- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,211
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
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Many Just Don't Get IT, Gibson Thunderbird
- Thread starter bluewine
- Start date
I used to be a huge UFO fan. I actually wore out a couple of copies of Strangers In The Night ( one of the greatest live albums of all time IMO). 
I used to be a huge UFO fan. I actually wore out a couple of copies of Strangers In The Night ( one of the greatest live albums of all time IMO).
UFO still has quite a fan base in the Chicago area.
YouTube - ‪Gettin Ready UFO by Force It‬‏
...sorry no fabulous Pete Way pants in this one...
...just the obligatory Flying V & Thunderbird...
I love the looks of a Thunderbird. But I prefer maple bodies and necks over mahogany (I think it is a big part in the Thunderbird sound). Hamer did some FB Basses (Thunderbird bodies) with mahogany body and maple neck (no neck-through) and P/J EMG's. Those I like. When it comes to Gibson, I'd prefer a Victory Artist (at least a similar headstock).
Yea, and now you're part of it. Isn't that great? If you ever post a thread about "5-string basses in blues music" and you get responses for 29 pages I'd gladly contribute to that thread too.
I like fenders, but the thunderbirds I have played have sounded great. i'm 58 yrs old and 5'6" if only they weren't so damn heavy
I want one, but I've only played the Epi versions and didn't like them. I think my biggest fear is getting one and finding that just like Rickenbackers; they sound better when played by someone else and they're not comfortable.
I first tried a T-bird in 1965 (I was 15) and thought T-birds were too massive for me. So I bought something else, not nearly as timeless & traded long ago. I've regretted not buying that T-bird ever since. I own 2 T-birds now (Gibson IV and an Epi Pro) and have found that the T-bird quirks are no big deal, once you get used to them. The differences between T-birds & other basses are as big as you make them. And FYI I'm 5'6" and 60 years old.
Might as well keep thread going. I just read the entire thread. Love/hate. I have
an Epi T-Bird.
This thread kept me entertained today. Each bass has it's own life, sound, charm. I like them all.
an Epi T-Bird.
This thread kept me entertained today. Each bass has it's own life, sound, charm. I like them all.
There are three alpine white Epiphone Thunderbirds on ebay right now for a good price. If I only had the money. Someone else should definetly grab one of those bad boys though
I used to have an epiphone thunderbird. I bought it because I thought it looked cool. Sounded nice too. Unfortunately, it was one of the most cumbersome feeling instruments I have ever played. I also was less than fond of the bridge design. Other than that, nice bass. Just not my thing.
I used to be a huge UFO fan. I actually wore out a couple of copies of Strangers In The Night ( one of the greatest live albums of all time IMO).
I totally agree on "Strangers In The Night" album. Some say it's one of the best live albums out there.
Not even Wilson Pickett?
Man, when I saw him, he sucked all the Black right out of the air just by walking onstage... and when he started singing, all that natural and accumulated Blackness came flying out of him towards everydamnbody... personally, I'm one of those blond-haired, green-eyed guys and I had to duck...
Now, I admit I'm a white guy, but I'm guessing if we had a lineup of Blackness with him and you, you'd be lucky to come in third ;-)
I realize it's not exactly the same thing, but... I watched this guy play the one shown below... I'm guessing he could play whatever he wanted... I certainly remember the sound, but I don't remember him complaining about the size or the shape of the thing...
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I had an Epi T-Bird. My son has it now. Once I figured out how to balance it, it was the most comfortable bass and best balanced bass I have played. I picked up an Epi T-Bird pro today at a music shop, and instantly remembered why I liked the 'Bird in the first place. One of these days I'll have another one.
