2013 Thunderbird NR

[planetgaffnet]

Just wanted to post this up.  Despite my love for the 'bird, I would be the first to admit I was somewhat underwhelmed by the NR reissue.  So, (as probably a lot of you guys are doing), mine's undergone a few mods. 

Three point bridge (shocking as usual) replaced with a Hipshot Supertone.  Dunlop Straploks.  The initial tone was very muddy, so the pots have been replaced/upgraded and lined up in a row.  The final piece is an off-white pick guard which arrived today.  The white one was horribly bright and would have taken an age to tone down (it been sitting in a window in full sunlight all summer and nada).

Anyhow, so here it is.  Oh, if I can add something else, Elixir Nanoweb strings.  Do they ever wear out?  Best £30 I've spent in a long time!
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[Dave W]

Supertone = good, even if it's not chrome. 

What value pots did you use?

[Pilgrim]

Looks right purdy.

[uwe]

Black hardware roolz.

And the Supertone really isn't any worse than the Holy Immaculate Three Point either. 

[planetgaffnet]

What value pots did you use?

They rated higher than 500K.  The pots on there measured 225K or thereabouts.  I gave them to Neeph for his Ripper project (no idea whether he's going to use them).  The original pots were just sucking all the tome from the bass and it was all whump to whump-lo-mid.  Now it's clank'n'rattle.  Lovely stuff.
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[planetgaffnet]

Black hardware roolz.

And the Supertone really isn't any worse than the Holy Immaculate Three Point either. 

The Supertone offers so much more over the three point, Uwe.  Action, intonation and lateral adjustment.  The three-point also hurts the side of your right hand if you play close to the bridge.  It's nasty.
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[the mojo hobo]

That does look very nice.

I am mostly happy with my Pelham Bird except it seems very heavy to me. Backache heavy.

[uwe]

Actually, for some reason, that Supertone looks better on a Non-Rev than on a Rev, perhaps because there is no raised center block.

[FrankieTbird]

Actually, for some reason, that Supertone looks better on a Non-Rev than on a Rev, perhaps because there is no raised center block.

Definitely!   

[Andrew]

Looks great. Where did you get your pick guard?

[drbassman]

It's funny, cuz I like mine, same finish, but I'm not crazy in love with it.  I chromed mine out and it looks great IMHO.  My issue is the neck is just a little beefier than I like. 

[planetgaffnet]

Looks great. Where did you get your pick guard?

I had it made by a guy in the north of England...£20/$30 shipped.  The eagle is a decal from a UK eBay seller, Axe Decals.
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[planetgaffnet]

In closing here, this is never going to be my go-to bass but it's now (well, in my opinion) a whole lot better than it was when I got it.  I think I was more enamoured with getting one than actually owning one and in hindsight feel I should just have gone with a VS reverse.

It is heavy, the neck is chunky and it doesn't sound like my other Thunderbirds.  It was a blind purchse, but you know, even if I had tried it out first, I probably still would have left the shop with it.

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[neepheid]

They rated higher than 500K.  The pots on there measured 225K or thereabouts.  I gave them to Neeph for his Ripper project (no idea whether he's going to use them).  The original pots were just sucking all the tome from the bass and it was all whump to whump-lo-mid.  Now it's clank'n'rattle.  Lovely stuff.
P

I will be using them, cheers.  The pots for a Ripper are 300/250/250.  Currently waiting for the refinish to be done, and I've still got a pickup to take care of.

[planetgaffnet]

Good one!  Pleased about that!
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