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For me it was having to use specific stands that stopped me gigging my bird after a year as my main player. T-bird friendly stands that fold and store in motorcycle/jammed public transit to gig commutes packing are rare imho
Man, these Auto stereotypes are never gonna end are they? I have THREE T Birds, all are well under 9lbs, they don’t neck dive, they ain’t muddy and no headstocks have shattered into splinters
One of many common TBird myths. I got four TBirds- all under 9 pounds- closer to 8 actually.
Congrats to the OP.
Mine was somebody's experiment long before I ever got it (which is cool with me, because I don't think I would've ever "personalized" it the way I did if it had've been pristine). I'd never weighed it before, but this thread finally made me curious. I did the digital bathroom scale thing (weighed myself with and without the bass), and was quite surprised to see exactly 7 pounds! Neck and body are solid mahogany, and no other modifications have been performed (other than new pots & wires) To be fair... I ground off the original finish with a belt sander, and re-coated it with Cerakote, which is a small fraction of the thickness of the original finish. You'll hafta take my word for it, that it wasn't all that much heavier before A very dear friend gave me a set of Gibson U.S.A. pups to put in it, but I've chosen to save them for some other project. It seems the rumors regarding stock Epi pickups being thin, weak, etc. turned out to be nonsensical B.S. too! These stock Epi pups are full of character, with a full bottom end, with a crisp top end, and bold mids. They don't have quite as much "snarl" as the Gibson pups have, but I like them so much, that I'm gonna let my next one be the snarler of the group
As you can see... my 10 dollar Guitar Center stand cradles my BlueBird in dandy fashion, as well (so many myths... so little time)
A very dear friend gave me a set of Gibson U.S.A. pups to put in it, but I've chosen to save them for some other project. It seems the rumors regarding stock Epi pickups being thin, weak, etc. turned out to be nonsensical B.S. too! These stock Epi pups are full of character, with a full bottom end, with a crisp top end, and bold mids. They don't have quite as much "snarl" as the Gibson pups have, but I like them so much, that I'm gonna let my next one be the snarler of the groupAs you can see... my 10 dollar Guitar Center stand cradles my BlueBird in dandy fashion, as well (so many myths... so little time
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I hear that. Ya'know, I stood my Spector (Forte-X) like that for almost 2 years before I realized that it kinda sits even better with that same stand angled this way >Mine was somebody's experiment long before I ever got it (which is cool with me, because I don't think I would've ever "personalized" it the way I did if it had've been pristine). I'd never weighed it before, but this thread finally made me curious. I did the digital bathroom scale thing (weighed myself with and without the bass), and was quite surprised to see exactly 7 pounds! Neck and body are solid mahogany, and no other modifications have been performed (other than new pots & wires) To be fair... I ground off the original finish with a belt sander, and re-coated it with Cerakote, which is a small fraction of the thickness of the original finish. You'll hafta take my word for it, that it wasn't all that much heavier before
View attachment 2923579 View attachment 2923580
As you can see... my 10 dollar Guitar Center stand cradles my BlueBird in dandy fashion, as well (so many myths... so little time
Anywayz... no problemo either wayz
Mines not a true Tbird, so YMMVYou got me curious! I'll try that in my stand!I hear that. Ya'know, I stood my Spector (Forte-X) like that for almost 2 years before I realized that it kinda sits even better with that same stand angled this way >
View attachment 2923651 View attachment 2923650
Anywayz... no problemo either wayz
IMHO... the player has as much, if not more to do with how "true" the 'bird is, as the manufacturer does
That Forte of yours is dead sexy man
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DAMN I love that Lavaburst SG!!!drool
Need an ice pack Hon?
A Campari and a bag of frozen peas. I vant to be ... alone.
Mine was somebody's experiment long before I ever got it (which is cool with me, because I don't think I would've ever "personalized" it the way I did if it had've been pristine). I'd never weighed it before, but this thread finally made me curious. I did the digital bathroom scale thing (weighed myself with and without the bass), and was quite surprised to see exactly 7 pounds! Neck and body are solid mahogany, and no other modifications have been performed (other than new pots & wires) To be fair... I ground off the original finish with a belt sander, and re-coated it with Cerakote, which is a small fraction of the thickness of the original finish. You'll hafta take my word for it, that it wasn't all that much heavier before
View attachment 2923579 View attachment 2923580
As you can see... my 10 dollar Guitar Center stand cradles my BlueBird in dandy fashion, as well (so many myths... so little time
That’s the most BLUETIFUL Bird I’ve ever seen!! Nice!!
