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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- club thunderbird
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
Here's a few inspirational pictures for you, Liam:
Mott The Hoople with Overend Watts on a Gibson Thunderbird II...
A very rare picture of Generation X with Tony James on a Gibson Thunderbird IV... Almost always seen playing a Ric 4001.
New York Dolls with Arthur Harold Kane on a Gibson Thunderbird II
And of course Nikki Sixx:
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I love Thunderbuckers! I think you are going to notice a big difference in your bass.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I discovered Thunderbirds through the work of Martin Turner, John Entwistle and Overend Watts. The EB3 was a close second due to Jim Leas influence but they are just so dam small.
I have to say, I was not disappointed! After sound check I gave it a little tweak and the T-Bird delivered the goods! To my ears it sounded great all night long. Perhaps a little wooley around the edges, but really very good. I should add, I have Thunderbucker 66s in my bass and an OBP-2 preamp, so I can really dial in a sound. This bass is a lot more versatile than I remember it being. I'm pretty happy about that! I do have a question for you experts out there, This bass is a 2000 Studio V. The bridge on this bass is a Hipshot A (style?). Is this the stock bridge that came on it? It is somewhat difficult to adjust, so I feel like I might need to find one that is a bit more user friendly. I appreciate the responses.
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
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- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
I have to say, I was not disappointed! After sound check I gave it a little tweak and the T-Bird delivered the goods! To my ears it sounded great all night long. Perhaps a little wooley around the edges, but really very good. I should add, I have Thunderbucker 66s in my bass and an OBP-2 preamp, so I can really dial in a sound. This bass is a lot more versatile than I remember it being. I'm pretty happy about that! I do have a question for you experts out there, This bass is a 2000 Studio V. The bridge on this bass is a Hipshot A (style?). Is this the stock bridge that came on it? It is somewhat difficult to adjust, so I feel like I might need to find one that is a bit more user friendly. I appreciate the responses.
Glad you like the ThunderBuckers, did Steve of ThunderBucker Ranch make those specifically for your Fiver?
If it's a genuine Hipshot bridge it's not stock. Yours is very easy to adjust, one allen wrench does everything. Slightly loosen the screw in the front of the carrier that locks the saddle in the carrier and adjust the height with the screws on either side of the string. To adjust for intonation, there's a screw in the side of the saddle carrier that locks it in the slot. Loosen slightly and move the carrier forward or back. Much easier than a 3 point!
That said if you don't like the bridge there are a lot of Fender spring types that will work.
Yes, that's the stock bridge and I was able to intonate the full fret board perfectly except for the B string above the octave on my Studio V, where it started getting sharp and I ran out of adjustment. I've considered moving the bridge to allow more adjustment but it's good for now.
- Jul 1, 2005
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- 21,932
- 79
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Flip that 'B' saddle around Larry. Also reverse the saddle in it to get the correct break angle and you'll be able to intonate fully.
That's what I do with my 4 string bridges to get more travel in less space
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
Before I came up with the Badbird that's what I did with The D and G string saddles on my birds, it got the intonation closer.
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 79
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
You're welcome, bad intonation hurts!
That's what Peter Cook did on Kenny's (and JAE's) bridges!
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I got mine at WD. If you want everything to line up, you should send a exact tracing of your gard'. Then, they'll make a custom one for you. Stock pickgards may not line up or be a perfect fit. I found out the hard way.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,237
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Thanks Carlo and Scott!
You guys really do make this the best club on TB!
You guys really do make this the best club on TB!
Thanks for the information guys! Well now that I know this is the stock bridge and armed with some new intel, I'll try some tweaks. The bridge itself is not bad, I guess I'm just used to the spring type adjustments. For the pickups, I called Steve and told him what I wanted and got them within a few days.
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 79
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Cool, the pickups on your bass are a little different than the 4 string ThunderBucker 66, the magnetic field is wider to cover the B. That's a big reason you have more tone available IMO. Gibson used the exact same pickups for both 4 and 5 string Studios and they are a little lacking in the Fiver. Steve and I developed the 5 string version when I was prototyping this bass.
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 79
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Simple question: generally, are t-birds heavy?
I love the look and most of the tones from one but haven't found one to play as of yet
I love the look and most of the tones from one but haven't found one to play as of yet
I have two, my Pro IV is a little under 10 lbs and my Goth is much lighter.
Neither seems heavy with the right strap...Neotech Mega Bass strap.
Neither seems heavy with the right strap...Neotech Mega Bass strap.
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