The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: 66Atlas on September 17, 2016, 10:07:32 AM
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After years of lusting and dreaming I was finally able to round out my Thunderbird iv collection with the missing link: an original issue Non-reverse. The bass is in really decent condition with only two significant issues, 1) a gummy feeling tone pot (hopefully i can clean and recover) and 2) a classic crescent moon hairline crack on the tuner side of the headstock. With string tension the crack opened up just enough to get a syringe needle in and is now glued/clamped (titebond).
on to my query for the experts..one thing that has me puzzled is the pickup screws. They're a domed head flathead wood screw.
(http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n614/tlkroon/nr_zpsdloqnvyp.jpg) (http://s1142.photobucket.com/user/tlkroon/media/nr_zpsdloqnvyp.jpg.html)
I expected to find phillps heads just like my '64. After looking online Ive found photos of NRs with both this type as well phillips versions. By any chance are they original? or likely a common hardware store replacement?
& yes, Im being overly picky...maybe its a mild case of OCD ;D
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Oh, i should add, its a '67 serial number bass.
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Should be an oval head Phillips wood screw. Probably a quick Hardware replacement.
Fender Jaguar Pickup Screws are the closest thing I have found to the originals.. The head is a hair bigger but not too much.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Fender-American-Vintage-Jaguar-Bass-VI-Pickup-Mounting-Screws-005-4497-049-/322227752770?hash=item4b06454f42:g:P-wAAOSwGIRXZDyY
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Baz is a perfectionist and the Devil is in the detail... ;)
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Thanks Baz, I just ordered a set off your link. I'm betting I'll have to to "toothpick" the current holes since the current screws seem a little bigger than the ones in my 64.
Its crazy that I obsess over whether or not screws are correct but there are worse hobbies. :-\
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Installed a badbird and got all strung up today. The neck repair came out great and now I just need to clean up the tone pot. I assumed the neck would be a lot like my Embassy but it seems a little beefier.
Anyway its a rainy day in Atlanta so I decided to take a photo of all the 'birds (including the embassy as an honorable mention)
(http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n614/tlkroon/Tbirds_zpsicra9mlo.jpg) (http://s1142.photobucket.com/user/tlkroon/media/Tbirds_zpsicra9mlo.jpg.html)
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Nice family shot!
I'm curious, why didn't you compare the pickup screws on your Embassy and Reverse to the ones on the NR to judge originality? They both look pretty complete. BTW the necks on my pair of 64s are very different, IV is chunky and II skinny. I prefer chunky.
Also interested to see how the screws you ordered compare. I use these, they have a slightly smaller head than Gibson originals.
https://www.allparts.com/GS-3312-001-Pack-of-4-Nickel-Soap-Bar-Pickup-Mounting-Screws_p_1828.html
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Thanks! It's been a lifelong passion to put these together.
I actually did compare the screws and my initial assumption was that the 67's were replacements. A couple things made me second guess myself. First they are nicely aged/corroded even behind the pickups and second they're chrome which I thought was a little strange for a hardware store fix. That and everything else seems 100% original. After a bit of googling I also found a couple photos of NRs with the same type of flathead screws. With all the screwy things Gibson has done over the years nothing would surprise me!
It's interesting how much the necks vary even on the same year basses. My 64 is one of the thinnest Ive seen on a Thunderbird.
I'll post some comparison pics with the new screws when I get them. No matter what screws are on it, its a killer bass!
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(http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n614/tlkroon/Tbirds_zpsicra9mlo.jpg) (http://s1142.photobucket.com/user/tlkroon/media/Tbirds_zpsicra9mlo.jpg.html)
Any chance you might considering adopting me when my mum pops her clogs? While she's got a few years left in the tank, I will be an orphan and figure it might be prudent to start the search sooner rather than later.
Yours hopefully
Paul
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Very nice collection you have there!!!
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Impressive collection. :thumbsup:
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Baz is a perfectionist and the Devil is in the detail... ;)
Thanks! It''s a Blessing and a Curse....I have used the ones Carlo uses as well. Hey...Love that '64 IV....I would almost trade my 1990 Tom Petersson Hamer Thunderbird 8 string bass for that T Bird!!!
