Thunderbird Club

[BklynKen]

A Phoenix, or Thunderbird, rises from the ashes.

 

[godofthunder59]

Phoenix action shot!

 

[TBird1958]

Amazing skills Scott!

 

[godofthunder59]

That's more a resurrection than a restoration. What a great project - top marks!

I was originally just going to do a bolt on neck but I figured in for a penny in for a pound. I rebuilt the body and sent it off to Michael Dolan to make the neck.

 

[BklynKen]

What's the best/easiest way to clean the Thunderbird body? Mine's pretty dirty.

 

[Leiria]

What's the best/easiest way to clean the Thunderbird body? Mine's pretty dirty.

On my TBird I actually like a somewhat dirty look, unlike on my fretless. It's not a TBird but it may help you to know that on it I use baby wipes and then a dry cloth afterwards. Super fast, easy and very effective

 

[godofthunder59]

I just use a damp cloth and then go over with a dry one, if I do anything. Whatever you do don't use things like Pledge and Endust they contain silicone and it will over time damage the finish.

 

[BklynKen]

Thanks, guys. As long as just a wet cloth works, that's great for me. I don't have baby wipes.

 

[godofthunder59]

Thanks, guys. As long as just a wet cloth works, that's great for me. I don't have baby wipes.

Baby wipes I dunno man not a fragrance I want to associate with my basses.

 

[BklynKen]

Baby wipes I dunno man not a fragrance I want to associate with my basses.

That too. Damn I miss the new smell the Thunderbird had.

 

[godofthunder59]

View attachment 851821

Bought off ebay for $ 10 bucks, converted to a guitar at some point then smashed in a parking lot in a true geetard hissy fit. The body actually had tar on it.

 

[Leiria]

Baby wipes I dunno man not a fragrance I want to associate with my basses.

They don't leave smell. Atleast not the ones I use

 

[Gaolee]

You guys clean things? What a concept!

 

[Loretta]

Baby wipes I dunno man not a fragrance I want to associate with my basses.

Use a new one. Don't mind the used ones.

 

[Loretta]

You guys clean things? What a concept!

You may use the used ones then.

 

[Gaolee]

You may use the used ones then.

Oh alright then. There is probably a pretty good supply.

 

[Haji]

I got a bottle of Dunlop guitar cleaner almost two years ago. Works great, easy to use. Lasts a really long time. Sometimes it's just simpler and saves time to use commercial products.

 

[veebass]

I just clean them down with a wet cloth and then dry. Been using Clayton's Carnauba Wax to polish for quite some time. Really good on nitro finishs, also on poly.

 

[BklynKen]

For me it's probably mostly sweat that causes matte sections.

 

[jason the fox]

Hi folks,

Was recommended that I post this over here to see if anyone has any thoughts:

Been getting a hum/buzz out of my Gibson Thunderbird -

Not exactly overpowering, but definitely annoying. As far as I can tell from my checking, the bass is still grounded (I opened it up and checked everything). The hum is with both pickups on, or either one solo'd. It slowly goes away as I roll back on the tone knob. The louder I have my amplifier, the louder the buzz is.

So this is what we've got:

- ground wire and all electronics still appear to be in tact and connected where they should be
- tried multiple amps, still buzz
- buzz does not go away when I touch any metal part on the bass, but it goes away when I turn the tone knob down. Pickup selection doesn't effect it.
- tried multiple rooms and three different venues/gigs, still buzz
- gets worse/goes away to one extent or another as I turn towards/away from the amplifier.
- tried different cables, with and without effects. still buzz.

I've done some research and have come to the conclusion that this might actually be cause by the output jack itself failing. These basses come with the barrel-type output jack, so I can't exactly see whats going on inside it, and what may or may not be wrong with it when I'm plugged in.

I also want to add that I bought the bass brand new in 2006 (I think) and the electronics have been touched/modded.

Any thoughts?

Just replying to my own post here:

Looks like the culprit is indeed, the output jack. As was suggested by a few folks. Found out tonight, basically through the process of elimination.

And as a coincidence, my tone pot might be bad too and the capacitor looks like it literally has a small crack in it. I really never noticed it before this point, but it gives me a "snap/crackle/pop" when I roll it right back to zero.

Can anyone recommend the best place to hunt down some replacement parts? Pretty sure All Parts would have a compatible output jack but wondering what else might be out there.