Thunderbird Club

[Engle]

Very few. Most are so they can toss them out to fans.

That doesn’t explain the guys playing in pubs

 

[Engle]

The BlingBird finally makes it on Thunderbird Thursday, sorry about the poor pics, no good light this time of day…
View attachment 4551567
View attachment 4551568

Pretty much all together now, mostly just strings and setup left.

First impressions (with totally shot black beauties temporarily installed and no time for a set up) She sounds awesome! The neck pup is as expected nice and creamy and very hot (a real Jack Bruce tone), the center pup is throaty with punch (not far off the Greco in vibe) and the bridge pup is actually very useable (sounds exactly like Chris Squire’s tone on Owner of a Lonely Heart). All three pups full on is a very full content rich sound. All in all - I’m very pleased with the initial preliminary results. Once the Optima strings are on and the set up is complete with pup heights properly adjusted to balance each output she should be a real gem.

Odds and ends left to do - Install a string tree (on order), shim the neck, widen a couple of the claw grooves, install spacers under the trim rings (on order), install Optima Gold strings strings (delivered today) and do a good set up.

That’s looking great George!

 

[Larry V]

I was just imagining a non-pickguard in the usual PG location on the wing... something that doesn't cover that beautiful woodgrain but is a nod to the traditional PG.

A sheet metal, gold-plated PG that is just the curved outline with nothing along the raised center section. Match the width of the rings which looks to be about 3/16" on the screw sides. No Thunderbird.

Screwed down to match the rings.

On second thought... never mind.

I know the 5 point spline isn't exactly hugging the horn but I don't have PS at work, just the lousy MS Paint program. I don't think it would matter which program is used to do the mockup... it looked better in my head than it does in mockup.

The clean look is the way to go.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

That doesn’t explain the guys playing in pubs

Gotta look the part.

 

[GonePlaid]

On second thought... never mind.

View attachment 4551834



I know the 5 point spline isn't exactly hugging the horn but I don't have PS at work, just the lousy MS Paint program. I don't think it would matter which program is used to do the mockup... it looked better in my head than it does in mockup.

The clean look is the way to go.

Unless absolutely necessary, I say no PG.

 

[JIO]

The BlingBird finally makes it on Thunderbird Thursday, sorry about the poor pics, no good light this time of day…
View attachment 4551567
View attachment 4551568

Pretty much all together now, mostly just strings and setup left.

First impressions (with totally shot black beauties temporarily installed and no time for a set up) She sounds awesome! The neck pup is as expected nice and creamy and very hot (a real Jack Bruce tone), the center pup is throaty with punch (not far off the Greco in vibe) and the bridge pup is actually very useable (sounds exactly like Chris Squire’s tone on Owner of a Lonely Heart). All three pups full on is a very full content rich sound. All in all - I’m very pleased with the initial preliminary results. Once the Optima strings are on and the set up is complete with pup heights properly adjusted to balance each output she should be a real gem.

Odds and ends left to do - Install a string tree (on order), shim the neck, widen a couple of the claw grooves, install spacers under the trim rings (on order), install Optima Gold strings strings (delivered today) and do a good set up.

I might have missed it, but did you take a pic of the harness? Or do you have a schematic? (or both?)

 

[JIO]

On second thought... never mind.

View attachment 4551834



I know the 5 point spline isn't exactly hugging the horn but I don't have PS at work, just the lousy MS Paint program. I don't think it would matter which program is used to do the mockup... it looked better in my head than it does in mockup.


The clean look is the way to go.

I would set your black pg w/the gold bird on it just to see what it looks like. Could set-off the surroundings with a bold punctuation mark.

 

[dagrev]

That doesn’t explain the guys playing in pubs

"Monkey see, monkey do" maybe. (See, I'm cool like the big boys that I mimic.) I'm pretty sure if a popular figure were to hang a turd around their neck, a good many other popular figures would follow so as to not be seen as not cool. Once it hit Youboob, turds would be for sale to keep up demand. This is a slight exaggeration. Maybe. When I watch the news I'm not so sure.

 

[JIO]

"Monkey see, monkey do" maybe. (See, I'm cool like the big boys that I mimic.) I'm pretty sure if a popular figure were to hang a turd around their neck, a good many other popular figures would follow so as to not be seen as not cool. Once it hit Youboob, turds would be for sale to keep up demand.

...well, Divine eating dog in "Pink Flamingo's" never really caught on! (~)

 

[Stealth57]

...well, Divine eating dog in "Pink Flamingo's" never really caught on! (~)

View attachment 4551977

 

[GonePlaid]

...well, Divine eating dog in "Pink Flamingo's" never really caught on! (~)

View attachment 4551977

(Divine and dog[stuff]).

 

[GBassNorth]

Speechless. Complementary words would be insultingly inadequate. I'll just say, that's likely the best looking bass I've ever seen.

Wow, that’s a huge compliment! Thanks so much. It was a fun build and should be a great bass after the strings and setup.

Looking good. Nice work.

Thx

That’s looking great George!

Thx, still on the fence about putting a logo or pickguard on it. If I do, you’ll be the first person I call!

On second thought... never mind.

View attachment 4551834



I know the 5 point spline isn't exactly hugging the horn but I don't have PS at work, just the lousy MS Paint program. I don't think it would matter which program is used to do the mockup... it looked better in my head than it does in mockup.

The clean look is the way to go.

