Thunderbird Club

[Stealth57]

As requested, pics of my 2019 Gibson Thunderbird Bass - Heritage Cherry Sunburst (actually built in December 2018). The pics can't do the red tone justice I am afraid. One of the pics was included in the case as it passes inspection at Gibson and the certificate it written.

You can also see the tbird in action in the recording studio as well. It plays like a dream and I was surprised how unique it sounds when I put on DR Hi-Beams to extend its tonal range; common advice was that I would never get top end out of those pickup. Common advice was very wrong.

And also, the requested pic of my Sunn concert bass head. Don't know the year but I suspect it's from very early production. Thanks for the interest and my thunderbird number!

That head is 72-74. Red knob versions started in 75.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Good things come in waves. I got a new job Friday. Today I finally had a long awaited GTG with George, @GBassNorth. We spent a few hours today playing Thunderbirds and enjoying each other's company in his beautiful home. His music room is the stuff of dreams. He has so many beautiful basses and guitars. I met his wonderful wife and their beautiful Aussie Shepherd, Khaleesi. And he gave me a ride in his 911. So much fun!

Highlights included playing his amazing '77 Greco II, the Bling Bird he built, and his modified Goths. All very cool

And look what stowed away in the back of the Outback. A new rig! This is for the music room at the mountain house. It's a pretty empty basement at this point, but I have plans for it. The '08 Ampeg SVT VR and a fabulous Berg NV 610 are the first acquisitions for it. It's an incredible sounding rig.

View attachment 4798171 View attachment 4798172 View attachment 4798173
I hope to be able to have another visit in the not too distant future. George is a great guy and I'm glad to call him my friend. What a great Club!

awesome stuff…..happy for you Marshall!….love this group….Veronica, Andy, Donnie, Geoff, Jeff, Irv, Larry, Miles, Roger, Scott…..PLEASE move to CA so we can have an ever going, eternal TBird party!!….

 

[GBassNorth]

Good things come in waves. I got a new job Friday. Today I finally had a long awaited GTG with George, @GBassNorth. We spent a few hours today playing Thunderbirds and enjoying each other's company in his beautiful home. His music room is the stuff of dreams. He has so many beautiful basses and guitars. I met his wonderful wife and their beautiful Aussie Shepherd, Khaleesi. And he gave me a ride in his 911. So much fun!

Highlights included playing his amazing '77 Greco II, the Bling Bird he built, and his modified Goths. All very cool

And look what stowed away in the back of the Outback. A new rig! This is for the music room at the mountain house. It's a pretty empty basement at this point, but I have plans for it. The '08 Ampeg SVT VR and a fabulous Berg NV 610 are the first acquisitions for it. It's an incredible sounding rig.

View attachment 4798171 View attachment 4798172 View attachment 4798173
I hope to be able to have another visit in the not too distant future. George is a great guy and I'm glad to call him my friend. What a great Club!

Marshall, you're too kind!

Great everything made it home in one piece! Had a wonderful time running thru basses and gear with you at the SoCal one on one GTG today. That 2021 NR of yours is a treasure! I'm sure you'll have many many years of big smiles as you play through the SVT/Berg rig, it's truly a dream rig and brought me many years of enjoyment, glad to see it go to a home where a fellow bird lover can enjoy it.

Here's some pics from our little GTG (I sure wish I could have made the larger one at Chuckys)…

Marshall, blinging with the best of them…

A peek down Tbird row…

Ready for a spin…

Watchout @TBird1958 , Marshall has his Subie loaded up with the big rig and is on the prowl for a Greco II…

I motion that we make the next West Coast GTG at Marshall's cabin after he has the music room all sorted out!

 

[PhR75]

Or Yes's Relayer. It's only three songs. I don't think Biily Sherwood who took over when Squire passed away can play Gates of Delirium the way Chris did.

The version on "Yesshows" recorded in Detroit '76 is just mindblowing. They should release all the Cobo Hall tapes officially.

