Thunderbird Club

[Count Bassie]

The "Brooklyn Ken Signature Thunderbird" does have a great sound to it. Start listing the specs of your ideal bass and maybe Gibson will think of it themselves and make it happen!

I'm sure you're somewhat used to it, but I do feel for you given the paucity of great lefty basses. I'm left-handed as well, but glad I didn't start playing that way.

Weird thought: Wonder if any right-handers play left-handed? I'm sure there has been in all of human history.

I wanted to play that way, I'm a righty. There were few instruments, and the one I got was a cheap Memphis P-bass copy, attractive to the parental unit... But I always thought I should have played with my rh on the fretboard...

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I have heard of bands using various tracks or even unseen players live. Even heard some artists slamming the practice from groups they knew of doing it.

I think what Rush (Geddy) does is acceptable in that it just triggers parts he played on the record. Not a small feat given their music. Nor is he trying to hide what he's doing and he's doing it as apposed to some roadie back stage. He's being honest about it, and is just playing his own parts. I've heard him say they tried to record on records what he and they could figure out a way to duplicate live. (There were some exceptions.) I certainly appreciate that. As opposed to, "who's playing the guitar or keyboard that's not on stage." It's entertainment, but I prefer it to be honestly done, even if it's not going to sound like the 25 guitar or vocal tracks as on an album. I prefer live anyway, even with its imperfections, which are part of music. Sucking live because of being drunk or a lazy player is another matter.

Or worse (in my book) having hired guns play extra parts, but off stage or behind the equipment so they're invisible, or at least unrecognizable, to/by the audience.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Not sure anyone knew this, but this Gibson Thunderbird once belonged to Gary Thain, the bassist for Uriah Heep. I wouldn't be able to tell you what songs he used with this Thunderbird, but he certainly owned one. He also played a 1962 Fender Jazz Bass on a lot of Uriah Heep albums, before he died of a drug overdose in 1975.

I wonder who actually owns this Thunderbird and what year it was manufactured. It might be a 66 or 67. I know he had 2 brothers, so I suppose it is now in the possession of his family?

Hopefully someone will shed light on the T-bird.

That's right up there with a Leon Wilkeson bird, a holy grail.

 

[JIO]

Not sure anyone knew this, but this Gibson Thunderbird once belonged to Gary Thain, the bassist for Uriah Heep. I wouldn't be able to tell you what songs he used with this Thunderbird, but he certainly owned one. He also played a 1962 Fender Jazz Bass on a lot of Uriah Heep albums, before he died of a drug overdose in 1975.

I wonder who actually owns this Thunderbird and what year it was manufactured. It might be a 66 or 67. I know he had 2 brothers, so I suppose it is now in the possession of his family?

Hopefully someone will shed light on the T-bird.

Not sure exactly what that is - looks like a '63-65 IV but that pu spacing looks wrong. (pu's too close to each other) And the lighter center wood is off, but it was possibly stripped and re-finished like that.

 

[GonePlaid]

I wanted to play that way, I'm a righty. There were few instruments, and the one I got was a cheap Memphis P-bass copy, attractive to the parental unit... But I always thought I should have played with my rh on the fretboard...

You're correct. It would seem to make more sense that the more dexterous hand would be on the frets. Weird.

 

[GonePlaid]

Or worse (in my book) having hired guns play extra parts, but off stage or behind the equipment so they're invisible, or at least unrecognizable, to/by the audience.

At a Grand Funk concert(1970)*, we noticed a second guitarist back in the shadows. Now bands will play to tracks as most groups use IEMs(not to be confused with IEDs).

*Addendum: At Dinner Key Auditorium-for those familiar with Miami.

 

[PillO]

I have heard of bands using various tracks or even unseen players live. Even heard some artists slamming the practice from groups they knew of doing it.

I think what Rush (Geddy) does is acceptable in that it just triggers parts he played on the record. Not a small feat given their music. Nor is he trying to hide what he's doing and he's doing it as apposed to some roadie back stage. He's being honest about it, and is just playing his own parts. I've heard him say they tried to record on records what he and they could figure out a way to duplicate live. (There were some exceptions.) I certainly appreciate that. As opposed to, "who's playing the guitar or keyboard that's not on stage." It's entertainment, but I prefer it to be honestly done, even if it's not going to sound like the 25 guitar or vocal tracks as on an album. I prefer live anyway, even with its imperfections, which are part of music. Sucking live because of being drunk or a lazy player is another matter.

Geddy is quite amusing about it.

As he tells the story, early on when recording, they were concerned about reproducing songs live. As a result, the studio arrangements were organized around how they would be able reproduce the song on tour. Later, they stopped worrying about it and assumed they would figure something out. Then says "Alex, do we really need a 100th guitar track on that?" Alex: "Yes!".

 

[PillO]

Or worse (in my book) having hired guns play extra parts, but off stage or behind the equipment so they're invisible, or at least unrecognizable, to/by the audience.

