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Many Just Don't Get IT, Gibson Thunderbird

#101
bluewine said:
Old Eletist I kind of dig that.

I bet you play in a jazz trio. Not that theres anything wrong with that:p
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Nope! 5-piece kinda sunshiney rock, with reggae undertones if its daytime and more mellow, or funk undertones if its night and people wanna dance. Party band.

I will admit that T-birds do look sexy though, if you're playing the right kind of music. I'm not currently playing that kind, though. I completely agree with the poster who said they were good for root-note rock, and not much else.

My music requires note definition, and the ability to move my fingers (and the rest of me) around, which is kinda hard when you've got an invisible bowling ball dangling from your headstock and you're slipping in the mud pouring out of your pickups.
 
#102
stiles72 said:
I find Thunderbird necks extremely fast and playable- right on par with a Fender Jazz or Ibanez Soundgears. I've never played one with neck dive- but all the ones I've played were post '88's and haven't played an old one with the bigger headstock and tuners. I find them to be very light weight compared to a P-bass and much more resonant. They just work for me!
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Exactly why I love my 91, very thin Jazz type neck and very light.
 
#103
plekan said:
This is one of the funniest threads on tb in a while. Even the serious quotes crack me up.

I am by no means a Fender elitist but honestly, I find the look of Thunderbirds to be so lame. I don't think I've ever seen someone rock it and not think, that looks so lame. Classic rock and metal bands included. Then again, I think most of that music is pretty lame so whatever.

FLAME ON DUDES!!!

The only bird I dig is Charlie Parker.
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Actually the funniest thread on talkbass was the 26 plus pages devoted to the question of "Are Squires Fenders"


We Gibson people laughed our @$$#& off.


Flame on dude.
 
#110
bluewine said:
The headstock issue is a legitimate complaint.

blue
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Very much so, its been my worry with my TBird. I take extra care not to lean it on anything, always on the stand. Even then, you never know when something is going to go crash.
I have seen photos of the broken ones and its not pretty. And its not like you can just bolt on another neck like you can on a Fender...
 
#111
Grooveman1961 said:
in what ways is your gibson better than your EPI?
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The Pick ups are super hot

The body is much thinner and lighter than the Epi

It has the Gibson Thunderbird signature tone , that many feel is limiting. It's not for me.

It says made in the USA on the back of the headstock.

For me I just love being on stage with a Gibson, but I'm weird about that sort of thing.I really have nothing against Epi.
 
#112
bluewine said:
The headstock issue is a legitimate complaint.

blue
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My Gibson took a fall, 3.5 - 4 ft to the floor, hitting headstock first. No harm done (other than a couple of dings to the body) thanks to a Dunlop straplock that didn't...

...anyway, it seems that the multi-lam neck is stronger than the original 1 piece mahogany used in the 60's & 70's.

I'll bet my Epi Pro, with it's maple/walnut neck is stronger still (hope I never have to find out!)

...and this player likes the narrow Jazz-type neck.
 
#113
bluewine said:
The headstock issue is a legitimate complaint.

blue
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I love them so its not a deal breaker, but my band is young kids , we play tough venues and are gear is in harms way on a tiny stage all the time , for very little pay. I almost busted my headstock into a wall twice that would have been a hard possible breaking hit, and also my guitar player dropped my t bird in a case from 4 feet up. At that point I realized I need to just go back to a more "solid" bass , thats a P bass .

I still pefer the bird sound slightly but I dont mind not stressing about it, when i am older and can afford to have a bass that is only played at some gigs, or get to a point of playing better venues I will own another t bird.



I would respect gibson if they made some improvements towards the headstock , Like the did with the 88 and up models, they have improved IMO upon the older design it would just be nice to see some more progression of the bird.
 
#115
Antny said:
You.....you are GOOD! :p

Yeah, I'm a youngster, my odometer will turn 50 in May. So when does the IT kick in? I want to be ready for IT. :hyper:

Hey, if you saw my gig bass, pretty sure you'd hammer me really hard. I'm embarrassed to even post a pic of it here. :bawl: So ANYTHING is going to look better than what I play. Rock on, brother! :bassist::D
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I would say to really understand The Gibson Thunder Bird history you would have to be at least my age. Expect it to kick in at 58. You have 8 years to go.

I don't think it matters what kind of bass you play as long as you like it.If you don't and are looking at options play a few Gibson Birds
 
#116
Kwesi said:
Nah, man. Black guys don't play Thunderbirds, didn't you know :p?
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I got news for you my brother,When it comes to Black nobody is Blacker than me and I play one.

But again there aint to many 58 year old brothers playing in Pop Rock Bands. I never ran with the heard. Played with a lot of funk bands in the hood back in the 70s.But the funk thing sort of died for all practicle purposes.
 
#118
I tried to like them. I really did. I bought a 'bird when I was 18 thinking it was super cool. Heck, it even sounded good in the store. I was stoked until I went to band practice with it. As soon as we started playing it disappeared into the mix...until I adjusted the EQ. Sounded alright. But the band mates thought my Geddy Lee sounded better. They were right, but I soldiered on anyway...

I played a show with it a week later. I learned the following:

-I don't like neck dive. Normally I wouldn't complain, but it's too much. Maybe I'm weird because I actually like to take my left hand off of the neck.
-They are too bulky for me to move comfortably. Once again I may be weird because I don't do the power stance all night. I like to move around and get into it. Not to mention the edge of the body feels awful against my forearm.
-The tone was not what I wanted at all. It just didn't sit in the mix right. i tried so hard to get it there. Let's just chalk that one up to acquired taste
-And finally, I looked like an idiot while I was playing it. I saw pictures after, and it didn't look right.

Basically, it's not for me it never will be. Every time I see one on stage I think back and laugh. Then I strap up my run of the mill Fender, plug in, and rock.

I guess I just don't get it.
 

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