The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: godofthunder on January 26, 2009, 02:42:27 PM

Title: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: godofthunder on January 26, 2009, 02:42:27 PM
 Got my tug bar from greatdealz1967 off ebay today. I just installed it on the bass, how can such a little thing make such a big difference ?  Almost done with this, just have to fill the holes between the bridge and tail piece and the hole near the controls.  Before and after. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/67thunderbird.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/67TBthumbrest002.jpg)
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: SKATE RAT on January 26, 2009, 08:12:37 PM
 :) wow WOW  ;D
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: uwe on January 27, 2009, 03:48:21 AM
What is a "tug bar"?  ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: godofthunder on January 27, 2009, 04:35:11 AM
Or thumb rest, I think tugbar is Fenderspeak.
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: uwe on January 27, 2009, 07:27:04 AM
Rinse your mouth with soap then!  ;)

Thanks, we live and learn.
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: gweimer on January 27, 2009, 07:34:45 AM
Or thumb rest, I think tugbar is Fenderspeak.

If it's a thumb rest, why is it UNDER the strings?   Seems more like a finger rest for those players who plunk with their thumb.
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: godofthunder on January 27, 2009, 07:46:20 AM
Ok fingerest then ! I don't really care what it's called it just makes the bass look complete !
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: Dave W on January 27, 2009, 07:58:27 AM
The old Fender owner's manuals called it a finger rest. I always heard it called a finger rest. Then about 10 years ago in a book or interview, one of the Fender geezers said that at the factory, they called it a tugbar. So now almost everybody calls it a tugbar.

It's called historical revisionism, folks.  :)  But tugbar makes sense.
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: eb2 on January 27, 2009, 08:58:24 AM
I like "the curved piece of wood."

I think we need a name for the large rectangular piece of metal on EBs as well.  I have no idea of its purpose, as they had curved pieces of wood as well.  I suspect some uncomfortable metal forearm pillow for users of the tugba...curved piece of wood.  It acted as a bridge for insects to crawl over the strings from one side to another.  As the bass bridge already owns the name "bridge" I suggest we call this useless hunk o' metal "the overpass."
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: Dave W on January 27, 2009, 10:25:42 AM
I thought that was just called a handrest. I like "the overpass" better.
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: drbassman on January 27, 2009, 08:13:24 PM
I was wondering if I should put one on my 60s NR.
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: uwe on January 28, 2009, 05:29:51 AM
I can't imagine a more redundant part on a TBird except perhaps for the mute!
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: godofthunder on January 28, 2009, 06:28:03 AM
Bill, The bridge cover or the finger rest ? Both are about as useful as your appendix. To me the finger rest looks cool
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: drbassman on January 28, 2009, 06:31:04 AM
Bill, The bridge cover or the finger rest ? Both are about as useful as your appendix. To me the finger rest looks cool

I agree, I've never thought the bridge or pup cover on a TB looked good or was useful.  There is something appealing about the tugbar.  It does add some vintage flare to it.
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: uwe on January 28, 2009, 07:09:07 AM
Only my 1964 non-rev TB II has the bridge and pup cover mounted. I keep them on so I have one specimen that looks like they did when they came out. But the covers are not only impractical (hinder hand muting) and obscure the nice nickel sixties pup, they do not even go together well with the overall look of the bass (unlike with a Jazz Bass where I think the "ashtrays" look cool though they don't make sense there either or with a Ric where they hide the ugly cavernous hole of the bridge pup). I prefer naked Birds.

Uwe
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: Chris P. on January 28, 2009, 08:56:10 AM
If you want to get rid of a neck pick up cover, you know how to find me. In the end it is probably made of the steer of my grandpa's Batavus bike.
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: OldManC on January 28, 2009, 09:32:06 AM
Well Uwe, I prefer naked birds too. Since about the age of 12, actually.  ;D
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: uwe on January 28, 2009, 09:59:03 AM
At that age I found unassembled 1:72 WW II planes still more attractive.

That said, George, for the benefit of truthfulness, please change your name now here to "DirtyOldManC".  ;)
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: godofthunder on January 28, 2009, 10:06:40 AM
LMAO !
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: Dave W on January 28, 2009, 10:37:42 AM
I remember my first naked bird.
Title: Re: '67 Thunderbird finishing touches
Post by: uwe on January 28, 2009, 10:50:49 AM
I know, you had quite some reputation among the more rural chicks, "Pluck-Dave":

(http://www.colognecardinals.de/var/cards/storage/images/media/images/baseball4/gerupftes_huhn/11929-1-ger-DE/gerupftes_huhn_large.jpg)

Wasn't this outlawed in most States?