Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

Hello everyone!

First post here. I stumbled upon "Thunderbird club" and had to join the forums.
I love the thunderbird. Just sold my Goth 4 string and bought the 5 string in the avatar picture.

...

I'm happy to read you T-boys!

Welcome aboard! We'd love to see a better pic of your bass.

Also, it's not just guys here. T-peeps.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Is it me? Or is the TB server acting wonky for some of you today?

I haven't noticed anything today.

 

[Gaolee]

Chuck - just confirmed on my 2015, the truss cover is single ply gloss black with raised gloss gold lettering and is 1mm thick, no beveled edge.

And those are a colossal PITA to get on and off if you still have the strings on the bass. I don't remove the strings to adjust the truss rod, just loosen them. It's only a matter of time before one of those tiny black screws that are nearly impossible to handle without needle nose tweezers goes bouncing off somewhere in another dimension.

 

[Gaolee]

My case (Ex case?) is one of the old ones, the rectangular ones.
I think I'll be buying it back very soon.

I actually like those cases a bit better than Gibson cases.

 

[MCF]

And those are a colossal PITA to get on and off if you still have the strings on the bass. I don't remove the strings to adjust the truss rod, just loosen them. It's only a matter of time before one of those tiny black screws that are nearly impossible to handle without needle nose tweezers goes bouncing off somewhere in another dimension.

Just confirmed that the ‘13 NR and and the ‘15 have identical chintzy 1 ply 1mm covers.

 

[PillO]

Happy Canada Day for ?yesterday? Gang

No, it's still today...

 

[PillO]

I'm pretty sure it's just an after market case...
View attachment 3888616
Nothing to write home about and not even a safe fit (headstock hits the floor of the case with very little padding). It's not specifically cut out for this bass. Maybe the Guitar Center sticker on the end of the case explains it all...
View attachment 3888617
...now I just need to find an Epoch brand Firebird to fit the case, might be a rare one.

Actually, it looks an awful lot like a Yorkville Thunderbird case.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

And those are a colossal PITA to get on and off if you still have the strings on the bass. I don't remove the strings to adjust the truss rod, just loosen them. It's only a matter of time before one of those tiny black screws that are nearly impossible to handle without needle nose tweezers goes bouncing off somewhere in another dimension.

That's what magnetized screwdrivers and small zip-locs or other sealed containers are for.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I actually like those cases a bit better than Gibson cases.

Why is that? The (brown) Gibson cases certainly look cool in photos, but I don't remember the last time I saw one in real life.

 

[PillO]

That's what magnetized screwdrivers and small zip-locs or other sealed containers are for.

I second Miles' suggestion that you work only in a sealed plastic bubble when you work with small parts (ahem).

 

[samthebassist24]

Hey all! Recently acquired a Gibson Thunderbird for a great price with two known issues: it has a pretty bad hum from both pickups and the case was pretty chewed up. I got a new case and solved that issue, but I’m still trying to figure out what is causing the hum. It hums when it’s in close proximity to electrical wiring and/or lighting and where it’s facing determines how much hum there is. Whenever I touch the strings, the hum doesn’t change. I switched out the stock pickups to a set of brand new Thunderbuckers and the same issue is present, even with the exact same wiring and solder positions that the original pickups had. I checked all of the ground wires and I’m pretty sure they’re where they need to be. I also checked the ground wire that goes to the bridge and that’s in the correct spot as well. Output jack has no issues as well. I’ve played through my friend’s Epi T-Bird (stock bass, no shielding) through the exact same setup I was running my Gibson through and it had virtually no hum. Sorry for the long post, just trying to figure this issue out since I’ve gone to two guitar techs and both said the issue was with the pickups before I switched the pickups out.

 

[GBassNorth]

And those are a colossal PITA to get on and off if you still have the strings on the bass. I don't remove the strings to adjust the truss rod, just loosen them. It's only a matter of time before one of those tiny black screws that are nearly impossible to handle without needle nose tweezers goes bouncing off somewhere in another dimension.

Magnetic screwdrivers are your friend.

Hey all! Recently acquired a Gibson Thunderbird for a great price with two known issues: it has a pretty bad hum from both pickups and the case was pretty chewed up. I got a new case and solved that issue, but I’m still trying to figure out what is causing the hum. It hums when it’s in close proximity to electrical wiring and/or lighting and where it’s facing determines how much hum there is. Whenever I touch the strings, the hum doesn’t change. I switched out the stock pickups to a set of brand new Thunderbuckers and the same issue is present, even with the exact same wiring and solder positions that the original pickups had. I checked all of the ground wires and I’m pretty sure they’re where they need to be. I also checked the ground wire that goes to the bridge and that’s in the correct spot as well. Output jack has no issues as well. I’ve played through my friend’s Epi T-Bird through the exact same setup I was running my Gibson through and it had virtually no hum. Sorry for the long post, just trying to figure this issue out since I’ve gone to two guitar techs and both said the issue was with the pickups before I switched the pickups out.

