Many Just Don't Get IT, Gibson Thunderbird

[Dynacord]

I could easily hang a 5lb weight from my fretting hand, but I see little need.

Sissy comments aside, (yeah, some have earned this) some of us have spent many years developing our technique. Mine does not involve supporting or moving the bass with either hand, nor should it. As a mostly fretless player, the left hand grip required to balance the thing would lead to piss poor vibrato. As also a mostly 6 string player, the necks would be virtually unplayable due to the width.

It is possible (granted maybe not entirely convenient) to have them so they require NO support from either hand/arm - ZERO - I don't know why this has to be repeated so many times... As to neck width it is the same as a jazz bass. I switch between it and a 5 string fretless F-bass and an upright with no issues (the upright has far more ergonomic demands).

Not trying to convert you. If it's not your thing, cool.

 

[Double Agent]

i think now would be a good time to repeat the bassist's prayer:

lord, let me gain acceptance through the gear i use, and if others don't agree with me, let me browbeat them mercilessly until they do.

I thought that was the whole point of this entire thread, since those of us who don't play T-birds don't "get it". Obviously, we are lesser people because we have different taste is looks, tone, and feel.

 

[My name is Mudd]

Amazing collection - I'd be happy with any of them, but I REALLY want the Fenderbird on the far end!

 

[JimmyM]

I thought that was the whole point of this entire thread, since those of us who don't play T-birds don't "get it". Obviously, we are lesser people because we have different taste is looks, tone, and feel.

well you make a decent point. however, on here, those who like cool looking rock and roll basses are always being put upon by those who prefer ergonomically designed basses with more than 4 strings like they're some kind of morons for buying because they like the look.

 

[Dynacord]

I thought that was the whole point of this entire thread, since those of us who don't play T-birds don't "get it". Obviously, we are lesser people because we have different taste is looks, tone, and feel.

Much as I like my t-bird, I agree the thread started off on the wrong foot. I can understand sharing enthusiasm for a particular instrument or pointing out aspects that many overlook but what's the point of telling anyone - or implying - that their instrument of choice is "crap" or inferior to what I prefer?

 

[stiles72]

Thanks! and that was just using backline at the venue (I think it was Wojtek Pilichowski's amp) - that bass sounds really full but stays articulate even in really big rooms like that.

Were you using any pedals? A VT perhaps?

As a mostly fretless player, the left hand grip required to balance the thing would lead to piss poor vibrato. As also a mostly 6 string player, the necks would be virtually unplayable due to the width.

I think a "Fretless Bird" would make a cool project. Maybe an Epi-pro, defretted, and re-finished in vintage white?

Gibson made a 5-string model for a while, and surprisingly the neck is very playble and sleek for a 5 string. I have a couple of Ibanez SR-885's, and the transition from playing on those to the Thunderbird 5 was pretty seamless.

 

[Double Agent]

Much as I like my t-bird, I agree the thread started off on the wrong foot. I can understand sharing enthusiasm for a particular instrument or pointing out aspects that many overlook but what's the point of telling anyone - or implying - that their instrument of choice is "crap" or inferior to what I prefer?

Exactly!!!!

Some people like apples, others like oranges. There are even some REALLY crazy folks out there that like both

well you make a decent point. however, on here, those who like cool looking rock and roll basses are always being put upon by those who prefer ergonomically designed basses with more than 4 strings like they're some kind of morons for buying because they like the look.

I would say the same thing to those people. Play what YOU like, but don't pretend that what you like makes you a better, or more discriminating, person/bassist.

 

[JimiLL]

I guess I dont get "IT"

 

[Dynacord]

Were you using any pedals? A VT perhaps?

Just an EBS octabass for the vamp at the end. That was a kind of funny gig as it was the birthday of one of the guitar players and I thought it was just a club gig so I showed up after working during the day with the bass in a gigbag (as I was told I didn't need to bring an amp) and saw it was a very swank theater and I was way underdressed - and then it was broadcast on national TV...

well you make a decent point. however, on here, those who like cool looking rock and roll basses are always being put upon by those who prefer ergonomically designed basses with more than 4 strings like they're some kind of morons for buying because they like the look.

