Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

....So here's the control cavity pic
View attachment 3851158

Note that in each case the shield wire (wire mesh) is soldered to the back of the corresponding volume pot and the single core wire (hot) is soldered to the center lug of the corresponding volume pot.

Note to self - that that's the cheapest a$$ cap I've ever seen in any bass! I'm shocked that this bass sounds so good with that pathetic excuse for a capacitor. Anybody know the value of these caps (no guessing) I might have a spare orange drop or oil cap I can replace it with.

Thank you!

Later I'll look and take a pic of mine and post it as well. (That wording seems like it could get us in trouble. Context is everything.)

 

[dagrev]

some seem to enjoy that activity..

I don't mind when I'm making progress and eventually get "there."

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

OK, that makes sense. Thank you for bearing with my lack of electrical understanding.

no prob...we are here to ENABLE...

 

[dagrev]

Lotta truth in that!


LOL - I'd need a microscope to read writing small enough to fit on that cap. No joking, it's about half the size of a match head. I guess the real question is, would you use that cap in a bass you built if you had an orange drop or other higher end cap laying around? I wouldn't. But as Gaolee wisely notes - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Mine is tiny as well. Cap that is..... But is not blue.

 

[MCF]

Even with the color, I'm not convince that putting a Thunderbird right next to a pool like that is a good idea.

At least it wasn’t connected to an amp.

 

[KingFace]

D'Oh!

Doh, indeed!

 

[KingFace]

Is this the final, black ‘77 that @KingFace was searching for?

Yeah, as BklynKen mentioned, they're all '79s. And, still looking...and looking....

But, thanks for the effort, man!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

At least it wasn’t connected to an amp.

what do you do if you are playing on a yacht and the guitarist falls overboard midset?

 

[dagrev]

....So here's the control cavity pic
View attachment 3851158

Note that in each case the shield wire (wire mesh) is soldered to the back of the corresponding volume pot and the single core wire (hot) is soldered to the center lug of the corresponding volume pot.

Note to self - that that's the cheapest a$$ cap I've ever seen in any bass! I'm shocked that this bass sounds so good with that pathetic excuse for a capacitor. Anybody know the value of these caps (no guessing) I might have a spare orange drop or oil cap I can replace it with.

Mine. Couldn't wait till this evening. PUs seem to be wired correctly. It does look a ground from the jack is a little different that yours. If it is a ground it looks like it's going to the tone pot on mine and the volume pot on yours. That likely makes no difference.

 

[Toptube]

Thanks. Just undo the wire and resolder someplace on the other end of the PU if metal? But they will look like this and I'm not sure what can switch.

View attachment 3850957

To be clear, we are swapping the connections to the pots.

 

[TBird1958]

Yeah, as BklynKen mentioned, they're all '79s. And, still looking...and looking....

But, thanks for the effort, man!

We are all on the lookout for you.........Your inner completest must be rewarded.

 

[KingFace]

We are all on the lookout for you.........Your inner completest must be rewarded.

Aw, man. VERY much appreciated!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Mine. Couldn't wait till this evening. PUs seem to be wired correctly. It does look a ground from the jack is a little different that yours. If it is a ground it looks like it's going to the tone pot on mine and the volume pot on yours. That likely makes no difference.
View attachment 3851362

that one is a 22nFd cap. it's also grounded on one side meaning it's acting as a low pass element. the R at different frequencies is 723Ohm at 10kHz and 180k at 40Hz....big difference. it acts as the frequency attenuating element in the tone control. Don't know what the correct value should be but if they stuffed the wrong value at the factory, say 220nFd instead of 22nF it would definitely explain what you are seeing....an easy experiment would be to disconnect one side of that cap and observe the diff..

 

[JJR58]

Yeah, as BklynKen mentioned, they're all '79s. And, still looking...and looking....

But, thanks for the effort, man!

We are too! For you.
Like V said.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Thank you!

Later I'll look and take a pic of mine and post it as well. (That wording seems like it could get us in trouble. Context is everything.)

Take it to snapchat, kids...

 

[Miles_ONeal]

no prob...we are here to ENABLE...

Yes. The eventual solution will be to buy more THUNDERBIRDS.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

what do you do if you are playing on a yacht and the guitarist falls overboard midset?

Take his/her spot on the solos.

 

[Gaolee]

Oh, no. I think....

In the end, it may just be me. And the drummer. But what do they know about tone!

Absolutely nothing!

 

[Gaolee]

what do you do if you are playing on a yacht and the guitarist falls overboard midset?

Hope somebody put a penny in the fuse box so it doesn't kill the PA?

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah, as BklynKen mentioned, they're all '79s. And, still looking...and looking....

But, thanks for the effort, man!

Your mission is our mission. I doubt anybody here would hesitate a split second if a black '79 turned up. You would probably hear immediately, and probably more than once.