Thunderbird Club

[RedVee]

The engine doesn’t have to be behind the driver to qualify as mid engine...

Correct. The Toyota Tarago people mover (you prob know it under a different name - Previa?) would be mid engined.

 

[RedVee]

I know, but it’s still pretty far forward. Or was on my 2001. But they did a whole lotta good engineering to make it work.

“Horse and rider as one” credo

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I know, but it’s still pretty far forward. Or was on my 2001. But they did a whole lotta good engineering to make it work.

I had an 89 for years......that short wheelbase makes things easier...the little 1.6/8 liter motor was exceptionally lightweight as well..loved that little car..

 

[BklynKen]

this is getting a clear guard tomorrow and going back to the black hardware, stock pups and Hipshot bridge got some neat silver Bird stickers from Larry V....no routing on this NR....
View attachment 3901346

Interesting. Why going back to black hardware?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I had an 89 for years......that short wheelbase makes things easier...the little 1.6/8 liter motor was exceptionally lightweight as well..loved that little car..

Yeah, and mounting it the old way for real wheel drive helped the weight distribution. I want another, but looking for another deal on a used one. New are too spendy for me.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Yeah, and mounting it the old way for real wheel drive helped the weight distribution. I want another, but looking for another deal on a used one. New are too spendy for me.

And ironically, most of them have black interiors. IN CENTRAL TEXAS. No, thanks.

 

[GonePlaid]

it may be a Gibson copyright issue? As cool and close the BaCHs are to the 60’s NRs (definitely closer than the 12/13 RI) when compared side be side to a Gibby they are WAY off..bigger and heavier with similar proportional differences to those observed between that 64 and VP..

Proof that size does matter?

 

[RedVee]

Yeah, and mounting it the old way for real wheel drive helped the weight distribution. I want another, but looking for another deal on a used one. New are too spendy for me.

but which generation ? Would you go back to Gen 1 or go for a recent version ?

 

[GBassNorth]

looks like Chevy got it right, 2020 Corvette with mid engine configuration...first time in person..
View attachment 3901383

Does look sweet, very Ferrari. Haven't driven one yet but hope to get out on the track with one this year. The corvette really has come a long way over the years, this one looks especially promising.

So is mid-engine considered the best design?

As a rule of thumb a "mid" engine offers optimal balance front to rear with 50/50 weight distribution and very neutral handling. The 1968 Stingray when it came out wasn't quite but was approaching a front mid engine (driver seating was actually near the rear axle). A mid engine isn't a prerequisite for good handling, a modern rear engine 911 will out handle most mid engine rivals but that's only after decades of engineering refinement and a whole lot of money in purchase price. The early rear engine 911's (930 is a prime example) were seriously wicked beasts to drive at the limit. They earned the nickname widow maker for a reason.

So yes, 50/50 weight distribution is optimal. Anything more or less than that can be compensated for with enough dollars and engineering time thrown at it.

Does anyone else set up his/her Bird for lots of clank? John Entwistle style. Mine is set up very low like all my basses (~1mm action). It gives a lovely clank, but the first fret sometimes frets out depending on the weather (the rosewood absorbs moisture and expands on a rainy day).

Most of my basses are 2mm or a hair less at the 12th fret on an open E string, but have zero clank or fret buzz the full length of the neck even if I really dig in. I have a couple of basses that I've been able to get down to 1mm but that low just doesn't leave much if any room for neck movement or heavy playing without clank and buzz, as I think you've noticed on yours. Some people like the clank or buzz, I normally try to avoid it, just a personal preference thing.

 

[Iristone]

Most of my basses are 2mm or a hair less at the 12th fret on an open E string, but have zero clank or fret buzz the full length of the neck even if I really dig in. I have a couple of basses that I've been able to get down to 1mm but that low just doesn't leave much if any room for neck movement or heavy playing without clank and buzz, as I think you've noticed on yours. Some people like the clank or buzz, I normally try to avoid it, just a personal preference thing.

