Thunderbird Club

[KaraQ]

Wow, impressive. You really roll your sleeves up and get down to business!
I'd have just removed all the hardware and electronics and thrown the rest away or maybe modified it to a headless bass if the bridge area would allow. Hats off to you, hope it all comes out great.

PS - indirectly related to TBirds considering the one in the background.

Thanks!

I actually have no idea if the electronics are any good, the wiring looks like it was hit by a power surge? It's all melty & burnt.

Good spot on the T-Bird in the background ! But you missed the other two...

 

[TBird1958]

Thank you so much everyone. It's really helpful.

Glad we could help a little, we always encourage questions here so drop by and hang out anytime!

 

[JIO]

The key part here: "if....it was repaired correctly". We'll see how that goes, I guess...

It's not that complicated. If the two pieces can be 'slid' cleanly into union (as shards are linear) so that it is flush for a tight A/B fit/connection... you use Titebond or similar proven glue, it is clamped securely and dynamically and left in that clamped state for at least 24hrs or longer... it will hold. The analogy could be a broken collar-bone - once it heals correctly, it's stronger than before. Not a 100% side-by-side analogy, but close enough for... jazz.

 

[GBassNorth]

Goth Thunderbird update
Got the caps in the mail today, still have a couple of linear tone pots on back order. All the wiring will be done when those come in. So for now here's the test rig...

Keep in mind the goal is to find the best pot and cap combo (to my ears) for the stock Goth pickups. The stock pups are 14.7K ohms and pretty hot. I'm after a deep dark tone with this bass and found the stock pups to be ok, not overly bright, maybe enough definition, kind of low mid focused, slightly muddy but I think workable.

On the test rig I'll have one bank of Volume/Volume/Tone controls at 500K ohms each and will compare that to another bank of controls at 250K ohms each. All the pots are CTS, volume pots are Audio Taper and tone pots are linear. I expect the 250 bank to sound a little less bright than the 500 bank, darker would be good, but it might also further muddy up the sound, not good. I'll also be testing if one bank will be louder than the other, louder would be better for what I'm trying to do with this bass.

You can also see quite a array of tone caps that I'll be testing. I've already tested a number of them with my current stock Goth set up and found .094uf to sound pretty good (compared to the stock .068uf) but this time I have a few more I can try to see if anything sounds even better.

Hopefully the back ordered pots get here soon so I can start hooking things up. In the meantime I'll try to figure out a way to record and post sound clips.

 

[KaraQ]

Goth Thunderbird update
Got the caps in the mail today, still have a couple of linear tone pots on back order. All the wiring will be done when those come in. So for now here's the test rig...
View attachment 3997860

Keep in mind the goal is to find the best pot and cap combo (to my ears) for the stock Goth pickups. The stock pups are 14.7K ohms and pretty hot. I'm after a deep dark tone with this bass and found the stock pups to be ok, not overly bright, maybe enough definition, kind of low mid focused, slightly muddy but I think workable.

On the test rig I'll have one bank of Volume/Volume/Tone controls at 500K ohms each and will compare that to another bank of controls at 250K ohms each. All the pots are CTS, volume pots are Audio Taper and tone pots are linear. I expect the 250 bank to sound a little less bright than the 500 bank, darker would be good, but it might also further muddy up the sound, not good. I'll also be testing if one bank will be louder than the other, louder would be better for what I'm trying to do with this bass.

You can also see quite a array of tone caps that I'll be testing. I've already tested a number of them with my current stock Goth set up and found .094uf to sound pretty good (compared to the stock .068uf) but this time I have a few more I can try to see if anything sounds even better.

Hopefully the back ordered pots get here soon so I can start hooking things up. In the meantime I'll try to figure out a way to record and post sound clips.

Awesome!

Looking forward to what you find out!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

into my SVT II with a 1540 fridge...won't be using this rig tomorrow..

Nice! First half sounds Allman Brothers ish. But I want a pic of that 15x40 cab!

 

[dagrev]

Doing network cabling for decades, it was common to find hand tools like that left in ceilings. I have 3 of those!

When I worked construction years ago, I would find tools like that on a job site. Picked up several useful items that way. The bad part is I likely left as many as I found.....

 

[GBassNorth]

Apologize for all the newbie questions, but I am looking for some guidance. I have an Epiphone Thunderbird Gothic. I've had it for a while and while I love the look and feel of it, the sound is not to my liking. It's time to upgrade.

I was planning on adding a SuperTone Gibson® Bass Replacement Bridge, Hipshot Ultralite Bass Tuning Machine and new pickups (Thunderbucker 63N and 66S).


My questions:

1. How do I know if I have a 3 point or 2 point mounting without taking the bridge off?

2. Is there a way to know if I need 1/2 or 3/8 tuning machines? (I don't trust my ability to measure small difference; bad eyes)

3. I was told that the pickups are "3.63" X 1.58" with a 3/8" radius." Should I be measuring the pickup or the hole? It seems like the stock pups (TB+?) are smaller than that. Can a luthier make these fit with a router if they're a bit off? What's the 3/8" radius refer to with regard to the pickups?

Any other thoughts / suggestions etc you have, I'm all ears.

I should say that I'm not in the market for a new Gibson if that's the suggestion; this is sort of a beater bass for when I play specific kinds of music. It's not one of my main basses.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

The Goth looks fantastic with the Hipshot Supertone three point bridge, I just installed one on mine. Best price I could find was on Amazon.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Nice! First half sounds Allman Brothers ish. But I want a pic of that 15x40 cab!

thank you Sir!...

 

[PillO]

One of my biggest curses in life has been, and continues to be, having mechanical inclination. A lot of things I can just figure out. Some, I can do a bit of research/ask questions, and do it.
But it also makes me a bit overzealous and/or overconfident on a semi regular basis , especially on both complicated tasks, and those that appear to be simple

You know the old saying:
Measure once, cut twice.

