Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

Happy Setup Sunday!

Time to get the new NR dialed in. First thing to do is remove the pickguard condom.

Pickguard off. Thinking clear would sure be nice on this one as well as on my shorty Silverburst.

Decided that if I’m going to break in new strings, they should be something I like. Just not feeling it with the stock strings, whatever they are. Going with these from my local independent store.

New strings on. Now to set relief. It was .013. I like it a little straighter, around .010. So I’ll tweak the truss rod which hadn’t been touched since the headstock was painted at the factory. Removed the truss rod cover condom while I had the cover off.

Gibson included their multi-tool that includes the TR wrench.
It wouldn’t seat correctly because of the paint. So I had to use one of the old “crack pipe” wrenches to break the paint. This handy tool will work on it now.

It took about 3/4 of a turn to get the relief to .010.

Now to get the action down from “spec” to a height that is actually playable.
Before:

After:

That’s more like it. About 3/64ths at the 17th fret. But the three-point is about on the deck. I’m really thinking about a
Babicz sooner rather than later. String height adjustability on the Babicz is a huge benefit.

I spent a few more minutes lowering pickup height a bit because I took the Strings down so much. Got it all dialed in except fine tuning intonation which I work on tomorrow. The pickups are wonderful.

The stainless steel strings make a noticeable difference. This Thunderbird sounds really angry now. Just the way I like it.

 

[GonePlaid]

Happy Setup Sunday!

Time to get the new NR dialed in. First thing to do is remove the pickguard condom.
View attachment 4396168
Pickguard off. Thinking clear would sure be nice on this one as well as on my shorty Silverburst.
View attachment 4396173
Decided that if I’m going to break in new strings, they should be something I like. Just not feeling it with the stock strings, whatever they are. Going with these from my local independent store.
View attachment 4396175
New strings on. Now to set relief. It was .013. I like it a little straighter, around .010. So I’ll tweak the truss rod which hadn’t been touched since the headstock was painted at the factory. Removed the truss rod cover condom while I had the cover off.
View attachment 4396206
Gibson included their multi-tool that includes the TR wrench.
It wouldn’t seat correctly because of the paint. So I had to use one of the old “crack pipe” wrenches to break the paint. This handy tool will work on it now.
View attachment 4396208
It took about 3/4 of a turn to get the relief to .010.
View attachment 4396218
Now to get the action down from “spec” to a height that is actually playable.
Before:
View attachment 4396223
View attachment 4396225
After:
View attachment 4396227
View attachment 4396236
That’s more like it. About 3/64ths at the 17th fret. But the three-point is about on the deck. I’m really thinking about a
Babicz sooner rather than later. String height adjustability on the Babicz is a huge benefit.

I spent a few more minutes lowering pickup height a bit because I took the Strings down so much. Got it all dialed in except fine tuning intonation which I work on tomorrow. The pickups are wonderful.

The stainless steel strings make a noticeable difference. This Thunderbird sounds really angry now. Just the way I like it.

No rout under the PG! Cool! Clear PG sounds like a great idea.

 

[Gaolee]

Happy Setup Sunday!

Time to get the new NR dialed in. First thing to do is remove the pickguard condom.
View attachment 4396168
Pickguard off. Thinking clear would sure be nice on this one as well as on my shorty Silverburst.
View attachment 4396173
Decided that if I’m going to break in new strings, they should be something I like. Just not feeling it with the stock strings, whatever they are. Going with these from my local independent store.
View attachment 4396175
New strings on. Now to set relief. It was .013. I like it a little straighter, around .010. So I’ll tweak the truss rod which hadn’t been touched since the headstock was painted at the factory. Removed the truss rod cover condom while I had the cover off.
View attachment 4396206
Gibson included their multi-tool that includes the TR wrench.
It wouldn’t seat correctly because of the paint. So I had to use one of the old “crack pipe” wrenches to break the paint. This handy tool will work on it now.
View attachment 4396208
It took about 3/4 of a turn to get the relief to .010.
View attachment 4396218
Now to get the action down from “spec” to a height that is actually playable.
Before:
View attachment 4396223
View attachment 4396225
After:
View attachment 4396227
View attachment 4396236
That’s more like it. About 3/64ths at the 17th fret. But the three-point is about on the deck. I’m really thinking about a
Babicz sooner rather than later. String height adjustability on the Babicz is a huge benefit.

