Thunderbird Club

[TBird1958]

'76 Pup love!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

'76 Pup love!
View attachment 4188146

indeed!...

 

[GBassNorth]

Hello. First time poster as I recently purchased a used Epiphone Goth Thunderbird IV for $140. I never held one as I’m told you should first, but at that price, I could not pass it by. It’s really dirty with dust and I’m wondering the best way to clean the entire bass. I read the rosewood fretboard is best cleaned with lemon oil. What about the mahogany body? Until I can replace the strings, I’m going with a soft damp cloth. I’m debating to place flatwound strings on the bass. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

Welcome to the club! Would love to see a pic of your Goth. As for cleaning, just visit your local Guitar Store, they all have a selection of cleaners, fret board conditioners and micro fiber cloths you can use. The Goth is a great bass, a number of us here have them, here's mine...

I flipped out the three point bridge for a Hipshot bridge and replaced the tone cap with a slightly fuller sounding one. It's currently strung with Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats but has had La Bella Black Tape wound strings, DR Black Beauties, Chrome Flats and D' Addaro XL nickel rounds. My favorite string set on this bass so far is the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats followed by the Black Tapes.

 

[dagrev]

'76 Pup love!
View attachment 4188146

Two is better than one!

 

[Gaolee]

Hello. First time poster as I recently purchased a used Epiphone Goth Thunderbird IV for $140. I never held one as I’m told you should first, but at that price, I could not pass it by. It’s really dirty with dust and I’m wondering the best way to clean the entire bass. I read the rosewood fretboard is best cleaned with lemon oil. What about the mahogany body? Until I can replace the strings, I’m going with a soft damp cloth. I’m debating to place flatwound strings on the bass. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

The poly finish on bolt-on Epiphones is so thick and durable that you could probably tow it behind an oil tanker to Japan and nothing would happen. Clean it with whatever works. A damp rag to start with is probably good. You may want to buff out any swirls after cleaning the dust of ages. Or not, if that doesn't bother you. It wouldn't bother me any.

The pickups in those are especially hot. String choice can be better addressed by the people who have one.

 

[Engle]

Hello. First time poster as I recently purchased a used Epiphone Goth Thunderbird IV for $140. I never held one as I’m told you should first, but at that price, I could not pass it by. It’s really dirty with dust and I’m wondering the best way to clean the entire bass. I read the rosewood fretboard is best cleaned with lemon oil. What about the mahogany body? Until I can replace the strings, I’m going with a soft damp cloth. I’m debating to place flatwound strings on the bass. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

If the fingerboard is dirty, I will often use isopropyl alcohol and some 0000 steel wool. Then Apply lemon oil, let it soak in and buff it off.
Cobalt flats are great if you want flats, but still want some high end.

 

[Klondike]

Got a clam in here yet, but I'm almost there........

Always loved that song, good job even with the clam

 

[Klondike]

If I could find a Embassy to part out I'd do it. It would have a weird chrome/black hardware thing going on, but wold sound and play absolutely fantastic. May even invent in some Thunderbuckers one day. The aggravating thing is, I want to love it as is and keep hoping I'll hit upon the right string to work for me.

keep your eyes peeled and ear to the track for either the Embassy or a bird with a broken neck, I happened apon a white VP with a neck cracked enough the seller practically gave it to me, dirt cheap anyway. I think I only paid something in the order of $200 usd for it. Now i just gotta figure out what I want to do for pups for it. I guess I need to find an Embassy now

 

[Klondike]

130 pages in the month I was away. Good job, TBird'ers!

For those that also know me from Facebook, I kept all details of my absence off that platform as well and request that it continues.

Long story short, I took my wife to Mexico for a stem cell transplant to treat her failing health from the vicious disease of MS.

Knowing full well that nothing is guaranteed in life, we took this opportunity to try this treatment because we felt we had no choice. Her health decline had begun to accelerate and we were put into a now or never situation and we went for it.

I missed you guys and the Thunderbird discussions we engage in and all the other topics we stray into as well.

But hey, I'm back... just thought to do some explaining. No need to continue this off topic MS thing here in the thread but if anyone wants to PM about it out of interest or need for information regarding MS treatment, feel free to hit me up. I now know a ton more about it having gone through this process with my wife and if MS is affecting you or a loved one, I can point you in the right direction for this type of treatment.

