Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

The guitar arrived. It needs new strings, and the late '70s cheapo tuning machines are about as smooth as a derailed train. But it's in as good a shape as I had expected and sounds great even with the strings that are on it. There's one dent on one edge, but that doesn't bother me much. Somebody dropped it sometime along the way. There would be something wrong if that didn't happen. I assume the finish is poly, since there's no checking. Whatever it is, it is thin. The wood grain telegraphs through on all surfaces in a subtle and beautiful way. Somebody did an odd, shallow cut on part of the back of the headstock. It barely got through the finish, and appears to have been that way a long time. It's on the back of the headstock, so no problems. It sure sounds good even with dead strings.

I have work to do today. It's going to be hard to concentrate. Maybe I'll just put strings on it and...

 

[dagrev]

Pretty Cherry...
View attachment 3836799

Indeed!

 

[Thumper]

I’m thinking of wiring up a volume, blend, and tone. My only issue is that I’ve got room for four controls and I don’t know what to do with the fourth spot. I’m turning my bird into a passive setup because I already have a solid active bass and now I want a super solid passive.

I’ve read in a much older post that some options could be a bass cut or a separate tone, but I don’t know if a second tone is necessary or how to wire a passive EQ control

Series/parallel switch would be my vote

 

[TBird1958]

I’d be happy to join! I’m not a super active member of TB but I will try to contribute when I can. I can also post other pictures of the Thunderbird too.

As an update about my project, I’m looking at getting a set of Seymour Duncan SSB-4s or maybe contacting Bertolini for a set of T4CBCs. Now I’m trying to figure out a control scheme

Please be welcome with us fluffy94, bring all the questions you like, pics are always encouraged too! Avoid the melon helmet guys, they're nothing but trouble
You're #811 here


