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Many Just Don't Get IT, Gibson Thunderbird

#401
saltymonkey said:
For those that aren't fans of the Thunderbird look and or feel, Mike Lull is now putting his Tbird pups in P and J basses. Pretty sweet.
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Cool. But he's not the first ;) (neither am I as I know Mike Watt has done the same - but I didn't know that at the time)


plekan said:
davidprice said:
IMG_3486.jpg

Knobs are master tone, pan & master vol --passive.
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One of the coolest basses I have ever seen. I bet it plays great too.
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Thanks, Plekan! I like it though I know a lot of bass players who would never play a pink bass... :eyebrow: It does play really well and has the convenience factor of a regular Fender - just throw it in a gig bag and don't worry about it.

you can hear a good quality live recording of it here: http://kiwi6.com/file/h973p8r2l1
Kind of an odd-ball recording as it was backing an older singer from Mississippi doing blues and we threw in this more straight-up rock arrangement of a tune that would be familiar to the Euro-audience but was totally foreign to the singer - but he was game and obviously got into it. It's this bass with just the neck pickup (finger style - I don't use a pick) through my Walter Woods amp. I might have also had a Sans Amp BDDI so that might be coloring it a bit.
I love the B3 solo on it (it's a real one) and the kind of cheesy '60s vibe he gave it. Worth noting he's in his 70s! (and kicks my *ss as a bass player)

Screenshot2011-03-06at124852PM.png


That said, I played the t-bird on a gig the night before last through a new GK MB200 and Schroeder 1212L and could not have been happier with my tone. One of the biggest bands in Poland (where I am now), oddział zamknięty, was there and they went completely ga-ga over it - it really stands out as it is probably the only one in Eastern Europe (or one of very few).
 
#402
I'll put this here for now, but probably repost in the Thunderbird club thread as well.
This one has been at Mike Lull's for a while now........ He'll be offering a four string Non Reverse a little later this year, my bass is being used as a pattern.

motor5.jpg
 
#404
I'm gonna be honest here, i was disapointed for many years in the quality i was forking out for Gibson 'craftsmanship' and kept going back to Japanese instruments, until i laid hands on the Guitar of the Week series #11...the work and material choice put into this birdy was phenomenal compared to standard Mah's that iv'e always been in contact with. So i bought it...number 400 of 400...the last one they ever made and are now totally satisfied!

IMG_0706.jpg
 
#405
Swin said:
I'm gonna be honest here, i was disapointed for many years in the quality i was forking out for Gibson 'craftsmanship' and kept going back to Japanese instruments, until i laid hands on the Guitar of the Week series #11...the work and material choice put into this birdy was phenomenal compared to standard Mah's that iv'e always been in contact with. So i bought it...number 400 of 400...the last one they ever made and are now totally satisfied!

IMG_0706.jpg
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That is beautiful. Sort of like my other bird (buzzard) but different!

buzzard.jpg
 
#407
@ Swin.

Beautiful Thunderbird! Post your shots in Pt.II of the club thread please :)
And I'd generally agree with you about Gibson, they could step up the QC, and it would do wonders!
 
#410
snowblinder said:
Depending on price and pickup/hardware options available, yes. Seriously fiending for a non-reverse Thunderbird, but I can't find one for sale anywhere.
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They are pretty pricey when you do find 'em! My NRs balance very well. Part of what makes a NR is the thin body mine are a little thicker than the originals but not as thick as say a P bass so you get the NR feel without the neck dive which I never found all that bad. While Mike Lull makes a wonderful product it is out of reach for most of us players. I have been playing NR Thunderbirds for something like 30 years I know them inside and out. I am a professional woodworker I own my own antique restoration shop that doubles for bass restoration and building. Hope that explains things a little.
 
#412
godofthunder59 said:
I have already been building NR Birds. ;) I am putting together pricing and options. Any interest?
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I've been checking out the Bach site since (I believe it was you) pointed out that they are making models of the NRbirds a year or two ago. The Bach price is certainly right...not prices as high as Gibson would command...but buying from another continent has its issues, as does some of the shortcomings (like the slab body) of their model. If you can offer something in the same price range, minus the weaknesses of the Bachbird, then yes, I'd be interested.
 
#413
Dr. Eagle, your avatar is making me rofl, I keep thinking: "Klink, ve are zending you to ze Russian front!" :p
 
#419
bassplayer8953 said:
I've been checking out the Bach site since (I believe it was you) pointed out that they are making models of the NRbirds a year or two ago. The Bach price is certainly right...not prices as high as Gibson would command...but buying from another continent has its issues, as does some of the shortcomings (like the slab body) of their model. If you can offer something in the same price range, minus the weaknesses of the Bachbird, then yes, I'd be interested.
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I have two of the Bach Birds very nice basses for the money, they concept with these was to provide a platform to upgrade to 60's specs which most of us have done to one degree or another.
 

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