Thunderbird Club

[PaleAngel_90]

I like this one 2008

View attachment 4781436

What car's that one?

 

[MCF]

A gig-mobile that can carry all your stuff, is stylish, and can perform reasonably well? Look no further!

The hearse has a long history of being a perfect gig mobile. Neil bought one and drove it from Canada to California. He saw Stills in Hollywood and whipped around to talk to him. That was the beginning of Buffalo Springfield.

 

[RedVee]

Were money no object(IT IS!), I'd have sumpin' like this, on modern running gear.

I liked the look of the Chev HHR but I’d want a V8 RWD or AWD version….

or this maybe.
Enter Sandman.

I have a ‘21 NR Bird that I love and I want to add another to my small collection but would like to get one in the Thunderbird II style.
I will never be able to afford an authentic 1960’s one so I’m asking y’all (the experts) if there are any companies that make a fairly faithful reproduction or would I have to do a DIY project and if so do you have any leads on parts etc?

Thanks in advance!

Totally from others experiences….
Greco.

 

[PillO]

The hearse has a long history of being a perfect gig mobile. Neil bought one and drove it from Canada to California. He saw Stills in Hollywood and whipped around to talk to him. That was the beginning of Buffalo Springfield.
View attachment 4781453

Neil did it? Perhaps I need to reconsider my position...

 

[dagrev]

Just as in many other areas, I am an outlier. I really like yellow cars. My current transport looks like this:
[This invalid link has been removed]

As long as your yellow mode of being transported doesn't resemble something like this.

Is that @RedVee driving you around?

 

[dagrev]

Just picked up an early 2000s Gibson Thunderbird. Previous owner added a strap button at the top horn. Took a while to understand how the bridge gets adjusted, still not quite sure. Should the front screw be higher than the 2 at the rear? And what fretboard do these have?

Congrats!
And we need pics.
Yes, some, maybe all are.
Some form of Rosewood.

Angled Headstock
The Thunderbird’s distinct headstock stays true to Gibson’s industry-changing way of thinking. Like every Gibson headstock, the angled Thunderbird headstock is carved out of the same piece of mahogany as the neck. The angle is carefully set to 14 degrees—instead of the traditional 17 degrees—to accommodate the headstock’s radical contour and to keep pressure on the strings. The headstock’s form ensures straight string pull, which, when combined with the increased string pressure, means there is no loss of string vibration between the corian nut and the tuners, equaling better sustain. Black chrome-plated Grover bass tuners provide the necessary clearance between tuner buttons, allowing for comfortable access and uncomplicated tuning.

’60s Rounded Bass Neck Profile
No guitar neck profiles are more distinguishable than the neck profiles on the Gibson models of today. The ’60s rounded bass neck profile on the Thunderbird IV is based on the more modern, slim-tapered necks most commonly associated with the Les Paul and SG models of the early 1960s. The neck is machined in Gibson’s rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. But once the fingerboard gets glued on, the rest—including the final sanding—is done by hand. That means there are no two necks with the exact same dimensions. So while it still has the basic characteristics of its respective profile, each neck will be slightly different, with a distinct but traditional feel.

TB Plus Ceramic Magnet Humbuckers
The pickups on the early Gibson basses of the 1960s remained unchanged for many years, undergoing only minor cosmetic modifications from time to time, but staying true to the originals’ sonic characteristics. The pickups in today’s Thunderbird IV—two vintage-style TB Plus humbuckers—both capture and recreate the classic attributes of those early Gibson basses. The TB plus humbuckers are traditional hum-cancelling bass pickups with ceramic magnets. They are wax potted then filled with epoxy, producing a full frequency, heavy-bottom sound similar to pickups with a passive EQ, and delivering the huge, powerful bass tone the Thunderbird IV is renowned for.

Three-Way Adjustable Bridge and Tailpiece
Gibson’s innovative three-way adjustable bridge and tailpiece combo is the standard for simplicity and functionality. It provides players with the ability to adjust and fine-tune the height of the Thunderbird IV’s bass strings in all directions—front, back, and side-to-side—which gives the bridge a “floating” feature, thus allowing the bass to be equipped with a variety of string gauges and multiple set-up options. The Thunderbird IV’s legendary resonance, tone, and sustain is the result of anchoring the bridge directly into the body at its three adjustable points, which provides a firm seating for the strings and yields a strong union between the strings and body. Readily accessible screws make setting the intonation simple and unproblematic. To this day, Gibson’s three-way adjustable bridge remains an industry standard. It is the epitome of form and function in bass guitar bridge design.

