I think the one that Scott just got was mine! I kinda miss it too. If only Gibson had gone with a two point and bridge on the NR RI. I'm actually thinking of having mine converted.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- club thunderbird
I think the one that Scott just got was mine! I kinda miss it too. If only Gibson had gone with a two point and bridge on the NR RI. I'm actually thinking of having mine converted.
- Jul 1, 2005
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Thanks, it seems that we both are enjoying simple flat black finished thudnerbirds
. I've always had some issues with mine: 1- since i don't have the money to buy an epiphone tbird case, i'm forced to use my acousitc guitar gigbag to carry this bird around. Headstock obviously is out of the bag (only from the G tuner to the tip). 2-I've regreted buying it years back since i spent all the money i had saved up over the years. 
Also, it is quite heavy. I knew that from the start but after practicing with it for 3 hours, it kinda kills my shoulder and arm. I've countered neck dive but the strap is weak so i have to make a new one. 4- everytime i'd set it up, it wasnt good enough. It was decent for the time being, but it wasn't to my liking. But that all changed ahhahaha Spent 2 hours today: cleaning, sanding & painting the headstock (which isn't done yet but wtvr), and set up, i didnt do anything to it. I had lowered the bridge while cleaning it all, but once i was stringing it back up, i raised it just a tad more. And now, perfect action. As you can see, the bushings are coming out ever so slightly, but i'll be fixing that sometime this week if i feel like it. How bout you, any neck dive on your blackbird? or complaints if any
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. just found this video, pretty self explanitory xD. he's doing it on sg but same principal for gibson/epiphone basses.
So I was doing some reading earlier about the 2014 gibsons and how they're using Orange Drop caps in all the new guitars and it made me start to think. So, has anyone changed the tone cap in their bird? If so, what did you change to and how did it work out?
Glad to help. I did it yesterday to my bird as one of the bushings was popping out ever so slightly. Just do what's in the video, put a shirt on the body, take a hammer, make sure to screw in the pole into the bushing first
, then pry it upwards with the hammer. You won't leave any marks if you have a shirt on the bass, plus, it doesn't damage the bushing holes in the body neither. Afterwards here are the steps you should take to have the best possible finish product 1-after removing all the bushings, locate the bridge ground wire (yellow) it should be in the right bushing hole (looking at the bass from the front), remove it from the hole and pull it out into the control cavity.
2-Plug up all the holes with the correct sized dowels and cut them flush to the body
3-After glueing the dowels inplace, place your new bridge onto the body and find the correct position for it. Once found, drill the holes for the bridge into the body, remove the bridge and drill a hole from anywhere under where the bridge will rest, to the control cavity. You'll now be able to pass the ground wire (yellow) through it so it can be under the bridge.
4-Place the bridge and screw it down onto the bass, re-string it, setup action (if you can do it yourself save some money xD) and rock out!
Hope this helps
Best of luck
My 2014 Thunderbird did NOT come with an orange drop, not even close. It had the tiniest little blue cap - couldn't even guess what it was, it was just over an 1/8" round little ball thing. I put in a Sprague .047 when I installed a set of Thunderbuckers, which are terrific together.
Small pic----but for as clean as this thing looks; pretty good price.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Stor...V@ADL4GC-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^27490280802
http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Stor...V@ADL4GC-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^27490280802
- Jul 1, 2005
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I have that same little cap in my 2013. I don't have any plans to change the pups and I know that blue cap is a .022. I'm just wondering how much of a difference a .047 will make. I may not even swap it as I love the tone of my bird. I just did cap swaps on both of my fenders and since I'm doing it, the thought pooped in my head. Right now my thunderbird is the only stock bass I own.
Ey! I was watching the simpsons and I remembered this:
%#$/(&()/)=?/&!%/&"%"!/%$"/!$ heheheh
%#$/(&()/)=?/&!%/&"%"!/%$"/!$ heheheh
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
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I have been talking to GC about this thing for months they are into it for 2k and won't take a penny less. In October I bought a as close to mint as you are going to find unbroken '69 complete with covers mutes and ohsc for $3,450.00. The one GC has is a $1,500 bass imho.
Getting my Tbird tonight. I want to relocate the strap button. Is there a "standard" place to put it?
From behind the neck. Want to avoid the classic neck dive. Moving it probably to the "traditional" fender spot.
I thought the strap pin being at the neck heel WAS to help with neck dive.
- Jul 1, 2005
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