Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

Wow! That's another one of my dream cars, I had a 69 and me and a friend threw a 350 in it, it was fast but nothing like a 396, torque monster. Arequipa is a nice city. Peru is an interesting place.

415 ft/lb on the 396....that's a whole lot of torque..
yeah, Peru's cool...in many ways more exotic than Mexico....this little mishap took place when the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) was in full swing....scary ducking my head in that Nova so as not to be seen since I was travelling without a passport and a police "stolen passport" report only.....thought my dad was going to kill me..never seen him that mad...to boot, missed our flights back waiting for the Peruvian authorities to reissue the exit visa, so in an effort to make it back home (Ft Laud) for Thanksgiving we got on a Lima to JFK Aeroflot flight with a 6 hour layover in Havana where we were not allowed off the stinky Ilyushin-62....

 

[bobyoung53]

yeah, Peru's cool...in many ways more exotic than Mexico....this little mishap took place when the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) was in full swing....scary ducking my head in that Nova so as not to be seen since I was travelling without a passport and a police "stolen passport" report only.....thought my dad was going to kill me..never seen him that mad...to boot, missed our flights back waiting for the Peruvian authorities to reissue the exit visa, so in an effort to make it back home (Ft Laud) for Thanksgiving we got on a Lima to JFK Aeroflot flight with a 6 hour layover in Havana where we were not allowed off the stinky Ilyushin-62....

My wife tells me about them, blowing up buildings here, especially in Miraflores, Lima, and killing people, they were afraid to leave their houses. They're still in the clink, I think the leader just died within the past year, Guzman, now he was a LOCO. My late father-in-law loved President Fujimori because he pretty much eradicated them by sending in a bunch of cops to their hideout who captured the leaders, I think that was in Lima someplace, not sure though.
I like Mexico too.

 

[JIO]

So this is an update from a past post here concerning a custom made/gilded and final-finished (by Pat Wilkins) 12 string guitar body that 'porch pirates' stole off my porch. It was shipped via FedEx and insured for $500/signature upon delivery and the driver forged my signature and left it exposed in front of my Mission SF door. FedEx refused to take responsibility for it, siding with their driver that it was "delivered". (I wasn't home) Because they say it was delivered, FedEx won't even pay Pat for his insurance claim. (about $630) So I contacted the BBB and... they sided w/Fed Ex. (of course they did - they protect businesses, not consumers) I then contacted Consumer Affairs of CA and they passed on it saying it wasn't something they do. (!?!) I'm not giving up yet, and have sent a letter with all documents to FedEx headquarters. (first claim was all on-line) Only other option if they continue to not take responsibility is small claims court and I doubt if I'll go that route as it will take time and money and it would be me against a mega-corporation.

So in the meantime (it was stollen last October) Reid made another maple body like the one stollen. I just gilded it (like the one stollen) and will send it to Pat on Monday for his final-finishing. Who knows what the porch pirate did with the body. I scan craigslist/eBay and Reverb off & on in case they attempt to sell it. It's unique/distinctive enough that it just might surface somewhere someday.

Also in the meantime, I made a 'mail box' bolted to our landing wall and with a lock. It's already been successfully used - when USPS delivered Reids body #2 I wasn't home and it was put in the box and locked safe & sound.

 

[TBird1958]

We do Getting Better, and their cover of Signs, saw a Thunderbird on their CD insert.

Brian Wheat is a dedicated Thunderbird guy from day one.

 

[GBassNorth]

That wasn't made clear either but whether it's Epi P/U's or Gibson P/U's can't they all be swapped into some chrome covers?

Good question!

We know the Gibby pups can fit with the plastic shell removed.

However, the Eppi pups are longer with the shell ON at 3.84” x 1.50” than the Gibby pups with the shell ON. So it’s easy to assume (as I did) that they will be longer than the Gibby pups with the shell off as well.

We know the Chrome covers will fit over anything less than 3.63” x 1.57”.

