Santa was very good to me this year (Thunderbird project long overdue)

[OldManC]

I tried to buy this bird in 1993 but a friend got there first. I got it from him a year later and it's been with me ever since. I think it was black originally, but the refin was old in '93, as was the bridge mod. Not long after I discovered various bass fora online I formulated a simple plan but never got around to gathering the parts to execute it. Until now.

I've had the Badbird and DrBassman tail piece set aside for this, but Carlo helped me gather the other part of the puzzle with a new set of 66 Thunderbuckers.



Stay tuned...

[Nocturnal]

   I have to admit, the white/chrome combo looks great on a TBird.

[godofthunder]

  I can't wait to see it done!

[TBird1958]

 White Thunderbirds are THE SEX!

Perfect candidate for a two point George!

[chromium]

Nice!  Looks pretty sweet as-is, but I look forward to seeing it with the mods 

[Rob]

Progress pix as it moves forward Please 

[Highlander]

 

[OldManC]

It's starting...

I found an interesting sight when I removed stuff. The rear pickups had springs but the neck pickup had two pieces of foam under it. Both had good pickup plates under them, and the pots were 500k Dimarzios. Must have been switched out in the 80's.

I threw it all up on eBay (including rings and spacers). Hopefully someone will bite. The pickups are a little beat (typical string grooves in a couple spots) and could use a polish, but everything works so hopefully someone needs to restore their 70's bird out there. I'm still trying to decide whether to install the bridge myself or take it to someone else to assemble. Either way, I'm getting excited for my "new" Thunderbird.

[dadagoboi]

Looking forward to your results, George!

500k pots for volume and a 250k for tone work best for ThunderBuckers, I've been liking a .1 tone cap lately.  You can wood block the pup cavities to where they're 1/4" deep maximum.  Then use a 1-1/2" square by 1/4-3/8" thick piece of foam to replace the springs, a narrow piece of foam works better than a wide one for some reason.  Getting the studs in the right place turned out to be easier than I thought it would be when I did Scott's JAEbird, give it a shot!

EDIT...I just checked the stud location on my '77 compared to my 64s, they're very close to the same place.  I'd suggest remounting the bridge you removed so you can find find the intonation points. Then work from there to determine where the studs should be for the Badbird to properly intonate.

[OldManC]

Thanks, Carlo! I can make out where the studs were. I don't know if there's anything under the plugs but at least I have a good starting point. 

[drbassman]

I would also intonate the bass with current bridge, make a note of saddle placement and make sure the saddles on the bridge with posts lines up resonably well and you have sufficient travel.  WHile the design of the bridges is different and intonation will be slightly different, it gives you a modicum of comfort.  Just another way of checking things out.

[OldManC]

Thanks, Bill! I'll do that. Any additional versions of measure twice, cut once are good in my book.

[Bionic-Joe]

Kick ass project!!!!!! Take more pictures!!!!

[OldManC]

I originally entertained the idea of making this a II but decided against it. This time. If this works though, there's a 70s/60s II in my future...

[Denis]

Darn nice project to begin with!