file it down? I thought about Rotosound piano strings they are tapered
For now I used the ball end of an old 45 string with a small amount of string left and put it through the clawpiece and fixed the ball end of the 130 string at this string piece in the area between clawpiece and bridge.
Works for now, but I think i can do better.

Peace

Glad to hear you were able to work thru the intonation problem and thanks for posting the solution.
As for the tight claw slot problem, that's a very common problem with five string Warwick's as well. The B string on many brands just won't fit in the claw slot correctly thus not allowing the ball end to seat in in a proper way.

If what you're experiencing is actually the over wrap windings at the ball end of the string being too large to properly fit in the claw slot there's an easy solution. Simply take a pair of pliers and squeeze the over winding (or silk) section of the C string to make it less round and more flat. It should then fit in the slot. I wouldn't recommend sanding the winding section down as it may weaken the over wrap which is necessary to hold the ball end in place under tension. I also wouldn't recommend filing the claw slot larger unless you have no other option since it would remove the ornamental coating (chrome, black or gold plating) in that area and might not look so good over time.

I'll look for a picture I've posted in the Warwick club that shows the crimped B string and how it fits in the claw slot. When I find it I'll post it since it may be easier to understand than this message.

Edit, here's a pic (not the best one, I think I have a better one) that you can zoom in on to see how the B string over windings have been crimped to fit in the claw.

Note, the previous owner tried to file the slot wider, that's why it looks all buggard up and why I don't recommend doing that.

 

[Gaolee]

No. I think I allow myself to be eclipsed.

Skittering is fun.

It is the surrounded part I'm skeptical of. And yes, skittering is a great joy.

 

[TBird1958]

Yup but after the gig they put on women's clothing & hung around in bars!!

I've done this.........It's more fun than you might think

 

[TBird1958]

Furthermore........ Mother nature's cruel gift to me is a spine made of defective Tinker Toys, after a day of doing inventory at work I'm spent.

 

[MCF]

They were cobalt flats, not rounds. Going through the string forum at the time, I did see where others had the same complaint - that despite callouses, fingers became sore. The best theory is that tuning to pitch ever so slighty opens the ribbon creating a cheese grater effect.

The cobalts were replaced with chromes and the issue stopped immediately. So, it was clearly the strings.

It could be a QC issue at EB. They have had other issues with the cobalt flats in the past (along with weird installation instructions in an attempt to correct the problem), so it wouldn't surprise me if it were one (or more) bad batches. However, there are many strings available, so I have no need to go back to strings with which I had such a poor experience.

With poor experiences using cobalts and being very underwhelmed with the sound of slinkies, I think I am done with all strings coming from EB. I have favourites from D'Addario and DR. I have also had positive experiences with Rotos and still have an interest in trying SITs so it isn't as if I were out of options.

Perhaps one day I will try flats again (perhaps Roto 77s) but trying tapes is a higher priority.

Re the cobalt flats: I installed them per the weird instructions and have had no issues. When I put them on the '15, I promised myself they would stay on for a year. I'll likely be breaking that promise when I get around to it; I'm just not hearing what I like from them on that bass. But they play fine for me.

 

[dagrev]

"White men can't.....dance".

What? I sure can.

No. It's really horrible. I can groove a little while playing bass, but without the bass I loose all my mojo. Think of a twitching animal just struck by a car and you get the idea. Which is why I have the good sense to NOT dance. Ever.

 

[dagrev]

So, what's the deal with Epiphone Embassies? ProBucker PUPs, check. Slightly wider nut, check (for me). Longer horn, better balance (again, for me). I get they are not VVT, but are VBT. Shouldn't they be able to get in the Thunderbird neighborhood tone wise (albeit not as sexily)?

The one I played sounded darker than the VPs for some reason. The VP was noticeably better made (but at a price). My wife picked up and held Embassy, then just picked up a VP and within 5 seconds said, "This one is better." And she was right.

 

[dagrev]

Second that! It's a good watch.

im still confused about how you have a set of cobalt flats that are like cheese graters. The ones I'm using are nice and smooth; very much like chromes. Really sounds like an EB QC issue.

My Cobalts had an odd smooth-but-you-can-feel-the gaps kind of thing going on. Hard to explain. Not at all like other flats, and I love flats.

 

[dagrev]

Aren't Cobalt rounds known to be rough like cheese graters?

Yes on this point.

 

[Gaolee]

I've done this.........It's more fun than you might think

But you do it before and during the gig as well. That's far more thorough.

 

[TerribleTim68]

But you do it before and during the gig as well. That's far more thorough.

 

[Gaolee]

Furthermore........ Mother nature's cruel gift to me is a spine made of defective Tinker Toys, after a day of doing inventory at work I'm spent.

Human backs were intended to be used like a suspension bridge cable, not a column, and the muscles that were intended to wag a tail are the ones that keep our guts from falling out. We aren't the best designed creatures.