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Thunderbird Club

I stared at the white VP for 47 minutes and you're right. It is a burst. I could eventually see all the different whites and how they were blended so well with a casual glance it just looks white. Who knew. :smug:
Hmmm. It took me 47 minutes the first time I was able to see it as well. I wonder ... Coincidence? Magic? Technology?
Either way, time spent looking at a Thunderbird is never wasted. Unless it should have been playing time. Looking and playing together is good.
 
So back to thunderbirds…

I’m kinda underwhelmed with the bridge I purchased for the BlingBird…
Thunderbird Bass Bridge and Tailpiece Set - 1963-1969 - Gold | eBay
37521A39-9185-4F36-B2AA-86E49BC35649.jpeg


It’s a two piece design and intonates ok (on taper wound strings, haven’t tried regular bass strings yet because they don’t fit). The claw works fine with taper wound or exposed core bass strings but not regular bass strings. The grooves are cut way too thin on the E and A slots. In addition the ball ends can’t be loaded into the slot from the rear of the claw, they must be slid in from the side, an odd feature that makes replacing an A or D string a real PITA. It’s almost like this was designed for a four string guitar not bass.

Yeah, I can file the claw grooves wider and file some if the rear overhang off to open up the back a bit for rear loading, but that’ll muck up the gold plating. And if a non taper wound string requires the E saddle to go back further I’ll need to disassemble the bridge and flip the intonation screw and spring to the other side of the saddle. Its currently maxed out on rear E string saddle travel (due to spring compression) even though it’s only half way back.

My advice to potential buyers of this bridge (sold directly by Philadelphia Luthiers and also on eBay), Think Twice. It’s not cheap and does have some design short comings in spite of it being an otherwise very high quality build.

If anyone is aware of any Gold color four string bass claws I might be in the market for a replacement, otherwise it’s some bench time with a file and then another $100 to have it replated.
 
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So back to thunderbirds…

I’m kinda underwhelmed with the bridge I purchased for the BlingBird…
Thunderbird Bass Bridge and Tailpiece Set - 1963-1969 - Gold | eBay
View attachment 4554149

It’s a two piece design and intonates ok (on taper wound strings, haven’t tried regular bass strings yet because they don’t fit). The claw works fine with taper wound or exposed core bass strings but not regular bass strings. The grooves are cut way too thin on the E and A slots. In addition the ball ends can’t be loaded into the slot from the rear of the claw, they must be slid in from the side, an odd feature that makes replacing an A or D string a real PITA. It’s almost like this was designed for a four string guitar not bass.

Yeah, I can file the claw grooves wider and file some if the rear overhang off to open up the back a bit for rear loading, but that’ll muck up the gold plating. And if a non taper wound string requires the E saddle to go back further I’ll need to disassemble the bridge and flip the intonation screw and spring to the other side of the saddle. Its currently maxed out on rear E string saddle travel (due to spring compression) even though it’s only half way back.

My advice to potential buyers of this bridge (sold directly by Philadelphia Luthiers and also on eBay), Think Twice. It’s not cheap and does have some design short comings in spite of it being an otherwise very high quality build.

If anyone is aware of any Gold color four string bass claws I might be in the market for a replacement, otherwise it’s some bench time with a file and then another $100 to have it replated.

If you can get it re-plated for 100.00, that's a steal. I paid more than twice that 10years ago to get a stainless PG chrome plated.

These bridges come from Hipshot, they make them in gold for Lull.

0Udao8O.jpg
 
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If you can get it re-plated for 100.00, that's a steal. I paid more than twice that 10years ago to get a stainless PG chrome plated.

These bridges come from Hipshot, they make them in gold for Lull.

