Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

Robert Cray Tribute Band ?

John Michael Band...the Cray thing has a ways to go practice wise, first gig's in mid Juillet..

 

[GonePlaid]

So what have I been doing today?

Well I had this idea of recording a cover of Primus' "Jerry was a race car driver" but with Dutch Lyrics about stagecoach travel, something which I have done quite a few times and thus am very familiar with.


I played everything myself here but had to make some concessions with Les Claypool's bass line which is very complex and because I don't have a fretless to my disposal did the slides with a glass bottle on my bass. The bass in question being my four string self made Musicman alike bass.

Anyway I hope you guys can dig it.

Fun.

 

[MCF]

Spa day for the '07 Pelham Blue Epi. Fret polish, FB clean and condition with F1, overall polish with my go to Gibson pump polish and new strings. Hard to believe this Thunderbird is 15 years old. One issue though. I've got the action at about 3 1/2 64ths. I need to lower the bridge pickup a bit but the screws are frozen. I don't want to strip them, but I can't get them to budge. Any advice?

 

[MCF]

pretty ok crowd...
View attachment 4286897

They all look very polite.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

They all look very polite.

Not much of a biker bar.

 

[KaraQ]

Spa day for the '07 Pelham Blue Epi. Fret polish, FB clean and condition with F1, overall polish with my go to Gibson pump polish and new strings. Hard to believe this Thunderbird is 15 years old. One issue though. I've got the action at about 3 1/2 64ths. I need to lower the bridge pickup a bit but the screws are frozen. I don't want to strip them, but I can't get them to budge. Any advice?
View attachment 4287003
View attachment 4287004

Not sure how well these may work in your situation, but....


If you can push the pickups down a bit, enough to expose the underside of the screw-head, you might can use a pair of small/thin pliers to grasp the screw-shaft, & turn it enough to break it free.


Maybe, also try a bit of super glue in the screw-head, essentially gluing the screwdriver in place, to help keep it from slipping.


There are (or, used to be?) some specialized screwdrivers that would grip the outside of the screw-head in addition to fitting in the slot(s), to prevent slipping/stripping.
Probably too expensive an option, if you could find one

 

[GonePlaid]

Spa day for the '07 Pelham Blue Epi. Fret polish, FB clean and condition with F1, overall polish with my go to Gibson pump polish and new strings. Hard to believe this Thunderbird is 15 years old. One issue though. I've got the action at about 3 1/2 64ths. I need to lower the bridge pickup a bit but the screws are frozen. I don't want to strip them, but I can't get them to budge. Any advice?
View attachment 4287003
View attachment 4287004

Normally, I'd post a pic of a sledge hammer. Not with TBirds.

 

[KaraQ]

Normally, I'd post a pic of a sledge hammer. Not with TBirds.

My grandfather was a big fan of the "bigger hammer" method of fixing things - "hit it with a hammer. If that doesn't fix it, use a bigger hammer. Hit it like you mean it. Repeat until problem is fixed, or it's broken. At which point, get a replacement - problem fixed"

 

[GonePlaid]

My grandfather was a big fan of the "bigger hammer" method of fixing things - "hit it with a hammer. If that doesn't fix it, use a bigger hammer. Hit it like you mean it. Repeat until problem is fixed, or it's broken. At which point, get a replacement - problem fixed"

Back when things were made to last, that'd work. Now it's the IKEA mentality.

 

[KaraQ]

Back when things were made to last, that'd work. Now it's the IKEA mentality.

That's true

I kinda miss the stuff that whacking with a hammer helps, instead of breaks

 

[PillO]

They all look very polite.

Not much of a biker bar.

Canadian Bikers...

 

[PillO]

you might can use a pair of small/thin pliers to grasp the screw-shaft, & turn it enough to break it free.

I kinda miss the stuff that whacking with a hammer helps

Ahem

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Not much of a biker bar.

taken from the stage where biker dudes don't usually dance in front of the all male band but rather play pool in the back..

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

They all look very polite.

yep, gentrification of the San Lorenzo valley...

 

[Count Bassie]

Back when things were made to last, that'd work. Now it's the IKEA mentality.

"Get a smaller screwdriver"

 

[godofthunder59]

NAD '78 Marshall Super Lead! I have been wanting to revisit my Super Bass rig from years ago and I was absolutely shocked at prices and availability of not only Super Bass but Super Leads as well. This amp popped up locally for a very good price so I grabbed it . I may mod it to a SB, just a few caps and resistors would need to be changed or maybe I'll just leave it. Full report once I get some time with it.

 

[RexxRokket]

Excellent Rexx! While you're at it, how about some Streets of Bakersfield?

Thanks, man! well, let's see what I can do ; )

Well, that's different-sho 'nuff. Nice playing.

Sup yo! thanks as always man!

Yep! (I almost made a "one trick pony" comment on the FB post!)

Indeed my bolomate/thunderbuddy.

 

[firebass]

Thanks for the welcome and offer to join the club! Yes please

Thanks also for the vintage tuner recommendations.
I take it that putting these on would require drilling holes for both the string post and small screws on the back??

Congrats on the VP, excellent basses!

I've heard it said here in the club that the Eppi VP is closer in sound to a 1960's TBird than a '76 TBird. That comment comes from a few VP owners here that have (or had) both a '60s and a Bicentennial model.

As for vintage looking tuners, IIRC these are the ones that fit the VP...
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If you're not already a member of the club here you're welcome to join! Outside of gigging on stage, it's the best place to be if you have a TBird.

PS - here's an older thread from when the VP was first released and some observations from early adopters. Some interesting comments about the VP vs vintage birds...
NBD Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro

 

[firebass]

Congratulations! VPs are great values. Sound really, really close to the 60s version (I have both). I liked the VP so much I bought a second! Great basses. I personally wouldn't change the PUs. I have a 76, but the VP PUs are a little better sounding. Not that the 70s are not good. Some hate them. I find them different kind of tame version of Thunderbird PUs.

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Thanks! I think I will follow your advice and stick with the original pickups.

 

[RexxRokket]

Every day is THUNDERBIRD day : )