TBird 1958 #1
GodofThunder59 #2
Funkster#3
Gibenbackerbass #4
Sidd Laroy #5
Jazzbo58 #6
Nocturnal #7
Showdown #8
The Mojo Hobo #9
Doctorpunch #10
Stiles72 #11
Brenner182 #12
Baird6869 #13
Poorbassist15 #14
PWV #15
Mr Typhus #16
Tracii #17
Aditya #18
amimbari #19
knifedge #20
Nitrofix #21
Atoz #22
bassphreak #23
Seydlitz #24
bassclef112 #25
bassplayer8953 #26
D.M.N. #27
Edhunter #28
kruno maestro #29
Tombowlus #30
Kalik #31
winterburn69 #32
Walter Vega 33
Carlos 840 #34
Shadowtippy #35
Saltymonkey #36
lel95 #37
gaffster787 #38
mc2ny #39
Low Sound Love #40
BrianKrashpad #41
Deep Six #42
BenEd #43
Bassmachine2112 #44
ponkoponk #45
Heatheroo #46
darkside 88 #47
GCool#48
TedhHernstorm #49
Darbo #50
uncletupelo #51
Vaider #52
Rip Topaz #53
bmb73 #54
Badfish #55
Afireinside #56
Redstrand #57
reptyls #58
dabido #59
96tbird #60
whilke #61
JIO #63
thebrain #64
Rob Martinez #65
bazzandeson #66
PhR #67
Dr.Eagle #68
lowend1 #69 Mopar or no car!
Basvarken #70
s mcsleazy #71
Burruss #72
Matty H #73
moonshinegtrs #74
bass lord mutha #75
jumbodbassman #76
davidprice #77
A-Step-Towards #78
birdman14 #79
Quadzilla #80
jbalou02 #81
johnk 10 #82
electrocoyote #83
ih8law #84
muzukman7 #85
3rdcurve #86
rdwil191 #87
BluesBear #88
JAF #89
Swin #90
TBirdie #91
bassplayerbob #92
trevorguns #93
Clammy #94
jammi_fool #95
Molochnik #96
Rocker47 #97
Shark1 #98
BlueTalon #99
Fab Superlative #100
Doragon #101
ThumpsAlot #102
Doelle #103
AllyDetours #104
Southway #105
mav #106
tw63 #107
Casperrobo #108
Killa #109
roffe #110
SOB H.R.MC #111
icks #112
thepunisher #113
PatQ #114
Venom of God #115
Jirishman #116
Midas #117
GibsonBassCAZ #118
snowblinder #119
Tilli #120
3l3phantstomp #121
Thrust Meatnozl #122
gaudenti #123
Birdbrain #124
CBTB #125
greghol #126
DV6 #127
marlond #128
DWest1981 #129
Shinji #130
jaibeau #131
Warrioralex #132
jonesn4bass #133
Rono7003 #134
hillerup #135
Dadagoboi #136
MRDOOM #137
secretsound5 #138
trevorguns #139
J Sinister #140
Capitian Bob #141
gui****ed #142
Fullback32 #143
Johnny78 #144
jelenko #145
Jools4001 #146
Porkbun #147
Lucas G #148
NOT #149
JtheB #150
Andii Syckz #151
sj bass #152
FrankenIbanez70 #153
Nosgoth #154
Artyom76 #155
D Bopp #156
CDRhom #157
Mark4 #158
thepest #159
TheCush #160
Pure eVal #161
iamthebassman #162
juankidiaz #163
Wilbur88 #164
WillMuderface #165
Evsm73 #166
JB66#167
brettsto #168
TheProphet #169
mikeowen17 #170
Pharaohamps #171
dial666 #172
faivy #173
HAVOK #174
Astroburn #175
aLLard #176
MissionTbird #177
Thebassman2011 #178
DaM13N # 179
LanOsb133 #180
Lowner #181
Frankiebass59 #182
Justice #183
tiger rich #184
spunkadizzle #185
quadrogong #186
Wolf C Red #187
gui****ed #188
ledzep5296 #189
aussiebasshero #190
trackskinz#191
guns N rosesguy #192
Jamyi #193
Thunderbird90 #194
Cobra314 #195
Ric5 #196
ApocalypseDream #197
Gougedeye #198
okc-zee #199
NOLA Bass #200
AdamR #201
bassmaniac72 #202
pudge #203
BWileyTally #204
poomwah #205
chibfarm2001 #206
thisSNsucks #207
mr.mow #208
4005 #209
seansv #210
BassDoc51 #211
ben0099 #212
Trooper1911 #213
mordor #214
brotondo #215
HIaWATTha #216
