Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

sure, it plays to spec (serviced it myself about a year ago) but this has recently become available ….…
real question is; do i really need another amp…
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Do you need another amp? You are asking us?

 

[Gaolee]

noob alert.

I have had 0 interest in a T-bird bass. The closest I've come is that I own a Reverend Thundergun with a reverse headstock. But it's not a T-bird.

I saw a video linked in a thread on another site:
Elle Macho - "Bombs" - Lake Fever Sessions - YouTube

And as I watched and then heard the bass (and the singing and the song) I started to think I *might* need a T-bird in my life? Those of you who own them, though this sound in the video has some sort of OD or distortion on it, is that pretty true to form for a T-bird's sound?

And then I saw another video by the same band and was so taken by an image, that I screen capped it, and made it my wallpaper on my computer. Which also led me to ask myself, "Do I need a T-bird now?"

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I mean, how badass is that??

Sounds like a Thunderbird may be choosing you. If you are chosen by a Thunderbird, you play Thunderbirds. If not, they will misbehave if you try to play one. Only the Thunderbird will let you know the answer.

 

[bobyoung53]

i think there may be a 16th note right before the triplet the guy’s not playing…..wasn’t the original recorded with a pick?..

I used to think he used a pick but supposedly he never uses one, forgot where I read that. He used a 65 Jazz bass on the first three albums with a P bass pickup up against the neck, he had a 1960 J with the same configuration that got stolen.

Jack Casady talks about his mid-sixties modified Fender Jazz basses >> FlyGuitars

 

[bobyoung53]

I have played a few Jefferson Airplane songs over the years, including that one. I typically try to get the feel but don't stick to complete accuracy on whatever the original notes were. It's laziness and lack of talent on my part, primarily.

Well you also know Jack never played the same song the same way anyway. I've played them and just try to cop the essence and the sound unless the line is in integral part of the song.

 

[Gaolee]

Brilliant, sir! I will need to get my hands on one to try it out. I think her bass is perfect for that band, but the band I'll be in in the near future is more of an indie thing and less on the rock (possibly). But I really loved the music and sound of her bass and would love to be in a situation like that.

Appreciate you spelling out the differences for me. There are so many variations out there, don't even know where to start. But a local acquaintance plays T-birds, I may reach out to pick his brain.

There are a couple other variants. A bicentennial made in the '70s will have sidewinder pickups that have yet another flavor and then the one year old 2015 Thunderbirds have DeCola pickups that have magnets that can lift a Volkswagen. They are also coil tapped. They have even more range than other Thunderbirds. And then there are aftermarket pickups, strings, and whether to keep the hardware and pickup covers black or go chrome. And finally refinishing.

Thunderbirds work for anything a bass guitar works for. But don't tell anyone. It is our secret.

 

[Count Bassie]

There are a couple other variants. A bicentennial made in the '70s will have sidewinder pickups that have yet another flavor and then the one year old 2015 Thunderbirds have DeCola pickups that have magnets that can lift a Volkswagen. They are also coil tapped. They have even more range than other Thunderbirds. And then there are aftermarket pickups, strings, and whether to keep the hardware and pickup covers black or go chrome. And finally refinishing.
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THAT is a thing of sublime beauty. A beauty, I say.

 

[bobyoung53]

I know that many years ago, Traynors were available many places in the US, especially border states. I don't think that is still the case. Some time around the 90s, I think Traynor went out of style and the distributor(s) stopped carrying them.

There are a lot of old Traynors in Mass. The first one I ever saw was a tube bass head with a 410 cab. Probably a YBA-1 or whatever they were. We thought it was huge, probably 1967-68.

 

[Gaolee]

I'd say it's worth your time to try and seek one out (Not easy in Seattle, I know), the bass in the video is a post 1988 Gibson, you would also get there with an Epiphone Classic Pro Thunderbird. It's essentially the same as a Gibson. They're not everyone's bass by any means, but, as has happened here on the thread many times, players have come here and stated that they were beyond impressed with a Bird after letting go of their preconceptions.