At first glance the Eppi pups look like they’ll be too long even with the plastic wrap removed…

However, when you flip the pup over you’ll see there is a significant air space on each end before you ever get to the epoxy surrounding the windings….

So theoretically, if one were to remove the plastic casing material from the two long sides of the Eppi pup they would free up .18” for a new width of 1.32” (that’s less than the 1.57” space in the chrome cover - so it fits in that direction).

Then if you remove the .325” of air space and casing on each end of the pup you free up another .650” in length for a total new length of 3.19” (that’s less than the 3.63” space in the chrome cover - so it appears to fit in that direction as well).

Another consideration would be the mounting screws. Eppi uses three (two on one end and one on the other) vs the chrome covers only requiring two screws. The chrome cover screw holes are 3.3” apart, which should just clear the epoxy cover, so I think you’re close but ok there as well.

The final consideration would be, do the trim rings fit on the center block and cover the original body routing? The Eppi body route is virtually the exact same size as the outside length of the chrome trim ring. There will be zero room for error but it will JUST cover the route length. It’s fine on the width. Unfortunately, that means that the four corner screws of the trim ring won’t have any body top wood to bite into. You’d either have to glue some small blocks of wood in the cavity or use longer pup screws vs trim ring screws.

Bottom line, it can be done with finesse on the plastic shell removal and the trim ring install.

 

[bobyoung53]

So this is an update from a past post here concerning a custom made/gilded and final-finished (by Pat Wilkins) 12 string guitar body that 'porch pirates' stole off my porch. It was shipped via FedEx and insured for $500/signature upon delivery and the driver forged my signature and left it exposed in front of my Mission SF door. FedEx refused to take responsibility for it, siding with their driver that it was "delivered". (I wasn't home) Because they say it was delivered, FedEx won't even pay Pat for his insurance claim. (about $630) So I contacted the BBB and... they sided w/Fed Ex. (of course they did - they protect businesses, not consumers) I then contacted Consumer Affairs of CA and they passed on it saying it wasn't something they do. (!?!) I'm not giving up yet, and have sent a letter with all documents to FedEx headquarters. (first claim was all on-line) Only other option if they continue to not take responsibility is small claims court and I doubt if I'll go that route as it will take time and money and it would be me against a mega-corporation.

So in the meantime (it was stollen last October) Reid made another maple body like the one stollen. I just gilded it (like the one stollen) and will send it to Pat on Monday for his final-finishing. Who knows what the porch pirate did with the body. I scan craigslist/eBay and Reverb off & on in case they attempt to sell it. It's unique/distinctive enough that it just might surface somewhere someday.

Also in the meantime, I made a 'mail box' bolted to our landing wall and with a lock. It's already been successfully used - when USPS delivered Reids body #2 I wasn't home and it was put in the box and locked safe & sound.

View attachment 4578954 View attachment 4579007View attachment 4578956 View attachment 4578957 View attachment 4578958 View attachment 4578980 View attachment 4578982 View attachment 4578992

I always use UPS when I have the chance because of something similar to your experience. I got paid by Fedex for the restored tube tester they broke but only because I kept bugging them for two months. it was a similar sum of money too.

 

[PhR75]

I saw Andy Pratt at an outside concert sometime during the 70's, he grew up in Mass and says he played the bass on Avenging Annie which I was VERY surprised at. He was great though, I have several of his LP's from those days still.
I like Joe Walsh's voice, same with Kate Bush, Geddy? It grew on me over the years, not familiar with Robert Wyatt or Greenslade. Love Tom Verlaine (Television).

I found Andy Pratt as Jim O'Rourke picked up five albums in Mojo magazine in 2005 and Andy's eponymous 1973 album was one of them. It's great and the bass on "Avenging Annie" is just brilliant. I assumed (like many others) that it was played by Abraham Laboriel as he also played on the album (his first sessions alongside Gary Burton's New Quartet album recorded at the same studio) but when I tracked down a vinyl which had the original innersleeve it was credited to Andy. Three basses on it, sounds like a Fender Jazz but I could be wrong. Abe played his cheap Italian short scale bass (name here) that Nordstrang has based their Acinonyx bass on.

