Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

I did indeed. I'm sure I'll love it.

I've never played a NR. Did you have any trouble adjusting to the ergos? In some ways it doesn't seem all that different from a reverse, but then again...it is different. A reverse feels completely normal. Like they were made for me. A NR? I'll adjust. A Ric was the only think I never got used to playing.

I switch back and forth regularly. One thing I’ve taken to doing when I’m trying to learn a song is to change up basses so it feels natural no matter what I pick up. I’m pretty sure you’ll love it.

 

[MCF]

Good, that won't be a problem. It will feel like a Jazz compared to the '55 and the '64 Pbasses. The '64 is wide but shallow. Not my fav, but not a problem.

The neck is very comfortable.

 

[MCF]

The ergos on my NR are different than the reverse but not uncomfortable or awkward feeling, just different. It might just be me but first position on my NR feels a bit longer in reach than my regular birds. Might be because I’m normally playing seated and the lower body cutout that rests on my right thigh could potentially be further back towards the bridge, but I never measured to confirm it because it’s really not an issue.

I remain 2021 NR curious and still on the fence on getting one, but your honest playing opinion and direct comparison to one of your VP’s would really help me make up my mind.

I’m planning to take mine up to the meet up at Chucky’s unless someone else will be bringing a ‘21.

 

[dagrev]

I remember reading the specs on the pickups when these were just talk. But I can't find anything now. Anyone have anything on them? Gibson has that very helpful and descriptive "lead" and "rhythm" nonsense.

 

[PillO]

I switch back and forth regularly.

Ahem.

 

[MCF]

I remember reading the specs on the pickups when these were just talk. But I can't find anything now. Anyone have anything on them? Gibson has that very helpful and descriptive "lead" and "rhythm" nonsense.

Here’s a review from a familiar guy. He thinks they’re Alnico pickups. I don’t recall if he was able to confirm that. Early press releases said they were ceramic. They sound a lot different than the modern Thunderbird pickups. I really like them.

 

[BklynKen]

Saw Chris Brokaw tonight. Nice NR Firebird.

 

[GBassNorth]

Accurate description of what happened. But I'm happy with all the gentle shoving.
Looks like it will be here Saturday! Should be able to get it in action Sunday.

Fingers crossed that your bass makes if you your house safe and sound and on time. Also, really serious about hearing your opinions on how it stacks up to your best VP.

I’m planning to take mine up to the meet up at Chucky’s unless someone else will be bringing a ‘21.

Hoping I can make it to the GTG but my home sale and prep for sale is looking more and more like a schedule conflict.

 

[dagrev]

Here’s a review from a familiar guy. He thinks they’re Alnico pickups. I don’t recall if he was able to confirm that. Early press releases said they were ceramic. They sound a lot different than the modern Thunderbird pickups. I really like them.

Thanks Marshall. I know some people automatically believe ceramic PUs don't/can't sound good because that's not what was used early on. My EB SR 5er had ceramics and sounded better to me than my regular SR that was alnico. G&Ls are ceramic and sound great. Not to mention I've heard (owned) plenty PUs that were alnico that didn't sound good. So for me, that's not as important as how they end up sounding.

 

[dagrev]

Fingers crossed that your bass makes if you your house safe and sound and on time. Also, really serious about hearing your opinions on how it stacks up to your best VP.

It's arriving UPS not Fedmess, so I'm more confident.
Will do. The shop put new D'Ad steels on it because he said the Gibson strings sound uninteresting to him. I don't have a VP that can directly compare or do (poor) sound clips, but I'll see what I can eventually do as far a clips go. One VP has 66s, so that might be kind of close. The White VP has Boomers (NPS). Verbal comparison can be sooner than that.

 

[MCF]

Fingers crossed that your bass makes if you your house safe and sound and on time. Also, really serious about hearing your opinions on how it stacks up to your best VP.


Hoping I can make it to the GTG but my home sale and prep for sale is looking more and more like a schedule conflict.

You’re not moving to Kentucky are you?

 

[TBird1958]

I’m planning to take mine up to the meet up at Chucky’s unless someone else will be bringing a ‘21.

