Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

This picture always confuses me. Is the VP really that much bigger than the (what I assume to be) your 64, or is this due to camera angle or something. The neck on the VP is longer for sure, due to the bridge placement, but even the body looks bigger?

Body and necks are normal size. But the head stocks are ginormous. That’s why they look bigger next to other Thunderbirds. It’s a long reach the the G tuner, otherwise they’re great.

 

[GonePlaid]

Body and necks are normal size. But the head stocks are ginormous. That’s why they look bigger next to other Thunderbirds. It’s a long reach the the G tuner, otherwise they’re great.

Mine was in tune when I bought it.

 

[Mvf]

Body and necks are normal size. But the head stocks are ginormous. That’s why they look bigger next to other Thunderbirds. It’s a long reach the the G tuner, otherwise they’re great.

I understand the scale is the same, but as the bridge on the VP is positioned ”higher up” (=closer to the neck pickup), the VP neck also streches a little longer. Just guessing by looking at the pictures, unfortunately I don’t own a VP. Jet.....

 

[BklynKen]

Body and necks are normal size. But the head stocks are ginormous. That’s why they look bigger next to other Thunderbirds. It’s a long reach the the G tuner, otherwise they’re great.

Also looks like the fretboard on the Gibson is set further into the body, no?

 

[Mvf]

It is a bigger bass. Certainly longer, neck slightly larger, bigger headstock and the body is a little thicker and slightly bigger in some ways if I recall correctly. I'd have to measure again to be sure on the body. The '64 is thinner for sure, and lighter.

Another take.
View attachment 4268559

View attachment 4268561

Also different shape of the upper ”horn”. But as Gaolee said, if they would not be side by side, you could not see the difference

 

[Mvf]

Also looks like the fretboard on the Gibson is set further into the body, no?

Yep, because the bridge is set more towards the middle of the body.

 

[dagrev]

The Epi Custom Shop Limited Editions are wonderful Thunderbirds. Very well made. They’re getting hard to find as most are in forever homes now. That price without a case is at the high end of ballpark. If I didn’t already have the Silverburst, I would snap it up. And it has the original black Pickguard. Mine had a white one when I got it.

How would you compare and contrast the tone of it with other Thunderbirds? I find them very interesting, but really need to hold off even if I found one and wait for a new NR when someone decides it's not for them.

 

[dagrev]

Thunderbucker Pickup Issue:

Fellow Club members:

In 2015, I bought this bass (verbatim from the original TB ad):

“2013 Gibson non reverse thunderbird limited edition in Pelham blue, original case, customized:
1. Small ear hipshot ultralites full chrome
2. Dunlop strap lock pins
3. Babicz chrome bridge
4. Perfect pro shielding
5. Thunderbucker ranch pickups in chrome with framed, reversed engineering of 1976 pickups

The mods are all professional done”

The instrument plays well and I love the tone of the pickups.

BUT even though the PUs are ostensibly humbuckers, they’ve always hummed like single coils. Bridge, neck or both – hum! Rotate the instrument the right way, and the hum disappears, just like a Jazz Bass. All rooms (though some are worse than others).

My experienced luthier/tech -- he used to work for guitarist Ronnie Montrose -- said the ground and other connections were likely at fault, and I said, "OK, have at it."

He did his thing, but Nope, still hums.

Since I play in a pretty loud rock band, this usually isn't an issue, but still, I'd like to resolve it!

Does anyone have an idea of what is going on, and what to do to correct the issue?
Thanks,

-Joe in San Diego

I have no advice, other than contacting Thunderbucker as was mentioned. Questions? Email [email protected]

The part about "reversed engineering of 1976 pickups" doesn't sound right. Special order maybe? Normally they specialize in 60s reproductions.

 

[dagrev]

Nah. Buying one when you can and the the other when you can add to the flock is better.

True words of a very experienced enabler.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Thunderbucker Pickup Issue:

Fellow Club members:

In 2015, I bought this bass (verbatim from the original TB ad):

“2013 Gibson non reverse thunderbird limited edition in Pelham blue, original case, customized:
1. Small ear hipshot ultralites full chrome
2. Dunlop strap lock pins
3. Babicz chrome bridge
4. Perfect pro shielding
5. Thunderbucker ranch pickups in chrome with framed, reversed engineering of 1976 pickups

The mods are all professional done”

The instrument plays well and I love the tone of the pickups.

