Thunderbird Club

[BklynKen]

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All the basses went well with this shirt, but this one could be a twin sibling. Alas, it remained at Queen V’s castle rather than following me.

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Rick, it turns out, is not a Rick buff, but a Thundernerd like us!

Sharon should have a group photo from the restaurant; I’ll see about getting one of those up.

No one's mentioned the trains!

 

[dagrev]

I'm insane too I bought two of those '90's SS B-15T's years ago and use them both with the 100 watt Solid State heads or just with an SVT head (sound great with it) and always thought of buying 2 more to have four 15's. They used to be really cheap, but that's gone by.

I don't think I've seen one of those 15s before. Looks great. Did they come with EVs in them?

 

[dagrev]

sporting Boomers thanks to you..

Glad you are putting them good use. I had them on '05 P for a couple years. Was a nice match. But it's got LaBella Low Tension Flats on it now. That's a great match as well.

 

[dagrev]

Some nice day I will convert all those measurements into metric...of course if somebody has done it already...

It would take we way too long, so you're on your own! We didn't make the switch to metric as we were told in schools during the early 70s. I'm fine either way. I just guess anyway.... I think of it as measurement Jazz.

 

[Gaolee]

No one's mentioned the trains!

They are awesome. Yep, we saw a few and a closet full that were in storage. Our Queen does nothing halfway.

 

[dagrev]

​

Did you post a pic Geoff? Nothing here.

 

[dagrev]

If I was thorough the measurements should look like this in modern...I mean metric system:

Measurement from 12th fret to the Centerline of each pickup:


1990 Greco IV 27.62 cm and 35.88 cm (note 33.5” scale)
Gibson 2013 Tbird 26.04 cm and 37.15 cm
BaCH II 26.99 cm
1977 Greco II 27.94 cm (note 33.5” scale)
Epiphone VP 27.94 cm and 37.78 cm
Epiphone Goth 27.31 cm and 37.15 cm
Gibson 1964 Tbird 27.62 cm and 36.51 cm
Gibson 2015 Tbird 26.04 cm and 36.83 cm
Spector Rex5 Pro 31.43 cm and 39.05 cm (note 35” scale)
2019 Epiphone CP 26.04 cm and 36.83 cm
1988 Greco TB-70 27.62 cm and 36.51 cm
1960’s Gibson NR IV 27.15 cm and 36.04 cm

Nicely done!

 

[WillyW]

OUT FOR DELIVERY!!!!

I would measure the distance from the 12th fret to the pickup, but I ain't got no frets.

measure base to tip right?

 

[MCF]

We were there before dinner and Will was there after dinner, in case anyone wonders.

I made the mistake of playing the 64 first. It really is magical, with my favorite neck ever, and tone to die for. The Greco was next, and it’s a strong second for me. Plus, it’s LOUD. Play it through a 300W tube amp and the Greco will try to push it to 450W. The NR neck doesn’t do it for me, but I do like the sound of those pickups. The Queen knows her stuff; there wasn’t a bad one in the bunch.

I like my VP a lot better since finally getting something under the pickups so they’re closer to the strings, but it still doesn’t quite have the thunder. Keeping mine for now, but definitely going to have to talk with Sharon about investing in an early bird. Yeep.

Thanks for coordinating that, Veronica!

That’s why you made sure Sharon was with you. So she could understand the magic. Good luck persuading her…

I can’t wait for the July meet up! Meeting everyone will be awesome. I’m taking the ‘15, the ‘21 NR and the ‘11 Short Scale. And if anyone is interested, the Mesa TT 800 head.

 

[Gaolee]

That’s why you made sure Sharon was with you. So she could understand the magic. Good luck persuading her…

I can’t wait for the July meet up! Meeting everyone will be awesome. I’m taking the ‘15, the ‘21 NR and the ‘11 Short Scale. And if anyone is interested, the Mesa TT 800 head.

If I can make it, the plan is to drive down with the Flamingo, maybe the EB-2, and an Acoustic 360 stack. It's looking iffier and iffier at the moment. Client chaos.

 

[icefly]

This is why I like GHS Boomers on VPs. They kind of bring some of the depth back that can be lacking. Not only are the closest in tone, they are great basses. Worth way more than what they sell for.