Peace and love, peace and love...

Sounds like the treatment went well.(?) will keep you and your wife in my thoughts, Forwarding White Light And Healing Energy

 

[dagrev]

keep your eyes peeled and ear to the track for either the Embassy or a bird with a broken neck, I happened apon a white VP with a neck cracked enough the seller practically gave it to me, dirt cheap anyway. I think I only paid something in the order of $200 usd for it. Now i just gotta figure out what I want to do for pups for it. I guess I need to find an Embassy now

Yes, good plan of action. But having just moved, we have been spending $$$. We also just negotiated buying a fuzz over two acres of woods connected to our property to ensure no neighbors and park-like privacy. More $$$$! I don't think I dare look at anything for sale for a year or so.

 

[Klondike]

Yes, good plan of action. But having just moved, we have been spending $$$. We also just negotiated buying a fuzz over two acres of woods connected to our property to ensure no neighbors and park-like privacy. More $$$$! I don't think I dare look at anything for sale for a year or so.

I can understand but you never know when an absolute steal lands on your front porch

 

[Miles_ONeal]

My partner Beth is an identical twin - her sis Mary lives in Portland. They do twin things a lot, which is a twin thing.

It's such a trip.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Hello. First time poster as I recently purchased a used Epiphone Goth Thunderbird IV for $140. I never held one as I’m told you should first, but at that price, I could not pass it by. It’s really dirty with dust and I’m wondering the best way to clean the entire bass. I read the rosewood fretboard is best cleaned with lemon oil. What about the mahogany body? Until I can replace the strings, I’m going with a soft damp cloth. I’m debating to place flatwound strings on the bass. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

Welcome to the TC!

I use clarinet bore oil on the fingerboard, but have used lemon oil, and once upon a time, lemon Pledge, which I do not recommend. Clean them this first time with a fine steel wool. If there's junk buildup around the frets, you can use very fine steel wool to clean that up as well. You can get guitar cleaner for the body, or use a damp cloth, baby wipes, etc.

Start easy with the steel wool, and only use it on the fretboard and frets, not the guitar body, neck, or headstock!

I love Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on my birds.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I can understand but you never know when an absolute steal lands on your front porch

And then the cops show up.

 

[KaraQ]

So, I went yesterday evening, & picked up my package that came from Germany.
Had in it some straplock stuff (including some chrome buttons for my VP, so I can use the same strap as the other Thunderbirds):

...but, I also found an unexpected bit of....box candy? I guess?

 

[dagrev]

I can understand but you never know when an absolute steal lands on your front porch

Very true. And spoken like a true musician!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

So, I went yesterday evening, & picked up my package that came from Germany.
Had in it some straplock stuff (including some chrome buttons for my VP, so I can use the same strap as the other Thunderbirds):

View attachment 4189026



...but, I also found an unexpected bit of....box candy? I guess?

View attachment 4189027

Very cool...better than candy imho.....happy Wed all!

 

[TBird1958]

Pants....... Never worn them on stage.

 

[Border]

Good morning Thunderbird loving sisters and brothers. Just taking a mental health minute and dropping in to say hello. I enjoy Thunderbird Thursday and Fender Friday, so perhaps I can call this Wyman Wednesday. I have only seen the Rolling Stones twice, once with Bill, back in the olden days of the Kingdome. I was on the floor for that concert, and my memory is a little hazy, I recall being struck by Keith changing guitars for each song. I don't recall what bass Bill was playing, but usually associate him with Framus or Vox. Anyway I found this picture and thought I would share. Not certain, but perhaps a Grabber or Ripper?
I hope you all are staying well. Take care

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Good morning Thunderbird loving sisters and brothers. Just taking a mental health minute and dropping in to say hello. I enjoy Thunderbird Thursday and Fender Friday, so perhaps I can call this Wyman Wednesday. I have only seen the Rolling Stones twice, once with Bill, back in the olden days of the Kingdome. I was on the floor for that concert, and my memory is a little hazy, I recall being struck by Keith changing guitars for each song. I don't recall what bass Bill was playing, but usually associate him with Framus or Vox. Anyway I found this picture and thought I would share. Not certain, but perhaps a Grabber or Ripper?
I hope you all are staying well. Take care

Wow! Looks like that Ripper weighs more than Bill...