Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

It was 2017 VP day here. Dialed in the setup and played on and off most of the afternoon. Gave it a good polish and cleaned up the case real well. It was listed as very good condition by the seller on Reverb; the only issue was the missing silver disc on a volume knob. I bought a replacement set of four on eBay...The seller said there were a few nicks on it; I can’t find them. All cleaned up and with new knobs it’s in excellent condition.

 

[RedVee]

You're just showing off that pickguard you know I love!

me also.

 

[SubHuman]

I have the somewhat hard to find Thunderbird Pro IV in translucent black. The grain shows thru and she is a tone monster. The guy I bought it from couldn’t get rid of the pre-amp hum. I shielded the tone/volume and pickup cavities with copper tape and soldered the seams. She rumbles and is whisper quiet. If you have noise issues try the shielding.

 

[KaraQ]

I have the somewhat hard to find Thinderbird Pro IV in translucent black. The grain shows thru and she is a tone monster. The guy I bought it from couldn’t get rid of the pre-amp hum. I shielded the tone/volume and pickup cavities with copper tape and soldered the seams. She rumbles and is whisper quiet. If you have noise issues try the shielding. View attachment 3875330

That's what I'm trying next for my Pro V; I've finished checking all the connections and grounding so I thought that should be my next step for eliminating the hum. Where did you get the shielding from? I'm only just now beginning to look into vendors for that.

Beautiful Thunderbird, BTW!

 

[SubHuman]

It’s copper sheilding tape for EMI. I bought the 1” width from Digikey several years ago. You rub it into the cavity with a popsickle stick and overlap the edges. Careful it’s sharp! Then take a soldering iron and put a dab about every inch apart. solder a ground wire to the input jack. If it has the active pre-amp wrap that too. It made a huge difference. I’ll pull the cover plate and attach a photo. I do that to all of my guitars!

 

[GBassNorth]

It’s copper sheilding tape for EMI. I bought the 1” width from Digikey several years ago. You rub it into the cavity with a popsickle stick and overlap the edges. Careful it’s sharp! Then take a soldering iron and put a dab about every inch apart. solder a ground wire to the input jack. If it has the active pre-amp wrap that too. It made a huge difference. I’ll pull the cover plate and attach a photo. I do that to all of my guitars!

Spot on!
Shielding tape does make a huge difference in quieting down electronics, especially active basses.
A few places also carry the type that has a conductive adhesive backing and comes in roll or sheet form. It's what I normally use and have successfully used it many times without having to solder in place.
Conductive Copper Tape | stewmac.com
Copper Foil Sheet w/ Conductive Adhesive Approx 12" x 10" - Qty 5

BTW - I agree with @KaraQ - the trans black finish on your bird looks fantastic! I don't think I've ever seen another one, must be very rare. Play her proud.

 

[JIO]

I also played much of today, the first day of summer 2020... sheltered at home. I have a little ratty old Peavey Decade guitar amp that I sat in front of me in the living room and dialed it as good as I could considering it's a ratty old guitar amp. It was fun because if I played with gentle, controlled articulation - I could get it to sound pretty decent. Any heavier handed and it would distort. So I worked on my touch/articulation, which I try to do often. Playing bass-lines and playing bass-lines are two different things and needs constant nurturing and rudimentary reminders. Just think of it - when you feel most engaged playing is when your feel is optimal. I can go through the motions and play all the bass-lines I know w/o thinking - but it's how those bass-lines are played right? Used my recently renovated '63 Burns of London Vista Sonic med-scale bass (in the WILD DOG setting!) - really digging it.

 

[SubHuman]

Yeah I agree! The human touch is as important as the fretting accuracy. It’s like a painter using bold strokes for power but a gentle touch for a delicate sound. The only good thing about this virus is we are all taking time to rediscover our craft! Keep on rockin’ in the free world!

 

[JIO]

Yeah I agree! The human touch is as important as the fretting accuracy. It’s like a painter using bold strokes for power but a gentle touch for a delicate sound. The only good thing about this virus is we are all taking time to rediscover our craft! Keep on rockin’ in the free world!

word

 

[SubHuman]

Love your bass! That is one sweet axe!!

 

[Nocturnal]

If you search Amazon for copper shielding tape, you will find many options in various width's and lengths. I bought a roll a couple months back for around $15 for a large roll. And I totally agree that the edges are sharp!! I was warned to be careful with it and cut my hand in a couple places anyhow.

 

[JIO]

Love your bass! That is one sweet axe!!

Thanks! It most certainly is! I'm going to be renovating another '60s vintage British short-scale (Watkins/WEM) bass, and have started a thread for it - Incoming resurrection project... '67 WEM/Watkins Rapier/Sapphire short scale - visit if you are so inclined!

 

[KaraQ]

It’s copper sheilding tape for EMI. I bought the 1” width from Digikey several years ago. You rub it into the cavity with a popsickle stick and overlap the edges. Careful it’s sharp! Then take a soldering iron and put a dab about every inch apart. solder a ground wire to the input jack. If it has the active pre-amp wrap that too. It made a huge difference. I’ll pull the cover plate and attach a photo. I do that to all of my guitars!

Spot on!
Shielding tape does make a huge difference in quieting down electronics, especially active basses.
A few places also carry the type that has a conductive adhesive backing and comes in roll or sheet form. It's what I normally use and have successfully used it many times without having to solder in place.
Conductive Copper Tape | stewmac.com
Copper Foil Sheet w/ Conductive Adhesive Approx 12" x 10" - Qty 5

BTW - I agree with @KaraQ - the trans black finish on your bird looks fantastic! I don't think I've ever seen another one, must be very rare. Play her proud.

Thanks for the info! I'm very much a measure twice/cut once kinda girl, so I appreciate the help getting my ducks (started) into a row on this!

 

[SubHuman]

Nice! I will check it out!

 

[JIO]

If you search Amazon for copper shielding tape, you will find many options in various width's and lengths. I bought a roll a couple months back for around $15 for a large roll. And I totally agree that the edges are sharp!! I was warned to be careful with it and cut my hand in a couple places anyhow.

I buy it at my local Ace Hardware - "slung tape"

 

[JIO]

Thanks for the info! I'm very much a measure twice/cut once kinda girl, so I appreciate the help getting my ducks (started) into a row on this!

Welcome relatively new tb member from the great state of CA! We are all T-bird watchers here!

 

[KaraQ]

Welcome relatively new tb member from the great state of CA! We are all T-bird watchers here!

Thanks!

Although, I must admit to being a transplant to CA. My posts should ideally be imagined to have a southern Appalachian/east TN accent

 

[JIO]

Thanks!

Although, I must admit to being a transplant to CA. My posts should ideally be imagined to have a southern Appalachian/east TN accent

Hah! Most Californians are transplants! (including myself!) But being here since '90, I feel very "settled" - welcome to CA and may it help you realize your dreams!

 

[dagrev]

This is my promised pics of the original ebony/abalone pg that I made in about '74 for my stolen '63 II. I put it on my '64 for pics but will remove it now that I've documented it in pics. I'm not superstitious but putting it on my '64 is sorta' uncomfortable. Other than this which I had no idea how I was reacting to until I did it - I never rest a bicycle wheel on the side of a chair if I'm changing a tyre etc... too much of a wheelchair image...

As you can see - it's pretty crude compared to the second one I made in late '78. Like pancakes - the second batch is always better!

View attachment 3875142

That's not crude. Crude would be me doing one! I think it looks great!

 

[dagrev]

For reference... mo better.

View attachment 3875175

Not "better." Stunning!