Tacoma Thunderchief Owners Unite!

[Philbiker]

I am a Tacoma Wing Series fanatic. That's my fretless Thunderchief, over on the left.

I've tried the OEM Elixirs and the LaBelle tapewounds from Carvin. The Elixirs are louder and twangier, but I prefer the upright sound and feel of the tapewounds.

Nice collection. You need the mandolin to round it out.

 

[ggunn]

No, Tacomas have been out of production since 2006. Fender keeps the Tacoma web site running with an automated revision date refresher to make it looks like the site is still active, but it is not.

The last I heard (a while ago) is that if Fender ever resumes Tacoma production, they will be made in Asia. Olympia is already an Asian Tacoma clone, so I don't see how Fender has much to gain by such a move.

So, basically (pun intended) Fender bought Tacoma in order to shoot it in the head.

 

[dexplosion]

Nice basses everyone.
What amps are y'all using?

I am a Tacoma Wing Series fanatic. That's my fretless Thunderchief, over on the left.

I've tried the OEM Elixirs and the LaBelle tapewounds from Carvin. The Elixirs are louder and twangier, but I prefer the upright sound and feel of the tapewounds.

Nice, but I think you're missing the baritone model.
I love the idea of a baritone acoustic.
I put some 14's on my regular scale acoustic, and tuned it to "B". I love it.

Here's mine. Fretless 4-string made on February 5, 2001. I use black nylon tapewound strings made by Status Graphite. This photo shows the plug-in feedback buster.

I enjoyed those recordings a lot.
The 'Chief sounds great through the little Genz Benz.

 

[Philbiker]

So, basically (pun intended) Fender bought Tacoma in order to shoot it in the head.

No. Fender generally doesn't do that; you're mistaking them for Gibson. Do some searches here, the Fender/Tacoma story is fairly well documented on Talkbass posts.

Fender bought Tacoma largely for their factory; they intended to build Guild guitars there, and continue to make the more popular models in the Tacoma lineup. From what I understand the Thunderchief bass was Tacoma's biggest seller by a very large margin. It completely turned the ABG market (small as it is) upside-down.

The Quality Control at the Tacoma plant turned out to not be up to Fender's standards. Fender rejected many instruments which the old Tacoma company would have released. I can vouch for my Thunderchief bass - as much as I love it, there are some ill-fitting QC nits that Fender would not have allowed.

Fender later bought Kaman, and now builds Guild Guitars in Connecticut next to Ovations. The old Tacoma factory has been shuttered or sold. Fender owns the brand name and the unconventional design patents. Who knows if they'll ever do anything with it.

 

[Jazzcat]

Also, the timing of Fender’s buyout of Tacoma, with respect to market conditions, was pretty lousy. With the economic turndown, and expanding production competition from Asia, including the recent startup of Olympia, Fender was pretty much in a position of cutting their losses shortly after that buyout, as far as I can tell.

The reputed quality control issues with Tacoma are limited to the finish, in my experience. Finish de-adhesion issues affect guitars with heavy gloss finishes and the exotic woods – rosewood and koa. All of the Thunderchiefs, except for a handful of customs, are built of spruce / mahogany with a light satin finish, which do not have finish issues.

Tacomas were marketed with a limited lifetime warranty, and the exotic wood finishes only lasted a few years. I can imagine that with a barage of Tacomas be returned to the Fender for refinishing, Fender would be motivated to pull the plug on the whole company, which it appears they did. The orignial Tacoma factory is now a cabinet shop.

 

[Bassflute]

So, basically (pun intended) Fender bought Tacoma in order to shoot it in the head.

Pretty much hit the nail on the head...wants to sell you Asian made basses for $1,000.00 that cost them under $50.00 to make.

No. Fender generally doesn't do that; you're mistaking them for Gibson. Do some searches here, the Fender/Tacoma story is fairly well documented on Talkbass posts.

Fender bought Tacoma largely for their factory; they intended to build Guild guitars there, and continue to make the more popular models in the Tacoma lineup. From what I understand the Thunderchief bass was Tacoma's biggest seller by a very large margin. It completely turned the ABG market (small as it is) upside-down.

The Quality Control at the Tacoma plant turned out to not be up to Fender's standards. Fender rejected many instruments which the old Tacoma company would have released. I can vouch for my Thunderchief bass - as much as I love it, there are some ill-fitting QC nits that Fender would not have allowed.

Fender later bought Kaman, and now builds Guild Guitars in Connecticut next to Ovations. The old Tacoma factory has been shuttered or sold. Fender owns the brand name and the unconventional design patents. Who knows if they'll ever do anything with it.