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...Love that '64 IV....I would almost trade my 1990 Tom Petersson Hamer Thunderbird 8 string bass for that T Bird!!!
Nah, it's worth more in parts. ;D ;D
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Upper fret access is overrated. :mrgreen:
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99% agreed, though when my band used to cover "The Real Me", I found it more than a little hard to play the 3rd bar on a standard reverse Thunderbird :-) Literally just that one darn note of one song.
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I think some of my birds have slot heads. Lemme check.
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I think some of my birds have slot heads. Lemme check.
This confused me for a second. Slot head... bird.... What? Oh, the screws... ;D
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Slothead is spelled with an "o", not a "u", ok?!
(http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/muppet/images/0/07/Sam_Eagle.JPG/revision/latest?cb=20110117133053)
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Nice!
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I had hoped that the case for my reissue NR would fit the '67 so i could have a safer case option for gigs. Turns out the vintage bass is too long, does anyone know of a good modern alternative to the original case? Mine 67 case is in pretty rough shape and doesn't offer much in the way of protection.
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I had hoped that the case for my reissue NR would fit the '67 so i could have a safer case option for gigs. Turns out the vintage bass is too long, does anyone know of a good modern alternative to the original case? Mine 67 case is in pretty rough shape and doesn't offer much in the way of protection.
I converted an Epi Reverse case following Rob's (Basvarken) example. There's enough room for a full sized Gibby headstock. You just pull back the liner, remove the styro, flip it over, trim as necessary, and glue the liner back in...ish.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/NR%202012/P1010605P_zpsdnuayoy0.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/NR%202012/P1010605P_zpsdnuayoy0.jpg.html)
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Ah, perfect and way cheaper than having something built! I actually have an extra Gibson reverse TB case, I may play around with it and see if can do the same thing.
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Ah, perfect and way cheaper than having something built! I actually have an extra Gibson reverse TB case, I may play around with it and see if can do the same thing.
That should work, my Gibby cases are huge. I prefer the Epis, a lot easier to handle.
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That should work, my Gibby cases are huge. I prefer the Epis, a lot easier to handle.
I briefly had an Epi Explorer, and the case was noticeably smaller than the 2013 Gibson I'd had previously. As a case designer of 20 years, I just don't get some of the things I see out there...
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The current Epiphone Thunderbird case is a slightly different design. Trapezoid shaped.
One of my customers bought one last week for his BaCH Fenderbird.
But I do think the NR would still fit if you flip the interior like Carlo and I did.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t34.0-12/14569759_694497834047761_877935803_n.jpg?oh=3e164b3fd12c6b4bdcf21522afa80a65&oe=58018D2F&__gda__=1476561781_38a3d8566d207b1b4ad3532d9180c9a0)
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The current Epiphone Thunderbird case is a slightly different design. Trapezoid shaped.
One of my customers bought one last week for his BaCH Fenderbird.
But I do think the NR would still fit if you flip the interior like Carlo and I did.
The Bach 'Fenderbird' is about the same overall length as a modern Thunderbird, unlike the original JAE FenderBird (and my replica) which is a few inches shorter due to the compact body. My TBird style basses and I'm assuming the JAE original fit in a Fender Jazz sized case.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/Project%20JAEbird/P1060096.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/Project%20JAEbird/P1060096.jpg.html)
Because of that compactness they're less prone to neckdive than the 'lets just take a TBird body and stick a Fneder neck on it' basses.
I briefly had an Epi Explorer, and the case was noticeably smaller than the 2013 Gibson I'd had previously. As a case designer of 20 years, I just don't get some of the things I see out there...
The only off the shelf Explorer bass case currently on the market I know of is the Dean which leaves around five inches between the end of the headstock and the case. Ungodly huge.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/03/P1090849P_zpspfuiyoxb.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/03/P1090849P_zpspfuiyoxb.jpg.html)
That's why my EBirds are priced with a gig bag instead of a case. I've had three customers add the Dean case, the rest opt for the bag. One of the three immediately bought a bag after receiving his bass.