Thunderbird Club

[BklynKen]

Some fun folks pics from our Seattle Thunderbird Club GTG.

Mr. Miles ONeal and his lovely wife, Sharon.

My husband, Frank on the left and Rick Wilson of Moonshine Guitars.

Here's Will (Gaolee) pontificating on the fine points of the Fremont Troll.

Wonderful! Was this part of the official GTG? I forgot when that was.

 

[TBird1958]

It was a planned GTG as Miles and his wife are travelling up the west coast, I had hoped Will could make it - he keeps a very busy work schedule aside from his home life - IRL he's a character! Rick was the wild card as he sent me a message on FB yesterday morning out of the clear blue, he was visiting family south of Seattle and asked if he could visit and see my Thunderbirds, pure coincidence. I think Sharon took some shots of Miles earlier......

Will and the Flamingo.

We did a little comparison between my '89 and Will's Lull pickups vs. EY Guitars...... Ear opening.

Will and my Lull.

Rick and I

Will and Rick

64 and I.....After 3 Manhattans

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

from last night….man that place was packed!…..don’t like taking my Birds there……clearly this lineup never practices……

 

[Blazer]

Last week, we lost the genius that was Henny Vrienten and I had been a lifelong fan of his music.

So in tribute I wrote this song in the style of his band Doe Maar, I initially wanted to write lyrics for it, but it simply didn't come out that way. So I decided instead to make it an instrumental in the style of Doe Maar songs such as "Bella Donna", "Winnetoe" and "De Vrolijke Padvinder"

"Vlindertuin" translates into "Butterfly garden" and I chose that title because of Vrienten mentioning the fact that he loved the butterflies in the garden of his private home in one of the very last interviews he did.

As usual, I played everything myself here.

 

[JIO]

It was a planned GTG as Miles and his wife are travelling up the west coast, I had hoped Will could make it - he keeps a very busy work schedule aside from his home life - IRL he's a character! Rick was the wild card as he sent me a message on FB yesterday morning out of the clear blue, he was visiting family south of Seattle and asked if he could visit and see my Thunderbirds, pure coincidence. I think Sharon took some shots of Miles earlier......

Will and the Flamingo.

We did a little comparison between my '89 and Will's Lull pickups vs. EY Guitars...... Ear opening.

Will and my Lull.

Rick and I

Will and Rick

64 and I.....After 3 Manhattans

awesome!

 

[JJR58]

It was a planned GTG as Miles and his wife are travelling up the west coast, I had hoped Will could make it - he keeps a very busy work schedule aside from his home life - IRL he's a character! Rick was the wild card as he sent me a message on FB yesterday morning out of the clear blue, he was visiting family south of Seattle and asked if he could visit and see my Thunderbirds, pure coincidence. I think Sharon took some shots of Miles earlier......

Will and the Flamingo.

We did a little comparison between my '89 and Will's Lull pickups vs. EY Guitars...... Ear opening.

Will and my Lull.

Rick and I

Will and Rick

64 and I.....After 3 Manhattans

Love these!!!

 

[TBird1958]

And the Troll..........

 

[JIO]

Attended a great show last night here in SF. Friend & ex-Bong Girl lead guitarist Andy had comp tix for RAIN - A Beatles Tribute. He knows the head production manager (also named Andy) for the touring show, which wrapped up its 3 month/6 nights a week run last night. Basically a live concert of Beatles songs with cool stage media, period costumes (like the cool satin Sgt Peppers kit) and of course period specific guitars/basses. The "pre-fab" four didn't look so much like the Beatles, although the Paul guy (would he be considered a "Faul" ) looked more like Paul. All crazy talented players/singers - they nailed every era and song. Aside from the obvious nostalgia angle (packed theater - average age 50's-60's) what I came away from it with is that I attended a live concert of "the Beatles" with great sound quality and performances - like, that didn't happen in real life! (poor stadium sound-screaming girls)

The Paul character played left handed bass (a couple different Hofner's and the Paul painted Ric) and when he did a solo Yesterday - he played a right handed acoustic guitar. (!) We asked P Andy what was going on and he said he is a right-handed guitarist (wait for it...) who learned to play left handed bass for the gig!!! As anyone who has studied PM's bass-lines knows, they are not 'easy'. PM is like a lead-player, always melodically outlining the song while establishing the needed root notes - more like a jazz bassist. On top of that, the Paul guy had the PM body-language and great singing chops to complete the picture. They were all good - but he really stood out for me. In that way he was like the real Paul as he really stood out as a performer, more than the rest IMHO. (guitarists would probably debate that...)

This is from a 2019 RAIN tour - pretty much the show I attended all the way around -


(not sure where Part 2 is...

