Thunderbird strap button location

[Spike Vincent]

Before I start drilling holes in my otherwise pristine but ridiculously neck heavy Tokai Thunderbird,has anyone here moved the strap button to the heel of the neck? Is it worth doing? Pics if possible.I'd like to be able to use the thing live,rather than just save it for photo sessions!

[jezzaboy]

I`m right in thinking the Tokai is a set/neck through? I did the same mod to my Epi T bird Pro and I just drilled a hole right in the mid point of the neck where it met the body and it did the job. I would recomend you use a schaller straplock or something similar to secure the strap.
I don`t have any photo`s as I sold it as I couldn`t get on with the shape.

If it`s a bolt on, just take out one of the bolts and put the strap button on with a longer screw. Easy peasy!

Jez

[Spike Vincent]

Cheers guys. The Tokai is a glued in neck,so it looks like it's Black and Decker time.

[joeystrange]

That should work fine.
Ive seen it done by moving the bottom strap button to the top corner too.

The nose dive was one reason I stopped playing my Thunderbird.

[Muzz]

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1330547696' post='1559311']
I moved mine on to the front of the heel on my Bolt on Epi.

Helped loads.
[/quote]

This. And if it still dives, go for Hipshot Ultralight tuners - bye bye neck dive...

[Paul S]

I had a T Bird with this mod done and it helped the neck dive considerably. The only down side is that it tilts the angle of the bass differently so it faces away from you - took me a while to get used to it as I prefer to glance down at the fretboard from time to time when playing. Made worse by my protruding belly, it has to be said.

[Spike Vincent]

Thanks all. Tokai Thunderbirds seem to be even more neck heavy than the Epi's,but it's the only choice in a lefty.

[NancyJohnson]

Don't drill dead centre on the heel. You may drill into the truss rod.
P

[Spike Vincent]

[elhambre]

Didn't drill mine and get the screw broken. But I think it's because I didn't remove the other piece and it makes the screw broken when it reaches the end, so a little drill would be great.

Increased stability and the neck dive issue.

Edited March 4, 2012 by elhambre

[mart]

There's a nice link on this thread:
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/169785-neck-diving-thunderbird-how-can-i-get-around-it/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/169785-neck-diving-thunderbird-how-can-i-get-around-it/[/url]

[Muzz]

Yup, that's where I've got mine. Still had a little bit of dive, but that would be because it's got a P-neck, but a set of Hipshot Ultralites completely sorted it.

[Spike Vincent]

Thanks all.

[Spike Vincent]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1330602496' post='1560048']
I had a T Bird with this mod done and it helped the neck dive considerably. The only down side is that it tilts the angle of the bass differently so it faces away from you - took me a while to get used to it as I prefer to glance down at the fretboard from time to time when playing. Made worse by my protruding belly, it has to be said.
[/quote]

Hmm.This concerns me a bit,I like to see the fretboard.And I'm not the slimmest person ever..

[Toasted]

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1330550172' post='1559380']If it`s a bolt on, just take out one of the bolts and put the strap button on with a longer screw. Easy peasy![/quote]

This.