Yes, I was trying to get a little more punch out of it when I first got it. It is a fair amount darker than the '64 Thunderbird, and it's not as bright or aggressive as either VP. The Epi needed more punch and definition, so I raised them up thinking that would help. But like you, my '64 PUs are all that high, the neck certainly isn't and looked about the same as yours did. My plan is to try some string rotations again to see if there might be a better option than the TI Jazz Rounds that are currently on it. You have me thinking that maybe lowering at least the neck PU is worth revisiting. Thanks for putting that in my head.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
-
- Tags
- club thunderbird
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,895
- 142,211
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Here we are.....
Much as I love Thunderbirds, even I have to admit that "other" bass guitars do actually exist.
Last edited:
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,895
- 142,211
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
That's why I never could play Jass, I was spelling it wrong. 
Real bass pornHere we are.....
Much as I love Thunderbirds, even I have admit that "other" bass guitars do actually exist.
View attachment 4613842
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
What are we looking at here? I like the finish.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
nice - curious how that finish was done. It appears that the mahogany was bleached and stained grey.
It came out darker than intended despite striping it several times.
Simple water based blue on natural mahogany, then wipe on poly
Simple water based blue on natural mahogany, then wipe on poly
Be careful. "The Science (tm)" changes without warning in random ways. Before you know it, tone will be in the output jack.It's put away right now, but not that I know of. Saddles could be off a tad (why just those two?), or it could be me that's off and just strung it and never paid any attention. I'll have to see if the strings have to bend a bit to fit in the grooves. Fortunately the tone is in the fingers, headstock and pedals and not the bridge saddles, at least not yet, so I should be good either way.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
This is not-Thunderbird Tuesday. You have to wait for Thursday for Thunderbird content.
To prove the point, this is what us newbies do before we see the light. Buy a cheap arse bass, decide we want to learn, figure out the bass is, learn to do a proper setup, and then mod the he77 out of it. New pups, new bridge, new tuners, new electronics, new knobs, new strings, strap loks...only thing original was some wood.
View attachment 4613829
As long as the end result sounds good, doing such is fun and rewarding.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
well done
To get wood like mahogany lighter in appearance - you can use wood-bleach found at a paint-store & some hardware stores. I use satin wipe-on poly on necks.
Actually sounds very good and easier to play since it has La Bella tapewounds (lazy left hand). I have a set sitting on my workbench hoping to get up the nerve to put them on my Thunderbird, but it sounds so nice right now I'm paranoid I'll mess it up.As long as the end result sounds good, doing such is fun and rewarding.
I thought that one was for Ford Bass Friday...
Easy to play jazz. Just play all the wrong notes. I'm not a hack; I play jazz.
Love the grain on that, and an awesome set of pickups to boot! Is that your new build?
Well I could post this and say “look what I did to my thunderbird”…
as a result if this…
or I could post this and say “look what I built to get the thunderbird I wanted”…
or I could post this and say “who needs Thunderbirds”…
or I could post this and say “what’s next”…
The trick is trying to play the same mistake twice so everyone thinks it’s just your creative interpretation of the song.
It also helps when the other musicians adjust to my mistakes
Like when I fall asleep playing Song for My Father and keep playing the A verse and forget to switch to the B verse every third repeat and then rush to catch up.It also helps when the other musicians adjust to my mistakes
