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Thunderbird Club

Was that $330 for the non functional VP? If so, hope it’s a cheap easy fix.

Yep.
With any manner of luck at all, whoever bought it will only have cracked finish like mine.
All I had to do was plug it in & play it (and a setup, of course....), but I may have just gotten lucky :unsure:

Otherwise, they'll have a nice set of VP pickups plus some extra parts :thumbsup:
 
Thanks for the love regarding my bass, friends!

just got back to the hotel after the gig and wanted to report that I think SIT Power Flats are kinda awesome. Punchy, even tone from string to string and a nice growl when you dig in. Between these and SIT Power Steels I’m quickly becoming a fan of SIT
 
We were walking. But video with sound would have been wonderful.
Even better, vid and sound from inside the cab of their truck. That's what I would have wanted to hear. You know they talked about nothing else most of the day.

Driver: You fool.
Passenger: What?
Driver: I told you to use the bungee cord.
Passenger: I did you moron, how do you think bench stayed in the truck.
Passenger: I did my part--you must have had a bowl of stupid this morning.
Driver: I didn't do anything wrong or out of the ordinary. I was driving as I always do....
Passenger: Stop talking and start driving. We've still got to deliver the piano bench.
 
Yep.
With any manner of luck at all, whoever bought it will only have cracked finish like mine.
All I had to do was plug it in & play it (and a setup, of course....), but I may have just gotten lucky :unsure:

Otherwise, they'll have a nice set of VP pickups plus some extra parts :thumbsup:
Same situation with this VP. As that has that all too common neck/head stock crack. Still one of my best buys. Less than $400 for the bass, hard shell case and shipped. I'll come out fine even if the HS does that detaching thing. I think it was Ken posted the link from a Boston(?) GC--for which I am very grateful. Love playing this bass. If it ever comes apart, those PUs will go in the '06 Gibson and it will sound glorious.
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Thanks for the love regarding my bass, friends!

just got back to the hotel after the gig and wanted to report that I think SIT Power Flats are kinda awesome. Punchy, even tone from string to string and a nice growl when you dig in. Between these and SIT Power Steels I’m quickly becoming a fan of SIT
That's good to hear. I liked those strings years ago when G&L used to have them stock on their basses. I thought they sounded really good and had some longevity. Better than the D'As they now use. Maybe I missed it, but I don't recall anyone ever talking about their flats, so that is very interesting. Do they sound similar to anything else, like cobalts or…? Sound like Rotos, or are they more traditional sounding?
 
I need the input of the wise T-bird club. I’m looking into buying a newer Gibson (not Epi) T-bird. Just a regular old sunburst model. However, I’d like to switch the all-black hardware for chrome and get some good quality chrome pickups. I can do the work myself. What price range can I expect for the parts?
I can only weigh in on stage 1. My advice is buy it. BUY IT!
 
That's good to hear. I liked those strings years ago when G&L used to have them stock on their basses. I thought they sounded really good and had some longevity. Better than the D'As they now use. Maybe I missed it, but I don't recall anyone ever talking about their flats, so that is very interesting. Do they sound similar to anything else, like cobalts or…? Sound like Rotos, or are they more traditional sounding?

They sound close to Cobalts to me. Pretty lively and great consistency of tone from string to string. I’m really pleased with them :)
 
I need the input of the wise T-bird club. I’m looking into buying a newer Gibson (not Epi) T-bird. Just a regular old sunburst model. However, I’d like to switch the all-black hardware for chrome and get some good quality chrome pickups. I can do the work myself. What price range can I expect for the parts?

It depends on if you're using stock parts, just in chrome, or after market parts.

The chrome aftermarket stuff I bought for my Classic Pro was a bit under $300 or so for the bridge & tuners.

Pickups are a different story...I just swapped out the plastic covers for chrome, which ran about 50 bucks for two covers & two trim rings.
If you're switching pickups entirely...pretty big price variation on that, with lots of different options available. There are others here more experienced with that, who can advise you better than me. :)
 
It depends on if you're using stock parts, just in chrome, or after market parts.