Bring yours, then I won't haul mine and can bring "other" Thunderbirds to Chucky's.

 

[GBassNorth]

It's arriving UPS not Fedmess, so I'm more confident.
Will do. The shop put new D'Ad steels on it because he said the Gibson strings sound uninteresting to him. I don't have a VP that can directly compare or do (poor) sound clips, but I'll see what I can eventually do as far a clips go. One VP has 66s, so that might be kind of close. The White VP has Boomers (NPS). Verbal comparison can be sooner than that.

Verbal is fine with me. My Greco has boomers and the VP with the same strings would be in the same ballpark. So I’d be very interested to hear your opinion on the NR vs the White VP. Thx in advance.

 

[D.M.N.]

Weird day, I watched the first bar I could legally drink in, the first bar I snuck into to play cover sets when I was 16, burn to the ground. The oldest block of buildings in the town totally went up in smoke. At first I didn’t think I’d be that upset, but the more I thought about it, the more important I realized it was when i started playing. It was there last night and gone my 11am this morning.

 

[GBassNorth]

You’re not moving to Kentucky are you?

We’ve narrowed it down to South Carolina (most likely Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach areas) or possibly the Florida pan handle area. KY is a beautiful state with lots to offer but not as retirement friendly as we’d like.

 

[MCF]

Weird day, I watched the first bar I could legally drink in, the first bar I snuck into to play cover sets when I was 16, burn to the ground. The oldest block of buildings in the town totally went up in smoke. At first I didn’t think I’d be that upset, but the more I thought about it, the more important I realized it was when i started playing. It was there last night and gone my 11am this morning.

Sorry to here that. What bar was it?

 

[TBird1958]

Weird day, I watched the first bar I could legally drink in, the first bar I snuck into to play cover sets when I was 16, burn to the ground. The oldest block of buildings in the town totally went up in smoke. At first I didn’t think I’d be that upset, but the more I thought about it, the more important I realized it was when i started playing. It was there last night and gone my 11am this morning.

Wow, I hadn't seen that Dylan. Kind of makes you thankful for what you did get to do - man's work can be fleeting.

The bar we shot this Vid at in Pt. Angeles, Wa burned late last year.

 

[PhR75]

thought Lake had migrated to Gibson by Brain Salad Surgery?
can’t remember the Bruford lineup, he had done a drum clinic in Miami and then played with Berlin the next evening…. they played a bunch of stuff from this…… made want to learn Joe Frazier…
View attachment 4649964

Yes, the Ripper came circa "Brain Salad Surgery". He also had a brief fling with a Rickenbacker 4001 around '72, it was modded with a Jazz bridge pickup and even that was moved towards the bridge a bit. Not much photos of that around.
I'm not a big fan of Greg's bass sound (it was a bit sterile and hi-fi but that was what he wanted) but he was a very articulate and precise in his playing. Take "21st Century Schizoid Man" for example. Applies to the whole band of course.

Bruford line-up you saw most likely had "The Unknown" John Clarke on guitar who had the unfortunate task to replace Allan Holdsworth and Dave Stewart on keys who was the mainstay (as was Berlin). I wonder if they ever considered Ollie Halsall on guitar after Allan quit? Maybe they thought he was too crazy and more from the rocky side of things but did he could play. Holdsworth said that Halsall was one of his influences especially for the legato stuff. Patto anyone? If not familiar, try "Hold Your Fire". Great band.

 

[D.M.N.]

Sorry to here that. What bar was it?

Wow, I hadn't seen that Dylan. Kind of makes you thankful for what you did get to do - man's work can be fleeting.

The bar we shot this Vid at in Pt. Angeles, Wa burned late last year.

It was Herb's Tavern. Total dive but the main bar in the town. I cut my teeth playing four 45 minute sets every Friday and Saturday night during the summer.

This is the unedited footage. Herb's was on the upper corner, you can see the old sign, before the walls fell in.

 

[bobyoung53]

Wow, I hadn't seen that Dylan. Kind of makes you thankful for what you did get to do - man's work can be fleeting.

The bar we shot this Vid at in Pt. Angeles, Wa burned late last year.

Nice playing and sound, love that pick action.