Like Black Sabbath did with keyboards...

 

[PillO]

You're correct. It would seem to make more sense that the more dexterous hand would be on the frets. Weird.

In a round about way, you are claiming that lefties playing right should be better players...

@BklynKen agree?

My own experience trying lefty, it was much more challenging than I expected. In part because I assumed that everything I learned right would transfer easily. It didn't. I think if I had the patience to stick with it longer, I would have made progress, but it would be like learning to play from square one all over again. The only advantage would be already knowing some songs.

I have thought that for a teacher, there would be an advantage to playing lefty. In demonstrating to a student, it would be like looking in a mirror, which is a view we are accustomed to. My teacher opined that the advantage to learning to play lefty would be empathy - having a recent memory of how difficult playing can be when it is new.

 

[PillO]

At a Grand Funk concert(1970), we noticed a second guitarist back in the shadows. Now bands will play to tracks as most groups use IEMs(not to be confused with IEDs).

Not to be confused with IUDs...

more TLAs (three letter abbreviations)

 

[IMMusicRulz]

Adam Clayton of U2 playing a Gibson Thunderbird

 

[MCF]

Or worse (in my book) having hired guns play extra parts, but off stage or behind the equipment so they're invisible, or at least unrecognizable, to/by the audience.

I’m not as against that as outright playing with tracks. I pay to hear live music. The last time I saw Fleetwood Mac with Buckingham, there was an extra guitarist in the shadows. They didn’t need to do that after they dropped Buckingham and added both Neil Finn and Mike Campbell on guitars for their latest tours.

 

[GonePlaid]

View attachment 4748074

Adam Clayton of U2 playing a Gibson Thunderbird

Appears to be a II.

 

[GonePlaid]

In a round about way, you are claiming that lefties playing right should be better players...

@BklynKen agree?

My own experience trying lefty, it was much more challenging than I expected. In part because I assumed that everything I learned right would transfer easily. It didn't. I think if I had the patience to stick with it longer, I would have made progress, but it would be like learning to play from square one all over again. The only advantage would be already knowing some songs.

I have thought that for a teacher, there would be an advantage to playing lefty. In demonstrating to a student, it would be like looking in a mirror, which is a view we are accustomed to. My teacher opined that the advantage to learning to play lefty would be empathy - having a recent memory of how difficult playing can be when it is new.

I play(ed) sax, clarinet, flute, etc. Both hands hafta be 'independent' (fingers moving at different times). Yet a coupla times I made a 1/2arsed attempt to play bass lefty...Nope!

 

[Count Bassie]

Like Black Sabbath did with keyboards...

At

I wanted to play that way, I'm a righty. There were few instruments, and the one I got was a cheap Memphis P-bass copy, attractive to the parental unit... But I always thought I should have played with my rh on the fretboard...

Time to get that tapper...

 

[dagrev]

I wanted to play that way, I'm a righty. There were few instruments, and the one I got was a cheap Memphis P-bass copy, attractive to the parental unit... But I always thought I should have played with my rh on the fretboard...

I kind of figured the left hand does more of the work and has to be more nimble, so playing right-handed seemed like the correct way to go about it. Playing left-handed is one of the few things I can't do with either hand, but I don't remember if I ever tried. Plucking with the left hand seems like that would be the easy part to learn/get used to. Truth is, I can play poorly just was well either way.

 

[dagrev]

Or worse (in my book) having hired guns play extra parts, but off stage or behind the equipment so they're invisible, or at least unrecognizable, to/by the audience.

I agree. Sometimes they are to the back out of sight and never mentioned ( as with a couple favorite bands I won't mention). I figure if an artist needs them--they're in the band. Tacky, though I know people come to see the big cheese(s), and players are no doubt glad for the gig and something else to put on the resume.

 

[Count Bassie]

I kind of figured the left hand does more of the work and has to be more nimble, so playing right-handed seemed like the correct way to go about it. Playing left-handed is one of the few things I can't do with either hand, but I don't remember if I ever tried. Plucking with the left hand seems like that would be the easy part to learn/get used to. Truth is, I can play poorly just was well either way.

I'm happy to have given my left hand something to get decent ("good", lol) at, but I might have been a better player if I'd insisted... I felt wrong for a long time, but everyone around me said, "Meh. Just practice!" I suppose maybe they were right, and after 40+ years, well, I've done some reasonable stuff...

 

[dagrev]

Not sure exactly what that is - looks like a '63-65 IV but that pu spacing looks wrong. (pu's too close to each other) And the lighter center wood is off, but it was possibly stripped and re-finished like that.

The bridge pickup looks to be a little closer to the other than what is typical.

 

[dagrev]

At a Grand Funk concert(1970)*, we noticed a second guitarist back in the shadows. Now bands will play to tracks as most groups use IEMs(not to be confused with IEDs).

Oh, that's painful to hear.

Or confused with STDs......