Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

I installed the hipshot bridge on my new epi cp last night. A really great piece of hardware but, I find it to feel different under my pick hand. (I rest my hand on the bridge). So, I’m sticking with old one but, keeping the hipshot tuners. If anyone is looking for a hipshot 3 point bridge, pm me.
I’m still trying to figure out what strings came on it, ghs boomers I think.

Which finish on the bridge? (Disregard if answered already)

 

[Miles_ONeal]

More snow earlier this week. My kind of snow. Here today and off the roads the next. (More homesick fodder for @GBassNorth!)
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At first I saw a two headed dog...

 

[JIO]

Recently there was discussion of modifying the 90's Epi NR with Tbird pickups to replace the P-J setup. Today someone posted this on Facebook. He seemed to love the way it sounded.

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A clear improvement. The fact that Epi/Gibson originally sold it with a (Fender) P pu is inexcusable. History. The way it went with Fender as the ('60s "Golden Era") decade ended - players started modding their basses by installing (Gibson) mud bucker pu's in P's and J's and also de-fretting them until Fender finally got around to introducing the '70 Telecaster Bass (with Seth Lover neck-hugging HB pu) and a fretless P in '72. But nobody (that I'm aware of anyway) modded their late '60s Gibson T-bird by putting a Fender P pu in one. Which lays bare the naked truth that the marketing decision of the Gibson brand came down to "whatever pu is responsible for the most recorded bass sound (the one that made the most $) will be the one we will put in our bass". Pathetic. I will in this case give Fender credit for at least listening to the people buying their product, even if late to the party in the case of producing a fretless. Gibson - not so much... then and now.

 

[GBassNorth]

It’s an early 71 convertible. It was a complete basket case I bought from an old Eastern European dude. It came with a lot of parts. Replacement body panels, all the pieces to build a nice 1776 including a set of 36mm “baby dellortos”.
I got a mig welder and replaced a lot of sheet metal. My uncle helped me fabricate the inner rockers, which was really cool.

Then life happened, the project stalled for other priorities numerous times...
I got it on the road in the early 2000’s, but I got stuck on the dyno at the Aircare station! It was way too friggin low. And it failed on noxious emissions of some sort

Did I mention the suicide doors? I was hanging around with too many hot rod types for a while there.
It’s dusty cause I keep doing woodworking projects!

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I had it on the road in the early 2000’s, but it was wa

Looks great! What a fun project.

 

[JIO]

This is a car I have always wanted -(love this very Swedish pic!)

 

[MCF]

It’s an early 71 convertible. It was a complete basket case I bought from an old Eastern European dude. It came with a lot of parts. Replacement body panels, all the pieces to build a nice 1776 including a set of 36mm “baby dellortos”.
I got a mig welder and replaced a lot of sheet metal. My uncle helped me fabricate the inner rockers, which was really cool.

Then life happened, the project stalled for other priorities numerous times...
I got it on the road in the early 2000’s, but I got stuck on the dyno at the Aircare station! It was way too friggin low. And it failed on noxious emissions of some sort

Did I mention the suicide doors? I was hanging around with too many hot rod types for a while there.
It’s dusty cause I keep doing woodworking projects!

View attachment 4148441 View attachment 4148440 View attachment 4148442


I had it on the road in the early 2000’s, but it was wa

That is beautiful. You’re wife must be a saint.

 

[JIO]

It’s an early 71 convertible. It was a complete basket case I bought from an old Eastern European dude. It came with a lot of parts. Replacement body panels, all the pieces to build a nice 1776 including a set of 36mm “baby dellortos”.
I got a mig welder and replaced a lot of sheet metal. My uncle helped me fabricate the inner rockers, which was really cool.

Then life happened, the project stalled for other priorities numerous times...
I got it on the road in the early 2000’s, but I got stuck on the dyno at the Aircare station! It was way too friggin low. And it failed on noxious emissions of some sort

Did I mention the suicide doors? I was hanging around with too many hot rod types for a while there.
It’s dusty cause I keep doing woodworking projects!

View attachment 4148441 View attachment 4148440 View attachment 4148442


I had it on the road in the early 2000’s, but it was wa

Wow - you are really talented! That car looks showroom!

 

[MCF]

This is a car I have always wanted -(love this very Swedish pic!)

View attachment 4148561

There was a time, pre-internet, when I went on a quest to acquire an 1800 es. Spent hours searching through Hemings and other sources. My “dream car.” Came close in ‘89 or ‘90, but chickened out. Still would love one. But likely won’t ever happen.

 

[MCF]

Beautiful Precision you have there!

My favorite PBass
1958 - Awful pic. The body has been refinished (thus I could afford it!) and looks overly white here.
View attachment 4148376

Very nice. So many beautiful P basses in our group! My humble MIM ‘13 is my favorite of my three Fenders.

 

[JIO]

There was a time, pre-internet, when I went on a quest to acquire an 1800 es. Spent hours searching through Hemings and other sources. My “dream car.” Came close in ‘89 or ‘90, but chickened out. Still would love one. But likely won’t ever happen.