BUT even though the PUs are ostensibly humbuckers, they’ve always hummed like single coils. Bridge, neck or both – hum! Rotate the instrument the right way, and the hum disappears, just like a Jazz Bass. All rooms (though some are worse than others).

My experienced luthier/tech -- he used to work for guitarist Ronnie Montrose -- said the ground and other connections were likely at fault, and I said, "OK, have at it."

He did his thing, but Nope, still hums.

Since I play in a pretty loud rock band, this usually isn't an issue, but still, I'd like to resolve it!

Does anyone have an idea of what is going on, and what to do to correct the issue?
Thanks,

-Joe in San Diego

was it like that when you got it?

 

[Mvf]

Yep, because the bridge is set more towards the middle of the body.

Set more towards the middle on the VP, I should have added

 

[bassclef29]

To answer Chucky's question, the NR bass with Thunderbuckers was like that (humming!) when I got it from the other TBer.

Thanks to all, I'll email the Thunderbucker guy.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

To answer Chucky's question, the NR bass with Thunderbuckers was like that (humming!) when I got it from the other TBer.

Thanks to all, I'll email the Thunderbucker guy.

the bridge is not original...on a fender there is a large surface to contact the ground under the bridge...with the three point only the stud is available....that flimsy ground could have come undone when installing the Babicz....worth checking..

 

[dukeorock]

And there was a little problem initially with the bridges on some not being properly installed.

The one I bought, the bridge wasn’t straight. Either were the pickup routes. I’m sure Epi had a very stern talk with the overseas manufacturers about that and they should be sorted by now

 

[GBassNorth]

the bridge is not original...on a fender there is a large surface to contact the ground under the bridge...with the three point only the stud is available....that flimsy ground could have come undone when installing the Babicz....worth checking..

Spot on.
It's not uncommon to replace a stud failed three point with an after market bridge. And while doing so, it's not uncommon to reset the body studs and glue them in place. When doing so, it's not hard to get glue between the ground wire and stud insert, thereby disrupting the ground path.

IIRC one easy way to determine if the bridge ground is gone is to place your palm on the strings (assuming they are not Tapes) and then touch the pot shaft or output jack. If the hum goes away then you've got a bad bridge ground. Of course this assumes all the other grounds are intact. Times like this are when multimeters come in very handy.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

It is a bigger bass. Certainly longer, neck slightly larger, bigger headstock and the body is a little thicker and slightly bigger in some ways if I recall correctly. I'd have to measure again to be sure on the body. The '64 is thinner for sure, and lighter.

Another take.
View attachment 4268559

View attachment 4268561

this one comes up often....oddly, seem to be the same differences between a BaCH and a 60’s NR.....makes one wonder why it seems so difficult to recreate the originals...infringement? who knows, thought patent protection only covers 19 years....

 

[TBird1958]

Chucky, feets!

 

[Bassmike62]

this one comes up often....oddly, seem to be the same differences between a BaCH and a 60’s NR.....makes one wonder why it seems so difficult to recreate the originals...infringement? who knows, thought patent protection only covers 19 years....
View attachment 4268882

Wazdat Chucky, bass players dream cleavage ?

 

[D.M.N.]

Body and necks are normal size. But the head stocks are ginormous. That’s why they look bigger next to other Thunderbirds. It’s a long reach the the G tuner, otherwise they’re great.

Mine was in tune when I bought it.

Wait...you guys tune?

Chucky, feets!

Normally I have to pay for that!

 

[MCF]

the bridge is not original...on a fender there is a large surface to contact the ground under the bridge...with the three point only the stud is available....that flimsy ground could have come undone when installing the Babicz....worth checking..

Good point. If whoever installed the Babicz cranked it too tight, it could have pulled the insert (control side) up and disturbed the ground. I put a Babicz on my ‘13 NR and have never had an issue. Mine has the stock pickups.