I'd like to achieve an even clank across the fretboard. Like John Entwistle said, "I want my frets to buzz evenly". My Bird has a mostly uniform "clank" from the 2nd fret up, but tends to choke up (fret out) at the 1st fret (i.e. when I'm pressing the 1st position). Of course I can raise the action so it doesn't buzz anymore, maybe I just need to find the balance.

 

[Iristone]

Or maybe I just need to dig in a bit more. I find fingering a bit downwards and picking with a "strumming" motion helps a lot.

 

[PillO]

I'd like to achieve an even clank across the fretboard. Like John Entwistle said, "I want my frets to buzz evenly". My Bird has a mostly uniform "clank" from the 2nd fret up, but tends to choke up (fret out) at the 1st fret (i.e. when I'm pressing the 1st position). Of course I can raise the action so it doesn't buzz anymore, maybe I just need to find the balance.

Two options. Nudge the truss rod looser 1/8th turn or less. Don't play F, Bb, Eb, G#.

 

[Iristone]

Two options. Nudge the truss rod looser 1/8th turn or less. Don't play F, Bb, Eb, G#.

I slightly increased both the action and the relief. Now it plays wonderfully clean, and I can still pick near the neck for clank.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Does look sweet, very Ferrari. Haven't driven one yet but hope to get out on the track with one this year. The corvette really has come a long way over the years, this one looks especially promising.


As a rule of thumb a "mid" engine offers optimal balance front to rear with 50/50 weight distribution and very neutral handling. The 1968 Stingray when it came out wasn't quite but was approaching a front mid engine (driver seating was actually near the rear axle). A mid engine isn't a prerequisite for good handling, a modern rear engine 911 will out handle most mid engine rivals but that's only after decades of engineering refinement and a whole lot of money in purchase price. The early rear engine 911's (930 is a prime example) were seriously wicked beasts to drive at the limit. They earned the nickname widow maker for a reason.

So yes, 50/50 weight distribution is optimal. Anything more or less than that can be compensated for with enough dollars and engineering time thrown at it.



Most of my basses are 2mm or a hair less at the 12th fret on an open E string, but have zero clank or fret buzz the full length of the neck even if I really dig in. I have a couple of basses that I've been able to get down to 1mm but that low just doesn't leave much if any room for neck movement or heavy playing without clank and buzz, as I think you've noticed on yours. Some people like the clank or buzz, I normally try to avoid it, just a personal preference thing.

yeah, going today!!....
rear engine outhandling mid engine? nah...in the hands of an expert driver it may come close but physically, the mid engine makes most sense...I went through HS is a 76 930 Turbo...

 

[Engle]

I would like to know/hear Epi's thinking about this - their marketing philosophy. Because if I were commissioned to make an authentic '63-'65 T-bird it would be to exact measured specs off of mine. You may be correct that they made it bigger so it wouldn't be passed off as a legit early '60s bird, but I would like to hear them say that to make sense of it. G&L did a bang-on RI of their early L-1000/L-2000 series basses from the early '80's and I very much doubt they are BIGGER than the originals.

I think they pushed out the neck to provide better access to the higher register.

 

[Engle]

I slightly increased both the action and the relief. Now it plays wonderfully clean, and I can still pick near the neck for clank.

Sounds like you got it working, but are the nut slots too low?

 

[BklynKen]

If I understand correctly what you guys are talking about with respect to the neck being further out on the VP than the 60s Thunderbirds, could it be that the saddles on the VP's bridge are at the same spot, or close to, as the CP and current Gibson?

 

[TBird1958]

The lower 'bout on both the Classic and Vintage pro is cut very differently from the original's shape.

 

[GonePlaid]

The lower 'bout on both the Classic and Vintage pro is cut very differently from the original's shape.

Runnin' outta mahogany?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Interesting. Why going back to black hardware?

wanna revisit the stock pups with LaBella tapes...