The chrome aftermarket stuff I bought for my Classic Pro was a bit under $300 or so for the bridge & tuners.

Pickups are a different story...I just swapped out the plastic covers for chrome, which ran about 50 bucks for two covers & two trim rings.
If you're switching pickups entirely...pretty big price variation on that, with lots of different options available. There are others here more experienced with that, who can advise you better than me. :)

Thanks. I didn’t realize the covers could be removed. If that’s the case, then I think I would just need tuners, bridge, covers, and screws. Did I miss any parts?
 
I need the input of the wise T-bird club. I’m looking into buying a newer Gibson (not Epi) T-bird. Just a regular old sunburst model. However, I’d like to switch the all-black hardware for chrome and get some good quality chrome pickups. I can do the work myself. What price range can I expect for the parts?
Depends on what you use. Top of the line parts: USA Hipshot 3/8 Chrome Ultralights are about $145. Chrome Babicz three point replacement bridge is $200. Thunderbucker chrome pickups are $330. Those are what I'd use if I were chroming out a modern Gibson. You can save money going with a chrome Hipshot Supertone bridge ($100 - $125)or a standard chrome chrome three point, cheaper tuners and pickups.
 
Good idea. But it isn't Monday. Unless you're someplace the rest of us aren't.
I am someplace where the rest of you aren't. I think. How can we really know since it's claimed there is no such thing as objective truth (which itself is actually a truth claim that I think got missed in the bad logic of current thinking)?

I just posted while I was thinking of it and had time, not knowing how things will happen with my FIL, who is somehow still hanging on a week after entering palliative care. Not a record I know, but given his health and food intake the weeks prior it's amazing. Tough old farmer for sure.
 
Thanks for the love regarding my bass, friends!

just got back to the hotel after the gig and wanted to report that I think SIT Power Flats are kinda awesome. Punchy, even tone from string to string and a nice growl when you dig in. Between these and SIT Power Steels I’m quickly becoming a fan of SIT


I think Ken is singlehandedly trying to convert the world over to SITs, They're certainly good on some, but not all of my Birds, I'm still a fan of Ken Smith and the occasional DR for certain basses.
 
I am someplace where the rest of you aren't. I think. How can we really know since it's claimed there is no such thing as objective truth (which itself is actually a truth claim that I think got missed in the bad logic of current thinking)?

I just posted while I was thinking of it and had time, not knowing how things will happen with my FIL, who is somehow still hanging on a week after entering palliative care. Not a record I know, but given his health and food intake the weeks prior it's amazing. Tough old farmer for sure.
Again, thoughts are with you. I should think before trying to be humorous.
 
Thanks. I didn’t realize the covers could be removed. If that’s the case, then I think I would just need tuners, bridge, covers, and screws. Did I miss any parts?

Just a few small bits, that you may or may not need/want to change (I did) - knobs, bridge mount inserts (covered by the bridge), strap buttons.

But yeah, other than that, should be everything :thumbsup:



The tuners I bought:
(Schaller Da Vinci)

20201209_064814.jpg


20210208_223540.jpg



This is shows the pickups (covers, rings, & screws from Philadelphia Luthiers) & bridge (Babicz FCH-3):

20210622_225259.jpg
 
I need the input of the wise T-bird club. I’m looking into buying a newer Gibson (not Epi) T-bird. Just a regular old sunburst model. However, I’d like to switch the all-black hardware for chrome and get some good quality chrome pickups. I can do the work myself. What price range can I expect for the parts?

Hip shot tuners will run about $100
A chrome bridge will be between $50 and $150 depending on what brand you buy
Chrome pups will run $100 for a set of chinabuckers which sound good but aren’t as high end as Lollars, Thunderbuckers, or Lull pups which all cost orders of magnitudes more.

So, on the cheap it will be around $300, but if you want top shelf stuff figure as much as $800.