1976 Thunderbird... with a twist

[chromium]

I've wanted a 70s T-Bird since I was a kid, and I bought my Epi Elitist several years ago to try to scratch that itch, but I always kinda thought I might sell it if the right Gibson came up (at a price that wasn't untouchable for me).  Well that finally happened, and I took the plunge. This bass just seemed to have that right mix of characteristics for me - plenty of player wear, an extra (patched) hole in the control cavity, but otherwise unbroken... and it was coming from a trustworthy source.  I regret the circumstances under which it came to me, but know that it really means a lot to me to finally be able to play one of these.  It will be well loved, and it will remain in the family.

I have to admit I was a little worried about getting into this, knowing that I’d have to sell the Epi – whose sound I love – and remembering that the 70s birds have their own characteristic sound that I was afraid I might not warm up to.  Well the sound turned out to be incredible, and it has everything that Epi w/the TB+ pickups has - plus the benefit of 30+ years of settling-in to liven things up a bit.  Based on my recollection of sound-clips and dialogue back at the 'pit, this thing actually sounds *nothing* like I would have expected a 70s bird to sound!  Turns out, there's a reason for this...

This bass had been rewired at some point with its pickups in parallel, much like the 60s and late-model Thunderbirds.  It still retains those characteristic Tbird mids, but with that low-end fullness of a modern bird.  I drew up a schematic of the wiring in this bass:




A stock 76-79 would have had its pickups wired in series like this:



That’s apparently what contributes to the hotter, more middly sound that the 70s birds are known for.

I found a thread over at Jules’ site that speaks in more detail to this type of modification.  I haven’t experienced the “series sound” yet, but I’m *really* digging the sound of these pickups in parallel, so I think I’m gonna have to leave this one alone!  Just thought I’d share this in case someone else wants to teach an old bird some new tricks.

Oh... and here are some gratuitous pics of the bass with its younger sibling:

[Chris P.]

Nice bird! Congratulations!!

i never liked the speed controls on the Bicentennials, so I changed mine to amber mirror caps a while ago, like on the Elitist. Like that much better.

[JZumbro]

A stock 76-79 would have had its pickups wired in series like this:

This brings up a question maybe someone on here can answer. I have 2 '76 birds. On one of them the neck volume pot shaft broke off (the pot still functions, but requires a small screwdriver to change it). I took the bass to the repair guy I use, along with the second schematic that shows 100K pots. He couldn't find a source anywhere for 100K pots in that size with split shafts. Does anyone know where I can get one? Is the schematic correct, or are they really 250K pots?

Thanks.

Oh yea, nice Tbird!

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

Congratulations Joe!

[barend]

d*mn.....the birds are flying all over the place on this forum at the moment....stop it now, please!

[uwe]

I'm herewith shyly raising my hand re that now forlorn Epi Elitist ... It needs a new home. Treatment according to the Geneva Convention guaranteed, spacious accomodations in officers quarters in a German castle, military decorations may be retained & free access to American Red Cross parcels!

uwe.hornung@cliffordchance.com

Uwe

[OldManC]

Congrats, Uwe! I can attest to the fact that you'll provide a good home!

[uwe]

The poor guy hasn't even read my Email yet and here you are already expropriating him!  Socialism seems all the rage with you yanks nowadays ...

I've had an Elitist on my list for a long while. They are the peak of Epi's modern day production, my Epi EB-3 Elitist doesn't disappoint, they are long deleted and the vintage tuners and guitar-size pups give it an identity of its own. 

[Chris P.]

I think Uwe only accepts one answer:


Zu befehl, Herr Hornung!



German is such a nice language, when shouted out loud:)

[uwe]

I always find it gratifying that our Dutch neighbors have kept a few of the more profound German language exclamations in good memory since we last had the honor of teaching them Deutsch in a more organized fashion! 

[chromium]

This brings up a question maybe someone on here can answer. I have 2 '76 birds. On one of them the neck volume pot shaft broke off (the pot still functions, but requires a small screwdriver to change it). I took the bass to the repair guy I use, along with the second schematic that shows 100K pots. He couldn't find a source anywhere for 100K pots in that size with split shafts. Does anyone know where I can get one? Is the schematic correct, or are they really 250K pots?

Thanks.

Oh yea, nice Tbird!

Yeah the originals should be 100K.  I just looked around too- you're right!  Impossible to find.  You can find 100K log/audio mini-pots w/split shafts, and I found this one which is full size...

...but if you want to keep the original pot, you know what I would do?  You can actually open those up- there are four prongs that hold the metal can/cover on the pot, and if you carefully bend them back and remove the cover, you can get at the innards.

Do the same thing with a new CTS pot (I'm assuming it has CTS-made pots in it), lift out and swap the whole shaft/wiper assembly from the new pot to the old one, and reassemble.  It doesn't even matter what resistance value the "donor" pot is, as the shaft/wiper piece is universal.

Voilà!  A new pot!  I've done this before on other gear (old synths) with hard to find pots.  Works like a champ, as long as you can find a donor of similar pedigree.

[chromium]

I'm herewith shyly raising my hand re that now forlorn Epi Elitist ... It needs a new home. Treatment according to the Geneva Convention guaranteed, spacious accomodations in officers quarters in a German castle, military decorations may be retained & free access to American Red Cross parcels!

uwe.hornung@cliffordchance.com

Uwe

I approve your draft proposal of the Tbird Bailout Plan, although I would like to add a "no-spandex" clause.   

Email sent.

[Chris P.]

I guess you decided this after like ten mails of Uwe with pictures of all kinds of German Stukas and Fallschirmjäger?

But it would be a nice addition to Ze Köllektiön.


A serious question about the schemes, Uwe. What do you think? I have a '76er. Keep it as it is or try this out? It sounds interesting.

[uwe]

I'm not even sure whether mine is in original state (i.e. series) or not! It sounds thinner than all my other Birds so I guess so. Wouldn't change it because it has a different voice that way. I have enough other thundering Thunderbirds.

But if it was my only one, I'd probably do the mod. It is reversible, makes sense and among TBird connaisseurs it's not gonna affect value.

Uwe

[Chris P.]

I think about it. I kinda like the more mid-ish sound of the Bicentennial. It's like instant-Entwistle.