Jean-Luc Pickguard

Cheers - If its possible to post a photo to show how much room there is at that end, that would be a great help.

Thanks. Is that because the end of the headstock is touching the end of the case when the bass is inside, or is there a gap between the end of the headstock & the fur lining?

I need a hard case for my Thunderbird Vintage Pro. I'm happy to use my Ritter thunderbird gigbag laid across the back seat when I'm going to a rehearsal or gig in my car, but I need something with more protection when it goes in the back of the van. Is the Epiphone thunderbird hardcase (the non-rectangular version) long enough for the vintage pro, or does the end of the headstock touch the end allowing any shocks or bumps to possibly affect the bass? Can anyone suggest a hard case that is big enough to protect the Epiphone vintage pro properly? Anyone have a Gator GWE-TBIRD-BASS or Freestyle Thunderbird Case, or other alternative?

it sounds like you’re describing the shure super 55: https://www.studiospares.com/Microphones/Mics-Dynamic/Shure-Super55-Deluxe-Dynamic-Microphone_433190.htm there are some cheaper alternatives, but that’s probably the one they’re copying

My favourite strings on long scale basses have been Thomastik JF344 for well over ten years, but I put a set of La Bella white nylons on my Epiphone thunderbird vintage pro to replace the stock roundwounds. The tension & feel is similar to the TI set, so they are very comfortable to play and I can get a big sound with a light touch - like the TIs, but I prefer the sound of the La Bellas.

The neck looks like a standard cheapo strat copy with the headstock sawn off rather than an originally headless neck. It looks like the string retainer thingy might make it difficult or impossible to get an allen key in to adjust the truss rod.

There's nothing wrong with a curly cable 😜

They might get a 'Cease & desist' letter from FMIC for describing it as a 'relic' as that is a fender trademark: https://www.fender.com/pages/terms-of-use

I ordered it from Chandlers in the US at http://pickguards.us I also got a 3 ply black pickguard cut for my CIJ 72 tele thinline reissue. The pair came to £60 in total but I expect the cost would a bit more these days as it was ten years ago, so it would probably be more cost effective now to look at UK suppliers.

I put a double ball set of picato flats on my '86 hohner B2A as they were the only double ball ones I could find at the time - probably about 15 years ago & they're still going strong. They sound pretty much like you'd expect flats to sound, and the surface is very smooth.

yep - mine looks just like that. When I put on some low tension strings (La Bella white nylon flats) I was getting a bit of buzz at most the frets on the D string, and would have liked to be able to raise just the D, but after tweaking the relief and the height of both sides of the bridge a little I seem to have managed to get the optimum setup with no buzz.

nice! I have the same bass, but I changed the tort pg for an aged white pearloid one & upgraded the pots & socket with CTS & switchcraft bits. Its a great little bass and the tone with flatwounds is fantastic.

I played a note at the 9th fret once & the low end dropped out of the song - I certainly won't be doing that again.

I use a polytune clip, which I have used for a few years and is the easiest and fastest clip tuner I've used. I'll probably get a unitune also if TC ever make a black version as I never use the polyphonic feature on the polytune. The tuner in the Zoom B3 pedal is pretty good so I use that if I forget to take my polytune to rehearsal and when I'm feeling old-school I dig out my old A440 tuning fork & tune by harmonics - just to be sure that I can still manage without an electronic tuner.

Maybe someone turned one of the tuners but didn't tell him which one, so he's bought a new bass which is in tune and selling this one which isn't.

Look like its gone now, but I love how the original listing says 'will need tuning'

once had a punter go up to the frontman to ask for a request during a song expecting his undivided attention whilst playing guitar & singing. The stock answer when getting daft requests was that we don’t do that song, but the next one contains some of the same notes.

I think there was only one vendor selling these - I expect the mobile number is requested in case of courier problems and is more relevant for bulkier items. I don’t tend to give out mine without a struggle so if that was a required field i probably filled it with a bunch of zeros.

The hole at the pointy end is a bit off so it needed one new hole, but that hole will be hidden if I do want to put the original TRC back on at some point. I intitally wasn't keen to drill that hole but as I'd already drilled a bunch of holes for the Gotoh tuners on the back I decided to just go for it. It didn't take long to arrive, I think it was about a week, which was surprising.

The TRC was from aliexpress - £5.23 delivered. I agree with you about how it feels, plays and sounds.

OK, I've refitted my Gotoh res-o-lites, and I think this is an improvement. I also made another small change to the bass. 😎

They originally wanted Spike Milligan for the narration but he turned them down.

theres something a bit 'Nigel Tufnel' about that bloke

If anyone asks about the finish when you're playing it you could tell them its an x-ray bass and is currently displaying your stomach contents

'Lick my love pump' in D minor, the saddest of all keys?