Gibson Thunderbird Advice

[Velvet Presley]

Hello!

Sorry that I've not been around much but I'm here making demands now.

I've got a Gibson Blackbird and I love it. However, recently, the sheerly shit weight distribution has started getting on my tits fairly severely.

Hunting for a solution I found this - http://www.lysator.liu.se/~wizkid/music ... rbird_mod/ - which is a fairly straight forward way of sorting the balance by moving a strap pin around.

Here's for the stupid bit - has anyone done this themselves? While I'm sure it would work I'm a bit apprehensive about boaring a hole in a fairly expensive plank of wood and just want a little more reassurance than I have currently.

Alternatively, has anyone got any better ideas?

Cheers,

VP.

[Pauly]

My Explorer is pretty neck heavy. I find wearing it lower improves the balance.

If you don't want to drill into the body (understandable really) why not tape some weights to the other side of the guitar? Easily removed and shouldn't add that much weight.

[Velvet Presley]

I've been systematically lowering it progressively for months but the balance still isn't great - the weights are an interesting idea though. Would you just stick them towards the back end, sort of behind the bottom-most wing?

[Pauly]

Yeah, basically thats where I'd put them, on the back of the body furthest away from the headstock.

Might be a bit uncomfy tho if it rubs on you

Let us know how you get on

[SiN1758]

Hello!

Sorry that I've not been around much but I'm here making demands now.

I've got a Gibson Blackbird and I love it. However, recently, the sheerly shit weight distribution has started getting on my tits fairly severely.

Hunting for a solution I found this - http://www.lysator.liu.se/~wizkid/music ... rbird_mod/ - which is a fairly straight forward way of sorting the balance by moving a strap pin around.

Here's for the stupid bit - has anyone done this themselves? While I'm sure it would work I'm a bit apprehensive about boaring a hole in a fairly expensive plank of wood and just want a little more reassurance than I have currently.

Alternatively, has anyone got any better ideas?

Cheers,

VP.

Is it not worth taking it in somewhere to get it done? I'm not sure where you're based, but Andy's in Denmark Street (Londion) are pretty good for repairs and mods etc.

[Velvet Presley]

Cheers for the advice guys.

I'm based in Edinburgh and seemingly a shop called Scayles have the only for hire guitar tech in Edinburgh at the moment due to the closure of Sound Control. For now I'm experimenting with weights and, bizzarely, perhaps, luggage straps...

[SiN1758]

Cheers for the advice guys.

I'm based in Edinburgh and seemingly a shop called Scayles have the only for hire guitar tech in Edinburgh at the moment due to the closure of Sound Control. For now I'm experimenting with weights and, bizzarely, perhaps, luggage straps...

Sorry, I hadn't realised you were in Edinburgh (although on second looks - it does actually say as much right next to your username - DOH!)

[Dark Lord of Barnet]

My Explorer is pretty neck heavy. I find wearing it lower improves the balance.

If you don't want to drill into the body (understandable really) why not tape some weights to the other side of the guitar? Easily removed and shouldn't add that much weight.

My Explorer balances nicely, but mahagany bodies on supposedly indentical guitars can vary quite a bit in weight. The Thunderbirds I've tried have been pretty neck heavy, and Firebirds tend to be the same. (I was in a rehearsal studio tonight with my Explorer and a Thunderbird wielding bass player known to some of you )

A mate of mine has a couple of Firebirds and has some effective solutions for guitars that tend to nosedive. The simplest one is to stuff the space behind the backplate of control cavity with a much lead as you can fit in between the control pots - wrap it in insulating tape and use Blue Tack or just leave it loose but tightly packed. The more drastic solution is to drill large holes into the back of the body and pour molten lead into them. Obviously you have to fill and re-finish the area affected afterwards, but if you do a good enough job no one can see anything has been done and the guitar balances perfectly.

[pete gusher]

you could use weights
or you could find or adapt a strap so it has a rubber or suade patch where it goes over your shoulder

[Pauly]

My Explorer balances a bit better since I had the EMG81's fitted and have the pot cavity stuffed with a 9v battery. And it gets worn at my knees too, which seems to help

[Velvet Presley]

Sorry about the tardy replies. I've more or less got the situation sorted using a strap which I've sewn bits of leather onto. It's still not ideal but it's a damn site better than it was.

I've got a little spate of gigs coming up this next couple of weeks, so after those I'm going to try and find a more permanent solution.

Cheers to everyone who offered advice.

[Sarc]

My SG's started doing what the Thunderbird did, anyone go any ideas as it's a solid body job and I dont wanna start hacking into it.