Epiphone Thunderbird restoration: help and advice request SORTED

[Son of the Wear]

Afternoon all,

Helping a mate out restoring a battered old Epiphone Thunderbird and thought I would put in a request to the expert Basschat database for help and advice:

It has the (slightly iffy) original three point bridge which works fine except it is missing one of the saddles and the intonation bolt that goes through the saddle (hope that makes sense - can put up a pic of what we are looking for if it helps). I have put an ad in the Wanted section ,but this may be a bit of a long shot: so, can anyone recommend a good source/supplier of Epiphone spares? We may have to buy the whole bridge (tried to encourage him to think about the Hipshot Supertone replacement - but can't persuade him to shell out for this mod) so I am hoping someone might know of a good stockist/supplier for Epiphone spare parts.

Also, it needs a new cover for the control cavity on the back - don't know how he has managed to lose this! It seems pretty straightforward to make something to replace this but wondered about recommendations for what material to use? Any advice on this (and where to source the material) would be great.

Any help finding the bits to resurrect the old 'bird gratefully received.

Cheers

Edited December 15, 2010 by Son of the Wear

[Delberthot]

The bridge parts appear now and again on Ebay. The Supertone bridge is a vast improvement but £70 is a tad steep. Probably be easier to make another cover using a small piece of single ply scratchplate material or something like that.

Edited December 12, 2010 by Delberthot

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

[url="http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/allparts-guitar-amp-parts/bridge-parts/bass-saddles/bass-bridge-saddles-for-gibson-bass-tunematic-4-p-2020.html"]http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/all...c-4-p-2020.html[/url]

[Son of the Wear]

Thanks chaps - really helpful responses - and much appreciated...

[Mr. Foxen]

If there is a local signwriters, might be able to score some suitable plastic there, as they stick letters to it for signs.

[Delberthot]

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='1056198' date='Dec 12 2010, 04:56 PM'][url="http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/allparts-guitar-amp-parts/bridge-parts/bass-saddles/bass-bridge-saddles-for-gibson-bass-tunematic-4-p-2020.html"]http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/all...c-4-p-2020.html[/url]
[/quote]


£21.94



[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Bass-Bridge-Saddles-Gibson-Tunematic-NICKEL-/330388039965?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item4ceca9691d"]Slightly more reasonable[/url] and looks like an identical picture

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-3-Point-Bridge-Gibson-Bass-3-11-32-NICKEL-/360108212945?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item53d81f42d1"]The entire thing[/url]

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

[quote name='Johnston' post='1057206' date='Dec 13 2010, 12:52 PM']...the gibson saddles are a little loose in the epi bridge.[/quote]
You mean [b]even more[/b] loose?

[Son of the Wear]

Thanks to everybody who provided useful advice - very helpful and much appreciated.

In the end, after a tip from Warwickhunt, the legend that is Howard the Bass Doc sorted this: new back cover made and fitted, replacement saddle found and fitted and a set of new pots fitted - all for a very reasonable price! Just a few minor tweaks and a bit of cosmetic care and attention left to do - but this is playing very nicely now.....

Really good example of Basschat at its best