Thunderbird Club

[11th Street Kid]

I loosen them up till they are flopping around like dead fish, the three point binds up with string tension.

Yes, I’ve learned to keep my Thunderbird flat on a table when I change the strings and want to condition the frets at the same time

 

[Bassmike62]

Just can't stay off Birds...

Saw a sunburst Epi bolt-on neck with hardcase in our locals, meeting the guy at noon. If all goes well, my humble stable will include a Thunderbird by mid-day.

 

[Count Bassie]

Sunday vibe.

 

[Count Bassie]

Enhanced Sunday vibe...

Into the 'Bird all over again.

Re-inspired- ergos and neck make it my most imminently playable bass in many years. Maybe ever.

 

[MCF]

I have to admit that had I not had such a great experience with my bolt-on bird, my experience with that Pro V would have had me skittish about Epiphones. Bridge poorly attached, warped because of that, and misaligned to begin with. Once that was fixed, the strings were still too close to the neck. The truss rod took ridiculous torque to turn (with no signs of rust or abuse). Yes, I wrangled it into shape, but I shouldn't have had to.

That is pretty much unlike my experience. I have four Epiphones and all are well made with nice fretwork and are great value instruments (except the tuners on my Goth, which are mediocre at best).

 

[MCF]

I’m making a concentrated effort to do more of my own set up. How much do you need to loosen the strings when adjusting a 3-point? Full step down? More?

I always loosen them more than that. Six half turns each tuner. Adjust, retighten, tune and check. Repeat as needed. Pretty much my procedure for every bass, regardless of bridge. Others have a different philosophy and don’t loosen if lowering, only if raising. My system works for me...

 

[MCF]

Enhanced Sunday vibe...

View attachment 4141064

Into the 'Bird all over again.

View attachment 4141065
Re-inspired- ergos and neck make it my most imminently playable bass in many years. Maybe ever.

Happy Sunday my friend!

 

[MCF]

Just can't stay off Birds...

Saw a sunburst Epi bolt-on neck with hardcase in our locals, meeting the guy at noon. If all goes well, my humble stable will include a Thunderbird by mid-day.

Awesome!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

That is what got them into trouble in the first place - listening to "experts" that "knew better than" everyone else. I suspect that they are now putting their faith not in soothsayers, but in well conducted market research and conducting well controlled market experiments.

I suspect that the NR `bird is one such experiment. Probably seeing which "vintage" colours do well (why there are 3 not 2 and not 5 or 6) on a vintage style bass for which they know there will be at least some demand.

They listened to the wrong people. To some extent, they still are.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

That is pretty much unlike my experience. I have four Epiphones and all are well made with nice fretwork and are great value instruments (except the tuners on my Goth, which are mediocre at best).

My bolt-on is great, the CP is perfect, the VP is close to perfect other than the afore-mentioned minor intonation problems. It was just that one bass.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Unless you are a solo builder of instruments, the business side is always driving the bus. Just some companies are better at obscuring that fact.

Corporate, “bores” things.....look
at Vegas and espresso coffee.....

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

They listened to the wrong people. To some extent, they still are.

maybe Gibson had a surplus of chrome three points?..

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

wondering about the pups on these, they look narrower than the plastic covered ones like on a 13 which would imply a different PG than those on 13’s...

 

[TBird1958]

wondering about the pups on these, they look narrower than the plastic covered ones like on a 13 which would imply a different PG than those on 13’s...
View attachment 4141189

If you skin the plastic off of a TB Plus pickup you'll easily lose 1/4" overall

 

[GBassNorth]

I’m making a concentrated effort to do more of my own set up. How much do you need to loosen the strings when adjusting a 3-point? Full step down? More?

More. It takes about 5 turns of each tuner. Doing this will ensure your height adjusting bolt heads don't get buggerd up and your anchors stay put. There's actually an entire set up protocol that has been posted many times in this thread that will make a huge difference in rapidly dialing in your TBird. I'll try to find it and post it here.

 

[Engle]

I’m making a concentrated effort to do more of my own set up. How much do you need to loosen the strings when adjusting a 3-point? Full step down? More?

More like 4-5 steps. Enough so you can easily turn the screws. If there’s too much tension, and the screwdriver is too small, it’s easy to mash up the screw heads (and/or slip).

 

[MCF]

wondering about the pups on these, they look narrower than the plastic covered ones like on a 13 which would imply a different PG than those on 13’s...
View attachment 4141189

Hard to know. Different screw holes though...

 

[Engle]

maybe Gibson had a surplus of chrome three points?..

I think that’s as likely as any other explanation.
“We’re going to build a limited run. Seeing as these are basses, and Peabody there is prattling on about how the bass nerds want chrome, use those chrome bridges we have. Vintage? Didn’t we use them in the 70’s? That is vintage!”

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

If you skin the plastic off of a TB Plus pickup you'll easily lose 1/4" overall

If I recall correctly, you did this right? If so, any noticeable freq response differences?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Hard to know. Different screw holes though...
View attachment 4141232
View attachment 4141227

placement of the neck pup seems the same..