I spent a few more minutes lowering pickup height a bit because I took the Strings down so much. Got it all dialed in except fine tuning intonation which I work on tomorrow. The pickups are wonderful.

The stainless steel strings make a noticeable difference. This Thunderbird sounds really angry now. Just the way I like it.

Erm, before string height looks really familiar...

 

[Miles_ONeal]

open box blem VP (60s whatever) $559.20
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/open-box-epiphone-thunderbird-vintage-pro-bass

 

[GonePlaid]

open box blem VP (60s whatever) $559.20
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/open-box-epiphone-thunderbird-vintage-pro-bass

That won't last long.

 

[Engle]

don’t really care for multiple distillations, kinda like the faint taste of corn mash..

If it evaporates as soon as it’s in my mouth, I’m not interested in drinking more of it.

 

[Engle]

Happy Setup Sunday!

Time to get the new NR dialed in. First thing to do is remove the pickguard condom.
View attachment 4396168
Pickguard off. Thinking clear would sure be nice on this one as well as on my shorty Silverburst.
View attachment 4396173
Decided that if I’m going to break in new strings, they should be something I like. Just not feeling it with the stock strings, whatever they are. Going with these from my local independent store.
View attachment 4396175
New strings on. Now to set relief. It was .013. I like it a little straighter, around .010. So I’ll tweak the truss rod which hadn’t been touched since the headstock was painted at the factory. Removed the truss rod cover condom while I had the cover off.
View attachment 4396206
Gibson included their multi-tool that includes the TR wrench.
It wouldn’t seat correctly because of the paint. So I had to use one of the old “crack pipe” wrenches to break the paint. This handy tool will work on it now.
View attachment 4396208
It took about 3/4 of a turn to get the relief to .010.
View attachment 4396218
Now to get the action down from “spec” to a height that is actually playable.
Before:
View attachment 4396223
View attachment 4396225
After:
View attachment 4396227
View attachment 4396236
That’s more like it. About 3/64ths at the 17th fret. But the three-point is about on the deck. I’m really thinking about a
Babicz sooner rather than later. String height adjustability on the Babicz is a huge benefit.

I spent a few more minutes lowering pickup height a bit because I took the Strings down so much. Got it all dialed in except fine tuning intonation which I work on tomorrow. The pickups are wonderful.

The stainless steel strings make a noticeable difference. This Thunderbird sounds really angry now. Just the way I like it.

It seems like Gibson ships basses with a fair bit of relief. Maybe it’s safer to send them out that way?

 

[Nocturnal]

I've had some delicious moonshine, so good that I drank it for how it tasted.

My dad had a friend in Mississippi that made moonshine. It was by far the smoothest I have ever tried. If you can believe it, you could drink it straight and not even flinch. It snuck up on you FAST!!! Everyone that tried it actually liked it, unlike the stuff I had tried in my youth. When I was able to get a second batch, he had "improved" it by adding a coconut flavor. It was not the same at all but it still had the desired end result.

 

[GBassNorth]

Ij worked with a guy from Appalachian area, he triple distills his 'shine' or liquor as he called it. Said his was usually 190 ish proof. Yep that would be plenty dangerous. Yep, of course I have two pints on order

I lived in Kentucky for 35 years, if you didn’t have a bottle of shine in your house at any given time there was something wrong with you.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

My dad had a friend in Mississippi that made moonshine. It was by far the smoothest I have ever tried. If you can believe it, you could drink it straight and not even flinch. It snuck up on you FAST!!! Everyone that tried it actually liked it, unlike the stuff I had tried in my youth. When I was able to get a second batch, he had "improved" it by adding a coconut flavor. It was not the same at all but it still had the desired end result.

remarkable, from used strings to hills with stills in less than two pages!…..only at the Thunderbird Club….
in Norway (Scandinavia in general), foreign alcohol is heavily taxed to the point that one can purchase famous brand flavorings such as Jack Daniels; Captain Morgan’s, and so on…
one simply distills their own booze and just adds their favorite brand flavor……no lie….this has made the home distillation process over there an art form whićh results in extremely smooth “shine “…let’s see where this one takes us..