It’s a rockin’ beast! For the price, you got a great deal.
Mine was no myth. If I let go of the bass while slung over my shoulder, the headstock would quickly drop towards the ground. I gigged with it ONE time. Every break in a song when I'd attempt to get the crowd clapping, waving, fist pumping, whatever, the bass would drop. No good.Man, these Auto stereotypes are never gonna end are they? I have THREE T Birds, all are well under 9lbs, they don’t neck dive, they ain’t muddy and no headstocks have shattered into splinters
Buddy, I think you're in the wrong thread. The Gibson bash is elsewhere, this is supposed to be the New Bass Day discussion for a very lucky Thunderbird owner.
Definitley one of the nicest non-reverse Thunderbirds I've ever seen!
I don't doubt the neck dive claim on your bass is true, after all you're a Mopar muscle fan (gotta love their Hemi engines and late 60's early 70's offerings). But to be quite honest, I have tried dozens of TBirds and currently own three (a Gibson and two Eppis) not including a Spector Thunderbird, and I have yet to find one that has any noticeable neck dive when used with a standard smooth leather (not grippy suede or neoprene) bass strap with the upper strap pin located at the neck heel (where Gibson and Epiphone routinely put them these days). I can't say that about all the Jazz or Precision basses I've owned and played, had some real divers in that group.
All that said, it never even dawned on me to jump into a Fender NBD thread and claim Fenders neck dive. Why so many others feel that need with Gibby basses baffles me.
OP - if you're experiencing a neck heavy bass, make sure the upper strap pin is located on the heel of the bass (not the upper horn) and be sure to use a wide bass (not narrow guitar) strap. Also avoid nylon straps, they'll make just about anything neck dive. If none of that works there's always hipshot ultralight tuners, but I've never had to go to that extreme. And as far as bass stands go, I haven't found one that doesn't work, but my favorite is the Hercules brand.
I’ve read a lot of posts at TB.com about “Head Dive”. Now I’ve played a lot of different basses over the years, and more than few of them have garnered distain for head dive here, but I’ve had zero problems with them. I use wide (4”) woven straps, as opposed to leather, and they don’t slip much, if at all. Friction and a large point of contact are your friends.
I'll join the group on the Congrats! bus, and say nice catch!!!
Now you can pledge the T-Bird Club fraternity, and we will help you cross the burning sands and teach you the secret handshake!!!
Go ΘΒΧ (Theta-Beta Chi)
057912
Now you can pledge the T-Bird Club fraternity, and we will help you cross the burning sands and teach you the secret handshake!!!
Go ΘΒΧ (Theta-Beta Chi)
057912
Just ran the numbers and was this is what I found.
That was my aha moment bass.
I had been playing bass for quite some time but always steered clear of Gibson offerings because of all the horror stories here on TB. I ran across the Lava Burst SG Supreme while looking at used basses on the GC website. It was fairly rare and in mint condition, so on a whim I bought it figuring I really wouldn't play it much but it might go up in value. When it arrived at the house I was struck with the good looks. I checked thoroughly for those often claimed Gibby flaws - none. Figured I got lucky. Checked the headstock for that often claimed break/repair - not there either. Strapped it on and waited for the often claimed headstock dive - none. By this time I figured it was a freak and I got real lucky. Then I plugged it in, set the tone knob at the mid point and soloed the bridge pup - very articulate, not harsh or nasal. Now I'm scratching my head in amazement. Then I soloed the neck pup expecting the often claimed mud tone - nope. It was a deep dark balls to the wall tone that I've never been able to get out of my P basses. And then came the aha moment - there's nothing wrong with this Gibby - maybe there's something wrong with TB know-it-alls instead. And now, five Gibby basses later, I'm positive the vast majority of claimed Gibby issues don't lie with the bass, it's the nut behind the strings.
