Thunderbird Club

[Dadagoboi]

Actually, I can do the soldering myself - I'll see if I can borrow a soldering iron.

This is what the EY GP pickup looks like:

EY Pickup

• kat888
• Sep 1, 2016
• thunderbird

Looks like there may not be enough wire coming off the coils to easily resolder them. Definitely not impossible but not fun either.

EY seems to have pretty good customer service. Maybe they'll send you a pair that they know are in phase. That way you won't have to experiment to find a phased pair if they only send you one. No reason you should have to go thru that.

 

[fjadams]

Yes, I think it was the 150 (head) with 2x15 cab is what I had, two of them! I bought it used in '78 for $250 during a blizzard in Chicago (I was the only one to brave the day so I got it for cheap!)

Bought mine new in 72 or 73 from Dietze in Lincoln. Played a Guild Starfire thru it. One thing I do remember is if it was very humid the tone did get a little muddy. Always thought the speakers didn't like high temps and humidity at the same time.

 

[JIO]

I've posted this pic of my '64 T-bird before here, but as I changed strings today, I for the 1st time looked at the nuts string spacing. The nut is the 1964 factory issue. Carlo.., does your early 60's birds have similar string spacing at the nut? Odd I never noticed, and after playing it like this since '78, I'm not likely to want to.., er, adjust it. In case it isn't obvious, the E, A and D are evenly spaced, with a bit wider spacing for the G. Ideally the A & D would shift abit to the G side. I chalk it up for the time it was made.

 

[GBassNorth]

I've posted this pic of my '64 T-bird before here, but as I changed strings today, I for the 1st time looked at the nuts string spacing. The nut is the 1964 factory issue. Carlo.., does your early 60's birds have similar string spacing at the nut? Odd I never noticed, and after playing it like this since '78, I'm not likely to want to.., er, adjust it. In case it isn't obvious, the E, A and D are evenly spaced, with a bit wider spacing for the G. Ideally the A & D would shift abit to the G side. I chalk it up for the time it was made.

Could be worse, here's the nut on my Gibson SG Supreme...

Look close, something is very wrong.

 

[JIO]

Could be worse, here's the nut on my Gibson SG Supreme...

Look close, something is very wrong.

Well.., other than no slot cut for the E string… I'm not aware of Gibson's history of QC 'issues', at least specifically related to nut string-spacing.

 

[GBassNorth]

Well.., other than no slot cut for the E string… I'm not aware of Gibson's history of QC 'issues', at least specifically related to nut string-spacing.

The E string slot is part of the problem but it's not the big issue. Look very very closely, something is way wrong here.
The good news for Gibson is that I don't think it's the original nut. This error was done by a real nut job "expert" after it left the factory.
The saving grace is that it still playes fantastic.

 

[JIO]

The E string slot is part of the problem but it's not the big issue. Look very very closely, something is way wrong here.
The good news for Gibson is that I don't think it's the original nut. This error was done by a real nut job "expert" after it left the factory.
The saving grace is that it still playes fantastic.

… oh, the taper is reversed/backward. The missing E string slot threw me off! I bet the person who installed it was a bit, dyslexic? (trying to give them the benefit of doubt…)

 

[GrizzleTone]

It's kinda like fretless but taken a step beyond.

Ordinarily, I'd just "like" this and move along, but I thought I better compliment you on your awesome avatar. U Stink (but I love you).

Look very very closely, something is way wrong here.

The nut is backwards?

 

[GrizzleTone]

oh, the taper is reversed/backward.

D'oh. Beat me to it.

 

[GBassNorth]

… oh, the taper is reversed/backward. The missing E string slot threw me off!

BINGO - the nut was installed backwards and then only 3 of the 4 string slots were somewhat adequately filed.
I've been playing it this way for a year now and it doesn't seem to effect anything other than my OCD tendencies. On the next string change I'll take it to a real luthier and have it done right.