Also, the timing of Fender’s buyout of Tacoma, with respect to market conditions, was pretty lousy. With the economic turndown, and expanding production competition from Asia, including the recent startup of Olympia, Fender was pretty much in a position of cutting their losses shortly after that buyout, as far as I can tell.

The reputed quality control issues with Tacoma are limited to the finish, in my experience. Finish de-adhesion issues affect guitars with heavy gloss finishes and the exotic woods – rosewood and koa. All of the Thunderchiefs, except for a handful of customs, are built of spruce / mahogany with a light satin finish, which do not have finish issues.

Tacomas were marketed with a limited lifetime warranty, and the exotic wood finishes only lasted a few years. I can imagine that with a barage of Tacomas be returned to the Fender for refinishing, Fender would be motivated to pull the plug on the whole company, which it appears they did. The orignial Tacoma factory is now a cabinet shop.

Oh, the poor, poor, beleaguered Fender corporation. That's just awful, let's take up a donation for them...



They're ruthless, heartless bastards like the rest of them. The give a **** about NOTHING but the bottom line. Tacoma was in the way - they made better guitars and basses than Fender could, cheaper, and in America...they were in the way, so they crushed it. Just like Gibson would have. And all those innovations have now gone to waste while they produce the totally mediocre Victor Bailey model acoustic bass, which sounds like something out of 1992 (much as I love Victor Bailey, the bass is NOTHING like a Tacoma was).

Sincerely,
Cameron

 

[gm2_in_co]

So, basically (pun intended) Fender bought Tacoma in order to shoot it in the head.

They bought them for their wood inventory is what I heard.

 

[Jazzcat]

They're ruthless, heartless bastards like the rest of them.

I used to think that way.

Tacoma put out a quality product, with very nice tonewoods and innovative designs that really worked. I love their wing series for many reasons.

However, I think that Tacoma was a doomed company before Fender ever bought them. They were providing a lifetime warranty with guitars where a sizable percentage was guaranteed to have finish failures after a few years. The finish problem was a double edge sword: First, it was a significant warranty liability that lingered, eroding the bottom line year after year. Second, the soiled reputation of “quality problems” that everybody seems to utter when the subject of Tacoma comes up, is a PR nightmare that erodes the demand and value of the brand over a long term, retarding sales.

 

[rockybass]

Just got this one off E-bay(Pic's are from seller). All the way from NH to HI, safely! Made in 1999 and the strings need to be replaced. I remember an older thread mentioning that TI flats work good with these. I hope I was understanding that these were the same Flats that are used on electric basses(JF344), yes? Also there was some links to someone who made those FeedBack buster inserts. If anyone can supply that info, thanks/mahalo in advance. And it is true, these have about the best tone I've heard for an ABG built like this.

 

[Philbiker]

Oh, the poor, poor, beleaguered Fender corporation. That's just awful, let's take up a donation for them...



They're ruthless, heartless bastards like the rest of them. The give a **** about NOTHING but the bottom line. Tacoma was in the way - they made better guitars and basses than Fender could, cheaper, and in America...they were in the way, so they crushed it. Just like Gibson would have. And all those innovations have now gone to waste while they produce the totally mediocre Victor Bailey model acoustic bass, which sounds like something out of 1992 (much as I love Victor Bailey, the bass is NOTHING like a Tacoma was).

Sincerely,
Cameron

Cameron, I'm not sure you understand the music business or what Fender is. In the 80s Fender was bought from the CBS corporation by enthusiasts who had passion for the brand and the brands in the Fender family.

Fender is not a branch of some giant conglomerate, they are a company that only makes musical gear for musicians. They would not spend the kind of money it took to buy Tacoma simply to shutter them. Yes, they are in business, which means they want to turn a profit. You apparently begrudge them that. I do not.

 

[4Mal]

Just got this one off E-bay(Pic's are from seller). All the way from NH to HI, safely! Made in 1999 and the strings need to be replaced. I remember an older thread mentioning that TI flats work good with these. I hope I was understanding that these were the same Flats that are used on electric basses(JF344), yes? Also there was some links to someone who made those FeedBack buster inserts. If anyone can supply that info, thanks/mahalo in advance. And it is true, these have about the best tone I've heard for an ABG built like this.

The Jazz flat's are nice for playing around hte house. They are not nice at all if you want to use the pickup. They don't provide enough downforce on the saddle so you get really bad string to string balance. The E on mine was near to non-existant. I replaced the E with one from a set of D'Addario Chromes - much stiffer and the E took over the A. the E from a set of Daddario half rounds was pretty close.

