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Thunderbird Club

#194,321
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#194,322
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#194,323
HeartFrequency said:
Thanks for the video! Definitely an awesome sounding bass. Haven't seen anyone answer the neckdive question, but I guess I'll have to see for myself, can't be worse than a regular TB anyway ;)
Click to expand...

I prefer base geetars with the strap button at or around the 15th fret.

Most of them balance best with the button at the heel where the neck joins the body.

I also hold my instrument at about a 60-70* angle vs completely horizontal and at the top of my tube socks.

Neckdive isn't a thing with me.
 
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#194,324
tonight’s line up…..:hyper:
upload_2022-1-12_13-11-8.jpeg
 
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#194,325
KB5 said:
Are those pickups the same dimension as regular US T-Bird pickups?
Click to expand...
Yes, the 2015 Tbird pickups are the exact same size as a modern Gibson Tbird pickup. Both are 3.70” x 1.64” with a 3.25” screw spacing. I didn’t measure cavity depth but I suspect those are the same as well. Either pup is a direct drop in in either bass. The 2015 Tbird pups are also identical in size to Gibson 2013 and newer EB basses with exposed poles.

For reference
- Eppi VP pups are 3.63” x 1.56” with the same screw spacing as the other birds at 3.25” (not incl. trim rings)
- Eppi Goth pups are 3.83” x 1.50” and have a 3.60 screw spacing
 
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#194,328
JIO said:
Here's a reviewer that has a...er.., contrary opinion about a certain bass...

Click to expand...

LOL - “From the moment I set it in my lap I experienced that neck dive that Thunderbirds are so famous for”

So in other words, he NEVER strapped it on with a bass strap while standing. He’s just spewing his bias and preconceived opinions. In fact he goes on to say, “Gibson, why do you hate bass players so much” which I read as a general comment on Gibsons entire bass line up, not just specifically the one model he held.

Just for S&Gs I pulled out my NR BaCH and yep she’s a diver when I set it in my lap, unless I rest my right forearm on the body (like I do with all my basses). Then I pulled out my Reverse Tbirds, same neck dive in lap story, but none of them dive while strapped on. So I figured, must be the lower bout cutout location that rests on your thigh, maybe it’s better on a FSO. So I pulled out some Jazz and P and Tele basses, and every single one of them neck dives in my lap just as much as my birds.

I will agree with him on fit and finish - a $2000 bass shouldn’t have glaring F&F issues like fret sprout, raised frets, obvious paint blems etc. Don’t know if the one he tried had those issues, and if it did, if thats common across the model, or if its just one bad one or possibly Blem stock being sold on the store floor. Folks that have bought these can chime in, but I don’t recall hearing horror stories about bad frets, bowed necks, and the like from the users here.

Set up is a whole different story and shouldn’t be lumped in with defects or workmanship or quality control, it’s a personal thing. When I get a new bass that’s set up nicely for me right out of the box, I think cool that saves me some time. But when it comes with the action too high or the pups too low, etc. I just pull out the tools and get it to where I want it, no big deal.
 
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#194,329
HeartFrequency said:
Thanks for the video! Definitely an awesome sounding bass. Haven't seen anyone answer the neckdive question, but I guess I'll have to see for myself, can't be worse than a regular TB anyway ;)
Click to expand...

Here we are ( I don't like this pic, but it's mostly because I'm a vain old bag), this is mine on me with the strap pins in the stock locations, centerline if the body for the rear and at the tip of the upper 'bout. Une of our members has added a pin at the neck heel which takes the neck angle up.

lFJDjIR.jpg
 
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#194,330
GBassNorth said:
LOL - “From the moment I set it in my lap I experienced that neck dive that Thunderbirds are so famous for”

So in other words, he NEVER strapped it on with a bass strap while standing. He’s just spewing his bias and preconceived opinions. In fact he goes on to say, “Gibson, why do you hate bass players so much” which I read as a general comment on Gibsons entire bass line up, not just specifically the one model he held.

