Thunderbird Club

[Nocturnal]

Was excited today because a new toy was scheduled for delivery from Guitar Center. It arrived, but has a crack in the face that was not mentioned in the listing on their website. I had saved the pictures from the listing and the crack is there, but it looked like a reflection, not a crack. EDIT: This is not shipping damage. The box was in great condition.

The crack:

I need to open it to see if this is a finish crack or if its thru the wood into the control cavity. With the GC return policy I should not be out any money. If I keep it, and that is a BIG if, they are going to credit me some money.

 

[JIO]

Was excited today because a new toy was scheduled for delivery from Guitar Center. It arrived, but has a crack in the face that was not mentioned in the listing on their website. I had saved the pictures from the listing and the crack is there, but it looked like a reflection, not a crack.

The crack:

I need to open it to see if this is a finish crack or if its thru the wood into the control cavity. With the GC return policy I should not be out any money. If I keep it, and that is a BIG if, they are going to credit me some money.

It sux that it wasn't mentioned but depending on what you paid and what they are going to refund you - it's fairly minor for a used instrument. And being black gives a lot of recourse to make it 'go away' visually.

 

[BklynKen]

Was excited today because a new toy was scheduled for delivery from Guitar Center. It arrived, but has a crack in the face that was not mentioned in the listing on their website. I had saved the pictures from the listing and the crack is there, but it looked like a reflection, not a crack. EDIT: This is not shipping damage. The box was in great condition.

The crack:

I need to open it to see if this is a finish crack or if its thru the wood into the control cavity. With the GC return policy I should not be out any money. If I keep it, and that is a BIG if, they are going to credit me some money.

Sorry to hear about the crack, but the Iceman is super cool!

 

[TBird1958]

Like the early '60s Jaguar XKE - one of the iconic images of that era.

View attachment 4764065

Did you ever watch "Madmen"?

 

[blastoff99]

Being a fellow motorcyclist... let me guess - it wouldn't be an '80s Honda GL500 0r CX500 would it?

No. Although I test rode one of those in the mid 90s for the person who is now my ex. I have a certain admiration for that lump (the CX/GL500, not the ex) so was willing to give it a go. Had so much trouble getting it off side stand that I don't even remember the ride. Did they all have super short stands, or was this one "custom?"

Would you like another guess about my motorcycle aesthetic anomaly, or would you just like me to tell you? Vintage 2008, if that helps. I mean, I probably should be nice because I'm a bit of an aesthetic anomaly myself.

 

[TBird1958]

Whitebird Wednesday............

 

[GonePlaid]

oh yah - jeese-louise, I can't use the "U" word here (especially to a mod ) but the new version of the T-bird was/is.., aesthetically challenged... as in... what were they thinking?

View attachment 4763880

Punctuation: What? Were they thinking?

 

[GonePlaid]

I was ok with the new styling, assuming they had to meet crash protection guidelines and air drag goals, but they lost me (just like the Plymouth prowler team did) when they dropped a lame engine in it.

The born again Tbird was supposed to be a nod to the Gen 1 era, which had decent performance in its day. Instead of the retro nod, it looks like the design team nodded off during the engine spec discussion and the bean counters took over. Shame really. They could have had a real winner with a Ford 5.0 Coyote engine under the hood. And a Prowler with a Dodge Hemi under the hood would have caught a lot of attention as well.

Kinda like the latest Gibson NR release that tries so hard to be like the original in many ways, and completely misses the target in others. Three point bridge? Come on man! Even Eppi got that right.

Yeah, but I still want one(sigh).

 

[GonePlaid]

(Rolling eyes) Oh I see, lookin out for number one, it’s always all about you Mike.

Yeah, I realize that came a bit shmuck-y. I simply meant that I finally got something usable and I seem to be the only one that needed one of 'em.

 

[Nocturnal]

It sux that it wasn't mentioned but depending on what you paid and what they are going to refund you - it's fairly minor for a used instrument. And being black gives a lot of recourse to make it 'go away' visually.

I will see what they say about it. If they offer a fair refund amount I may keep it and have my guy see what he can do with it. He is great at touch-ups. If they offer a minor refund then they will take it back. The crack definitely goes thru to the cavity. Obvious clear glue on the inside (Super glue?) but the wood isn't splintered or broken and the cavity shielding paint doesn't look like it was touched up.

Sorry to hear about the crack, but the Iceman is super cool!

Thanks. I have always loved the shape and this one has black pearl inlays and body binding. Even the neck and fretboard have binding. Even with the $#!++y strings on it, it has a wide variety of usable tones. I am sure it will neck dive worse than a 70's Bird.

 

[GonePlaid]

They are heavy, unwieldy, and difficult to carry around.



Somehow I found two of those cases used locally years ago. I think they are around 58 inches long? The wide angled bottom section made it difficult to fit in the small car I owned at the time. When I sold my Bach NR the guy didn't want the case for two reasons. It wouldn't fit in his small car very well and he thought the coffin shape is cheesy. I thought he should take it to keep the bass safe til he made it home, then he could have given it away. Since he didn't take the case I donated it to my friend/tech for a 12 string bass he built.