 

[GBassNorth]

It was a planned GTG as Miles and his wife are travelling up the west coast, I had hoped Will could make it - he keeps a very busy work schedule aside from his home life - IRL he's a character! Rick was the wild card as he sent me a message on FB yesterday morning out of the clear blue, he was visiting family south of Seattle and asked if he could visit and see my Thunderbirds, pure coincidence. I think Sharon took some shots of Miles earlier......

Will and the Flamingo.

We did a little comparison between my '89 and Will's Lull pickups vs. EY Guitars...... Ear opening.

Will and my Lull.

Rick and I

Will and Rick

64 and I.....After 3 Manhattans

Great pics, looks like everyone had a great time!
So, what’s the detailed conclusion on Lull vs Chinabuckers?
As you’re aware, I put EYs in my BlingBird as place holders until I decided what the best long term option would be. To me, they sound good, not quite as good as ProBuckers but similar, a bit brighter than standard modern Gibson pups, not as much oomph and bottom end as Goth pickups, not nearly as good as Greco pickups on the bottom or top end.

 

[WillyW]

Great pics, looks like everyone had a great time!
So, what’s the detailed conclusion on Lull vs Chinabuckers?
As you’re aware, I put EYs in my BlingBird as place holders until I decided what the best long term option would be. To me, they sound good, not quite as good as ProBuckers but similar, a bit brighter than standard modern Gibson pups, not as much oomph and bottom end as Goth pickups, not nearly as good as Greco pickups on the bottom or top end.

I’d be interested in the conclusion as well, although I already scavenged the bridge pickup from a 21 NR for the DC Bird.

 

[TBird1958]

Great pics, looks like everyone had a great time!
So, what’s the detailed conclusion on Lull vs Chinabuckers?
As you’re aware, I put EYs in my BlingBird as place holders until I decided what the best long term option would be. To me, they sound good, not quite as good as ProBuckers but similar, a bit brighter than standard modern Gibson pups, not as much oomph and bottom end as Goth pickups, not nearly as good as Greco pickups on the bottom or top end.

I have to tread carefully here as I don't wish to violate the CUP ( I am an endorsing artist for Lull), I have a set of EY's in my Orville currently, when I compared them to my '89 or when my VP was stock there simply was simply no doubt as to which sounded better, there's just a lot more going on, especially in the lower frequencies, bass and low mids - much more presence.

 

[GBassNorth]

I have to tread carefully here as I don't wish to violate the CUP ( I am an endorsing artist for Lull), I have a set of EY's in my Orville currently, when I compared them to my '89 or when my VP was stock there simply was simply no doubt as to which sounded better, there's just a lot more going on, especially in the lower frequencies, bass and low mids - much more presence.

That fits with what I’m hearing as well. EYs - Good, but not great.

 

[WillyW]

What’s an EY?

 

[TBird1958]

What’s an EY?

These here.

Thunderbird Bass Pickup Set w/Rings and Screws | eBay

 

[GBassNorth]

Question for the TB experts in the club - are the Eppi Tbird Goth pups the exact same as the Eppi Tbird IV pups?
Does anyone know the resistance rating on the Eppi Tbird IV pups?

 

[GBassNorth]

What’s an EY?

Chinabucker

 

[WillyW]

These here.

Thunderbird Bass Pickup Set w/Rings and Screws | eBay

Chinabucker

but what’s an EY precious?

 

[dagrev]

Less clarity using my "default" amp settings. I like my Rumble amps for ease of movement, tone, etc., but the top rear mounted controls are a real PITA to adjust during a gig w/o creating a lotta 'dead air'. I set myself up the best I could b4 we started, but I wasn't happy with the sound I put out.
I s'pose I'll sell(?)or hold on to the SITs in case the strings on my Epi EB-0 take a .

Some flats end up more rough than others, even from the same manufacturer. I have a set of Pyramids that has some roughness to them and my last set really smooth. Rotos and my experience with LaBella DTFs you cold feel the windings more than I would prefer for flats. Fender's are really smooth, as are GHS Precision flats. You've been playing way longer than I and I'm sure this isn't news. If you think they are too rough, you might talk to the seller or even SIT. Might get a replacement set in a lower gauge if wanted or your money back from the seller.

Let me see what I have, and if there's anything you're interested in and want to trade for we can talk about it. I know I have a barely used (like tried on bass and took off after a time or two), set of Fender's in a lighter gauge--if they will be long enough for a NR. Just a thought.

 

[dagrev]

Some fun folks pics from our Seattle Thunderbird Club GTG.

Mr. Miles ONeal and his lovely wife, Sharon.

My husband, Frank on the left and Rick Wilson of Moonshine Guitars.

That guy in the first pic has been rumored to talk people out of their Thunderbirds. His pleasant smile and kind demeanor has fooled many before!

 

[dagrev]

Here's Will (Gaolee) pontificating on the fine points of the Fremont Troll.

Did you just tell Will you were giving him the '64? Or any Thunderbird for that matter?

Great pics of all. One person is missing....