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Many Just Don't Get IT, Gibson Thunderbird

#481
davidprice said:
Thanks, Scott.

BTW anyone know what the deal was on the Orville pickups? I understand they were U.S. made so just regular late 80s-early 90s Gibson Tbird pickups but with the chrome covers? They are certainly humbuckers.
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Not so sure about where they were made, tho I've heard U.S. as well - From the front they look like a '60s Gibson complete with a two screw chrome pup cover. Also note one of GodofThunder59's retro fit bridge next to it! :)
Here's mine
bridges005.jpg


I don't have a shot of the underside of one specifically, however I have had mine apart and it looked just like the one to the back of this photo except for the large magnet on the bottom. So a definately a Humbucker. Orvilles are fantastic Thunderbirds too, very faithful to an early '60s Gibson except for the as noted pick up and set neck construction.
DSC00013.jpg
 
#482
Dr. Eagle said:
I didn't get time to watch the video this morning before work. Excellent work!
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Thanks! We have a lot of fun, you get the same show whether it's 40 people or 5,0000 we just love to play. I am the "new" guy with 11 years in the band. The '67 Thunderbird II in the video was a lost cause I found on ebay Started out like this plus I had to redo a headstock repair. Note the Dimarzio Model one, Bill Lawrence pup and Baddass bridge. As I got it.
67thunderbird.jpg
and now with a 60's Thunderbird pup, original 60's pickguard and my bridge. Great sounding and playing bass!
67TBthumbrest002.jpg
Here is a more recent pic with the bridge pup removed
67thunderbird004.jpg
 
#483
IMG_5595.jpg


It's not that complicated:
IMG_5597.jpg


I bought a 63' in 73' when I went to a loan shop on a tip from a friend who told me that a P-bass was there for cheap. This was a potential turning point to Fender, which I played and never loved (back then). The P was gone, and the bird caught my eye. I liked The Who, Mott the Hoople and Wishbone Ash and loved the way the T-bird looked, so I bought it for $150 w/case (all orig everything). It was stolen in 78' and I bought a 64' within the month it was stolen. I now have a few of the various camps/brands of basses and still play and love that T-bird, for the feel, tone and looks. Each instrument has its own distinct voice and when playing them I visit different sonic neighborhoods related to its voice and how it plays. (and totally unrelated to how it looks)

Your green T-bird is most likely the prettiest I've ever seen, rivaling any classic mid-60's Jazz w/Burgundy Mist or whatever - and it's super great to see you still using it professionally.

The first thing I did when I got my 63' and 64' was to install the strap-peg into the rear heal as you did, as most everyone who owned them did.

This is a mildly entertaining thread, but I've never felt I had to convince anyone about anything concerning these basses.

seriously love the aluminum upright.
 
#484
Thanks for the kind words JIO. I agree, in my eyes, it's one of the best looking basses I've ever seen - and it makes me want to play it :) I played it on a gig this last Saturday:

wNeilZaza-byMichalKubicki.jpg

(with Neil Zaza in Wrocław, Poland - with another 5,600 guitar and bass players at the Thanks Jimi Festival Invalid Link Removed )

I actually did own an L-series original Burgundy Mist Jazz Bass - looked terrific but had a neck carve I could never get into and the tone was a bit thin, even for a Jazz (they did vary - I've had a few Jazzes that were magic - but that was not one of them).

But, yes, you're right; no need to convince anyone. You like them or you don't.

Thanks also on the aluminum - and always sorry to hear of stolen instruments...
 
#485
Mine only have to make me happy........;)

From this past Saturday at Seattle's oldest Punk bar, The Funhouse, me and one of my fave 'Birds
funhouse1.jpg
 
#491
i recently played my £80 thunderbrid copy. i hadnt played it in a while because i always thought it was too heavy (22lbs), neckdive was awefull and the sound just didnt suit the music i was playing. but i decided to play it recently. well it still doesnt sound good, still is heave and still has neckdive but then i seen myself in the mirror and realised "damn, i look good"
 
#496
i had to get a strap made from heavey duty leather and i have a padded bit for the sholder so i can actually play it once in a while. the origional strap buttons used to make alot of groaning noises under the weight so i changed them for strap locks and it helped alot.

i just mesured its thickness btw. its 3 and a half inches thick.

its far from a easy bass to play
 
#500
My first bass a couple of years ago was a epiphone thunderbird, and now i think back, i thought it was heavy, way too much neck dive, hard to play on the fretboard because the neck felt too big, but now ive come to think, im glad it was all of them when i was just starting out, because soon as i had my fender p bass, i found i had learned a great deal on the epiphone when it came to the up to a point easier to play p bass.
Ive always loved thunderbirds, specially the two times ive seen saxon play with Nibbs Carter thundering away on one of the Gibson versions.

Always wanted to get my hands on a gibson version, however now i cant decide between building a warmoth tribute to thunderbirds or an actual gibson, both for roughly the same price i found out, going to have to try a gibson version first.
 

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