Remember the old days when all bass players were looked at as morons? "Hey, it must be easier to play than guitar, it only has 4 strings..." (I have often wondered is some were overcompensating for this stigma with ever more stringed basses )

 

[Dr. Eagle]

@ David Price, that Thunderbird of yours is simply beautiful!

Personally I play what I like, and think that's all anybody should do, mine make me happy - I hope everybody else's basses do the same for them, regardless of what company made them

HEY I RECOGNIZE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD! I used to work up in the Seattle area for a year and a half. (J/K) I lived in Kirkland...

Now thats a great collection, I am eight behind and better get working on catching up! One down and eight to go!

 

[MattyH]

My band mates always hated the Bird. I didn't get how people could hate it! They weren't thrilled when I told them I was building a custom "Fenderbird", but they grew on it when I was done. I think I changed their minds. I don't think I'd get nasty looks if I bought a Gibson.

C'mon, how can you hate on this!

 

[TBird1958]

HEY I RECOGNIZE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD! I used to work up in the Seattle area for a year and a half. (J/K) I lived in Kirkland...

Now thats a great collection, I am eight behind and better get working on catching up! One down and eight to go!

Small world! I lived in Kirkland from 1966 1976, ( My folks still live there) I'm just a little south of Seattle now.


BTW that's not the entire collection

There are at least four more, I ran out of Subaru

 

[GregC]

Hi Greg,

Thank you for the kind words about my band! I do have one Youtube of us - I'm playing my single pickup Lull T Bass thru my Traynor YBA 200-2 (200watt tube amp) and my GK cabs. The sound from this is what the venue (7 Cedars Casino) recorded, we didn't have any control over the mix, the bass is out front tho I wasn't pushing the amp much, the vid is just a photo montage of the band put together by our recently retired drummer.

No problem! Thanks for the clip, it sounds very good. How does your single-pickup Lull compare to a two-pickup Bird--a little darker?

 

[MattyH]

DISCLAIMER: I'm not bashing any other basses. I love T-Birds, but to each his own! No one is inferior for using Ibanez, G&L, Fender, Music Man, or any other brand! Haha

It seems you have to cover your arse on TB sometimes lately!

 

[MattyH]

TBird1958 - That video is epic.

 

[kenfxj]

well you make a decent point. however, on here, those who like cool looking rock and roll basses are always being put upon by those who prefer ergonomically designed basses with more than 4 strings like they're some kind of morons for buying because they like the look.

Never underestimate the importance of looks. In the words of Jeremy Clarkson, "how many of you married your wife because she was easy to wipe down?"

Ergonomics are nice but, come on, it's a Thunderbird. Maybe the most badass looking bass evah.

 

[Ben Noblit]

@ David Price, that Thunderbird of yours is simply beautiful!

Personally I play what I like, and think that's all anybody should do, mine make me happy - I hope everybody else's basses do the same for them, regardless of what company made them

T-Bird, that collection of yours is incomplete. You need this to go behind those basses.

Get rid of that Subaru.

 

[TBird1958]

No problem! Thanks for the clip, it sounds very good. How does your single-pickup Lull compare to a two-pickup Bird--a little darker?

Not so much darker, the single pickup seems to produce a bit tighter response, actually David Price's clip should give you a good idea of what Lull pups sound like, they are exact repros of the early '60s era Gibson - a single coil design that incorporates a bottom plate, I remember Mike Lull really lighting up when he first told me he was making them



@ MattyH Thanks for the kind word!

 

[Kwesi]

ok, i could understand "smells like crap" as being a deterrent, but if you couldn't play one, i would blame you way before i'd blame the bass.

Rob seemed to be implying that ergonomics and playability and even tone shouldn't matter to you and I disagree strongly. Why would anyone play a bass that they don't like? The reason doesn't even matter. Personally, I have yet to encounter a bass I couldn't play but there are striking differences between how comfortable one bass might have been compared to the next. Thunderbird vs. damn near any Squier? The Squier wins by a mile. But that's just me. If Rob likes Thunderbird's he's free to proclaim it to the world but calling others whiny simply because they don't like a certain aspect of a bass that he just deals with ain't cool. There's nothing wrong with a person being discerning about what they play.

not sure why you care so much what others play, kwesi.

What makes you think that? I do care about other people telling me what I should and shouldn't like and/or worry about though.

 

[parsons]

they look cool, sound like crap, play even worse. My .02.