I scrapped that set in favor of LaBella nylon tapewounds which IMO - are the string for the Thunderchief.
I also added the feedback buster and scrapped the on board electronics in favor of a K&K Pure setup. Now I'm waiting for the 'mini-feedback buster' that will plug the hole where the pre came out.

The laddress to Pimental (for the feedback buster) is back up the thread a few posts ...

 

[dexplosion]

DR flats FTL.
They're way too tight, a little dull,
and not as loud as the TI Jazz flats.
I didn't care for them when they were on my P bass either.

It looks like I'll have to buy some LaBella tapewounds.

Any one use the Carvin tapewounds made by LaBella?
They're considerable cheaper.

 

[ldscott70]

So, someone help me understand. It seem to be unanimous that this is the best acoustic bass guitar you can buy for under 5 grand. Why would Fender buy the company and put them out of business. I started to learn bass about two years ago at age 38. CRAZY right, but I really want to be a upright jazz player. I bought a fender p-bass to get started. The next step was to buy a lined fretless acoustic, and maybe buy the time I'm 50 save enough money get a upright. Everything I read says grab a Thunder Chief. Then I find out Tocoma is pretty much out of business. I'm PISSED. Also I'm aiming way to high to say that I want to be a jazz bassist. That's what I dig.

 

[jallenbass]

So, someone help me understand. It seem to be unanimous that this is the best acoustic bass guitar you can buy for under 5 grand. Why would Fender buy the company and put them out of business. I started to learn bass about two years ago at age 38. CRAZY right, but I really want to be a upright jazz player. I bought a fender p-bass to get started. The next step was to buy a lined fretless acoustic, and maybe buy the time I'm 50 save enough money get a upright. Everything I read says grab a Thunder Chief. Then I find out Tocoma is pretty much out of business. I'm PISSED. Also I'm aiming way to high to say that I want to be a jazz bassist. That's what I dig.

Well, the good news is that the Thunderchief is not the only outstanding ABG in that price range. When I was shopping it came down to a Thunderchief and a Breedlove. I chose the Breedlove but I was splitting hairs trying to make that decision. Would have bought both if I had the money.

I agree with you though on the stupidity of discontinuing something that everyone seems to like. I'm sure that it makes sense to someone.

 

[blipndub]

I don't understand what you mean by thinking Fender bought Tacoma to shut them down. Maybe I missed it but I don't see evidence of that. FMIC is a huge corporation that gravitates towards monopoly just like any other business.

Anyway here's my now sold FMIC Tacoma

Link Removed

 

[gm2_in_co]

I don't understand what you mean by thinking Fender bought Tacoma to shut them down. Maybe I missed it but I don't see evidence of that. FMIC is a huge corporation that gravitates towards monopoly just like any other business.

Anyway here's my now sold FMIC Tacoma

Link Removed

Fender did in fact discontinue Tacoma production. The story I heard is that Fender bought them only for their wood reserves, not the designs.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Fender did in fact discontinue Tacoma production. The story I heard is that Fender bought them only for their wood reserves, not the designs.

Whatever. I've got mine!

 

[blipndub]

I guess I should have held on to mine! Collectible trash!

 

[mysteryclock]

Sad that Tacoma is now MIA!

Interesting comments about QC though - I have a CB10 that my wife bought me as a birthday present years ago (love you honey!!) that sounded great but had pretty high action out of the box. I took it to my local tech guy for a tune-up, and he commented that he didn't like how the nut was cut... far too high. When he went to remove it, the entire headstock snapped right off. Now this is a guy at the local pro shop here in Nashville (who has worked on everything and can fix anything) and he was just mortified that this happened. However, there was a happy ending: He got on the phone to the pre-Fender Tacoma folks who were just as shocked and promptly FedExed him a brand new neck which he installed and has been 100% stable ever since.

I may be in the middle of defenestrating most of my gear right now to give myself a mental kick in the *ss to get playing again, but I will NEVER sell that bass. Being from my wife, it is just too special. And it sounds great for an ABG too, within the limits of physics.

 

[dexplosion]

About a month has passed, and I'm still in love with my bass.

I've decided to keep the TI's on it for a while, and get to know the bass.
If I change them, I'll probably go with LaBella 760FL flats, or maybe some tapewounds.

About the quality, maybe I got lucky, but mine plays really well, and I could see no issues.
The truss rod was weird for me because I've never experienced one like that, but I think mine is fine. The headstock didn't break off, so I guess I'm good.