 

[PillO]

Thanks!

I actually have no idea if the electronics are any good, the wiring looks like it was hit by a power surge? It's all melty & burnt.

Good spot on the T-Bird in the background ! But you missed the other two...

Perhaps someone tried hooking things up backwards - amp out to cab into the bass and cab in into the amp input?

 

[MCF]

Thanks!

I actually have no idea if the electronics are any good, the wiring looks like it was hit by a power surge? It's all melty & burnt.

Good spot on the T-Bird in the background ! But you missed the other two...

***? Who would sell a bass with fried electronics? We are living in interesting times. I’m too old for what we’ve become.

 

[MCF]

The Goth looks fantastic with the Hipshot Supertone three point bridge, I just installed one on mine. Best price I could find was on Amazon.
View attachment 3997893

Wow. Just wow. Stellar! Congrats on this one. I’m still shocked at the pleasure my Epi IVs give me. I love my Goth. Did I miss the strings? What are you running on it.... Cobalt Flats?

 

[dagrev]

into my SVT II with a 1540 fridge...won't be using this rig tomorrow..

Trying to make us all feel bad? Nice ride, nice rig, nice bird, nice chops. Rub it in why don't you?

Some times I could feel the thunderous lows even with earbuds. I was amazed how much you had a double bass kind of sound at times.

At one point you leaned back to what looked like close to the AMX and I thought, "there goes the headstock!"

 

[KaraQ]

Perhaps someone tried hooking things up backwards - amp out to cab into the bass and cab in into the amp input?

Could be? At least one of the PO's was seemingly a moron
Seller "got it from a friend who was moving"

***? Who would sell a bass with fried electronics? We are living in interesting times. I’m too old for what we’ve become.

Well, he did say "This bass is for part or a project, it not working"
And the pictures clearly showed the wiring was toast (apparently literally).

I got it to practice paint removal & application, didn't care too much about the rest. The broken headstock was a bonus learning experience!

 

[JIO]

Goth Thunderbird update
Got the caps in the mail today, still have a couple of linear tone pots on back order. All the wiring will be done when those come in. So for now here's the test rig...
View attachment 3997860

Keep in mind the goal is to find the best pot and cap combo (to my ears) for the stock Goth pickups. The stock pups are 14.7K ohms and pretty hot. I'm after a deep dark tone with this bass and found the stock pups to be ok, not overly bright, maybe enough definition, kind of low mid focused, slightly muddy but I think workable.

On the test rig I'll have one bank of Volume/Volume/Tone controls at 500K ohms each and will compare that to another bank of controls at 250K ohms each. All the pots are CTS, volume pots are Audio Taper and tone pots are linear. I expect the 250 bank to sound a little less bright than the 500 bank, darker would be good, but it might also further muddy up the sound, not good. I'll also be testing if one bank will be louder than the other, louder would be better for what I'm trying to do with this bass.

You can also see quite a array of tone caps that I'll be testing. I've already tested a number of them with my current stock Goth set up and found .094uf to sound pretty good (compared to the stock .068uf) but this time I have a few more I can try to see if anything sounds even better.

Hopefully the back ordered pots get here soon so I can start hooking things up. In the meantime I'll try to figure out a way to record and post sound clips.

Sounds/looks like a Covid project!

 

[dagrev]

Goth Thunderbird update
Got the caps in the mail today, still have a couple of linear tone pots on back order. All the wiring will be done when those come in. So for now here's the test rig...
View attachment 3997860

Keep in mind the goal is to find the best pot and cap combo (to my ears) for the stock Goth pickups. The stock pups are 14.7K ohms and pretty hot. I'm after a deep dark tone with this bass and found the stock pups to be ok, not overly bright, maybe enough definition, kind of low mid focused, slightly muddy but I think workable.

On the test rig I'll have one bank of Volume/Volume/Tone controls at 500K ohms each and will compare that to another bank of controls at 250K ohms each. All the pots are CTS, volume pots are Audio Taper and tone pots are linear. I expect the 250 bank to sound a little less bright than the 500 bank, darker would be good, but it might also further muddy up the sound, not good. I'll also be testing if one bank will be louder than the other, louder would be better for what I'm trying to do with this bass.

You can also see quite a array of tone caps that I'll be testing. I've already tested a number of them with my current stock Goth set up and found .094uf to sound pretty good (compared to the stock .068uf) but this time I have a few more I can try to see if anything sounds even better.

Hopefully the back ordered pots get here soon so I can start hooking things up. In the meantime I'll try to figure out a way to record and post sound clips.

George, I do wish you would move back to Ky so I can visit when you do these kinds of things. It's just not convenient to have to go that far West! I really want to see your strap collection as well. That part just sounds kind of weird....

 

[dagrev]

thank you Sir!...
View attachment 3997986

 

[JIO]

The Goth looks fantastic with the Hipshot Supertone three point bridge, I just installed one on mine. Best price I could find was on Amazon.
View attachment 3997893

a far superior design

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Could be? At least one of the PO's was seemingly a moron
Seller "got it from a friend who was moving"



Well, he did say "This bass is for part or a project, it not working"
And the pictures clearly showed the wiring was toast (apparently literally).

I got it to practice paint removal & application, didn't care too much about the rest. The broken headstock was a bonus learning experience!

definitely an interesting one...trying to figure out what would cause that kind of damage because even with an amp it would have probably had to have been a tube amp cause to a ss amp I would think the output network of a bass would probably look like a high Z drawing minimal current.........lightning maybe?... someone intentionally (for whatever reason) plugging it into an AC outlet?... hmmm....