Zerstorte Zelle #217
MrNecroVol #218
Freddy-G #219
Regininblood #220
ejaggers #221
gregoire1 #222
thundereagle #223
Geezer79 #224
cubanbass #225
Silverwolf1 #226
Mikaelbass #227
BruceBass3901 #228
Chris V #229
Mikaelbass #230
JayBassD #231
JMPeat #232
Phildogger #233
beebassdude #234
MrGotBass #235
2nd Wind #236
butter_fingers #237
Chumbly #238
roycroft 88 #239
finlover #240
recycled rocker #241
wolfmancharlie #242
balton4 #243
GregBummer #244
penguineman #245
TheOnlyJuan #246
nubs #247
Gringo Starr #248
PhR #249
georgestrings #250
cajunbass1985 #251
Wagz #252
armedmonkey #253
RedNeckBBQ #254
faviobarrio #255
PhantomApex #256
cmassa #257
vbass_2000 #258
MrMcHaggis #259
Linchpin72 #260
whitee96 #261
edpal #262
Ibanez Bassist #263
21petro #264
CiceroProfundo #265
Willncarolina #266
theweirdoid #267
Gaolee #268
TheLarch #269
Castagnier #270
diskovolos #271
fordkisskrazy #272
woodski #273
chipter #274
Unclejackrock #275
Bass173 #276
tbird99 #277
tore00 #278
lepreconbass13 #279
Junk420 #280
Tx Basser #281
epirokker #282
sugarsand #283
thebbconspiracy #284
Dionioann #285
LumberjackTBird #286
MikeyB5 #287
Thunders #288
anonparrot #289
darren1970 #290
Egbert89 #291
seBASStien #292
Figas #293
Vikerlane #294
ps10black #295
eldo #296
GGirl #297
FenderLove #298
quite_angry #299
hover #300
bdkthunder #301
MoSlevin #302
Gbass75 #303
rocknroll mouse #304
hillerup #305
GBassNorth #306
KPJ #307
fjadams #308
Nino D #309
Ecko #310
Peepaleep #311
DethByDoom #312
wvbass #313
rockscott #314
CDHawkins #315
scourge #316
Astreaux #317
pedrodelawasp #318
66Atlas #319
YOU LAND #320
Hilton Marsh #321
lfbassguy #322
Wolfpack #323
jayceofbass #324
ZombieSpacebat #325
Rotwang#326
mrb327#327
NWOBHM Kid # 328
Puisher 911 #329
Gunner 77 # 330
shadven #331
Guiness20 #332
dukey donkey #333
Bassco #334
chnapz #335
marq1965 #336
1stnamebassist #337
Electric Wizard #338
Ces art #339
liquorsbass #340
MarkusBass #341
BigH #342
Tonyxtiger #343
jnumme #344
BklynKen #345 - First Gibson lefty!
HofnerVox #346
blackest frank #347
prafeston #348
snaverb #349
DrPFunk #350
Moonshine #351
mournblade #352
CreepyJack #353
Bluzman90 #354
N10 #355
WaboRat72 #356
undead menace #357
BlacknWhite #358
Snakeman1066 #359
brokencode #360
The Seabass16 #361
Thunderdrool #362
rick4001s #363
echoSE7EN #364
solderjunkie #365
DougieB #366
untamedhellion #367
TabaccoRipper #368
LAST C #369
Basssssist #370
Arial Bender #371
ptleftybass #372
JackThe Ripper #373
Sigmundklaus #374
RadioRob #375
Liam McMonigle #376 Prince Liam
Karlos69 #377
JonDark #378
bassgod0dmw #379
TomStuart #380
Electric Delta #381
Mastermold #382
scars #383
monkeybass68 #384
exiii #385
HengistPod #386
jason the fox #387
Tamoume #388
jakelly #389
MicG #390
rogerinoly #391
mcarp555 #392
BlkHeli #393
mattj1stc #394
Roadstar #395
Satyrnine #396
Spiffmeister #397
Tim68 #398
tomshepp #399
THE DANiMAL #400
Andy Sivyer #401
Ender_rpm #402
Count Vitriol #403
bassistjoe93 #404
Project7Bass #405
Furious_Man77 #406
j.kernodle #407
Glass Onion #408
EpiRipper #409
msact #410
BirdThunder #411
pfox14 #412
jdb72 #413
SlingBass4 #444
