Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

I stand corrected. The black bakelite pickup cover looks great.

My 3rd bass was a '66 EB3 bought NOS in '69. Shortly after I stripped it and had the frets removed. Next bass was my '63 T-bird II. Never missed the EB.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

OK, a few (hundred? thousand? trillion?) posts back, some of y'all were talking about wedges to angle your amps up when playing your THUNDERBIRDS. Clever boy that I am, I did not take note of product names, endorsements, etc. I see a number of products out there, but don't recall what you loved (or didn't).
So, for a smallish amp[1], what wedge[2] would you use under your amp when playing your THUNDERBIRD? I suppose, if you must, products for angling amps with other basses might be worth considering as well.

[1] For the sake of argument, assume this is a slightly used Fender Rumble 100 v3.
[2] Triangular prismic device. Small, folding stand. Etc.

 

[GonePlaid]

I have all of these plus a MudStand Mini-which will hold my R200c, so the 100 would be no problem-o. The one on the right is called Ampstand RS 4000. The wedge thingy* in front is cleverly named Ampwedge. There's also a fold-up wedge thingy* from-I think-On Stage
*technical terminology

This is the MudStand with(1st)the R40, (2nd)R200c

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I have all of these plus a MudStand Mini-which will hold my R200c, so the 100 would be no problem-o. The one on the right is called Ampstand RS 4000. The wedge thingy* in front is cleverly named Ampwedge. There's also a fold-up wedge thingy* from-I think-On Stage
*technical terminology
View attachment 3765467
This is the MudStand with(1st)the R40, (2nd)R200c
View attachment 3765470 View attachment 3765471

Thanks. Which do you tend to use the most and why?

 

[tom_t]

I have all of these plus a MudStand Mini-which will hold my R200c, so the 100 would be no problem-o. The one on the right is called Ampstand RS 4000. The wedge thingy* in front is cleverly named Ampwedge. There's also a fold-up wedge thingy* from-I think-On Stage
*technical terminology

What is MudStand made of?

 

[GBassNorth]

OK, a few (hundred? thousand? trillion?) posts back, some of y'all were talking about wedges to angle your amps up when playing your THUNDERBIRDS. Clever boy that I am, I did not take note of product names, endorsements, etc. I see a number of products out there, but don't recall what you loved (or didn't).
So, for a smallish amp[1], what wedge[2] would you use under your amp when playing your THUNDERBIRD? I suppose, if you must, products for angling amps with other basses might be worth considering as well.

[1] For the sake of argument, assume this is a slightly used Fender Rumble 100 v3.
[2] Triangular prismic device. Small, folding stand. Etc.

I use this one for my GK 210 combo...
On-Stage Stands RS7500 Tilt-back Tripod Amp Stand
It's cheap and sturdy plus it's set up for a mic boom if needed.

 

[godofthunder59]

I stand corrected. The black bakelite pickup cover looks great.

Honestly until I got this one I thought that the bakelite cover ended in '62. Long before I discovered Thunderbirds I used to drool over one at The House of Guitars, I just thought it looked the business. I recently bought this and am very pleased with it.

 

[godofthunder59]

I really should have an EB3, it wouldn't work with the band but I think I'd really enjoy one at home.

I find a EB3 works just fine as long as you have the bridge pickup engaged, they also for some reason come alive through a good tube amp. They are much smaller than a Thunderbird and for me at 6 ft. I look a little daft playing one, someone might mistake me for a guitar player .........gasp. They are a good counterpoint to Thunderbirds.

 

[godofthunder59]

A little JOHNNY SMOKE this AM. My venerable beat '66 through my Hiwatt DR201 and 2150 cabinet.
Listen to MEAN AS A SNAKE. by JOHNNY SMOKE on #SoundCloud

 

[GonePlaid]

What is MudStand made of?

Dense foam. They describe them well on their site.

 

[GonePlaid]

Thanks. Which do you tend to use the most and why?

The MudStand is great for 'decoupling' from the floor on a hollow wood stage. I'm rarely on those, mostly on a concrete or tile floor. I use the RS 4000("OnStage") for most applications. Because I'm often within 3' of the amp, I don't use the wedge as much. The 'steps' on it allow you to choose the amount of tilt you want. The "OnStage" RS 100 wedge has the advantage of folding flat. If I had seen reviews of it b4 I bought the Ampwedge, I mighta gone with it instead. No recollection who made the one on the left.
I'd never thought of doing this, but saw this pic on Ampwedge's site. Good idea if using an extension speaker

 

[tom_t]

Dense foam. They describe them well on their site.

Thank you Sir

 

[Mvf]

My 3rd bass was a '66 EB3 bought NOS in '69. Shortly after I stripped it and had the frets removed. Next bass was my '63 T-bird II. Never missed the EB.

View attachment 3765438

I too have a 66 EB3, here seen beside my 68 EB0. The EB0 i sold some time ago, the EB3 I still use for gigging.
Your EB3 seems to have had the 69 bridge?

 

[Mvf]

why wouldn’t it work with the band?

Works perfect with a band!

 

[dagrev]

Nice - refin?

