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Thunderbird Club

#14,101
Count Bassie said:
May not be a wood item... Grains aren't mostly strong enough to take the kinds of stress that metals or plastics can.
Click to expand...

My idea would involve a bigger junk of wood with the form of the pin. About and diameter of 1,5-2 inches and in the colour of the bass it's intended to carry. Problem is the locking part so far. It would be an U like dunlops and schallers are. Also anchoring the screw to mount it to the belt might be a hazzle.

btw: I had to tighten the pots on my Pro as I dropped something on the some weeks ago during rehearsal. Had the cavity open for the first time and found out that the preamp is tiny and seems to be sealed in epoxy. Didn't want to investigate any further, but what if it fails. Does Gibson/Epiphone provide parts?
 
#14,102
Off-Beat said:
My idea would involve a bigger junk of wood with the form of the pin. About and diameter of 1,5-2 inches and in the colour of the bass it's intended to carry. Problem is the locking part so far. It would be an U like dunlops and schallers are. Also anchoring the screw to mount it to the belt might be a hazzle.

btw: I had to tighten the pots on my Pro as I dropped something on the some weeks ago during rehearsal. Had the cavity open for the first time and found out that the preamp is tiny and seems to be sealed in epoxy. Didn't want to investigate any further, but what if it fails. Does Gibson/Epiphone provide parts?
Click to expand...

Well there is a fine question. And s bad one also, since you have rekindled my Jones for a set of passive Nordstrand Big Singles. Way to go, bro...

; )
 
#14,103
For my part, I prefer the idea of a small, innocuous jig that my strap quietly marries itself to. Honestly, the best one I've come across is a standard strap button installed over a well cut and finished washer that the strap is permanently set to.

Not a money-maker, I realize, but some things are just what they are...
 
#14,107
Count Bassie said:
Oh boy. Ventured out into the general population with a question about a combo amp a friend of mine is looking at, and it has completely waylaid the first two respondents. It's as if I were a wizard, and have put a stupefying spell on my post...

But perhaps I react prematurely. I'll be back, hopefully with a less evil report. : D
Click to expand...
Looks like you got trolled by the third response
 
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#14,112
Taking my time with that. The neck, action and intonation seem fine but the bridge is different from what I'm used to and the strings are pretty far from the pickups. I need to know a little more before I start adjusting things, the bird is a bit different from what I'm used to.
 
#14,114
Facebook user said:
Taking my time with that. The neck, action and intonation seem fine but the bridge is different from what I'm used to and the strings are pretty far from the pickups. I need to know a little more before I start adjusting things, the bird is a bit different from what I'm used to.
Click to expand...

This is what I do:

1. Loosen strings and tweek the truss rod slowly about a ¼ turn at the time to get the neck relief where you want it (I prefer my neck as straight as possible with only minimal relief)

2. Tune strings in between each turn of the truss rod to check the relief.

3. Bring the bridge down so you have the string action to your liking - The front stud should be set slightly higher than the two side studs to avoid them from working themselves out of the body, and to give your strings a greater break angle over the saddles.

4. When you have the desired neck relief and string height - adjust the intonation.

5. Bring the pickups up high close to the strings, without them touching them when played, to get the maximum power out of them.

Feel free to comment if I forgot something...
 
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#14,115
Off-Beat said:
My idea would involve a bigger junk of wood with the form of the pin. About and diameter of 1,5-2 inches and in the colour of the bass it's intended to carry. Problem is the locking part so far. It would be an U like dunlops and schallers are. Also anchoring the screw to mount it to the belt might be a hazzle.

btw: I had to tighten the pots on my Pro as I dropped something on the some weeks ago during rehearsal. Had the cavity open for the first time and found out that the preamp is tiny and seems to be sealed in epoxy. Didn't want to investigate any further, but what if it fails. Does Gibson/Epiphone provide parts?
Click to expand...
I'm a bit of a crank, but my opinion is that the little sealed preamp is better off in a drawer somewhere. But, I can't imagine that thing ever failing.
 
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#14,116
Facebook user said:
Taking my time with that. The neck, action and intonation seem fine but the bridge is different from what I'm used to and the strings are pretty far from the pickups. I need to know a little more before I start adjusting things, the bird is a bit different from what I'm used to.
Click to expand...
The whole thing is very sensitive to adjustment. When you first start becoming a 'Bird person, you find out that everything you knew isn't exactly wrong, just a little different. I have been lowering pickups and raising pickups and tilting pickups to get the sound how I want it on a couple of Thunderbirds. The G string in particular can have a tendency to hide in a mix if you are playing with your fingers and not a pick. The odd thing is that lowering the pickups on the bass side helps with the balance, and lowering the pickup on the treble side lets the string ring longer. The pickup magnets in the 2015 could probably pick up a Volkswagen if you let them. I don't think other Thunderbird pickups are quite that out of control powerful, but they can pull a string and damp it down a bit if you get them too close.

Counter intuitive, but it is a balance.
 
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#14,117
Gaolee said:
The odd thing is that lowering the pickups on the bass side helps with the balance
Click to expand...

Typically pickups are set closer to the string on the treble side to balance output. E strings put out a lot more energy than G strings.
 
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#14,118
Dadagoboi said:
Good plan!

The MAX is 3 DB hotter than a ThunderBucker '66 which was the hottest Gibson made (for the original NR). That's twice the output. Yes it's very loud and now living in my single pickup MAXbird . Pix in a few days
Click to expand...

Just used the bass with the band. Very happy with the new pickups.
I'll leave the 9.2 in the neck position. Very full sounding. The bridge gives a bit of growl.
I have a balance that I am very happy with and across the strings. Pleased as punch.
These pickups are noticeably nicer and clearer in the mids that the TB Pluses I pulled out of the bass.
 
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#14,120
Hi guys, I decided to install a pair of thunderbuckers on my t-bird goth, but according to my luthier, the default bridge doesn't let the string go as low as the thunderbuckers manufacture recommends, so the question is, has anyone replaced his/her bridge for this purpose? and if so, which one did you guys got? thanks
 

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