GemJam #414
Faky77 #415
Purplefowler #416
starmann #417
mr pablo #418
GabeXLeouz #419
Rutger56 #420
bass geetarist #421
Bassic Playing #422
dorknowitski #423
jastacey #424
Terracite #425
MoparMonster #426
HypersoulRocks #427
germanson13 #428
Larry V #429
REMBO #430
WalMark #431
BassPlummet #432
Fletz #433
HockeyDawg #434
lowendblues #435
James P #436
gunkle #437
jd56hawk #438
blocka #439
Earapeach1965 #440
TwyreZ #441
Bullitt5135 #442
JimSalomao #443
jassthebass #445
Rooster009 #446
kodiakblair #447
bahia0019 #448
awilkie84 #449
marko57 #450
Darchyboy #451
SonnyBassPlayer #452
Tbone76 #453
KF2B #454
RandomBox#455
BadBassDrummer #456
Cliffclone #457
yahtzee1280 #458
OldPlucker #459
Haji #460
ugobo #461
mistergoats #462 Formerly Geoffypants!
rickwebb #463
dannoman #464
Diddi #465
Butchboy #466
basscow #467
Graykong #468
Gilsdorf #469
mattbass6945 #470
Josh Thatguy #667
jgould 1124 664
TNF #471
Reservoir Dog #472
Chauncy - #473
GIBrat51 #474
giocalypse #475
veebass #476
Bamabird #477
Sneezy #478
Galvez11 #479
mule47 #480
Rexalot #481
Rob L #482
Righteous Thunderer #483
stingray68 #484
gafbass02 #485
vdub76 #486
heatoise #487
Winfred #488
Mike A #489
depalm #490
hopsbb #491
ubnomnar #492
denki109 #493
Ronbeast #494
Klondike #495
SVTbird #496
Jay_Dub #497
imdkoz #498
mz888 #499
The Bear GT500
probassace2 #501
L.L. Elwood #502
JELLIS78 #503
mrnylon #504
ProperModulation #505
BassicDesire #506
Twangster 101 #507
Mark Cult #508
Nowyn #509
the_stoot64 #510
Bass master Burt man #511
Deaky #512
Bassmike62 #513
DocGeorge #514
Acoustic356 #515
aceytrixx #516
Greg Potts #517
friendlybass #518
kirillstokes #519
DinoRock #520
Leiria #521
Magi003 #522
Toddcaster64 #523
BigBadaBoom #524
Bace Waulkin #525
MIMJAZZ #526
Vara La Fey #527
Cole_The_Rumbler #528
Alaotto #529
Sahe_Bassist #530
z009 # 531
instagator #532
Mnoir #533
thorstiborsti #534
vegas532 #535
minirehak 212 #536
Off-Beat #537
phaze1todd #538
Matt O #539
Endo #540
R.Livingston #541
DonovanJM #542
AEAbass #543
BassmanMetzger56 #544
WSquires #545
Born To Hula #546.....Pics req'd
AkaGoal #547
AxxGrey #548
MCF #549
BassDaddy77 #550
Muchdoge #551
Count Bassie #552
George_Mirror #553
Sidewinder7 #554
Bucky4835 #555
el_cody_loco #556
MorguloN X Zed #557
drews.anderson #558
Medic579 #559
Mike.C. #560
MooThing #561
RustyNails #562
DesolationBlvd #563
Ajcsk8r #564
EdO #565
Brugizzle #566
Shaun_Allen_Bass #567
back5burner #568
Lo-Hz #569
backtobass #570
lancimouspitt 571
Xandrell #572
Thunderbirdfan #573
CharlyG #574
Milo's #575
drummer5359 #576
Tomand #577
Bear from Delaware #578
Springman #579
bassclef29 #580
Ryan Atchison #581
MrVanimal #583
Susqmike #584
crikker #585
Gabacho #586
tastelikedirt #587
Loretta #588
Az_Rocker76 #589
DerekW #590
Ross W. Lovell #591
DevinWard369 #592
KromaatiKlauun #593
Calderlund #594
Pelham Bleu #595
RedVee #596
tlintu #597
bluenose #599
howie289 #600
cuth #601
Spoono Ghiefardi #602
tomydacat #603
GTG 666 #604
bassburner #605
GrizzleTone #606
Mason Nagy #607
the breakman #608
shandou #609
Stevis #610
Sabee #611
georgiagoodie #612
Danilixo #613
Turlu #614
