Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

If you like the `21 NR, and the goal is to get the same with a single pickup, option 3 makes the most sense (to me).

And the Queen would likely buy the extra pickup from you.

 

[ColdEye]

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"

Thank you for all the info everyone. Here are some pics. Nickel covers would be nice but cosmetics come later.

 

[Rezdog]

B-17G Wow!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I am recommending to all that they start listening to The Warning

Thanks to @KaraQ for putting me on to them so that I would see then at their first Canadian show!

The only improvement I would make is for Alejandra to play a Thunderbird. But that bass she is playing now seems like a pretty good entry-level instrument...

100% on all fronts except knew about them already. When I first ran across them, Ale was dwarfed by her bass.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I'd go for the one from Harold and Maude.

Ha! My thought! Won't carry as much gear, but it would carry mine!

 

[MCF]

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?

Congratulations! And welcome to our club! Please post some pics and get a number. And ask as many questions as you want.

IMO, the front of the bridge should be slightly higher than the rear. That is how the three points I have on three of my eight birds (the others have different bridges) are set up. Others will disagree. But I believe this method relieves some of the tension transferred to the two rear bolts and inserts on The three point.

 

[GBassNorth]

I always called that the Boris the Spider bass.

That’s actually fairly close - here’s the Alembic write up with some interesting back story about the bass and it’s design…
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The Spider basses are pretty rare, I’ve been waiting years for one to pop up in the used market. On a related note, about 10 years ago I did manage to snag an equally rare bird from Alembic. It’s their Dragon Wing bass which I think sits at about a dozen units. I took the dive because I loved the quality, feel and sound of my other Alembic, an Essence bass. I wasn’t disappointed with the Dragon Wing, it even exceeded my Essence in quality and workmanship, which I didn’t think possible.

According to Alembic, John Entwistle had approached them several times to have Alembic make a copy of his famous Buzzard Bass. Alembic refused but offered to design a completely new bass in the same vein as the Buzzard but very much an unmistakable Alembic original. John agreed, so Alembic started the designs. The design was completed and ready for Johns final review when Alembic got the news that John had just passed away. Alembic decided to build and release a very limited number of Dragon Wing basses in his honor. I have one of them and it truly is a breathtaking design (love it or hate it) and plays like absolute silk (even purple silk no less).

Here’s a pic of the Dragon Wing…

And the Alembic Essence bass…

 

[Miles_ONeal]

They are good. Not at the top of my list, but certainly a great listen. I would see them live if possible. I didn’t the last tour because I’m still very concerned about gatherings with people I don’t know. But that’s just me.

Nope. Same reason I didn't see SSPU when they were here. Dangit.

 

[5StringBlues]

Vocals by Johnny guitar Watson.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Iggy Pop wasn't on my radar until I heard his duet with Kate Pierson of B-52s fame. After that I kept my ears open, but never really explored his back catalog.
Idjit.
Somewhere deep in my brain I knew the of Iggy and the Stooges, but it stayed buried like the mother boxes. Listening to Sound Opinions on NPR tonight on my way home from a D3[1], the focus was on Fun House. And so, for the past few hours, it's been on repeat. I need to listen to the rest of their catalog, but it's hard to let go of this one. The whole thing is exquisite, with similarities at times to the Airplane, Jim Morrison, Alice Cooper, Them, and more. Zander is great on bass - but then he left for the 27 Club. The whole album just slowly devolves from kick@$$ experimental punkish rock to glorious noise. I love it every step of the way.

I have to wonder if Black and White World (which almost no one here has likely heard of) was influenced by this album - especially "Dirt".

[1] Daddy-daughter date

 

[RedVee]

It was Billy the Mountain I was thinking of before.

 

[RedVee]

As long as your yellow mode of being transported doesn't resemble something like this.
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Is that @RedVee driving you around?

My eyes!
Re Yellow cars, I tend to like it more on small cars than large. Exception: the 2004-6 Monaro (GTO) in Devil Yellow. Game Over!

The NSW Police force worked out that they’d get more at auction on their ex Highway Patrol cars by having a selection of colours. Earlier they had all been white with the stripe kit. White minus stripes at auction time. Evidently it worked as they kept it going and I think all the State's are doing the same now.

 

[JIO]

Hmmmm.

Veronica = Granny
GonePlaid = Jed
JJR = Jethro
KaraQ = Elly May
GBassNorth = Mr. Drysdale
??? = Miss Hathaway

Ummm.., never intended direct reference ... ... I know Jeff.., he's no Jethro, Mark's no granny, I don't know what Kara looks like, George would probably appreciate Mr Drysdale's money and Miss Hathaway? No-one I know 'round here.

 

[JIO]

Just a guess - you are a middle child?

I wish I could offer something, but yeah; that's just messed up. You have my sympathies.

I'm the middle child of 5 - the artist. (for whatever that's worth)

 

[JIO]

Is that Dr John on vocals?

 

[icefly]

anyone familiar with Tajima basses from Brazil?…..hideous finish (for me) but this thing played and sounded phenomenal….
look! smile!!..
View attachment 4781024

Don´t know exactly what model is this; seems an Anna Karina Sebastião signature "Tagima Black Gold"

I have some Tagimas; but all are entry level; TW65, TW66, JMJ4 this one gold finish, but less expensive than signature one.

 

[icefly]

Tagima, a Brazilian maker.

Tagima entry level models, are chinese made.
Tagima top level, as this one above are brazillian made, much better build, and more expensive; according xperts, are onpar with some Fender.

 

[MCF]

That was a great movie!

It was. But I don’t think I’ve seen it since our family went to see it on movie night back in the day. We had a tradition of going to dinner, then to the movie and after that to the Thrifty drugstore for ice cream. I’d look through the records (I remember buying a Janis Joplin with Big Brother Holding Co. album at one point) and at the Teisco guitars and basses.

 

[PaleAngel_90]

Who’s the shaging influencer now….

Taken from Ringo Starr’s Facebook page…


View attachment 4781550

View attachment 4781549

Didn't knew feet kink was a thing in this thread, lol. Joking

 

[PaleAngel_90]

I know you're not looking for sympathy, but I am so sorry this snot happened to you. Some people aren't cut out to be parents. It's often not even their fault; they got screwed up by others, too. We're glad you're here!

Thank you, your kindness is appreciated.