I have also his "Resolution" album that Rolling Stone went crazy over but it's too "normal" and overproduced. The title track is great and "Karen's Song" could be Jellyfish.

John Scofield did play in Andy Pratt's band when he gigged the '73 Columbia album.

Robert Wyatt is the legendary Soft Machine drummer and vocalist who paralyzed in an accident in 1973.

 

[Larry V]

Good question!

We know the Gibby pups can fit with the plastic shell removed.

However, the Eppi pups are longer with the shell ON at 3.84” x 1.50” than the Gibby pups with the shell ON. So it’s easy to assume (as I did) that they will be longer than the Gibby pups with the shell off as well.

We know the Chrome covers will fit over anything less than 3.63” x 1.57”.

At first glance the Eppi pups look like they’ll be too long even with the plastic wrap removed…
View attachment 4579028
However, when you flip the pup over you’ll see there is a significant air space on each end before you ever get to the epoxy surrounding the windings….
View attachment 4579025
So theoretically, if one were to remove the plastic casing material from the two long sides of the Eppi pup they would free up .18” for a new width of 1.32” (that’s less than the 1.57” space in the chrome cover - so it fits in that direction).

Then if you remove the .325” of air space and casing on each end of the pup you free up another .650” in length for a total new length of 3.19” (that’s less than the 3.63” space in the chrome cover - so it appears to fit in that direction as well).

Another consideration would be the mounting screws. Eppi uses three (two on one end and one on the other) vs the chrome covers only requiring two screws. The chrome cover screw holes are 3.3” apart, which should just clear the epoxy cover, so I think you’re close but ok there as well.

The final consideration would be, do the trim rings fit on the center block and cover the original body routing? The Eppi body route is virtually the exact same size as the outside length of the chrome trim ring. There will be zero room for error but it will JUST cover the route length. It’s fine on the width. Unfortunately, that means that the four corner screws of the trim ring won’t have any body top wood to bite into. You’d either have to glue some small blocks of wood in the cavity or use longer pup screws vs trim ring screws.

Bottom line, it can be done with finesse on the plastic shell removal and the trim ring install.

Great points all of them, George.

But... what we don't know either is if the decision is to reinstall into an Epi TBird body or a Gibby or a scratch build or another body all together, with or without a raised center section.

All considerations not currently known.

 

[bobyoung53]

I found Andy Pratt as Jim O'Rourke picked up five albums in Mojo magazine in 2005 and Andy's eponymous 1973 album was one of them. It's great and the bass on "Avenging Annie" is just brilliant. I assumed (like many others) that it was played by Abraham Laboriel as he also played on the album (his first sessions alongside Gary Burton's New Quartet album recorded at the same studio) but when I tracked down a vinyl which had the original innersleeve it was credited to Andy. Three basses on it, sounds like a Fender Jazz but I could be wrong. Abe played his cheap Italian short scale bass (name here) that Nordstrang has based their Acinonyx bass on.

I have also his "Resolution" album that Rolling Stone went crazy over but it's too "normal" and overproduced. The title track is great and "Karen's Song" could be Jellyfish.

John Scofield did play in Andy Pratt's band when he gigged the '73 Columbia album.

Robert Wyatt is the legendary Soft Machine drummer and vocalist who paralyzed in an accident in 1973.

Eko? I have a short scale Eko violin bass and it sounds good.

I looked up the two names I didn't recognize, I haven't listen to much (if any) I'll check them out.

 

[JIO]

I always use UPS when I have the chance because of something similar to your experience. I got paid by Fedex for the restored tube tester they broke but only because I kept bugging them for two months. it was a similar sum of money too.

