Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

The pickup from Scott's '21 NR cured mine, there's hope!

Maybe it needs Lulls.

 

[TBird1958]

If you want to borrow the '89 for a two week test drive just let me know.

 

[PhR75]

Not sure anyone brought him up yet, but Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick plays a 1967 Gibson Thunderbird all over the first album.



He eventually moved on to those 12 string basses.

He plays a reverse Thunderbird IV on the first album. '67 would be a non-reverse. Where did you get that info?

 

[PhR75]

Pickups, stings, pickup location or any /all of those just don't seem quite right on the VP. It is a good bass guitar, but I seem to be immune to its spell. It just doesn't have the bottom end the rest of 'em have. Heresy!

I like the sound of that bass (all three pickup combinations), it records well and there hasn't been a situation where it would have needed more low end from the bass itself.
I don't have the pickups too close to the strings either. It has more dynamics that way and the output doesn't push the preamp pedal I use to overdrive right away compared the as-close-to the-strings-as-possible -method.

That is only my experience, been playing it quite actively for the last 10 months or so.

 

[Stealth57]

I keep getting a message that I’ve been blocked every time I try to update the pickup measurement list. Not sure why, not even sure this message will post. The one time I’m not doing anything bad and I get put in time out, go figure.

edit: well that posted ok, so it must be some sql code or other issue with the pup spacing list.

Here is a PDF of all the measurements I collected.

Dropbox - Bass Dimensions.pdf - Simplify your life

 

[PillO]

If you want to borrow the '89 for a two week test drive just let me know.

Are those American weeks or Canadian weeks? Canadian weeks are a couple of years long...

 

[Hondapunk]

I don’t know, but I suspect that the LP and 335 don’t suffer from the floating pickup syndrome

Could neck through or set neck be the cause of different pickup placement?

 

[El Diablo Rojo]

Not sure anyone brought him up yet, but Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick plays a 1967 Gibson Thunderbird all over the first album.



He eventually moved on to those 12 string basses.

Not sure anyone brought him up yet, but Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick plays a 1967 Gibson Thunderbird all over the first album.



He eventually moved on to those 12 string basses.

Tom is a highly underrated bassist. I've seen CP live over a dozen times. First they opened for KISS.

 

[dagrev]

But as we've discussed, no one's said Gibson is going for a '60s tone with the current ones. Tone is all subjective.

All very true, and I completely agree. The point I am making, or trying to make, is that's it's something of a head-scratcher that The tone that made Thunderbirds Thunderbirds and put them on the sonic historical map is ignored. I know people like the sound of other versions, but no one I know who (or read of) has owned or spent time with a 60s version preferred, not just liked or enjoyed, but preferred the more modern iterations. Clearly there are no doubt some, but would seem to be the exception not the rule. That too is purely subjective, but there just seems to be a pattern that the 60s versions are more sought after for their tone, not just their vintage. No one is grabbing a new a Thunderbird and saying that it's got some magic, that once played is noticed and understood, but that is true of the 60s. And with the VPs nearing that sonic area (and are regularly out of stock), it's just curious to wonder why Gibson isn't even interested in trying to capture the sound that made Thunderbirds so beloved in the first place. (LPs have their versions, but they don't dare move the PU locations one little bit as far as I know, or change the pickups too far from what people have expected all these years.) It's a thinking process thing that I don't get. I know they haven't claimed to replicate the 60s versions, but I'm curious as to why they would not be interested in doing so. I'm fascinated by how people make decisions and this fits that fascination, that's all. That said, I've come to love my '06. It has its own sound which now works for me just fine, and plays every bit as well as the '64.

 

[dagrev]

I don’t know, but I suspect that the LP and 335 don’t suffer from the floating pickup syndrome

And for good reason.

 

[GonePlaid]

All very true, and I completely agree. The point I am making, or trying to make, is that's it's something of a head-scratcher that The tone that made Thunderbirds Thunderbirds and put them on the sonic historical map is ignored. I know people like the sound of other versions, but no one I know who (or read of) has owned or spent time with a 60s version preferred, not just liked or enjoyed, but preferred the more modern iterations. Clearly there are no doubt some, but would seem to be the exception not the rule. That too is purely subjective, but there just seems to be a pattern that the 60s versions are more sought after for their tone, not just their vintage. No one is grabbing a new a Thunderbird and saying that it's got some magic, that once played is noticed and understood, but that is true of the 60s. And with the VPs nearing that sonic area (and are regularly out of stock), it's just curious to wonder why Gibson isn't even interested in trying to capture the sound that made Thunderbirds so beloved in the first place. (LPs have their versions, but they don't dare move the PU locations one little bit as far as I know, or change the pickups too far from what people have expected all these years.) It's a thinking process thing that I don't get. I know they haven't claimed to replicate the 60s versions, but I'm curious as to why they would not be interested in doing so. I'm fascinated by how people make decisions and this fits that fascination, that's all. That said, I've come to love my '06. It has its own sound which now works for me just fine, and plays every bit as well as the '64.

