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Thunderbird Club

#186,224
GBassNorth said:
As they say, different strokes for different folks.
Here’s the skinny…
The three point is a very basic design that utilizes varying saddle heights to match the curvature or radius of the neck, with the logic that no individual string height adjustments need to be made, so no grub screws to fiddle with. Just raise or lower the bridge as needed using the three mounting screws. It works very effectively and efficiently on its intended bass. It would be a horrible design to try and use as an aftermarket option on other basses with a different neck radius.*

It’s biggest functional downfall is the non captive intonation screw and saddle assembly. If you remove the strings and for some reason turn your bass over, all the saddles and intonation screws will fall out. They have to be reinstalled in the right order to work properly, fortunately each one is numbered. There’s also the chance that the large rear body anchors the bridge screws into can pull out. That’s very very rare on Gibson models but more common on Epiphone models, mostly because the anchors on the Eppi are poorly designed with vertical splines that don’t grip the wood very well in the up/down direction.

I have the Hipshot bridge and it works great. But instead of three screws to set the height it has eight (two per saddle). It does have the additional feature of string spacing if you need it, that’s another four screws. So you get to fiddle with 12 screws instead of 3 and when you’re done you don’t end up any better off than if you used the three point. That “upgrade” will cost you over $100. It suffers from the same anchor pull out potential that the three point does because the pull out is a function of how well the anchor grips the body and isn’t really related much to the type of bridge used. The only other issue it has is more aesthetic than anything else - the bridge is wider than the center body block of most Tbirds (except the Goth) so it will hang over a bit on each side and may look odd to some OCD people like me. That said, it’s my favorite bridge for the Goth, the black satin finish and simple organic shape look better on the Goth than the complex shape and black gloss finish of the three point.

*the Eppi two piece bridge is my favorite and improves on the three point design by eliminating one of the three screws and using captive intonation screws. Plus it’s a clear nod to original Tbird design without the intonation issues of the original.
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:thumbsup: Great summary!
 
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#186,226
Venom of God said:
Hi gang, long time no post. My wife and I bought our first house this year and I sold my two not-Thunderbirds (an American Standard P and Rick 4001) to add to the deposit. I don't miss the Rick, though I do miss the P a little bit. I want to stick to just one bass now though and I'd like to make the Tbird a bit more versatile/old school. It's a burst 2009 (bought new in 2010) and has the black hardware and ceramic pups. I'm leaning toward Duncan custom shops in nickel (easier to get than the boutique stuff here in Aus), Hipshot ultra light mini clovers and a Hipshot three point (also in nickel). Before pulling the trigger I just thought I'd reach out and see if anyone had any other suggestions? I am honestly happy enough with the three point, though I can't find a nickel that isn't Allparts and I'm not sure that would really be up to the quality of the rest of the instrument. I also don't want to do any routing if I can help it. Thoughts and suggestions appreciated! Cheers.
Click to expand...
Babicz also makes a nickel bridge that's a direct drop-in on the Thunderbird.
 
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#186,230
PillO said:
Rather than any single item, I wonder if it is more engaged managers - i.e. get the right hammer instead of using the one laying around, get the right adhesive rather than the one laying around...
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Perhaps. Of course you'd think that this issue has gotten back to the powers that be and one has to wonder why it persists when the answer should be just to copy what Gibson is doing.
 
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#186,231
GBassNorth said:
Yeah, I have both the Eppi and BaCH two piece. They are different. As you noted the claw is very different, but so is the saddle section. Here’s a pic of the two with the BaCH on the left…
View attachment 4408313
…not shown is the Greco which uses a different claw altogether, very similar to the BaCH (very square) except the top edges are beveled.
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Greco a two piece?…. for those that really want the look I guess…

7EEE8FDF-E1D7-4A78-8424-BB8F8BE1DE42.jpeg


btw, Scott’s tailpiece is a direct replacement on BaCHs….looks much better imo…

6732791B-AC46-4F2B-9893-A1002A2E72EB.jpeg
 
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#186,233
Larry V said:
Perhaps. Of course you'd think that this issue has gotten back to the powers that be and one has to wonder why it persists when the answer should be just to copy what Gibson is doing.
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Well, this would require someone at Gibson to stop thinking about making Les Paul's for a few minuets and do something as simple as checking this forum for valuable insight and information. But that would be logical. And all those LPs need attention. Not to mention they wouldn't want to turn Thunderbirds into great sellers or anything.....

(I realize Basses are an afterthought given they could stop making them and it likely wouldn't affect the bottom line, and would have time and people to invent "new" LPs.)
 
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#186,235
tyohars said:
Thank you for your suggestions guys. I think I'll see if I can make it to rehearse in Friday before make a decision. What makes me not so optimistic is the venue is on my neighbor city, it's 61KM from my place (37-ish miles). Yep, it could be much much worse. The only concern is stitches on my face :wacky:
Click to expand...

Add some makeup and go as a scary movie character of some sort. Assuming the band style works with that.
 
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#186,236
Happy Friday Thunderbird loving sisters and brothers. Just dropping in to say the wife and I saw a great show last night. We attended the Jason Aldean concert at the Spokane arena. First concert in two years or so. Great show. Jason and his band rocked the house. TBs own Tully Kennedy tore it up. I did not see any Thunderbirds, but he was wicked good on the 5 string. If you enjoy country and rock, they play great music. Have a good weekend folks.
 

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#186,238
dagrev said:
Well, this would require someone at Gibson to stop thinking about making Les Paul's for a few minuets and do something as simple as checking this forum for valuable insight and information. But that would be logical. And all those LPs need attention. Not to mention they wouldn't want to turn Thunderbirds into great sellers or anything.....

(I realize Basses are an afterthought given they could stop making them and it likely wouldn't affect the bottom line, and would have time and people to invent "new" LPs.)
Click to expand...

Excellent point. I'm sure there are thousands of LPs just waiting to be invented. 17 LP standards in each registered Scots clan tartan. An LP with Thunderbird pickups. An LP with the nut and bridge swapped, with a Floyd Rose variant. An LP with a .2mm longer horn for BDE. An LP with Hagstrom Model 1 pickups. An LP with 0 pickups, and one with six. An LP with sideways pickups. An LP with stove top knobs (requires controls to be repositioned). A DT signature LP (the best guitar in the history of auditory excellence)- with an orange blob on the headstock, of course. Etc.
 
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#186,239
GBassNorth said:
To be honest, I can’t tell the green one from the blue one unless they’re side by side. And in the right light when you put the faded PB next to regular PB the faded PB one looks like it might be Inverness Green. So you’re probably right.


Speculation only…
First - The “tried and true” 1960’s Tbird bridge had its share of intonation problems (ask Godofthunder, he designed a replacement for it).
Second - Im not convinced that the Gibson design crew even knows that Epiphone exists. They seem to regularly not incorporate Eppi innovation into the Gibby brand.

I have three points, babicz, Hipshot and Eppi two piece bridges. I personally don’t consider the babicz to be a functional improvement over the three point. Both bridges can be dialed in for equally low action and the three point can get there much faster with less work. At least the Hipshot bridge (which I also have) adds string spacing capability that neither the three point or the Bab can do. That said, My favorite Tbird bridge to date is still the Eppi two piece followed by the Gibby three point.
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I have Babicz bridges on my Gibsons. Why? I'm shallow and like the way they look. So there you have it. All of it.
 
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