I never used or liked FedEx - only USPS and UPS. Because of this issue Pat Wilkins stopped using FedEx. They are so huge they probably could care less, but I'm sure he shipped many guitars per year for many years through them. (it's considered the shipper of businesses) He said over the last couple of years, they were leaving insured/sig required packages on porches, but luckily none were stollen... until mine. I'm not giving up yet.

 

[PhR75]

Eko? I have a short scale Eko violin bass and it sounds good.

Goya. Goya Panther was the bass.

 

[JIO]

TT

 

[bobyoung53]

Goya. Goya Panther was the bass.

I vaguely remember that name. Wiki said they were made here until the late 60's I seem to remember them as a quality brand but never played one. When I was a kid any guitar that cost more than 100.00 was quality to me though.

 

[JIO]

Goya. Goya Panther was the bass.

and the recent sorta funky tribute to it by Nordstrand - the Acinonyx

 

[PhR75]

View attachment 4579072
and the recent sorta funky tribute to it by Nordstrand - the Acinonyx
View attachment 4579083

Laboriel's Goya sounds good on this deranged Pratt track. Could be Todd mixed with Crack The Sky.

 

[JJR58]

Good question!

We know the Gibby pups can fit with the plastic shell removed.

However, the Eppi pups are longer with the shell ON at 3.84” x 1.50” than the Gibby pups with the shell ON. So it’s easy to assume (as I did) that they will be longer than the Gibby pups with the shell off as well.

We know the Chrome covers will fit over anything less than 3.63” x 1.57”.

At first glance the Eppi pups look like they’ll be too long even with the plastic wrap removed…
View attachment 4579028
However, when you flip the pup over you’ll see there is a significant air space on each end before you ever get to the epoxy surrounding the windings….
View attachment 4579025
So theoretically, if one were to remove the plastic casing material from the two long sides of the Eppi pup they would free up .18” for a new width of 1.32” (that’s less than the 1.57” space in the chrome cover - so it fits in that direction).

Then if you remove the .325” of air space and casing on each end of the pup you free up another .650” in length for a total new length of 3.19” (that’s less than the 3.63” space in the chrome cover - so it appears to fit in that direction as well).

Another consideration would be the mounting screws. Eppi uses three (two on one end and one on the other) vs the chrome covers only requiring two screws. The chrome cover screw holes are 3.3” apart, which should just clear the epoxy cover, so I think you’re close but ok there as well.

The final consideration would be, do the trim rings fit on the center block and cover the original body routing? The Eppi body route is virtually the exact same size as the outside length of the chrome trim ring. There will be zero room for error but it will JUST cover the route length. It’s fine on the width. Unfortunately, that means that the four corner screws of the trim ring won’t have any body top wood to bite into. You’d either have to glue some small blocks of wood in the cavity or use longer pup screws vs trim ring screws.

Bottom line, it can be done with finesse on the plastic shell removal and the trim ring install.

Speaking of trim rings………
I know it’s been mentioned before.
But where can I get 2 pairs.
My pups sit way to low. i could do the add the foam thing. Which will probably be needed any way.
But I sure could use those rings.

Maybe it’s the spacers I mean.
Something to lift the pups a bit more.

 

[MCF]

I think General Dynamics was sold by Chrysler when Iacocca took over. He needed cash and it was the only part of the business that was worth anything.

Actually GD purchased the Chrysler defense division around the time Iacocca took over Chrysler.

 

[MCF]

Ronnie Van Zant actually appreciated him as a artist. Even wore a NY shirt in a number of pics.
View attachment 4578530

I do need Thunderbirds around...
View attachment 4578531

So when is the wife going to start getting after you to restrain the deck?

 

[MCF]

'72 Plymouth, 318. Light car, decent V8=would light them up while moving. Very quick if you could keep the tires from spinning.
View attachment 4578536

Just keep it in a straight line though.

 

[Blazer]

A few years ago, I recorded this cover of King Crimson's "Elephant talk" with Dutch lyrics, I recently found it again.