 

[Nocturnal]

remarkable, from used strings to hills with stills in less than two pages!…..only at the Thunderbird Club….
in Norway (Scandinavia in general), foreign alcohol is heavily taxed to the point that one can purchase famous brand flavorings such as Jack Daniels; Captain Morgan’s, and so on…
one simply distills their own booze and just adds their favorite brand flavor……no lie….this has made the home distillation process over there an art form whićh results in extremely smooth “shine “…let’s see where this one takes us..

Sounds like I need to plan a trip to Norway.

 

[Border]

Happy Setup Sunday!

Time to get the new NR dialed in. First thing to do is remove the pickguard condom.
View attachment 4396168
Pickguard off. Thinking clear would sure be nice on this one as well as on my shorty Silverburst.
View attachment 4396173
Decided that if I’m going to break in new strings, they should be something I like. Just not feeling it with the stock strings, whatever they are. Going with these from my local independent store.
View attachment 4396175
New strings on. Now to set relief. It was .013. I like it a little straighter, around .010. So I’ll tweak the truss rod which hadn’t been touched since the headstock was painted at the factory. Removed the truss rod cover condom while I had the cover off.
View attachment 4396206
Gibson included their multi-tool that includes the TR wrench.
It wouldn’t seat correctly because of the paint. So I had to use one of the old “crack pipe” wrenches to break the paint. This handy tool will work on it now.
View attachment 4396208
It took about 3/4 of a turn to get the relief to .010.
View attachment 4396218
Now to get the action down from “spec” to a height that is actually playable.
Before:
View attachment 4396223
View attachment 4396225
After:
View attachment 4396227
View attachment 4396236
That’s more like it. About 3/64ths at the 17th fret. But the three-point is about on the deck. I’m really thinking about a
Babicz sooner rather than later. String height adjustability on the Babicz is a huge benefit.

I spent a few more minutes lowering pickup height a bit because I took the Strings down so much. Got it all dialed in except fine tuning intonation which I work on tomorrow. The pickups are wonderful.

The stainless steel strings make a noticeable difference. This Thunderbird sounds really angry now. Just the way I like it.

Congratulations on your gorgeous new bass MCF!! Thanks for sharing the pictures and write up. I am seriously tempted by these new NR, especially the Pelham Blue. Play that bird in good health!!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Sounds like I need to plan a trip to Norway.

yeah not known for THUNDERBIRD players but great smoked salmon…

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Happy Setup Sunday!

Time to get the new NR dialed in. First thing to do is remove the pickguard condom.
View attachment 4396168
Pickguard off. Thinking clear would sure be nice on this one as well as on my shorty Silverburst.
View attachment 4396173
Decided that if I’m going to break in new strings, they should be something I like. Just not feeling it with the stock strings, whatever they are. Going with these from my local independent store.
View attachment 4396175
New strings on. Now to set relief. It was .013. I like it a little straighter, around .010. So I’ll tweak the truss rod which hadn’t been touched since the headstock was painted at the factory. Removed the truss rod cover condom while I had the cover off.
View attachment 4396206
Gibson included their multi-tool that includes the TR wrench.
It wouldn’t seat correctly because of the paint. So I had to use one of the old “crack pipe” wrenches to break the paint. This handy tool will work on it now.
View attachment 4396208
It took about 3/4 of a turn to get the relief to .010.
View attachment 4396218
Now to get the action down from “spec” to a height that is actually playable.
Before:
View attachment 4396223
View attachment 4396225
After:
View attachment 4396227
View attachment 4396236
That’s more like it. About 3/64ths at the 17th fret. But the three-point is about on the deck. I’m really thinking about a
Babicz sooner rather than later. String height adjustability on the Babicz is a huge benefit.

I spent a few more minutes lowering pickup height a bit because I took the Strings down so much. Got it all dialed in except fine tuning intonation which I work on tomorrow. The pickups are wonderful.

The stainless steel strings make a noticeable difference. This Thunderbird sounds really angry now. Just the way I like it.

from the pics, looks like the anticipation paid off ..
congrats Dude.

 

[godofthunder59]

Happy Setup Sunday!

