Hello all. I’m contemplating selling my 2019 Gibson Thunderbird because I’ve got shoulder pain and this is my heaviest guitar by a bunch. I’m attaching a picture of my current bass family excluding the 2026 Sterling Sting-Ray I just bought. I’m wondering what the group thinks would be a good bass to replace it and still have it be unique compared to the rest of my basses. I’m not necessarily looking to replace it with something with the same tone, but I also want to have whatever I get still be unique within the other ones I own. Thanks for any input!
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Selling a Thunderbird. What should I buy?
- Thread starter Bassdude66
- Start date
Stingray would be a new & different flavor.
Aching pain after playing. Plus the T-Bird in the case is just a heavy monster. I’m in a gigging band so I’m starting to tire of lugging it around. 4 string. 34” scale.
Which is the most comfortable / least-fatiguing among the rest? Is the discomfort injury or age related? Is the discomfort better or worse than 6 months ago? I have "future Bassdude66's" best interest at heart.
Riis
The Jazz bass is probably the most comfortable. I’m 60, so I’m thinking it’s age-related. It’s worse than 6 months ago. And it’s almost always after a gig when I have the pain. And I appreciate your concern!
Sliding headfirst into 68 here. I'm buying some new pieces that I normally would not have considered 10-20 years ago....headless, 32" scale, etc. I'd like to keep playing as long as possible and an uncomfortable instrument is a deterrent. Some considerations based on personal experience
*Keep the weight <7.5 lbs. Avoid the "lightweights" w/ light bodies and full-sized headstocks & machine heads = balance issues.
*Compact headstocks / Ultralites or *gasp* take the leap into a headless. Like me, you'll look like a doof but they're really comfy thanks to a normalized center-of-gravity.
*I won't even ask "budget" as we old guys have all the money. BA-HA-HA-HA!
Take a look at the classifieds and see if anything catches your eye. You should have no problem off-loading the T'bird.
Riis
I like the Gibson EB suggestion! An early 50's fender P-Bass (they are often fairly light) for rootsier stuff or a Mustang for rock/funky stuff would be great- (At least that's how I use mine)
I also recently got to try a Charvel Pro Mod and a Sire for the first time- they were very light and sounded great for the price imho
I also recently got to try a Charvel Pro Mod and a Sire for the first time- they were very light and sounded great for the price imho
Looks like you have a well rounded arsenal OP. Here are my suggestions on what to buy next:
A) A second Rickenbacker 4003 - I know I'm biased here, but they're amazing basses! I would downtune the second one or put a different kind of strings on it. Plus, new Rickenbackers are some of the best the company has ever made.
B) A semi-hollow or hollowbody bass of some kind - Perhaps a Warwick Star Bass, a Guild Starfire II, an Epiphone Jack Casady, or something similar. They're usually lighter in weight than most basses.
C) A Spector Euro - A high quality, versatile, and modern option. Buy used because the new ones depreciate like cars.
D) A new amp - An out of the box alternative that might just be a wise move.
E) Nothing at all - Invest the money or put it into savings. I might be going against conventional TB wisdom with this one, but it might be a wise financial move.
Honestly if you can afford it, get a boutique bass. It's well worth the investment, and most weigh less than basses you get in the marketplace. When I play my Elrick for instance, I don't feel the weight at all.
I'd go play a bunch of basses. All kinds. Multiples of the same type. Find one that's super fun to play. Usually, at least for me, a big part of the fun is a bass that sounds really good. Find that kind of bass, buy it, and play the stink out of it, all day, every day.
Sadowsky modern.
You don’t appear to have anything like it, and once you get one, you won’t play any of the others. Avoid the Chinese models if you can. They require a preamp upgrade as where the Japan and German units are fully complete. Trust me on this. You will love it
You don’t appear to have anything like it, and once you get one, you won’t play any of the others. Avoid the Chinese models if you can. They require a preamp upgrade as where the Japan and German units are fully complete. Trust me on this. You will love it
I concur. I had similar issues and proceeded to plow through a rash of short scale basses and then on a whim/act of desperation purchased a SBMM BONGO and there it was...far and away the most comfortable bass I have every played and it is ultra versatile. Sold most everything (including a Thunderbird) to fund an EBMM BONGO. I still get GAS, but then I go play my BONGO and it all melts away~
