Aha, I'm looking at it backwards. I was thinking the 'weetabix' maybe better with a different preamp.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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They're great for small of jobs like cutting ends/tips of screws, removing material from cramped areas, jobs where a tool with a big, loud, heavier motor housing is awkward.
In always running into some trip at work or home where I've had to invent a jig, etc, and the Dremel is just handy.
I get this- the source of your signal chain is clean and well defined, dirt comes in down the chain. If my Sixx pups end up letting me down I'll either get TB+ or DiMarzio Model Oneses...
IMO, a tracing would be better. Sharpen that pencil and keep your line tight to the outline and then carefully fill in the hole locations. This will be more accurate than a print made from a scan on most home office printer/scanner type machine. I've seen holes be off by two MM when printed... probably has to do with some sort of scaling.
Just a quick note here: thanks everyone for the comments 
pretty amazing that this bass has such an active cult around it 
props to everyone!
pretty amazing that this bass has such an active cult around it props to everyone!Well, it's just that we all have good taste and there's nothing quite like T Bird, you can come out with all the strange shaped basses you want but nothing out there even comes close to the image/looks a Bird has along with the advantage it sounds pretty amazing in all it's forms. I remember the first time I saw a brd of any type, it was on the cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's live album in the form of a Firebird used by Allen Collins, it was one of those droool moments. The first time I saw a real T Bird was again with Skynyrd played live by Leon Wilkeson and I just knew I had to have one. It took about 6 years before I found one and it was without doubt the sexiest guitar I had ever held. then like a t wat I sold it after about 20 years of ownership.Just a quick note here: thanks everyone for the comments
I had heard of T-birds before, people usually telling that they suck (in fact that all Gibson/Epiphone basses suck) so I did not pay much attention to them. Lately I'd been looking for a 5 string and there it it is, I was like "ooo that's a sexy looking bass". Turns out it sounds good too
In fact I received compliments from random customers in the store even before buying it Why the Gibson bass hate btw?
I guess it's just insecurity because most people buy into the Fender world and they're worried in case they got it wrong so they like to kick a lot of crap Gibson's wayI had heard of T-birds before, people usually telling that they suck (in fact that all Gibson/Epiphone basses suck) so I did not pay much attention to them. Lately I'd been looking for a 5 string and there it it is, I was like "ooo that's a sexy looking bass". Turns out it sounds good too
Why the Gibson bass hate btw?
Because most people are, generally speaking, a bit like cattle. They go where they get permission to go, do what they have to to attain or maintain the approval of their peers. Admittedly I've run with the herd myself, until I found that I wasn't built to do that! One might one day stumble upon oneself...
Edit:. Admittedly I was never a leader of the pack, or even so welcome in it. Just took a long time to "get it" and quit trying! Lol...
You are here to do what suits you. It's a great thing to find it.
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My Dremel is the best tool purchase I ever made... It has a vast number of use, but polishing a guitar isn't one of them. Too small and too fast. Even on it's lowest speed a Dremel will instantly burn a nice hole on your finish.
I'd use a drill with a buffing attachment for polishing/buffing, or good ol' elbow grease.
My experience exactly.I had heard of T-birds before, people usually telling that they suck (in fact that all Gibson/Epiphone basses suck) so I did not pay much attention to them. Lately I'd been looking for a 5 string and there it it is, I was like "ooo that's a sexy looking bass". Turns out it sounds good too
Why the Gibson bass hate btw?
Liked the looks of some of the Gibson models for many years but never even gave them one second of play time in the stores because everybody (including the mental midgets on TB) said they all sound like mud, they all neck dive, they all are built with crappy QC and they never fit in a mix. I took it on good faith that was true.
Then a really sweet looking used mint condition limited edition SG Supreme in lava burst came up for sale at Guitar Center at a great price. I collect basses that might be good investments and since this was only a 400 unit production run I figured I'd buy it and just keep it in the case.
When it arrived I was blown away by the quality of fit and finish of the bass (not to mention the top notch case), not a flaw on it anywhere. Of course I had to try it to make sure everything was in good working order and again I was blown away by the low action, fast neck and nice fret job. Then I plugged it in and wow, this thing sounded monstrous - thick deep lows, cutting mid range and clean crisp highs out of either pickup, all with a creamy silky vibe but never muddy. After playing it for about an hour it dawned on me, this thing isn't neck diving at all. My assumption - I must have really dodged a bullet and been real lucky because my new Gibson bass didn't have any of the flaws attributed to every Gibson product ever made. It quickly became my favorite player. Then a year later I spotted a used mint condition Gibson gold bullion anniversary edition Thunderbird for sale at a great price. Decided to buy it as a collector piece also since it was a special run bass, again with the intent to keep it in the case. The exact same thing happened with the TBird when it arrived. Nothing I had read on TB or heard from (Fender) band mates was holding true.
I came to the conclusion that many on TB and most of the non Gibson playing crowd don't have a clue about Gibson products and many are just parroting things they've heard. I can't speak for vintage Gibsons or any Eppiphone basses since I haven't tried those but I have yet to find a modern Gibby TBird that neck dives, sounds like mud or has any more QC issues than similar Fenders.
I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but if any Bird curious bass players read this post my advice is to jump in, the water is fine and the other swimmers in the pool are great people to hang with!
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Just make sure you don't get too enthusiastic polishing with one of those. It will burn through a finish if you give it a little time and pressure.
I'll second this! The Dremel is a very useful tool for small jobs and detail work but should never be used to polish the finish on your bass, that should only be done by hand.
Good bass uses for the Dremel include:
-Pickguard cutout and beveling
-Cleaning up the inside of a pickup or control cavity route
-Cutting off a broken screw or metal stud or cutting long screws to length
-Polishing small metal components like tuners, strap pins and bridges
-Fine tuning the hole sizes for tuners or pot shafts
-Buffing your frets or brass nut
-Some inlay tasks
-Removing finish in tight spots that are hard to reach by hand or larger sanders
Thanks, great, that is what I was worried about.
... and don't forget, if you want to be taken *seriously* don't buy a Gibson, Epiphone, especially not a Ric or (if you have pretensions to being a real bass player) a Squier.
Righty-o then 'Bird lovers, here's a question for us all. Are we heavy pedal users?
I'm not looking for comprehensive pedal board run downs, photos etc, just 'no' or 'never plug in without an OD, chorus etc'. And tuners don't count.
Personally, I use a little mild compression and that's it.
I'm not looking for comprehensive pedal board run downs, photos etc, just 'no' or 'never plug in without an OD, chorus etc'. And tuners don't count.
Personally, I use a little mild compression and that's it.
- Apr 18, 2008
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- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
I have a Zoom B3. That box has everything (and does it all pretty well)... effects, amp and cab simulation, looper, phrase trainer, etc...
I just dicker around with it, mostly.
I'm not really much of an effects guy. Maybe a little chorus sometimes, or a little OD for dirt, but I mostly use EQ for tone shaping and turn up the gain for dirt.
I use more effects on guitar, but not much. Mostly the typical chorus, delay, reverb and natural OD. Or just plain clean.
I just dicker around with it, mostly.
I'm not really much of an effects guy. Maybe a little chorus sometimes, or a little OD for dirt, but I mostly use EQ for tone shaping and turn up the gain for dirt.
I use more effects on guitar, but not much. Mostly the typical chorus, delay, reverb and natural OD. Or just plain clean.
