Thunderhead rebuild
fillhixx
Posted 2016-02-08 11:13 PM (#522040)
Subject: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4827

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia

recently got my Thunderhead back from a spa/rebuild treatment at the hands of a skilled and inspired talent.

This bird is very unique as it had some aftermarket adjustments made some where between the factory in May/June 1972 and when I found it in a shop in Campbell River in....the late '70's....? (I may even have the receipt filed somewhere that made sense at the time....)

Putting up pics and diagrams here because well, this one of the few places that both the guitar and the recent improvements done to it by Miles would be fully appreciated. (Miles and Lisa also know where to find the coolest crab feasts)

 





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fillhixx
Posted 2016-02-08 11:15 PM (#522041 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4827

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia

bugger

this isnt working at all.

 



Edited by fillhixx 2016-02-08 11:29 PM
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fillhixx
Posted 2016-02-08 11:18 PM (#522042 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4827

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia

B



Edited by fillhixx 2016-02-08 11:20 PM
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fillhixx
Posted 2016-02-08 11:20 PM (#522043 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4827

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia
C
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standing
Posted 2016-02-09 8:57 AM (#522046 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 1453

Location: Texas
Is this what you're trying to get to show in the thread?:



(Beautiful guitar!)

Edited by standing 2016-02-09 9:08 AM

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fillhixx
Posted 2016-02-09 11:05 AM (#522047 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4827

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia

Yes, thank you. But:

1- How did you do that?

2- How would I reduce the size so it doesn't blow up my iPad like it just did?

there are tons more pics, close ups and drawings data and history...as much as I have



Edited by fillhixx 2016-02-09 11:07 AM
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Mark in Boise
Posted 2016-02-09 11:42 AM (#522049 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755

Location: Boise, Idaho
When I clicked on the image in your first post, it came up the right size.
BTW, a Tornado has been on the Seattle Craigslist for a while, actually in Chilliwack, BC. I was interested until I found out how far Chilliwack is from Seattle, or anywhere for that matter.
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Damon67
Posted 2016-02-09 12:47 PM (#522052 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City
Reminds me of a limerick we'd chant back in my days of running sales offices:

I knew a girl from Chilliwack
Who made a living on her back...

And the rest I'll leave to your imaginations.
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jay
Posted 2016-02-09 1:14 PM (#522055 - in reply to #522052)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249

Location: Texas

Is Chilliwack near Nantucket?

We may know the same girl.



Edited by jay 2016-02-09 1:16 PM
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moody, p.i.
Posted 2016-02-09 4:09 PM (#522058 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664

Location: SoCal
Know her?? Hell, I think I married her!

That T-head is beautiful!
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fillhixx
Posted 2016-02-09 5:15 PM (#522061 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4827

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia
Okay then, I'll try posting the rest.



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fillhixx
Posted 2016-02-09 5:45 PM (#522068 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4827

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia
And more



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fillhixx
Posted 2016-02-09 5:49 PM (#522069 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4827

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia
And more



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fillhixx
Posted 2016-02-09 5:53 PM (#522070 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4827

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia
And the rest...



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fillhixx
Posted 2016-02-09 6:14 PM (#522072 - in reply to #522040)
Subject: Re: Thunderhead rebuild



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4827

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia
The Badass Bridge (tm) is not stock. Not even used properly here through its very solid, stable and works well.
Normally the strings would be hooked under the bridge and wrapped around the top, but the tailpiece anchor for the strings makes this redundant...and impossible.

The little brass switch in between all the pots engages the boost option, raising signal output by as much as the top pot is cranked....not much is really required to got from rythm chunkin' to lead solo. Unless you're drunk, then all bets are off.

There's a new preamp inside that runs on one 9 volt battery instead of two. (I think that's correct. Hope I was listening well....) pic of the old one is included to show the two styles of soldering involved in the original project. (Soldering and Slobbering)

The four switch selector is almost the coolest part. Not stock, but done so well it looks original.
It puts the pickups one of: parallel in phase, parallel out of phase, series in phase, series out of phase, depending on selection. The difference is sometimes subtle (to a very Punk ear) but occasionall useful for something just slightly different.

Based on the note in the case that came with the guitar I'm assuming the original mods were done by a Jó Titus (if I'm reading the signature correctly) but have no way of knowing. Nor do I know how it got from New England to the independent music store in Campbell River....though folks come from all over the world to settle or summer in the Gulf Islands.
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