That’s kinda where I’m at as well. If I go the pickguard route it’ll likely be a clear one with a gold custom logo I made up (hat tip to @RedVee for sparking the idea). What’s holding me back is I’m not sure I want 10 little gold screw holes drilled in the face or for that matter an adhesive backed clear guard mucking up the finish over time.

I might have missed it, but did you take a pic of the harness? Or do you have a schematic? (or both?)

Sorry, didn’t take a pic of the harness, and the way I’ve got wires tucked you wouldn’t be able to tell much from a photo. However, I do have the schematic I came up with that I can post later today (got a golf match to get to this morning). From a controls standpoint there are probably a few minor changes I’d make if doing another one of these. I’ll note those on my reply to you later today as well.

I would set your black pg w/the gold bird on it just to see what it looks like. Could set-off the surroundings with a bold punctuation mark.

I did do that and it looks pretty good, but unfortunately hides the heaviest flamed part of the body. There’s less flame on the upper horn but I don’t think a guard would look right there.

 

[GonePlaid]

Wow, that’s a huge compliment! Thanks so much. It was a fun build and should be a great bass after the strings and setup.


Thx


Thx, still on the fence about putting a logo or pickguard on it. If I do, you’ll be the first person I call!


That’s kinda where I’m at as well. If I go the pickguard route it’ll likely be a clear one with a gold custom logo I made up (hat tip to @RedVee for sparking the idea). What’s holding me back is I’m not sure I want 10 little gold screw holes drilled in the face or for that matter an adhesive backed clear guard mucking up the finish over time.


Sorry, didn’t take a pic of the harness, and the way I’ve got wires tucked you wouldn’t be able to tell much from a photo. However, I do have the schematic I came up with that I can post later today (got a golf match to get to this morning). From a controls standpoint there are probably a few minor changes I’d make if doing another one of these. I’ll note those on my reply to you later today as well.


I did do that and it looks pretty good, but unfortunately hides the heaviest flamed part of the body. There’s less flame on the upper horn but I don’t think a guard would look right there.

Nah. Ya need one o' these for the upper bout-but with gold screws.

NOT!

 

[JIO]

(Divine and dog[stuff]).

Yah, it's not what I would want to be infamous for.., but somebody had to do-do it!

 

[GonePlaid]

Yah, it's not what I would want to be infamous for.., but somebody had to do-do it!

Oy!

 

[JIO]

Nah. Ya need one o' these for the upper bout-but with gold screws.
View attachment 4552013


NOT!

Fender made a Fender stamped gold metal finger-rest in 1980 for their Precision Special. It was Fenders first active bass and had a brass bridge which was popular in the early '80s. It was also very heavy.

 

[Justyn Brando]

Woohoo!! New addition to the family. The replacement pick guard is pretty close in size too.

 

[dagrev]

...well, Divine eating dog in "Pink Flamingo's" never really caught on! (~)

View attachment 4551977

All humans are humans. Some human are stupid humans. Intelligence and wisdom are not the same. But I'm thinking she has neither. Glad you added (~), because I'm pretty sure it caught on in some circles. Fortunately not ones we find ourselves in!

 

[dagrev]

Nah. Ya need one o' these for the upper bout-but with gold screws.
View attachment 4552013


NOT!

Thank goodness, I thought you were going to say it needed...

 

[Nocturnal]

The BlingBird finally makes it on Thunderbird Thursday, sorry about the poor pics, no good light this time of day…
View attachment 4551567
View attachment 4551568

Pretty much all together now, mostly just strings and setup left.

First impressions (with totally shot black beauties temporarily installed and no time for a set up) She sounds awesome! The neck pup is as expected nice and creamy and very hot (a real Jack Bruce tone), the center pup is throaty with punch (not far off the Greco in vibe) and the bridge pup is actually very useable (sounds exactly like Chris Squire’s tone on Owner of a Lonely Heart). All three pups full on is a very full content rich sound. All in all - I’m very pleased with the initial preliminary results. Once the Optima strings are on and the set up is complete with pup heights properly adjusted to balance each output she should be a real gem.

Odds and ends left to do - Install a string tree (on order), shim the neck, widen a couple of the claw grooves, install spacers under the trim rings (on order), install Optima Gold strings strings (delivered today) and do a good set up.

Wow, that’s a huge compliment! Thanks so much. It was a fun build and should be a great bass after the strings and setup.


Thx


Thx, still on the fence about putting a logo or pickguard on it. If I do, you’ll be the first person I call!


That’s kinda where I’m at as well. If I go the pickguard route it’ll likely be a clear one with a gold custom logo I made up (hat tip to @RedVee for sparking the idea). What’s holding me back is I’m not sure I want 10 little gold screw holes drilled in the face or for that matter an adhesive backed clear guard mucking up the finish over time.


Sorry, didn’t take a pic of the harness, and the way I’ve got wires tucked you wouldn’t be able to tell much from a photo. However, I do have the schematic I came up with that I can post later today (got a golf match to get to this morning). From a controls standpoint there are probably a few minor changes I’d make if doing another one of these. I’ll note those on my reply to you later today as well.


I did do that and it looks pretty good, but unfortunately hides the heaviest flamed part of the body. There’s less flame on the upper horn but I don’t think a guard would look right there.

I am not a fan of gold hardware on most guitars/basses, but that looks amazing!! I am torn on the guard. Clear with a gold logo and screws would probably look good, but we already know it looks great without a guard.