NR Tbird with interesting mod

[Basvarken]

This Non Reverse Thunderbird on Ebay has the original bridge relocated under an angle to get proper intonation.
Simple yet effective.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Thunderbird-2-Non-Reverse-MOD-Used-w-Hard-case-/182486162396?hash=item2a7d05dbdc:g:L7gAAOSwxEpYxNVJ

[dadagoboi]

Denis had his modded the same way...but it also narrows the string spacing. 

There's enough travel if you reverse the E and A saddles and move the whole bridge forward .25 inches.  Which is what Peter Cook did with Entwistles FenderBirds (and Ken's bass). 

I do the same thing with my bridges, which are slightly wider because of the adjustable height saddle carriers.


All Gibson had to do was put the thing in the right place.  And they couldn't be bothered to correct it even when they switched to the NR.

[uwe]

Huh, that mod is so old and widely practiced? My first Non Rev already had that from the pre-owner. What else could you do if you wanted the thing to properly intonate and no Dasson Technolgies bridge yet around?

[Pilgrim]

I had no idea that Gibson produced a series of basses with the bridge essentially in the wrong place to achieve intonation...

Or at least, I think that's what this amounts to???   

[Alanko]

Looks like some extra ventilation to keep those electronics cool as well. 

[dadagoboi]

Huh, that mod is so old and widely practiced? My first Non Rev already had that from the pre-owner. What else could you do if you wanted the thing to properly intonate and no Dasson Technolgies bridge yet around?

Move the entire bridge one quarter inch forward and reverse the E and A string saddles...like Peter Cook did for Entwistle's FenderBirds and Ken's PC.  Oh, wait I already said that.

[uwe]

I had no idea that Gibson produced a series of basses with the bridge essentially in the wrong place to achieve intonation...

Or at least, I think that's what this amounts to???   

It's exactly what they did. Reputedly, the first TBirds were equipped with flatwounds so phat, the placement of the bridge was just right. By the time they noticed that this might create issues with other strings, the Revs was already facing deletion. Which of course did not keep them from repeating the misplacement on the Non Revs! 

[Granny Gremlin]

Yeah, this was a common mod.  The first 60s bird I ever saw IRL (Rev) had it, with the original bushing hole unfilled (except by random detritus accumulated over time); insane amounts of pick damage and half the finish worn off in general.  Price was more than what a mint one was worth (this was back in the dudepit days so I had a decent grasp of the value from you nutters).  I  decided to never go to that store again (they had a stupidly overpriced EB0 or 3 at the same time).  Wish I had remembered that - just last year I tried to get an amp from them and ended up backing away really quick as they started with the shenanigans.  That amp is still on Reverb a year later at more than double the original price (the original price was and is still  the high end of fair market value for this amp).

[Highlander]

Do you mean this one Carlo.. ?

[dadagoboi]

Do you mean this one Carlo.. ?

You own another?  Or was I hallucinating about the flipped saddles on yours?  It's been known to happen.

[Pilgrim]

It's exactly what they did. Reputedly, the first TBirds were equipped with flatwounds so phat, the placement of the bridge was just right. By the time they noticed that this might create issues with other strings, the Revs was already facing deletion. Which of course did not keep them from repeating the misplacement on the Non Revs! 

Hah!!  Clearly, this indicates the goodness and general correctness of flatwound strings. 

[dadagoboi]

It's exactly what they did. Reputedly, the first TBirds were equipped with flatwounds so phat, the placement of the bridge was just right. By the time they noticed that this might create issues with other strings, the Revs was already facing deletion. Which of course did not keep them from repeating the misplacement on the Non Revs! 

Hah!!  Clearly, this indicates the goodness and general correctness of flatwound strings. 

That's a BS theory IMO.  I install flats and rounds of different diameters on the same basses at least once a month.  There's very little variation in intonation points, no matter what the gauge.  Gibson just screwed up, then as now, because of ineptitude or apathy.  There were similar problems with the original guitar tuneamatics  IIRC.

Even the three point bridge on Bicentennials is mispositioned.  Intonating the E requires moving the saddle to almost maximum length leaving silk or rough wire on the saddle.  Moving the whole thing back 1/2" would have fixed that.

[Granny Gremlin]

Your thesis may be correct, but personally I have seen significant differences in intonation points between string gauges and brands.  ... not 1/2" mind you but

[Dave W]

I agree with Carlo. Very little difference regardless of what type of outer wrap or which brand.

[Highlander]

You own another?  Or was I hallucinating about the flipped saddles on yours?  It's been known to happen.

Rest easy Don Patti, it is the same one... and the saddles are flipped for E and A... and the slight bridge move to get them intonated too...