Steve Howe apparently hated the mix of the "Yesshows" double. Done by Mr. Squire. Too bass heavy. It's Yes for chrissakes. It can't be too bass heavy.

 

[GBassNorth]

Is it just me that thinks that Jack White is an over-rated player and that the White Stripes had little if any interesting music?

I'm with you. I think Jacks biggest fan is himself.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

someone say "old players of old TBirds"?…….

 

[Nocturnal]

awesome stuff…..happy for you Marshall!….love this group….Veronica, Andy, Donnie, Geoff, Jeff, Irv, Larry, Miles, Roger, Scott…..PLEASE move to CA so we can have an ever going, eternal TBird party!!….

Great people and great basses. Thats my kind of party!

 

[dagrev]

Good things come in waves. I got a new job Friday. Today I finally had a long awaited GTG with George, @GBassNorth. We spent a few hours today playing Thunderbirds and enjoying each other's company in his beautiful home. His music room is the stuff of dreams. He has so many beautiful basses and guitars. I met his wonderful wife and their beautiful Aussie Shepherd, Khaleesi. And he gave me a ride in his 911. So much fun!

Highlights included playing his amazing '77 Greco II, the Bling Bird he built, and his modified Goths. All very cool

And look what stowed away in the back of the Outback. A new rig! This is for the music room at the mountain house. It's a pretty empty basement at this point, but I have plans for it. The '08 Ampeg SVT VR and a fabulous Berg NV 610 are the first acquisitions for it. It's an incredible sounding rig.

View attachment 4798171 View attachment 4798172 View attachment 4798173
I hope to be able to have another visit in the not too distant future. George is a great guy and I'm glad to call him my friend. What a great Club!

What a great story. Glad you mentioned it. None of it sounds different from what we already know and expect from George, and the club. Some good earthlings here. That is a great head, and while I don't think I've ever played a Berg, I doubt there's many ways to make them sound bad even if you wanted, and suspect it's a great combination. Better than a good many Ampeg cabs for sure! That should give a you a nice different bass flavor from your Mesa goodness.

 

[dagrev]

My personal opinion is it is superior to Sabra and other Costco type brands I've tried. You can adjust the viscosity to your preference with more or less liquid.

You've got me thinking something made with chickpeas might actually taste good after all.

 

[dagrev]

That's a nice blue pick holder.

 

[dagrev]

Hmm. Interesting. Thanks. Maybe I should wait for that case to come up---AGAIN!(not).

With inflation and the rocketing prices of everything else, maybe it's discounted....

 

[CrashAlpha]

That head is 72-74. Red knob versions started in 75.

Thanks for the info on the Sunn head. Actually one of the knobs was broken off and replaced with something different. When I took the knob off I saw the shaft of the pot had been sawed down and the original knobs won't fit. I bought some Fender skirted knobs and saw they start at 1, the Sunns start at 0.

Ok, a little fussy. But if I was going to go through the trouble of re-installing that pot (which will NOT be fun to get to for someone as lazy as me)...

Anyway I used that as an excuse to kill my refurbishing project. I am not a vintage guy by any means so when I say this is a great sounding amp, I mean it!

 

[dagrev]

awesome stuff…..happy for you Marshall!….love this group….Veronica, Andy, Donnie, Geoff, Jeff, Irv, Larry, Miles, Roger, Scott…..PLEASE move to CA so we can have an ever going, eternal TBird party!!….

True. And you are very kind. Follow George and head this way. Life is good in the cheaper side of the country!

 

[MCF]

What a great story. Glad you mentioned it. None of it sounds different from what we already know and expect from George, and the club. Some good earthlings here. That is a great head, and while I don't think I've ever played a Berg, I doubt there's many ways to make them sound bad even if you wanted, and suspect it's a great combination. Better than a good many Ampeg cabs for sure! That should give a you a nice different bass flavor from your Mesa goodness.

Thanks. The Ampeg and Berg is a great combination. Between it and the Mesa rig, there is a lot of tone flexibility. I'm curious to mix and match the heads and cabs, but it'll be awhile before the cabs are in the same place.