 

[JIO]

BINGO - the nut was installed backwards and then only 3 of the 4 string slots were somewhat adequately filed.
I've been playing it this way for a year now and it doesn't seem to effect anything other than my OCD tendencies. On the next string change I'll take it to a real luthier and have it done right.

Correcting it will make a marked improvement - trust me.

 

[GrizzleTone]

Bought mine new in 72 or 73 from Dietze in Lincoln.

I'm from Lincoln, and spent a lot of time in Dietze when I was a kid in the 90s. Small world.

 

[vdub75]

How do you like the Jack Casady? I really fancy one of those

It's a cool bass, I use it for two reasons: first, it's a semi acoustic so it's loud enough to practice without an amp, second, it sounds like an angry Tuba strung with flats, I like this kinda "honky" tone I get with the mids boosted on my ampeg svt IIP. I Play it in my stoner blues band so it fits the bill.

Might Change over to rounds soon b/c I use a bi-amp Setup with and octave up and a fifth to create a "guitar Signal" and for that I might use the extra high end. would go for DR LoRider in that case.

 

[Korladis]

I did wonder why there was no neck dive, hey folks, problem solved but... my old Bird didn't dive either.... guess it must have been one with QC issues or Henry Juszkiewicz left his wallet stuck on the back or something.

Been a long time since I saw the inside of a studio, must be nearly 40 years and I had hair then too, I wonder if a Fender strap will cure that too?

The "studio" my doom band used for recording our upcoming second album was my guitarist's and vocalist's house.

With the blend pot in the centre, the Bird sounds quite a lot like a J*zz which wasn't the plan. Seeing as the braid is soldered to the casing, if the conductors are reversed the case is no longer earthed right? ...unlike the strings, bridge and other pup case. Are there any potential problems with this?

Why not just use a pickup selector instead?

 

[kat888]

Here's a little 30 second recording I made banging an octave - direct into the PreSonus: neck > blend centred > bridge

The middle setting does sound out of phase doesn't it?

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[Count Bassie]

Here's a little 30 second recording I made banging an octave - direct into the PreSonus: neck > blend centred > bridge

The middle setting does sound out of phase doesn't it?

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Does sound a little phasey.

 

[marko57]

Hey Marko, I used to know a phenominal stickless drummer in Manch Vegas... The two of you would be unstoppable!

Hmmm, who is it? I may know him/her! My old band (Metal Angel) and current band (DEFCON) were/are based out of Manch Vegas!

 

[Dadagoboi]

I've posted this pic of my '64 T-bird before here, but as I changed strings today, I for the 1st time looked at the nuts string spacing. The nut is the 1964 factory issue. Carlo.., does your early 60's birds have similar string spacing at the nut? Odd I never noticed, and after playing it like this since '78, I'm not likely to want to.., er, adjust it. In case it isn't obvious, the E, A and D are evenly spaced, with a bit wider spacing for the G. Ideally the A & D would shift abit to the G side. I chalk it up for the time it was made.

One of mine:

I think my other 64 is similar. Yours does look a little off, guess someone was having a bad day.

 

[fjadams]

I'm from Lincoln, and spent a lot of time in Dietze when I was a kid in the 90s. Small world.

You might have known my boy then. He was the guitar player for Elysium Crossing, Bone China, Flesh Petal, Rosebud, The Self Righteous Brothers. Went to Lincoln High and played French Horn in every band from grade school on til he graduated. also the Lincoln High jazz bassist and guitarist. Was First Chair, First Horn in the JYO and the Youth Symphony.

He retired from music business when he was 25 as he couldn't take the business side of the music business any more.

 

[Mosstone]

Hmmm, who is it? I may know him/her! My old band (Metal Angel) and current band (DEFCON) were/are based out of Manch Vegas!

I'm surprised you haven't seen him. Everyone calls him 'Marcel' (I don't think that's his real name). He plays in a band called 'Silence is Golden'. Nobody makes a sound and they're all dressed like mimes. One of the most devastating 'Mime Metal' bands on the southern New England circuit!