Lfalex v1.1 Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 Yep, the Nikki Sixx one 🤪 I'm looking at one tomorrow, maybe half- heartedly, but it might surprise me! The question; How Do I ascertain that both pickups are working as it has No Volume, No Tone and only a Kill Switch. All I can think of is to slacken a string and tap it against a pickup housing to see if I can induce any microphony in the two pickups separately. I won't have an amp- just my trusty Nux Mighty Plug and some headphones. Does anyone know if a T-Bird will fit in a generic rectangular case (at a slight angle if necessary) Or better still, a Warwick Rockbag? Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 I’d say just tap each pickup with something like a key, it should clearly sound if working. Re case, I had to get a specific Epiphone one for my Tbird years ago. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted March 14, 2023 Author Share Posted March 14, 2023 Thanks, I'll give the tapping a go. Hopefully, by now I'd know what 2 pickups full on sound like! But it doesn't hurt to be sure. Looks like it's 47" long in total, with the body dimensions a max of 13"x20" If I do go for it, It might end up wrapped in a couple of blankets 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted March 15, 2023 Author Share Posted March 15, 2023 It ended up wrapped in blankets! Bridge is way too high. Intonation isn't far off (until I lower the action!) Pickups both work, but the G string is relatively stronger than the others as the pickup heights need attention. Truss rod needs tightening, but I've tuned it to D standard to take the strain off the neck a bit. It's in really good nick- still had its CE sticker and truss rod cover protective film still in situ. The construction (bolt-on) is weird. Because of the matte finish, the joints are faintly visible. It looks like the thinner body section is a single piece slab (really?), and the thicker body section is made by one 5mm laminate on top and another on the back. Neck dives like Jacques Cousteau. I'll move the strap button to the neck-plate, that'll help. More pics later. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted March 15, 2023 Author Share Posted March 15, 2023 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted March 16, 2023 Author Share Posted March 16, 2023 (edited) I'm tired tonight, so I'm having a night off from the newly christened science that is Gibsonics... Or should that be Epiphonics? Either way, there's a laundry list of things to do. But they'll have to wait; De-silk the E string so I can finish the intonation for now Find or buy Imperial Allen Keys- if not for this, then for the SB-2 Tribute (!) Adjust the neck relief (less) Move the front straplock to the neck-plate- I'll need to find an appropriate screw. Lower the G string side of the bridge pick-up. Then order some new strings and do most of it again! Anyone got any recommendations? Looks like it's wearing Rotosound (RS66LD ?) Edited March 16, 2023 by Lfalex v1.1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 13 hours ago, Lfalex v1.1 said: I'm tired tonight, so I'm having a night off from the newly christened science that is Gibsonics... Or should that be Epiphonics? Either way, there's a laundry list of things to do. But they'll have to wait; De-silk the E string so I can finish the intonation for now Find or buy Imperial Allen Keys- if not for this, then for the SB-2 Tribute (!) Adjust the neck relief (less) Move the front straplock to the neck-plate- I'll need to find an appropriate screw. Lower the G string side of the bridge pick-up. Then order some new strings and do most of it again! Anyone got any recommendations? Looks like it's wearing Rotosound (RS66LD ?) Pretty sure both this bass and the Tribute SB-2 will be metric... String recommendation? Something without silks. I like D'addario XL but I'm sure there are many silk-free options out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 DR strings are also silkless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted March 17, 2023 Author Share Posted March 17, 2023 I'll razor the ball-end silk off of the E for now, apparently they're of no structural significance at that end.. DRs and Elixirs are definitely in the running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jellis78 Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 Not sure if it’s the same as the later Gibson T’birds but the 3 point bridge are meant to “float” above the body. I think this was due to a change in the neck angle… As I say, not sure if that’s the same on Epi’s. Think this was introduced on Gibson’s mid 2000’s. My 2001 Gibson Blackbird has the bridge flat to the body. thought I would flag as you mentioned the bridge being way high. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pst62 Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 If I were you I'd chuck the three point bridge and stick a Babicz FCH3 on it. you'll not look back! GreeneKing currently has one for sale on here. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted March 17, 2023 Author Share Posted March 17, 2023 The bridge was way too high. I've screwed it down to ~3mm above the body at the back pair of posts and about 1.5mm higher at the front post. That's yielded a satisfactory action around frets 15-20 and left it a bit high at 12-14. I reckon a truss-rod tweak will fix that. (Almost sounds like I know what I'm doing- I don't! 🙃) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 Neck dive fixed; Went for the same position as the Epi TBird pro uses. I was a little concerned that the bass might fall away from me at the top edge, but this position is slightly higher than the centre of gravity, so it doesn't. Found a woodscrew that was the right length/ thickness and thread to replace the original and accommodate my improvised strap button and a couple of washers. That's a good old (black!) Fender strapblock keeping the strap in place. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCF Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 The Epi Blackbird is a great bass. I use stainless steel rounds on most of my Thunderbirds. I generally use SIT Power Steels or Dunlop Marcus Miller stainless Superbrights. Yours looks to be in better shape than mine. Congratulations! The current Epi Thunderbird case will be fine for it and isn’t too expensive. The Gator Cases Hard-Shell Wood Case for Thunderbird Bass Guitars (GWE-TBIRD-BASS) is a rectangular case that it will fit. Also not too expensive and the covering is hardier than that on the Epi case. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted April 19, 2023 Author Share Posted April 19, 2023 (edited) Now restrung (perhaps predictably) with 45-105 DR Black Beauties. Have given the fretboard a clean and lemon oiled it. Still tuned to D standard. Have redone the intonation and tweaked the bridge very slightly. Sounds like the neck pickup needs lowering a smidge on the G string side as it's ever so slightly stronger sounding. Oddly, it's got a really nice slap tone. Not that that's ever going to happen. It can also do quite a deep dubby tone if you pluck over the base of the neck. It's remarkably sensitive to plucking hand positron, technique and strength as well as pickup height. Weird for an instrument with no controls that is really aimed at the Hard Rock Market. Edited April 19, 2023 by Lfalex v1.1 Photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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