Just for S&Gs I pulled out my NR BaCH and yep she’s a diver when I set it in my lap, unless I rest my right forearm on the body (like I do with all my basses). Then I pulled out my Reverse Tbirds, same neck dive in lap story, but none of them dive while strapped on. So I figured, must be the lower bout cutout location that rests on you thigh, maybe it’s better on a FSO. So I pulled out some Jazz and P and Tele basses, and every single one of them neck dives in my lap just as much as my birds.

I will agree with him on fit and finish - a $2000 bass shouldn’t have glaring F&F issues like fret sprout, raised frets, obvious paint blems etc. Don’t know if the one he tried had those issues, and if it did, if thats common across the model, or if its just one bad one or possibly Blem stock being sold on the store floor. Folks that have bought these can chime in, but I don’t recall hearing horror stories about bad frets, bowed necks, and the like from the users here.

Set up is a whole different story and shouldn’t be lumped in with defects or workmanship or quality control, it’s a personal thing. When I get a new bass that’s set up nicely for me right out of the box, I think cool that saves me some time. But when it comes with the action too high or the pups too low, etc. I just pull out the tools and get it to where I want it, no big deal.
Click to expand...

I have had more than a few unbound neck Gibsons.

The only time I experienced Gibson fret sprout was a used model that was a 4 or more years old at the time I bought it.

I live in an extremely dry climate and after the first year of owning an instrument I find out which ones have fret sprout. (20 minutes later they don't)

The worst fret sprout I have experienced has a three way tie for first place and all of them were another brand... (all thems was fixed in 20 minutes as well)

I also have never experienced the Gibson exploding headstock, but I have see pictures on the interwebz....

I don't often sit down and start playing an instrument in the store, and if I do I won't be playing one that is set up poorly, I will be inspecting it to see if it can be set up correctly or if it is damaged in some way.
 
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#194,331
TBird1958 said:
Here we are ( I don't like this pic, but it's mostly because I'm a vain old bag), this is mine on me with the strap pins in the stock locations, centerline if the body for the rear and at the tip of the upper 'bout. Une of our members has added a pin at the neck heel which takes the neck angle up.

View attachment 4540008
Click to expand...

Well, hello nurse!!! :woot:
 
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#194,332
KB5 said:
I can forgive a bad setup but poorly finished fret ends on an otherwise nice bass is just gross and inexcusable. The T-Bird ergo issue this is overblown as usual. That Serek did sound pretty sweet though dispite his lazy and sloppy slap technique. Bad technique is a lot like bad fret ends to me. Lol.
Click to expand...

Totally hear ya.
No same bass is created equal sad to say.
But to diss a bad apple or 2…….
 
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#194,334
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#194,336
HeartFrequency said:
Ignoring that he is disregarding an instrument based on the setup alone, is he wrong on his other points? The sound lacking definition? The neck dive actually being an issue on the NR as well?
Click to expand...
I haven't had neck dive issues with any Thunderbirds except the Epiphone VP with its huge headstock. And even that's not bad. Sound lacking definition? I don't think so with the right strings. I haven't played a NR, so I can't say if they dive or not, but others play them and I don't recall reports of diving.
 
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#194,339
GBassNorth said:
Yes, the 2015 Tbird pickups are the exact same size as a modern Gibson Tbird pickup. Both are 3.70” x 1.64” with a 3.25” screw spacing. I didn’t measure cavity depth but I suspect those are the same as well. Either pup is a direct drop in in either bass. The 2015 Tbird pups are also identical in size to Gibson 2013 and newer EB basses with exposed poles.

For reference
- Eppi VP pups are 3.63” x 1.56” with the same screw spacing as the other birds at 3.25” (not incl. trim rings)
- Eppi Goth pups are 3.83” x 1.50” and have a 3.60 screw spacing
Click to expand...
I stand corrected.
 
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