View attachment 4554159
That’s the bridge I wanted but couldn’t find for sale anywhere. Do you know if Lull would sell a gold claw?
The D style bridge is the only thing that I was able to find at Hipshot…
https://hipshotproducts.com/products/4-string-d-style-bass-bridge?variant=43154630984

As for plating, I haven’t plated anything in the last ten years, but the last time I did I had a lot of luck piggybacking on another persons plating run, so I only paid the difference which was very minimal (maybe $20). That said, it was chrome plating a bridge plate, and the person I was piggybacking with was having the mag wheels and lug nuts on his car chromed, so adding a minor component didn’t really increase the price at all.

Gold plating is much more problematic, in that there are fewer people to piggyback with and not all gold platings are the same color (could be a real mess if the new plating was a different color gold than the rest of the bridge).
 
What don’t you like?

The 4004 is super ergonomically comfortable, but out of production and expensive as shag.

I have been told the 4003s is similar in feel, but I prefer the non-s with binding and sharkfin inlays.

Swing by anytime and you can try one out… hope you like fretless.

View attachment 4553376

View attachment 4553384
See, now yer IG NR looks really green. A lotta them look so similar to PB, I can't see enuff difference. Doesn't matter, though, 'cos(A), can't afford one, and(ii), I'd want sparkling burgundy.

However, if someone wanted to donate a PB or IG, I could have it refinished.
 
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Not hardly. He stole Rick Nielsen's quintuple neck, wearing some baggggy jeans. Stole that guitar right out of his hands on stage at the Budokan Reunion show. That ol' cowboy was so slick nobody noticed - not Rick, the fans, nobody - leastways till the roadie came to swap guitars after the song. They had to replay the video three times after the concert afore they caught it. By then, that ol' Texas boy was back home playin' the guitar in his safe room out at his ranch. That was the really slick part. Ain't nobody figgered out how he got back home that quick!
Teleportation.
 
From what I searched, not that one. But she did play bass on this one - (oh.., and mens fashion tips...)


I have a VOX English 1x18 cabinet that was used by Cher's bass player. No documentation but why would the guy make that up? I bought it at a guitar show in the 80's and the guy seem honest. There was a matching AC50 head but I didn't need it, I already had an AC100.
 
I'd forgotten I had this. From ~1982, medley of(part of)"I Just Wanna Be Your Everything" into "Get Back". Group was guitar(doubled keys), trumpet(also doubled keys-string synth), drummer, and me on sax, flute, and 67 THUNDERBIRD NR>Blue Line SVT/810 rig. Recorded live @ The Marco Polo Hotel, Miami Beach. All 4 of us sang.
 

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I have a VOX English 1x18 cabinet that was used by Cher's bass player. No documentation but why would the guy make that up? I bought it at a guitar show in the 80's and the guy seem honest. There was a matching AC50 head but I didn't need it, I already had an AC100.

That must sound nice! Pic?
 
That’s the bridge I wanted but couldn’t find for sale anywhere. Do you know if Lull would sell a gold claw?
The D style bridge is the only thing that I was able to find at Hipshot…
https://hipshotproducts.com/products/4-string-d-style-bass-bridge?variant=43154630984

As for plating, I haven’t plated anything in the last ten years, but the last time I did I had a lot of luck piggybacking on another persons plating run, so I only paid the difference which was very minimal (maybe $20). That said, it was chrome plating a bridge plate, and the person I was piggybacking with was having the mag wheels and lug nuts on his car chromed, so adding a minor component didn’t really increase the price at all.

Gold plating is much more problematic, in that there are fewer people to piggyback with and not all gold platings are the same color (could be a real mess if the new plating was a different color gold than the rest of the bridge).


I would email or call Hipshot on that tailpiece, do the same with Lull, for all I know there could be one at the shop as we speak.
 
I'd forgotten I had this. From ~1982, medley of(part of)"I Just Wanna Be Your Everything" into "Get Back". Group was guitar(doubled keys), trumpet(also doubled keys-string synth), drummer, and me on sax, flute, and 67 THUNDERBIRD NR>Blue Line SVT/810 rig. Recorded live @ The Marco Polo Hotel, Miami Beach. All 4 of us sang.



The run at :15- :16.


Nice.
 
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