Good taste! Sounds like you went farther than I did - but I remember putting a "if you ever consider selling" note on an orange one (with my phone # - pre net) and the guy called and politely "educated" me about the $ cost of being an owner of a P1800. So hearing his truth reminded me that cars like that are toys for the wealthy - or if gifted to be a mechanic and auto craftsman. (of whom I have high respect) Since I am neither and not likely to be either - I'll aesthetically appreciate the P1800 hatchback from afar! (it also looks great in what looks like pale Pelham blue!)

I owned a wonderful '66 122s estate wagon (I think it was called the Amazon in Europe) and even in the mid '70s - parts were outrageous! $$$

Not mine - same colour & roof rack - only car I've ever truly loved.

 

[MCF]

Yep. Just weren’t enough of them. The 1800 es was a victim of the change in bumper requirements in ‘74. Too costly and destroyed the looks. A ‘63 - ‘64 P1800 is another one I’d love. But those (made in England!) are true money pits.

 

[kringle77]

Which finish on the bridge? (Disregard if answered already)

Black

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Yep. Just weren’t enough of them. The 1800 es was a victim of the change in bumper requirements in ‘74. Too costly and destroyed the looks. A ‘63 - ‘64 P1800 is another one I’d love. But those (made in England!) are true money pits.

didn’t The Saint drive the coupe? the little wagon wins it for me.....so unique...Saab Sonets were pretty cool too..

 

[PillO]

A clear improvement. The fact that Epi/Gibson originally sold it with a (Fender) P pu is inexcusable. History. The way it went with Fender as the ('60s "Golden Era") decade ended - players started modding their basses by installing (Gibson) mud bucker pu's in P's and J's and also de-fretting them until Fender finally got around to introducing the '70 Telecaster Bass (with Seth Lover neck-hugging HB pu) and a fretless P in '72. But nobody (that I'm aware of anyway) modded their late '60s Gibson T-bird by putting a Fender P pu in one. Which lays bare the naked truth that the marketing decision of the Gibson brand came down to "whatever pu is responsible for the most recorded bass sound (the one that made the most $) will be the one we will put in our bass". Pathetic. I will in this case give Fender credit for at least listening to the people buying their product, even if late to the party in the case of producing a fretless. Gibson - not so much... then and now.

We must always consider that the market is bigger than "me" and what will sell well may not be what makes "me" happy.

There is nothing wrong with Gibson doing an experiment to see if using a split pick up will entice some over from other brands. There is nothing wrong with Fender seeing if a humbucker will bring in some new sales. And there are things that you just can't learn from market research. What people say they would do doesn't necessarily match with what they actually will do; you have to run experiments in the marketplace.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Good taste! Sounds like you went farther than I did - but I remember putting a "if you ever consider selling" note on an orange one (with my phone # - pre net) and the guy called and politely "educated" me about the $ cost of being an owner of a P1800. So hearing his truth reminded me that cars like that are toys for the wealthy - or if gifted to be a mechanic and auto craftsman. (of whom I have high respect) Since I am neither and not likely to be either - I'll aesthetically appreciate the P1800 hatchback from afar! (it also looks great in what looks like pale Pelham blue!)

I owned a wonderful '66 122s estate wagon (I think it was called the Amazon in Europe) and even in the mid '70s - parts were outrageous! $$$

Not mine - same colour & roof rack - only car I've ever truly loved.
View attachment 4148572

I loved my 66 Econoline work van and my 2001 Miata. And of course my motorcycles... the van had Recaro-style seats swapped in by the previous owner, and would carry a LOT of Birds and amps.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

We must always consider that the market is bigger than "me" and what will sell well may not be what makes "me" happy.

There is nothing wrong with Gibson doing an experiment to see if using a split pick up will entice some over from other brands. There is nothing wrong with Fender seeing if a humbucker will bring in some new sales. And there are things that you just can't learn from market research. What people say they would do doesn't necessarily match with what they actually will do; you have to run experiments in the marketplace.

in which case, sell both and see what happens.

 

[MCF]

didn’t The Saint drive the coupe? the little wagon wins it for me.....so unique...Saab Sonets were pretty cool too..

Yep, Sonets were cool! When we were shopping for my “off to college” car (my ‘59 544 wasn’t reliable enough), the local Chevy dealer had one on the used lot. I wanted it so bad. Dad talked me out of it. Ended up with a Mitsubishi built Dodge Colt that went ten years, 250k miles for me.

 

[MCF]

didn’t The Saint drive the coupe? the little wagon wins it for me.....so unique...Saab Sonets were pretty cool too..

Oh, and yep, Simon Templar drove a P1800.

 

[GonePlaid]

This is a car I have always wanted -(love this very Swedish pic!)

View attachment 4148561

Love P1800's. Don't know if I could get into-or out of-one now.
I read an article in C&D about 3 years ago listing them as a car that could come back as is(design wise) and sell. Timeless.

 

[GonePlaid]

Oh, and yep, Simon Templar drove a P1800.

I'd fallen in love with the looks of the P1800 before I ever saw The Saint. Seeing those shows later just added to his cool factor IMO.
My second car was a 63 PV544-close as I ever got to an 1800. Loved the car, couldn't fit my Kasino amp in it. Bought a '69 Econoline. That held the Kasino, my PA gear, my EB-3, and, of course, the '67 NR Thunderbird.