It looks like an Epi Classic Pro with chrome hardware. Looks awesome!!

Waddayaknow? I was right-it was you. And thanks. It's a PITA sometimes but a helluva lot better than the keyboard case.

 

[Nocturnal]

Waddayaknow? I was right-it was you. And thanks. It's a PITA sometimes but a helluva lot better than the keyboard case.

its a solid case, just awkward to carry. Both of mine had the removable compartment in the tail end. I think you said yours wasn't removable?

 

[GonePlaid]

Well and truly inspired by the Joe Jackson song "Nineteen forever." The first lyric came to mind after re-watching the final episode of the original 1980's series of "Knight Rider" and coming across some (as it turns out, FALSE) news that David Hasselhoff died.

I took it from there, making it a song about how pop culture will always have a lasting legacy on our lives.

The second verse is about Kurt Cobain who I heard being described as "Gen X's John Lennon." Which is why I refer to him as a Blond haired John Lennon in the lyrics. In 1994 when Cobain died, I actually became 18.

I also wanted to make this a showcase for my two most recent builds. As my green solid is on the Rythm tracks and the red one is used for the leads.
View attachment 4763951 View attachment 4763952

 

[JIO]

Did you ever watch "Madmen"?

Love Madmen - I have the DVD (ancient history now...) and will watch it again! Brilliant!

 

[GonePlaid]

its a solid case, just awkward to carry. Both of mine had the removable compartment in the tail end. I think you said yours wasn't removable?

Nah, two brads in the end 'block', easily removed with needlenose pliers. I saved it somewhere around here(dunno why).

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Earlier this year it took a month USPS to get an envelope from Texas to Vancouver (most of that time was in the states).

Probably held up by Texas Border Patrol.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Was excited today because a new toy was scheduled for delivery from Guitar Center. It arrived, but has a crack in the face that was not mentioned in the listing on their website. I had saved the pictures from the listing and the crack is there, but it looked like a reflection, not a crack. EDIT: This is not shipping damage. The box was in great condition.

The crack:

I need to open it to see if this is a finish crack or if its thru the wood into the control cavity. With the GC return policy I should not be out any money. If I keep it, and that is a BIG if, they are going to credit me some money.

what an awesome shape, remember when Paul Stanley made them popular, bummed at the time you couldn’t get it as a 4 string……. Non Reverse Rickenbacker?….hmmm…

 

[JIO]

No. Although I test rode one of those in the mid 90s for the person who is now my ex. I have a certain admiration for that lump (the CX/GL500, not the ex) so was willing to give it a go. Had so much trouble getting it off side stand that I don't even remember the ride. Did they all have super short stands, or was this one "custom?"

Would you like another guess about my motorcycle aesthetic anomaly, or would you just like me to tell you? Vintage 2008, if that helps. I mean, I probably should be nice because I'm a bit of an aesthetic anomaly myself.

My first motorcycle in '95 was a used '85 Honda GL500 "Silver-Wing". Actually a perfect 1st bike (nowhere near a 'crotch-rocket') to learn on, but I don't recall any side-stand issues. It also had a center-stand which I usually used when parking. I currently own an '05 Honda VFR800 and am not familiar with Harley's or most other models in '08 that are considered 'embarrassing'? ... a bike is a bike is a bike. As long as you have the hutzpah to ride one - who cares what other people think!

Not mine but the same - Honda's version of a Moto-Guzzi with the V carbs. It had a cool rear-cargo compartment that clipped into where the pillion saddle is. (once removed) Kinda' boring, but stable and predictable. I actually did a brief wheelie with it once. (wasn't trying - just accelerating after popping the clutch)

 

[JIO]

I will see what they say about it. If they offer a fair refund amount I may keep it and have my guy see what he can do with it. He is great at touch-ups. If they offer a minor refund then they will take it back. The crack definitely goes thru to the cavity. Obvious clear glue on the inside (Super glue?) but the wood isn't splintered or broken and the cavity shielding paint doesn't look like it was touched up.

I had a black '86 Kubicki Ex-Factor (pre FCS) that had a similar crack. Not structural - only cosmetic. I just stabilized it and played it - it was an awesome bass.

 

[blastoff99]

I mean, it makes a fair amount of sense. That engine layout means that the drive shaft is going to be going the right direction without the use of right angle gearing, so fewer driveline losses. And if I remember correctly, those bikes were nearly unkillable. And if you have a cx650t, you really have something.

I've always had a soft spot for the vfrs, although I've never owned one. I briefly considered one for my bun burner gold a few years ago, but the fuel economy is wretched so it didn't meet requirements.

The current ride is a 2008 versys 650, and I won't sully this thread by posting a photo and yes I can call it ugly because I own it!