Two observations while looking at the control cavity...
1) There's enough solder in there for two basses. But that shouldn't be causing a hum problem unless you have a cold joint somewhere.
2) A fully shielded and grounded control cavity, control cavity cover and pup routes wouldn't hurt a bit and might very well solve the problem. It's a cheap and easy DIY fix and will normally quiet down the worst offenders. You can get the copper grounding tape with conductive adhesive backing from Philadelphia Luthier Supply. Here's a video on how to do the shielding...

 

[GonePlaid]

Why is that? The (brown) Gibson cases certainly look cool in photos, but I don't remember the last time I saw one in real life.

Like this? ETA: case for my Les Paul 5er-usual HD pic.

 

[RedVee]

Hello everyone!

First post here. I stumbled upon "Thunderbird club" and had to join the forums.
I love the thunderbird. Just sold my Goth 4 string and bought the 5 string in the avatar picture.

I have a question for you. My new 5 string hasn't arrived yet, and the person I sold the Goth to, wanted the Case (Hardshell, hard to find). The buyer told me I could buy back the case no problem if I wanted to, but I wanted to ask you if the case (The one sold by Epiphone) will be good for my 5 string, or if the bass is just too big for that case. If someone knows, I'd appreciate it.

I'm happy to read you T-boys!

Congrats Sergio, welcome and I hope you love the Pro V. I think you’ll find it quite different to the Goth.

PS: sorry Aus & NZ won the Women’s Football World Cup bid over Columbia.

PPS: not really sorry

 

[KaraQ]

I've gotten tired of having to ship/have delivered every little thing, so I went out today [now yesterday...] (with all the other people! ) and bought myself an early 4th of July gift . Largely because there weren't nobody else gonna do it!

Decided they should go on my Thunderbird IV, since it had cheesy cheap-o chrome strap buttons, that seriously clashed with all the other (black) hardware.

The new Schaller s-locks definitely look a lot better than the old ones, and have the minor secondary benefit of making it less likely to fall off the strap

TL: DR - I like buying new bass stuffs

 

[dagrev]

Hey all! Recently acquired a Gibson Thunderbird for a great price with two known issues: it has a pretty bad hum from both pickups and the case was pretty chewed up. I got a new case and solved that issue, but I’m still trying to figure out what is causing the hum. It hums when it’s in close proximity to electrical wiring and/or lighting and where it’s facing determines how much hum there is. Whenever I touch the strings, the hum doesn’t change. I switched out the stock pickups to a set of brand new Thunderbuckers and the same issue is present, even with the exact same wiring and solder positions that the original pickups had. I checked all of the ground wires and I’m pretty sure they’re where they need to be. I also checked the ground wire that goes to the bridge and that’s in the correct spot as well. Output jack has no issues as well. I’ve played through my friend’s Epi T-Bird (stock bass, no shielding) through the exact same setup I was running my Gibson through and it had virtually no hum. Sorry for the long post, just trying to figure this issue out since I’ve gone to two guitar techs and both said the issue was with the pickups before I switched the pickups out.

I know nothing here, but can give a recent pic of my '06 Gibson in hopes it will shed some light on the problem. As mentioned, shielding would likely resolve it. But I am still left wondering as to why it's doing it in the first place.

 

[dagrev]

I've gotten tired of having to ship/have delivered every little thing, so I went out today [now yesterday...] (with all the other people! ) and bought myself an early 4th of July gift . Largely because there weren't nobody else gonna do it!

View attachment 3888992
View attachment 3888993

Decided they should go on my Thunderbird IV, since it had cheesy cheap-o chrome strap buttons, that seriously clashed with all the other (black) hardware.
View attachment 3888994
View attachment 3888995
View attachment 3888996

The new Schaller s-locks definitely look a lot better than the old ones, and have the minor secondary benefit of making it less likely to fall off the strap

View attachment 3888998
View attachment 3889000

TL: DR - I like buying new bass stuffs

Congrats on your new "gift!" At least with buying it yourself you got something you like and no you wanted! And it's good to know you treated yourself right.

 

[PillO]

TL: DR - I like buying new bass stuffs

Have you considered another Thunderbird?

 

[KaraQ]

Congrats on your new "gift!" At least with buying it yourself you got something you like and no you wanted! And it's good to know you treated yourself right.

I have noticed that I always seem to know exactly what I should gift to myself

 

[KaraQ]

Have you considered another Thunderbird?

Absolutely!

...but my bank account is worse than a significant other, always not letting me buy all the things

My goal atm is to save a bit here & there, 'til I've squirreled (is that really a word?) away enough for a '76 bicentennial T-bird.