rumblejunkie #615
SakuBass #616
MonsterGirl #617
ubernator #618
bassJuju #619
RikiP #620
iain.ross #621
Drestakil #622
barclaybass #623
rodv66 #624
wolverine9002 #625
Rezdog #626
bylar13 #627
willsellout #628
alembicbones #629
7dollarbologna #630
metah_ch #631
Gluvhand #632
hazmat57 #633
TBird_MD #634
allotabass #635
suededoesit #636
LiquidMidnight #638
Mind Eroded #639
hairypete #640
KingFace #641
BurnOut #642
jamersonburton #643
bass40hz #644
Bulltrout #645
vdub75 #646
Mvf #647
ThunderbirdMax #648
Session1969 #649
NullPorch #650
bizzybass #651
Border #652
Mantis Tobaggan #653
Tocean #654
HouseUmbrella #655
Sound Guy #656
theFixer #657
JKydd #658
dagrev #659
BXBss #660
Hillbilly Dave #661
Chucky Stiletti #662
Ponsonby Britt #663
silky smoove #664
ThunderFox #665
Lemmy #666
Dr_Feelgoood212 #667
Pillo #668 - Near the beast
JJR58 #669
BussplyrMojo #670
Pier #671
Skerrvydog #672
ezra1 #673
Nevada Bob #674
vandoorn #675
flashgod #676
Cardinal Fang #677
Kieran McGhee #678
jweber76 #679
RenoDave #680
Kenova #681
Shannon #682
clivem #683
Gyver #684
StaffordMike #685
djaxup #686
ppiluk #687
lamf #688
PianoOfDoom #689
dukeorock #690
Eddie Leblanc #691
dieselman #692
Miles_ONeal #693
Xansky #694
Megaton Aaron #695
Mr Wrench #696
Jakeman #697
byoung93888 #698
MommyPlaysBass #699
Nighttrain1127 #700
LH MCCURDY BASSES #701
Tooned #702
Gar Ulfr #703
Dysnomia #704
Thunderbird82 #705
Milchlingr #706
Vsp13 #707
bking#708
Fogboundturtle #709
ZenGuitarist #710
cableguy #711
Tori2013 #712
megatapper #713
hisdudeness #714
jpmcbride #715
Chuck King #716
netohugo #717
DLEE #718
Pixu #719
Scoops #720
GonePlaid #721
Engle #722
Moody Tuner #723
cellkirk74 #724
Wayfan #725
johnnyCreep #726
MrKeef #727
Elder Rynok #728
cornfarmer #729
tbird42 #730
Kriegs #731
bassstrangler #732
DChid #733
Bill Kron #734
yobtaf #735
mr_dave138 #736
Jonathan C #737
jackn1202 #738
ToddofThunder #739
Phat Stanley #740
Jakeman #741
Kikegg #742
ZeroSymbolic #743
Erik herman #744
Bassmaticmatt#745
Moosehead1966 #746
Crusher47 #747
lopeha #748
N4860 #749
Ginkgo+ #750
Greginperth #751
Nunovsky #752
Hounddog409 #753
Bassblisters #754
Toybreaker #755
BurtMacklinFBI #756
JD Ronson #757
lasbassplayer #758
jumbo steelie #759
mr zee #760
Cuzzie #761
Felix Lopez #762
mbell75 #763
badgenes #764
Redwine006 #765
Robert Hutton #766
Jonithen #767
ModuMan #768
Jeff K #769
DDXdesign #770
Kipp Harrington #771
stratoclutter #772
bobyoung53 #773
Patrick J #774
Richard I #775
TerribleTim68 #776
BuddhaFingas #777
Tom Ward #778
Glenn Johnson #779
Dasgre0g #780
Keith Rawlings #781
JJP_1984_LB50 #782
Overdriven 66 #783
BradE #784
Jeremiah_S #785
BakedMaple #786
StephG #787
Rich67 #788
Shinbone #789
DWLANG #790
Greg P Schmidt #791
Anemic_SluG #792
kohanmike #793
Tim Skaggs #794
Jebberz #795
subduded67 #796
straussenburger #797
T-BirdsAreGo #798
Beginner Craig #799
tykus #800
Midas #801
West Delta Slim #802
LetItGrowTone #803
devilof76 #804
AlxRaiche #805
BC Blackmur #806
kevin wells #807
Yok #808
rollyolly #809
upsidedownlefty #810
Fluffy94 #811
Thumper #813
Dave814 #814
Kat888 #888

