Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

I spent some time last night working on Highway Star (Deep Purple) and Ain't No Grave (Molly Skaggs). Highway Star is great for my picking stamina but I've also found I tend to dig in with my fretting hand while playing it, so working on that, too. I pulled up an isolated bass track and discovered that all along I've been fooled about what he's playing because there is SO MUCH going on in that song with all the instruments. I'm working on getting the gist of what he does, but keeping some of what I've always thought was in there. And of course, it works just great with a THUNDERBIRD! With Ain't No Grave, I'm working out my own part.

What's everyone else working on?

You might like this version from another great band from Texas.

 

[WillyW]

Do the surround bezels from Philadephia supply come with the rubber gasket thingie?

asking for a friend...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

happy TT to all….

 

[GBassNorth]

So wish they would do a Thunderbird in this color:
https://www.chicagomusicexchange.co...d-bass-olive-drab-wtortoise-pickguard-1351958
Yeah, it has tort. I like tort. Screw the haters.
Also for @MCF :
https://www.chicagomusicexchange.co...g-standard-bass-pelham-blue-wtortoise-1351959

Actually I’m cool with tort on basses that it looks natural on, such as FSO. Not as keen on using it on Gibson Shaped Objects though. To me, it looks perfectly at home on the Gibby EB13 because it’s a FSO.

Now that spoiled guacamole green SG isn’t a color I’d typically be drawn to, but to each his own, and just glad Gibby is getting out there with bold color options.

Wide would look great with all gold hardware. Might be gaudy, but it would look awful doggone good!

Gold on white (even adding tort if on a FSO) looks way cool in my book. Here’s a build I did some time ago…

Chicken!
I had a white Pbass that I put all gold hardware on in the early 80s. It looked good. That bass succumbed to undocumented borrowing about 10 years ago.

When I first got the white VP, the first thing a drummer said to me is that it would look good with gold hardware. At first I thought he was nuts. The more I thought about it, the more I think you could actually work. But like with anything, you have to like that kind of thing. But I have no plans whatsoever to do it.

Getting very close to wrapping up the gold hardware BlingBird in the next week or so. No tort on this one though.

Only hesitation I truly would have would be to replace those stock pickups. They sound AWESOME and would be a shame to take out.
Out of curiosity, if you were to go down this round to replace all hardware to gold, what would you choose for pickups?

IIRC - you have a VP with the chrome pups. If so, those are great pickups and I’d hesitate to replace them with anything else. But what you could do fairly easily I would think, is pull the stock pups and flip them over then desolder the chrome cover from the metal baseplate. Slap some gold covers on and silicone caulk them to the baseplate. Add some gold trim rings and you should be good to go with a sweet looking and sounding bird.

 

[JIO]

as an FYI…wearing patchouli highly recommended….may even get a discount…

wow, in 2022... I thought that went out with Birkenstocks!

 

[JIO]

Actually I’m cool with tort on basses that it looks natural on, such as FSO. Not as keen on using it on Gibson Shaped Objects though. To me, it looks perfectly at home on the Gibby EB13 because it’s a FSO.

Now that spoiled guacamole green SG isn’t a color I’d typically be drawn to, but to each his own, and just glad Gibby is getting out there with bold color options.


Gold on white (even adding tort if on a FSO) looks way cool in my book. Here’s a build I did some time ago…
View attachment 4540837


Getting very close to wrapping up the gold hardware BlingBird in the next week or so. No tort on this one though.


IIRC - you have a VP with the chrome pups. If so, those are great pickups and I’d hesitate to replace them with anything else. But what you could do fairly easily I would think, is pull the stock pups and flip them over then desolder the chrome cover from the metal baseplate. Slap some gold covers on and silicone caulk them to the baseplate. Add some gold trim rings and you should be good to go with a sweet looking and sounding bird.

That's interesting - looks a little like a Gen1 American Standard J. Is it a Warmoth?

 

[MCF]

Before searching I thought I'd ask if anyone knew place off the top of their head to get truss rod cover screws. I need three because some moron sucked them up in the vacuum. Thought I ask before Binging it.

Ask Ken. He has a supply of the perfect sized ones. I have a supply of slightly longer ones that work fine. I’m happy to send you some.

 

[Engle]

I spent some time last night working on Highway Star (Deep Purple) and Ain't No Grave (Molly Skaggs). Highway Star is great for my picking stamina but I've also found I tend to dig in with my fretting hand while playing it, so working on that, too. I pulled up an isolated bass track and discovered that all along I've been fooled about what he's playing because there is SO MUCH going on in that song with all the instruments. I'm working on getting the gist of what he does, but keeping some of what I've always thought was in there. And of course, it works just great with a THUNDERBIRD! With Ain't No Grave, I'm working out my own part.