I don't go after the angry piano tone, or anything else "iconic" about my 67 NR. I like the way it feels and the abundance of tones I can get with simple adjustments of the tone knob once I've set my amp's EQ to the room I'm in. And all that with flats and without using the 'superfluous' pup.
I'd like to get a 2021 NR so I could semi-retire the 67. Maybe 'one o' these days'. For now, due to having a chronic case of the Italian condition*, I'll just hafta muddle through playing this old thing:

This would look good hanging on me(I prolly wouldn't look any better, though)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
EDIT: It would need a new custom pickguard. Maybe this:
Link Removed
NOT!



*Mufunzalo

 

[GonePlaid]

Are those American weeks or Canadian weeks? Canadian weeks are a couple of years long...

Winter or summer weeks?

 

[WillyW]

I don't go after the angry piano tone, or anything else "iconic" about my 67 NR. I like the way it feels and the abundance of tones I can get with simple adjustments of the tone knob once I've set my amp's EQ to the room I'm in. And all that with flats and without using the 'superfluous' pup.
I'd like to get a 2021 NR so I could semi-retire the 67. Maybe 'one o' these days'. For now, due to having a chronic case of the Italian condition*, I'll just hafta muddle through playing this old thing:
View attachment 4729527
This would look good hanging on me(I prolly wouldn't look any better, though)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
EDIT: It would need a new custom pickguard. Maybe this:
Link Removed
NOT!



*Mufunzalo

friends don’t let friends tort…

besides I could only lend you the Inverness Green one…

and it has pyramid flats not princess flats….

 

[GonePlaid]

friends don’t let friends tort…

besides I could only lend you the Inverness Green one…

There was a green one at the nearest local GC. I wanted to try it out to see how it felt compared to my 'old one'. But it was hanging at the top of the wall and I wasn't gonna bust their chops to get it down knowing full well I wasn't gonna buy it. I guess I was being too nice to them, particularly 'cos they usually ignore me(olde phart)when I'm in there.

 

[GBassNorth]

I don't go after the angry piano tone, or anything else "iconic" about my 67 NR. I like the way it feels and the abundance of tones I can get with simple adjustments of the tone knob once I've set my amp's EQ to the room I'm in. And all that with flats and without using the 'superfluous' pup.
I'd like to get a 2021 NR so I could semi-retire the 67. Maybe 'one o' these days'….
EDIT: It would need a new custom pickguard. Maybe this:
Link Removed

So that’s what a bleeding ulcer looks like!

 

[GonePlaid]

So that’s what a bleeding ulcer looks like!

I wouldn't think of actually doing that to a TBird. It was just the least attractive thing I saw to put on a Sparkling Burgundy bass.

 

[WillyW]

There was a green one at the nearest local GC. I wanted to try it out to see how it felt compared to my 'old one'. But it was hanging at the top of the wall and I wasn't gonna bust their chops to get it down knowing full well I wasn't gonna buy it. I guess I was being too nice to them, particularly 'cos they usually ignore me(olde phart)when I'm in there.

prior to owning my 2 NR’s my only bird experience was my reverse CP epimophoam, and reverse greeko tb-70.

I liked them enough that I was hooked on boids, I only bought the NR because with gibstone if you don’t buy when they are available, you miss out and/or pay more later. I didn’t expect to prefer the NR over the reverse as much as I do.

How they compare to your 67, I’ll likely never know. Unless I can trade you about 14 base geetars and some pocket lint for it…

 

[TBird1958]

Are those American weeks or Canadian weeks? Canadian weeks are a couple of years long...

You Canadians and that metric system of yours!

 

[Border]

Good evening Thunderbird loving sisters and brothers, and happy almost Friday. Thought I might post a picture from the Bloomsday gig. I was extremely happy with the sound and feel of my NR Thunderbird. I ran a line to the board, but also one to my little Ashdown head and 2X10 cab. It was soon up to 10 and sounded absolutely great.
On a different note, I found a sack of strings I bought years ago in NYC and had misplaced. Any thoughts on using strings that are least 10 years old but were never opened?
I hope everyone has a great evening and a great weekend.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

All three of these sound like....
View attachment 4728859

...butter?