Time to get the new NR dialed in. First thing to do is remove the pickguard condom.
View attachment 4396168
Pickguard off. Thinking clear would sure be nice on this one as well as on my shorty Silverburst.
View attachment 4396173
Decided that if I’m going to break in new strings, they should be something I like. Just not feeling it with the stock strings, whatever they are. Going with these from my local independent store.
View attachment 4396175
New strings on. Now to set relief. It was .013. I like it a little straighter, around .010. So I’ll tweak the truss rod which hadn’t been touched since the headstock was painted at the factory. Removed the truss rod cover condom while I had the cover off.
View attachment 4396206
Gibson included their multi-tool that includes the TR wrench.
It wouldn’t seat correctly because of the paint. So I had to use one of the old “crack pipe” wrenches to break the paint. This handy tool will work on it now.
View attachment 4396208
It took about 3/4 of a turn to get the relief to .010.
View attachment 4396218
Now to get the action down from “spec” to a height that is actually playable.
Before:
View attachment 4396223
View attachment 4396225
After:
View attachment 4396227
View attachment 4396236
That’s more like it. About 3/64ths at the 17th fret. But the three-point is about on the deck. I’m really thinking about a
Babicz sooner rather than later. String height adjustability on the Babicz is a huge benefit.

I spent a few more minutes lowering pickup height a bit because I took the Strings down so much. Got it all dialed in except fine tuning intonation which I work on tomorrow. The pickups are wonderful.

The stainless steel strings make a noticeable difference. This Thunderbird sounds really angry now. Just the way I like it.

Beautiful bass! I am really digging mine. When it arrived at the HOG it was set up so poorly it was barley playable for me, after I set it up it's one of the best playing birds I own.

 

[dagrev]

Happy Setup Sunday!

Time to get the new NR dialed in. First thing to do is remove the pickguard condom.
View attachment 4396168
Pickguard off. Thinking clear would sure be nice on this one as well as on my shorty Silverburst.
View attachment 4396173
Decided that if I’m going to break in new strings, they should be something I like. Just not feeling it with the stock strings, whatever they are. Going with these from my local independent store.
View attachment 4396175
New strings on. Now to set relief. It was .013. I like it a little straighter, around .010. So I’ll tweak the truss rod which hadn’t been touched since the headstock was painted at the factory. Removed the truss rod cover condom while I had the cover off.
View attachment 4396206
Gibson included their multi-tool that includes the TR wrench.
It wouldn’t seat correctly because of the paint. So I had to use one of the old “crack pipe” wrenches to break the paint. This handy tool will work on it now.
View attachment 4396208
It took about 3/4 of a turn to get the relief to .010.
View attachment 4396218
Now to get the action down from “spec” to a height that is actually playable.
Before:
View attachment 4396223
View attachment 4396225
After:
View attachment 4396227
View attachment 4396236
That’s more like it. About 3/64ths at the 17th fret. But the three-point is about on the deck. I’m really thinking about a
Babicz sooner rather than later. String height adjustability on the Babicz is a huge benefit.

I spent a few more minutes lowering pickup height a bit because I took the Strings down so much. Got it all dialed in except fine tuning intonation which I work on tomorrow. The pickups are wonderful.

The stainless steel strings make a noticeable difference. This Thunderbird sounds really angry now. Just the way I like it.

Sounds like a lot of work. Clearly there are problems with that one, but I don't mine buying it from you so you aren't stuck with something requiring all that maintenance.

It looks great! As much as I love the clear on Chuck's burst NR, I really like the white on the PB. Just looks "right" to me and make the blue pop.

 

[dagrev]

open box blem VP (60s whatever) $559.20
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/open-box-epiphone-thunderbird-vintage-pro-bass

Likely in near mint condition. Free shipping too.

 

[MCF]

Beautiful bass! I am really digging mine. When it arrived at the HOG it was set up so poorly it was barley playable for me, after I set it up it's one of the best playing birds I own.

Thanks! It plays as well as the ‘15 now. I wouldn’t say it was setup poorly from Sweetwater; it was “spec.” I just prefer low action. I play finger style and try not to work so hard. These NRs are great Thunderbirds.

 

[MCF]

Sounds like a lot of work. Clearly there are problems with that one, but I don't mine buying it from you so you aren't stuck with something requiring all that maintenance.

It looks great! As much as I love the clear on Chuck's burst NR, I really like the white on the PB. Just looks "right" to me and make the blue pop.

I like setup Sundays. It’s relaxing. Almost Zen like; becoming one with something beautiful. I take my time and there’s always the reward of an instrument setup just the way I want it.

 

[MCF]

from the pics, looks like the anticipation paid off ..
congrats Dude.

It did. Well worth the wait.