What's everyone else working on?

I’m working on some Disco stuff for my Motown/R&B/Funk band, Tom Sawyer (because I have a Ric shaped object and it’s good for the chops) and War by Bob Marley.
Check out the intro and ending parts of this. The transitions are challenging:

 

[MCF]

Thanks! Those two seem about the same (a little over $7 plus tax for 12). I figured I'd need to either buy way more than needed or shipping would be more than the screws! I just checked Stew Mac... $11 for 3 screws plus tax!

PM your address and I’ll send you a few of the ones I have.

 

[Stealth57]

I want to change out the strap buttons on my IV and add Dunlop Straploks. I have a set in black but the screw holding the current button on the neck plate has too big of a head. I need long course screw threads and really want to keep it black. I know I could go to the hardware store and rummage around, but anyone have a better suggestion for a replacement?

 

[dagrev]

...Gold on white (even adding tort if on a FSO) looks way cool in my book. Here’s a build I did some time ago…

Getting very close to wrapping up the gold hardware BlingBird in the next week or so. No tort on this one though.

Sure looks good to me!

And I can't wait to see the BlingBird. I think a Bass tour should be booked.

 

[dagrev]

Ask Ken. He has a supply of the perfect sized ones. I have a supply of slightly longer ones that work fine. I’m happy to send you some.

Thanks, I really appreciate that. (And the offer from your next post.) I ended up ordering some from Phily Luthier. Should be here any day now. Had to order 12. Three and shipping was even more expensive than Stew Mac. Now I have two truss rod nuts from when I replaced the one on the '76 and soon a bunch of TRC screws.

 

[WillyW]

I want to change out the strap buttons on my IV and add Dunlop Straploks. I have a set in black but the screw holding the current button on the neck plate has too big of a head. I need long course screw threads and really want to keep it black. I know I could go to the hardware store and rummage around, but anyone have a better suggestion for a replacement?

File down the head so it fits in the button.

make sure it isn't too long

colour should not matter since the head sits inside the button

flush mounts are nice...

 

[Stealth57]

File down the head so it fits in the button.

make sure it isn't too long

colour should not matter since the head sits inside the button

The current screw came with the bass, so the length is fine. I'll look, but filing the head might damage the slots. Stripping a head inside a button would not be fun.

 

[GBassNorth]

That's interesting - looks a little like a Gen1 American Standard J. Is it a Warmoth?

It is a Warmoth body, in essence the Fender American Deluxe Jazz Five string, so it has a deeper cut on the treble bout for better access. I did all the pup placements and cavity routings. Went with a reverse P layout for a more even sound across the strings (makes a big difference with a five string and even more so when you bump the pup up near the neck like I did). Went with a Stingray pup bumped up towards the traditional P bass position to darken that pup a bit. Then worked with John East to design an onboard stereo control layout that utilizes a discrete 2+ band preamp for each individual pickup. I would normally run the P bass pups to my SVT/610Berg rig and the Stingray pup to my Thunderfunk/322Berg rig with each rig EQd for maximum effect. Fun times.

 

[TBird1958]

Yes, so I wouldn't do that. They do sound great!

Likely Thunderbuckers. Scott (resident vintage Thunderbird expert), said that the Thunderbuckers were likely first in terms of the real vintage sound, followed by the Epi ProBuckers, if you can believe that--and I do. You could spend some serious money on about three very good current versions, but the ProBuckers 760s sound great. They do lack a little heft in the low-end, but amps have knobs to address that, not to mention some strings have a bigger sound than others (i.e., GHS Round Core Boomers or regular Boomers). Plenty of ways to address there one slight weakness.

A mild correction here, Mike Lull was at least two years ahead of any body with a correct vintage reproduction Thunderbird pickup.

 

[GBassNorth]

Sure looks good to me!

And I can't wait to see the BlingBird. I think a Bass tour should be booked.

Sure, you can tour my bass room, Come on down, you’re always welcome, as is everyone else here. I guarantee you’ll go home with more basses or guitars or gear or accessories than you came with.

 

[Engle]

Do the surround bezels from Philadephia supply come with the rubber gasket thingie?

asking for a friend...

I just bought a trim ring and it didn’t come with a gasket.

 

[WillyW]

The current screw came with the bass, so the length is fine. I'll look, but filing the head might damage the slots. Stripping a head inside a button would not be fun.

Properly sized screw driver makes that a non-issue, but any hardware store may have something closer, but you may still need the reduce the head of the screw.

 

[Gaolee]

Sure, you can tour my bass room, Come on down, you’re always welcome, as is everyone else here. I guarantee you’ll go home with more basses or guitars or gear or accessories than you came with.

On the way! How do I put in a reservation for a '64 or '65 reverse Thunderbird?