Thunderbird Club

[KaraQ]

Yep, they are the Big Birds of Thunderbirds alright. I liked the Roto flats, but have to admit the EB Cobalts sounded better to me, by a fair amount. They just had a little extra something, including the finger thing I seem to can't help but notice. But the Rotos are really nice and I think you will be pleased. Might need to lower your action (that's a cool thing to tell someone!), as they are stiff, but very playable. But I got the sissy lighter gauge and found them more stiff than I like. But with low action they are nice and a great match on a VP.

Getting the action low was interesting (as was getting the neck relief set), but I got it really close to what my bolt-on is.
Had to pull the bridge back up just a bit to get rid of most of the fret buzz on the E-string. I like where it's at though, playability-wise, and it sounds great!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

The proprietary PillO market research system tells me that there is a potential market for after market bridges with increased saddle travel of at least 2 units.

That’s almost prescient! (Gasp!)

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I’ve had RS-66s, Cobalt flats, Fender flats, and Black Beauties on mine. None had issues with intonation.

Both the 66s and the CFs needed more range on mine. Perhaps yours is defectively non-defective!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Thanks, Miles! it is a really easy song to play and yeah, I'm the bolo man haha.

If I wear a tie, it’s nearly always a bolo. The exception is if I’m in a wedding and the bride or groom says no.

 

[Engle]

Both the 66s and the CFs needed more range on mine. Perhaps yours is defectively non-defective!

My action is fairly low. You?

 

[GBassNorth]

Both the 66s and the CFs needed more range on mine. Perhaps yours is defectively non-defective!

I must have got a good one also, zero issues with intonation. Cobalt Flats, Tapes, Fender 7150s, Roto flats, stock strings...never had a problem. FWIW - my bridge is schooched ever so slightly towards the hardtail on the bass side. I have one of the early runs of VPs from 2017 with the gen 1 tuners, not sure if things changed after that.

My action is fairly low. You?

My action is about 5/64" clearance at the 12th fret.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Fender finally getting it? guitarist showed up to practice today with a latest model Strat which features a shorter scale, mahogany body and 2 Tim Shaw buckers.......sounded phenomenal through his Music Man RD-50..

 

[Miles_ONeal]

My action is fairly low. You?

As low as I can get it.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Fender finally getting it? guitarist showed up to practice today with a latest model Strat which features a shorter scale, mahogany body and 2 Tim Shaw buckers.......sounded phenomenal through his Music Man RD-50..
View attachment 4029947

The Standard Strat scale is a fave.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I originally got my drill press to work on amp chassis and cabs. Lately it’s been all about those bass. Today’s use was vaguely Bird related; I had to drill a new hole in each of my bass player belts due to shrinkage (of my waist). I was going to buy a special tool when it dawned on me I had one! I may clean it up, but then again it’s always covered in use...

 

[GBassNorth]

Fender finally getting it? guitarist showed up to practice today with a latest model Strat which features a shorter scale, mahogany body and 2 Tim Shaw buckers.......sounded phenomenal through his Music Man RD-50..
View attachment 4029947

Gotta love the Strat with Humbuckers. I haven't tried the new one yet but I have a Blacktop Strat.

I've had this one since a least 2010, it was my main player when I was playing guitar (quite poorly I'll admit); coincidentally, I played it through my Music Man HD150.

 

[KaraQ]

Interesting thing I found, installing the Babicz, which in retrospect should have been obvious - the ball-ends of the strings are further from the tuners, compared to stock (not a problem, just an observation ):

 

[PillO]

Interesting thing I found, installing the Babicz, which in retrospect should have been obvious - the ball-ends of the strings are further from the tuners, compared to stock (not a problem, just an observation ):

View attachment 4030012

View attachment 4030013

All the after market bridges do that. It is part of getting the silks off the saddles. Actually, now that I think about it, maybe it isn't an improvement provided by after market bridges, but a flaw in the 3 point? No, just design choices...

 

[PillO]

I had a noise session with my brother yesterday. I took two basses - Thunderbird in D standard and JC in standard.

We have about 100 minutes of material (takes about 125 minutes to play through with a minute of banter between) we can play flawlessly*. Starting to sound pretty good!

One fun bit - played the Stray Cat Strut in the style of Steve Harris (well, Pete Way really, but Harris is known for the gallop). It had to be done, as we were both wearing Iron Maiden shirts.


* Flawlessly - no errors big enough to cause a train wreck.

 

[KaraQ]

All the after market bridges do that. It is part of getting the silks off the saddles. Actually, now that I think about it, maybe it isn't an improvement provided by after market bridges, but a flaw in the 3 point? No, just design choices...

Well, if it's to keep the silks off the saddles, not 100% successful:

What's weird is even with the extended string length from the design, the actual break-over point on the strings is further back (relative to the guitar, not the strings) than on the three-point, after intonation is done.

And I maxed out the adjuster for the B-string. Likely would not be an issue if I was using the E-G strings instead.

Really like how easy everything is to adjust, the layout for the screws, etc. Especially since the last one I did was the VP

 

[MCF]

Well, if it's to keep the silks off the saddles, not 100% successful:

View attachment 4030030

What's weird is even with the extended string length from the design, the actual break-over point on the strings is further back (relative to the guitar, not the strings) than on the three-point, after intonation is done.

View attachment 4030032

And I maxed out the adjuster for the B-string. Likely would not be an issue if I was using the E-G strings instead.

Really like how easy everything is to adjust, the layout for the screws, etc. Especially since the last one I did was the VP

View attachment 4030033

Wow. Those saddles are way back. I’ve not encountered that before.

The ‘15 with 45-105 Cobalt flats:

The ‘13 NR with 45-105 SIT Power Steels:

 

[Count Bassie]

I'm not keeping up, not keeping up with anything these days, but I just realized that both my basses are all-Mahogany- the Thunderbird Classic Pro and the Heckin'hecker (modded Hamer w/Ric 4003 pup's, thank you @JJR58 ).
Just thought that interesting. I really like what Mahogany does for a bass guitar.

 

[KaraQ]

Wow. Those saddles are way back. I’ve not encountered that before.

The ‘15 with 45-105 Cobalt flats:
View attachment 4030040

The ‘13 NR with 45-105 SIT Power Steels:
View attachment 4030041

I think it's mostly the strings I'm using.
B-D from a 5-string set, so 65-85-105-130. And I may end up going back to normal 4-string sizes, still not decided how much I like BEAD

 

[GonePlaid]

I'm not keeping up, not keeping up with anything these days, but I just realized that both my basses are all-Mahogany- the Thunderbird Classic Pro and the Heckin'hecker (modded Hamer w/Ric 4003 pup's, thank you @JJR58 ).
Just thought that interesting. I really like what Mahogany does for a bass guitar.

I've figured out that for me mahogany is the best tonewood. I knew the EpiBird 5er wasn't mahogany when I bought it, but I hoped I could get around that-and the fact it had P/J pups. Nope.

 

[MCF]

I think it's mostly the strings I'm using.
B-D from a 5-string set, so 65-85-105-130. And I may end up going back to normal 4-string sizes, still not decided how much I like BEAD

Oh. That explains a lot. I missed that earlier.