Thank you, JIO. It is a body refin as it has some black under the CA Red and Gold metallic, but is old and very well done. Neck is untouched. Interesting story. The previous owner was Teddy Gentry (Alabama--not why I bought it, however). The refin pretty old. When I got the bass, it unknowingly had '67 PUs and pots. I got more money off the price because it was thought to be original (and conformed by a tech in Nash). Came with original case as well--which is typically useless. The bass did not sound good at all. Very honky--no beef. I wanted to bass to be period correct, as much as possible--and sound good. So I found a wiring harness from 1964, but couldn't find a decent PU from the time--without paying a foolish price. A TB acquaintance (Snaxter), recommended looking into Klein Pickups out of TX. I really liked what I was reading and hearing talking with Kleins directly. If I had something different in mind, they would build/wind to my specs. They have a unique take on making vintage sounding PUs that I have not heard of before (below). I installed everything and Wow! That bass sounds fantastic now. (Kleins are a great value as well!) I was on the verge of selling it, but now I can't imagine doing so. That PUs are really nice. So I went from a cool old bass that sounded awful to one that I love to play and sounds great. I sold the '67s here on TB.

https://www.kleinpickups.com

This is the set I bought.
- Magnets, Our Epic Series 1962 Pickups use Original Fender Alloy Alnico 5 Magnets From 1962. We sent Original magnets from a 1962 pickup to an Independent Laboratory for Metallurgical Chemical Analysis Testing. We then contracted direct with our magnet manufacturer to get the Alnico 5 magnets Specially Poured to the exact composition of the Originals. We are the only manufacturer who offers this. Pure, Sweet, and Authentic Tone.

- Wire, our 42ga Plain Enamel wire is not just stock wire. We have sent dozens of samples of wire from early Precisions for analysis. We get our 42ga Plain Enamel built to the exact specs of the samples we have had analyzed. Exact Resistance, Exact ID & OD, & Color matching. Our 42ga Plain Enamel Wire is the most authentic and accurate Magnet Wire Available. As Authentic as it can possibly get.

 

[Engle]

I love mine as well View attachment 3765306

Mine is 68 (I think)

 

[dagrev]

Did it come from the factory that way?

I assume so. Not uncommon for Fenders at all for a late neck to end up on a early next year body. Or other such variations. The last dated component and SS# is the closest date to going out the door.

 

[Engle]

why wouldn’t it work with the band?

It might take some work to find the right strings and EQ settings, but yeah you can play hard rock with an EB3.

 

[Gaolee]

I find a EB3 works just fine as long as you have the bridge pickup engaged, they also for some reason come alive through a good tube amp. They are much smaller than a Thunderbird and for me at 6 ft. I look a little daft playing one, someone might mistake me for a guitar player .........gasp. They are a good counterpoint to Thunderbirds.

I am not quite six feet tall but somehow seem bigger than in am. The EB-2 probably looks about the same when I play it. It took me a lot longer to find Thunderbirds. All js well that ends well.

 

[JIO]

Thank you, JIO. It is a body refin as it has some black under the CA Red and Gold metallic, but is old and very well done. Neck is untouched. Interesting story. The previous owner was Teddy Gentry (Alabama--not why I bought it, however). The refin pretty old. When I got the bass, it unknowingly had '67 PUs and pots. I got more money off the price because it was thought to be original (and conformed by a tech in Nash). Came with original case as well--which is typically useless. The bass did not sound good at all. Very honky--no beef. I wanted to bass to be period correct, as much as possible--and sound good. So I found a wiring harness from 1964, but couldn't find a decent PU from the time--without paying a foolish price. A TB acquaintance (Snaxter), recommended looking into Klein Pickups out of TX. I really liked what I was reading and hearing talking with Kleins directly. If I had something different in mind, they would build/wind to my specs. They have a unique take on making vintage sounding PUs that I have not heard of before (below). I installed everything and Wow! That bass sounds fantastic now. (Kleins are a great value as well!) I was on the verge of selling it, but now I can't imagine doing so. That PUs are really nice. So I went from a cool old bass that sounded awful to one that I love to play and sounds great. I sold the '67s here on TB.

https://www.kleinpickups.com

This is the set I bought.
- Magnets, Our Epic Series 1962 Pickups use Original Fender Alloy Alnico 5 Magnets From 1962. We sent Original magnets from a 1962 pickup to an Independent Laboratory for Metallurgical Chemical Analysis Testing. We then contracted direct with our magnet manufacturer to get the Alnico 5 magnets Specially Poured to the exact composition of the Originals. We are the only manufacturer who offers this. Pure, Sweet, and Authentic Tone.

- Wire, our 42ga Plain Enamel wire is not just stock wire. We have sent dozens of samples of wire from early Precisions for analysis. We get our 42ga Plain Enamel built to the exact specs of the samples we have had analyzed. Exact Resistance, Exact ID & OD, & Color matching. Our 42ga Plain Enamel Wire is the most authentic and accurate Magnet Wire Available. As Authentic as it can possibly get.

Wow - I've never heard of anyone going to that extreme for authenticity. Sets them apart to say the least. Very cool - it's a special bass!