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I like car colors best on TBirds.

Some of my favorites are the early 1970's Mopar color schemes. A bold choice would be Plum Crazy, but a very cool choice would be In-Violet. Here's a link to some Mopar color charts...
Mopar Paint Colors

Porsche has also had a number of really interesting colors over the years especially in the blue shades. Zenith blue would be a neat color on a TBird, it turns violet in bright light. Here's a color selection site for every Porsche color offered, just click on the little car color icons to see photos of actual cars in different lighting...
Rennbow Porsche Color Wiki | Porsche Club of America

Enjoy

Serious fading or photo color fail on the Dodge charts. Or else the yellow from the '69 Super Bee is missing.

 

[Gaolee]

Well, gosh. The first new to me git-box problem. Cheapo 1970s tuning buttons break. I went to put new strings on it and the high E button disintegrated. Epoxy might solve the problem on a temporary basis. New ones are on the way. I figured replacing the tuning machines might need to happen, but I didn't expect it to be an immediate requirement. The guitar itself is fantastic, complete with an adjustable neck with the truss-rod hidden in the sound hole. Where I expected it, having had one before. The hardware and pin suck. As I expected, having had one before. Note to self: 40+ year old cheap parts need to be replaced pretty much right away.

 

[Engle]

I don't remember who but someone has an on/off "Suck Switch" on their bass.

It’s a black Explorer.

 

[D.M.N.]

Well alrighty then...

Epiphone ThunderBird 4 String Bass 2015 Green Sparkle | BRONCO Bob's GUITAR Emporium | Reverb

 

[BklynKen]

Well alrighty then...

Epiphone ThunderBird 4 String Bass 2015 Green Sparkle | BRONCO Bob's GUITAR Emporium | Reverb

View attachment 3837107

I think they added a decimal place too many in the price.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Well alrighty then...

Epiphone ThunderBird 4 String Bass 2015 Green Sparkle | BRONCO Bob's GUITAR Emporium | Reverb

View attachment 3837107

That's very cool. But not $2100 cool. At least to me.

 

[Patrick J]

That's very cool. But not $2100 cool. At least to me.

$2100 for a Korean Epi Tbird IV
Highway robbery

 

[dagrev]

Well alrighty then...

Epiphone ThunderBird 4 String Bass 2015 Green Sparkle | BRONCO Bob's GUITAR Emporium | Reverb

View attachment 3837107

Well that certainly says a lot about somebody. Individual conclusions can be drawn. But we all know an idiot did this. Wanting that price confirms just adds to the confirmation. I like green sparkle--but not like that.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

That's very cool. But not $2100 cool. At least to me.

But if you’re Peter Pan....

 

[fasterpussycat]

I’m thinking of wiring up a volume, blend, and tone. My only issue is that I’ve got room for four controls and I don’t know what to do with the fourth spot. I’m turning my bird into a passive setup because I already have a solid active bass and now I want a super solid passive.

I’ve read in a much older post that some options could be a bass cut or a separate tone, but I don’t know if a second tone is necessary or how to wire a passive EQ control

multicolour flashing LED

 

[fasterpussycat]

When I converted my Pro IV to passive, I tried wiring it with two volume, two tone. I used the wiring from a stack-knob J as a guide and it didn't work very well for some reason. Maybe my allergy to J-basses just made that a preordained failure. Then I wired it VVT, with a selector switch in the fourth hole. I'm not happy with that, either but haven't rewired it again. The bass is already fretless, and I'm considering getting it refinished. If that happens, it will lose a couple of the holes and become VV only with the other two holes blanked off and filled.

Now to figure out what color a fretless Thunderbird with Alumitones should be... It would have to be a non-traditional color of some kind, but that might take a while to decide. It always does. I'm currently thinking it should be 1968 GM Rallye Green. That would be different from most Thunderbirds, with the exception of one of Veronica's green 'Birds.

Like this, but with Alumitones, no frets and midnight blue.

 

[Nocturnal]

Well alrighty then...

Epiphone ThunderBird 4 String Bass 2015 Green Sparkle | BRONCO Bob's GUITAR Emporium | Reverb

View attachment 3837107

Completely insane!!! The finish, the price, everything about it is insane.

 

[fasterpussycat]

I would never, ever own a Plum Crazy Thunderbird...........

View attachment 3836942

 

[Nocturnal]

To add to the current UPS shipment-delayed-misery, I ordered a gig bag for my "normal shaped" basses the other day. I received notice that it was out for delivery today along with a "track your delivery" option that shows where it is on the map. According to the UPS map it has been in my neighborhood twice today, once less than 2 blocks away from my house. The package is supposedly about to enter my neighborhood once again. Maybe they will actually drop it off this time, but I am not counting on it.

 

[dagrev]

Big Bird has finally landed. Best packing I've ever seen. Took me forever to unwrap the neck. Just opened it up and have got to go plug this Bird up.

Needs some cleaning.

Even came with a gig bag that will fit a Thunderbird.

 

[Nocturnal]

Big Bird has finally landed. Best packing I've ever seen. Took me forever to unwrap the neck. Just opened it up and have got to go plug this Bird up.
View attachment 3837222

Needs some cleaning.
View attachment 3837223

Even came with a gig bag that will fit a Thunderbird.
View attachment 3837224

FINALLY!!!!!! Congrats man!!