Seems good strings; maybe on my next purchase, give them a chance.

From GHS have already used Balanced Nickels and Precisison Flats.
Really loved Precision Flats; Balanced Nickels, digged but my thought is: they don´t have nothing special than other rounds I´ve tried, seemed similar to others brands.

 

[dagrev]

Seems good strings; maybe on my next purchase, give them a chance.

From GHS have already used Balanced Nickels and Precisison Flats.
Really loved Precision Flats; Balanced Nickels, digged but my thought is: they don´t have nothing special than other rounds I´ve tried, seemed similar to others brands.

The Round Core Boomers are nice as well for a little less highs and a bit more smoothness and maybe a slightly bigger sound. A little more flexible as well. I'm like you on the Balanced Nickels. Nothing wrong with them, but nothing great about them either. The Precision Flats are great. I have them on a couple basses. Try the Pressurewounds sometime. More round than flats, but have unique mids. Stay away from the Brite Flats--from what I hear.

 

[Stealth57]

If I can make it, the plan is to drive down with the Flamingo, maybe the EB-2, and an Acoustic 360 stack. It's looking iffier and iffier at the moment. Client chaos.

To quote an old boss of mine right after a VC offered to buy the company, "now I won't have to listen to customers." Needless to say, that didn't work out well, but, hey, meet up, customers, meet up, customers, your call.

 

[icefly]

The Vintage Pro gets you closest to a '60s Thunderbird, I think Epiphone calls it a " '60s Thunderbird". Nothing else is like a '70s Bird.

If you take a Vintage Pro or '60s or whatever new name it has in the future and swap the pickups for Lulls or Thunderbuckers, that would do it.

I am still very happy with post-1988 reissue Thunderbirds. Veronica's '64 is the holy grail in a lot of ways, but the new ones feel very similar. With the right pickups, they sound similar as well.

The '64 is incredibly light. The Flamingo is a tank by comparison. Everything is.

Swap in the right pickups into any Thunderbird you choose and you can get pretty close to the same sound. Others may disagree. I am not sentimental at all.

^^^ This.

The Probuckers in the above VP and 60s Epis have something of that special mid thing going on. (But part of why they sound good is because the PUPs are close to the original/correct locations.) The original '60s sound bigger and thicker. VPs/60 Epis don't have the depth of the originals. This is why I like GHS Boomers on VPs. They kind of bring some of the depth back that can be lacking. Not only are the closest in tone, they are great basses. Worth way more than what they sell for.

So, next target aimmed: one Epiphone VP TBird.
And tips bookmarked, will never loose them anymore.

 

[Stealth57]

So, next target aimmed: one Epiphone VP TBird.
And tips bookmarked, will never loose them anymore.

Not if I buy it first

 

[MCF]

If I can make it, the plan is to drive down with the Flamingo, maybe the EB-2, and an Acoustic 360 stack. It's looking iffier and iffier at the moment. Client chaos.

I’d love to hear the 360!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

That’s why you made sure Sharon was with you. So she could understand the magic. Good luck persuading her…

I can’t wait for the July meet up! Meeting everyone will be awesome. I’m taking the ‘15, the ‘21 NR and the ‘11 Short Scale. And if anyone is interested, the Mesa TT 800 head.

LOL….Guess at this point it be a good time to ask about a headcount…..who’s all coming up/dn?
food preference? Mexican ok?
was thinking this place outdoors?
jardinesrestaurant

RSVP pls…..

 

[TBird1958]

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Nice, Mark! Can I give you a club number?

 

[MCF]

LOL….Guess at this point it be a good time to ask about a headcount…..who’s all coming up/dn?
food preference? Mexican ok?
was thinking this place outdoors?
jardinesrestaurant

RSVP pls…..

Looks good! And they serve Negra Modelo! My favorite Mexican Beer.

 

[Stealth57]

LOL….Guess at this point it be a good time to ask about a headcount…..who’s all coming up/dn?
food preference? Mexican ok?
was thinking this place outdoors?
jardinesrestaurant

RSVP pls…..

As long as they have Negra Modelo or Bohemia, I'm in