Neck-Through-Body Construction
The Thunderbird IV’s multiple-wood-ply construction is as structurally and aesthetically innovative as any Gibson feature. The neck and center piece of the body are constructed from solid mahogany, as are the two wings that are glued on to each side to form the Thunderbird’s distinct outline. Gluing all the pieces together ensures maximum “wood-to-wood” contact, and allows the neck and body to function as a single unit. This neck-through-body construction results in better tone and unsurpassed sustain, and no loose or misaligned necks.


Body Style
Thunderbird Bass

Body Species
Mahogany


Hardware
Plating Finish
Black Chrome

Tailpiece
Three Point Adjustable Bass Bridge

Tuners
Grover Bass

Electronics
Neck Pickup
TB+ Humbucker

Bridge Pickup
TB+ Humbucker

Pickup Covers
Yes

Controls
2 Volume - 1 Tone

Control Knobs
Black Tophats with Silver Inserts

Control Pocket Cover
Black Plastic

Neck
Species
Mahogany/Walnut Laminate

Nut
Corian

Nut Width
1.500" +/- .050"

Truss Rod
Gibson Adjustable Truss Rod

Truss Rod Cover
Thunderbird cover, stamped with Gibson Logo

Fingerboard
Fingerboard Species
Rosewood

Inlays
Acrylic Dot

Number of Frets
20

Scale Length
34"

 

[MCF]

Just as in many other areas, I am an outlier. I really like yellow cars. My current transport looks like this:
[This invalid link has been removed]

So I guess they’re more visible?

 

[MCF]

From the maker Chuck mentioned. This looks fantastic! Aside from the blurry pic. $699. They make some high-end instruments and are getting into the US market.View attachment 4781358

I do like that.

 

[JIO]

I’m with ya on this one. Never took the time to develop a taste for Zappa. Don’t dislike him at all, but truth be told, I can’t name one song he did and it seems like the few songs of his that I have listened to were more satire or poking fun at something.

Hot Rats (w/Beefheart) and Alice Cooper on the cover.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

droney…..

 

[RedVee]

We kept my mother-in-law's '09 Buick LeCrosse after she passed because it was paid for, garage kept, low miles and never had anything wrong with it. It is one of the most ugly, or boring cars I've seen (and it's a boring grey to boot). Buick....Which used to ooze style. Our Chrysler Town and Country Limited is more stylish than the Buick. I drive a '08 GMC Acadia my dad bought new and will not get rid of that. Looks good (to me), very comfortable, rides great and has been very dependable.

My cousin had one of these monsters in the same color. Even this beast looks over the top stylish compared to modern most offerings. Even the back bumper looks good and thought out.
View attachment 4781281

Electric Kazoo…??? a band name?

 

[Stealth57]

Electric Kazoo…??? a band name?

I prefer the Great Gazoo.

 

[Engle]

That may be the only exception. Ever.

Drummer Buddy wanted to play that one. We didn’t do the yodelling.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I liked the look of the Chev HHR but I’d want a V8 RWD or AWD version….

or this maybe.
Enter Sandman.

View attachment 4781452



Totally from others experiences….
Greco.

yep…unparalleled tone at that price range…..

 

[Engle]

My VW Type 1 Engine

 

[Engle]

yep…unparalleled tone at that price range…..

Nice Chuck!!

 

[GBassNorth]

Just as in many other areas, I am an outlier. I really like yellow cars. My current transport looks like this:
[This invalid link has been removed]

I like yellow!

…as long as it’s a warm yellow, don’t like cold yellow on cars at all.

So I guess they’re more visible?

I was reminded of that by a California Highway Patrol officer as he was writing me a speeding ticket.

 

[Nocturnal]

droney…..

I like that!

 

[RedVee]

What car's that one?

A 2008 Buick Park Avenue built in China from the Australian Holden Statesman / Caprice. A stripped Holden Caprice was later sold in the US as a cop car. Chev Caprice PPV.

Earlier there was the 2005 Buick Royaum sold in China but I think built here and exported.

(Also some earlier Caprices went to Sth Korea as the Daewoo LX4)

But the Park Avenue was pretty special looking I think.

Although the Australian Prine Minister got a pretty nice one, bullet proofed etc. C1 being the traditional PMs car rego plate.

(That’s the earlier one - like the Royaum)