It could probably be arranged in Seattle. Just not in a shop. And probably not one that is for sale.

 

[Gaolee]

THAT is a thing of sublime beauty. A beauty, I say.

It has its issues up close, but audiences never see it up close.

 

[Count Bassie]

It has its issues up close, but audiences never see it up close.

The effect was achieved.

 

[Blazer]

Picture Scott Reeder of Kyuss and you'll likely see him play either a Rickenbacker of an Ibanez ATK bass.

But if we look at this footage shot for Italian TV, he apparently used a Thunderbird too in those days, it can be seen next to Brant's drums, serving as a Back up.

I can't find any pictures or footage of him using that T-bird but I'm pretty sure he'd play it his usual way: Upside down and backwards.

 

[bobyoung53]

I loved that tune as a kid. I guess I still do, and she does it justice.

Even with the sound off . I just got a 1973 live double Beach Boy LP shipped here to Lima, cost 27 bucks to ship and I paid about 5 bucks for the album (unplayed). REALLY good album, was the Ricky Fataar/Blondie Chaplin era. That's not on it though I'm surprised because it has other stuff from that era and Carl is singing great.

 

[RedVee]

sure, it plays to spec (serviced it myself about a year ago) but this has recently become available ….…
real question is; do i really need another amp…
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hahaha

Selling a cab, just waiting for bread... And I'm talking to a cat about an Epi Vintage Pro. More as this story develops...

interesting… so the CP for one project and the VP for another ?

 

[bobyoung53]

sure, it plays to spec (serviced it myself about a year ago) but this has recently become available ….…
real question is; do i really need another amp…
View attachment 4626260View attachment 4626261

Why yes, yes you do .

 

[bobyoung53]

I picked up a used Pioneer receiver for my son a few years ago. I’m not recalling which one. May have been a 636? I’ll have to check when I’m home.

I have an old Pioneer receiver at home 15 WPC, SX-450. It still works well and sounds good, my sister bought it new during the 70's. I also have a late 70's Pioneer rack system here in Lima thanks to my brother-in-law, pretty stuff, all silver, sounds very good still too.

 

[dagrev]

70’s bird? hard to tell…crunchy..

Looks like it. Looked maybe like an Ashdown tube head in one shot, them I wan't sure. I did see a Fender head, guitar it seems. Maybe an Ashdown combo.

 

[bobyoung53]

New Riders....

I opened for them during the early 80's in Worcester Mass.

 

[Count Bassie]

hahaha



interesting… so the CP for one project and the VP for another ?

Well, you know. Flavors.
I've recently gotten re-acquainted with the original Mountain trio, and a while back learned that Felix, the bass player laid down their album tracks with an old Gibson Thunderbird-II bass. TEETH!! AND I really dig that sound they got. The Vintage Pro is said to get into that neighborhood by default, so I'd like to bring that to the "Stoner-Doom" prog project.
That's my excuse, okay??

 

[bobyoung53]

Well, you know. Flavors.
I've recently gotten re-acquainted with the original Mountain trio, and a while back learned that Felix, the bass player laid down their album tracks with an old Gibson Thunderbird-II bass. TEETH!! AND I really dig that sound they got. The Vintage Pro is said to get into that neighborhood by default, so I'd like to bring that to the "Stoner-Doom" prog project.
That's my excuse, okay??

I saw Mountain 3 piece twice in Worcester, Mass.
I grew up not far from you, Millbury Mass, we used to drive to Smithfield during the early 70's when the drinking age was still 21 in Mass while it was 18 in RI.

 

[dagrev]

I have an old Pioneer receiver at home 15-20 WPC, maybe SX-450? It still works well and sounds good, my sister bought it new during the 70's. I also have a late 70's Pioneer rack system here in Lima thanks to my brother-in-law, pretty stuff, all silver, sounds very good still too.

I think mine was a 550, but 450 is possible. Sure listened to a lot of tunes through that thing and wasted a lot of my youth with it. Literally.