 

[dagrev]

Marshall, you're too kind!

Great everything made it home in one piece! Had a wonderful time running thru basses and gear with you at the SoCal one on one GTG today. That 2021 NR of yours is a treasure! I'm sure you'll have many many years of big smiles as you play through the SVT/Berg rig, it's truly a dream rig and brought me many years of enjoyment, glad to see it go to a home where a fellow bird lover can enjoy it.

Here's some pics from our little GTG (I sure wish I could have made the larger one at Chuckys)…

Marshall, blinging with the best of them…
View attachment 4798309

A peek down Tbird row…
View attachment 4798313

Ready for a spin…
View attachment 4798310

Watchout @TBird1958 , Marshall has his Subie loaded up with the big rig and is on the prowl for a Greco II…
View attachment 4798312

I motion that we make the next West Coast GTG at Marshall's cabin after he has the music room all sorted out!

Great pics! Thanks for posting them. And not using GP or Bob's phone. Or mine, which isn't much better at times.

 

[dagrev]

Thanks. The Ampeg and Berg is a great combination. Between it and the Mesa rig, there is a lot of tone flexibility. I'm curious to mix and match the heads and cabs, but it'll be awhile before the cabs are in the same place.

I sure would love to hear both. Different flavors of amazing I would think. Your new job isn't near Louisville by any chance is it?

 

[Engle]

Good things come in waves. I got a new job Friday. Today I finally had a long awaited GTG with George, @GBassNorth. We spent a few hours today playing Thunderbirds and enjoying each other's company in his beautiful home. His music room is the stuff of dreams. He has so many beautiful basses and guitars. I met his wonderful wife and their beautiful Aussie Shepherd, Khaleesi. And he gave me a ride in his 911. So much fun!

Highlights included playing his amazing '77 Greco II, the Bling Bird he built, and his modified Goths. All very cool

And look what stowed away in the back of the Outback. A new rig! This is for the music room at the mountain house. It's a pretty empty basement at this point, but I have plans for it. The '08 Ampeg SVT VR and a fabulous Berg NV 610 are the first acquisitions for it. It's an incredible sounding rig.

View attachment 4798171 View attachment 4798172 View attachment 4798173
I hope to be able to have another visit in the not too distant future. George is a great guy and I'm glad to call him my friend. What a great Club!

That's pretty awesome!

 

[Stealth57]

Marshall, you're too kind!

Great everything made it home in one piece! Had a wonderful time running thru basses and gear with you at the SoCal one on one GTG today. That 2021 NR of yours is a treasure! I'm sure you'll have many many years of big smiles as you play through the SVT/Berg rig, it's truly a dream rig and brought me many years of enjoyment, glad to see it go to a home where a fellow bird lover can enjoy it.

Here's some pics from our little GTG (I sure wish I could have made the larger one at Chuckys)…

Marshall, blinging with the best of them…
View attachment 4798309

A peek down Tbird row…
View attachment 4798313

Ready for a spin…
View attachment 4798310

Watchout @TBird1958 , Marshall has his Subie loaded up with the big rig and is on the prowl for a Greco II…
View attachment 4798312

I motion that we make the next West Coast GTG at Marshall's cabin after he has the music room all sorted out!

All fake pictures. There wasn't a single beer bottle in any of them...

 

[Stealth57]

someone say "old players of old TBirds"?…….
View attachment 4798376

Bass face

 

[Stealth57]

Thanks for the info on the Sunn head. Actually one of the knobs was broken off and replaced with something different. When I took the knob off I saw the shaft of the pot had been sawed down and the original knobs won't fit. I bought some Fender skirted knobs and saw they start at 1, the Sunns start at 0.

Ok, a little fussy. But if I was going to go through the trouble of re-installing that pot (which will NOT be fun to get to for someone as lazy as me)...

Anyway I used that as an excuse to kill my refurbishing project. I am not a vintage guy by any means so when I say this is a great sounding amp, I mean it!

Parts are available, surprisingly. The plastic part of my power switch broke in half. They had exact replicas on eBay.