Thunderbird Club

[BklynKen]

View attachment 4847538

Karl Green, the bass player for Herman’s Hermits, played a sunburst left handed Gibson Thunderbird bass. One of the few instances where I have seen someone playing a left handed Thunderbird.

 

[JIO]

View attachment 4847538

Karl Green, the bass player for Herman’s Hermits, played a sunburst left handed Gibson Thunderbird bass. One of the few instances where I have seen someone playing a left handed Thunderbird.

A reverse works much better as a left-handed bass (an actual upper horn) - I'm surprised no-one ever made one with the control-cavity reversed. Even having the finger-rest on top is better. (file under idea for next build...)

 

[Gaolee]

What do you guys make of this?

View attachment 4847205

You got your money back. Or will soon. That's good. That guy screwed it up completely. Who cares what his balance is.

 

[dagrev]

View attachment 4847552

That's how it's done. Looks more comfortable than playing one flipped and pointed the other way. Ken, have you ever tried a right handed flipped before? Clearly would not work will with some basses, I would think.

 

[PillO]

You need to say that like the old-timers: Arth-a-ritis. But it's no laughing matter.

View attachment 4847084

Only thing worse than arthritis is having the big one

 

[JIO]

Okay, the Chinese copy EVERYTHING… But this is next level!

Yeah, on recommendation of my sister-in-law, I was scouring Aliexpress to see what they have guitars-wise. Turns out that there's a whole lot of junk and a lot of trash, but there's some cool stuff in there too.

And then there's the outright, “***, am I really seeing this right?” ridiculous stuff.

And none more ridiculous than THIS…
View attachment 4847281
A copy of Rick Nielsen's “Uncle Dick” twin neck.

Nielsen with the real “Uncle Dick” which is a 1983 made Hamer Custom number.

Apart from maybe a Cheap Trick tribute band or a collector who wants one for on the wall, I simply can't see somebody actually play this.

It's the best take on the 'hockey-stick' hs design.

 

[Nocturnal]

Only thing worse than arthritis is having the big one

(Sorry. I had to)

 

[Stealth57]

Yeah, doesn't look flattering, but that's his shtick. Wonder how it sounds unmodifyed.

Unmodified was the key part of your statement. I’ve owned 2 Glarrys. Unmodified, one was passable and the other was . I changed out everything save the neck and body on the first and it was right up there with my IV for playing time. The other wasn’t worth touching and sold it immediately.

 

[MCF]

That's good to hear.
And i'd say lessoned learned, buyer beware.

I’ve bought through Reverb three times. Each time I researched the seller, determined they were legit, and had great experiences. I’ve had nothing but fantastic experiences through the TB classifieds and personal transactions with Thunderbird club members here. Bottom line is be careful and know who you’re dealing with.

 

[MCF]

Yeeaah, I think I'll go to the trusty, tried and true Thomann to buy the T-bird. Even if it's a chinese variant and more expensive than in Reverb... At least in Thomann I have the certainty that Scamming isn't a possiblity there.

I recently bought a peddle through Thoman. I was very impressed with the price, the quick delivery to the US and the customer service. Like Sweetwater here, they’re a class company.

 

[MCF]

Unmodified was the key part of your statement. I’ve owned 2 Glarrys. Unmodified, one was passable and the other was . I changed out everything save the neck and body on the first and it was right up there with my IV for playing time. The other wasn’t worth touching and sold it immediately.

I don’t get the Glarry thing at all. And I’m pretty handy working on guitars and basses. Why not just buy a quality instrument to start with?

 

[dagrev]

I’ve bought through Reverb three times. Each time I researched the seller, determined they were legit, and had great experiences. I’ve had nothing but fantastic experiences through the TB classifieds and personal transactions with Thunderbird club members here. Bottom line is be careful and know who you’re dealing with.

The most expensive think I've bought on Reverb was the NR. But also the white VP, an Ampeg 212 AV cab, Epi Thunderbird case, and several strings and silver knobs. Never had a problem. Like you, I check reviews. If it looks shaky, it likely is. I have no idea how many things I've bought in the TB classifieds. I did get stiffed for $50 once for a tuner years ago. Some guy took another person's money at the same time and disappeared. Fortunately I was only out $50, the other person was stiffed for well over $100 as I recall. Weird thing was the guy we bought from had a number of good ratings. Must have gotten desperate for money. He must have said his PP or bank changed or something, otherwise I would have asked PP for help. In hindsight that was a clue something was off. Something I would likely never do again, unless buying something from someone here.

 

[dagrev]

What do you guys make of this?

View attachment 4847205

It will take a few days. If PP said you will get your money, you will. Sounds like the guy is a goof, air-head, etc. A pure thief would just stop communicating. But never do business with him again. Hang in there.

 

[BklynKen]

That's how it's done. Looks more comfortable than playing one flipped and pointed the other way. Ken, have you ever tried a right handed flipped before? Clearly would not work will with some basses, I would think.

Yup.

 

[JIO]

The most expensive think I've bought on Reverb was the NR. But also the white VP, an Ampeg 212 AV cab, Epi Thunderbird case, and several strings and silver knobs. Never had a problem. Like you, I check reviews. If it looks shaky, it likely is. I have no idea how many things I've bought in the TB classifieds. I did get stiffed for $50 once for a tuner years ago. Some guy took another person's money at the same time and disappeared. Fortunately I was only out $50, the other person was stiffed for well over $100 as I recall. Weird thing was the guy we bought from had a number of good ratings. Must have gotten desperate for money. He must have said his PP or bank changed or something, otherwise I would have asked PP for help. In hindsight that was a clue something was off. Something I would likely never do again, unless buying something from someone here.

I buy and sell on Reverb & eBay all the time. Just gotta be smart how you do it.

 

[BklynKen]

 

[JIO]

That's how it's done. Looks more comfortable than playing one flipped and pointed the other way. Ken, have you ever tried a right handed flipped before? Clearly would not work will with some basses, I would think.

As a (real-world/ergonomic) bass designer, I see it as an excellent example of clearly utilizing the better design by a player being keenly resourceful considering he wanted that bass and most likely had no access to a left-handed model then. Paul McCartney had less of an issue choosing a light symmetric-bodied bass regardless of where the controls were.

 

[Stealth57]

I don’t get the Glarry thing at all. And I’m pretty handy working on guitars and basses. Why not just buy a quality instrument to start with?

$90 plus $100 in parts and the pride in what you built. Not everyone’s thing but as a complete newbie it was a great learning experience.

 

[dagrev]

I buy and sell on Reverb & eBay all the time. Just gotta be smart how you do it.

I've never had a problem, even on ebay. Like you said, due diligence greatly minimizes risks. My wife had a snag recently with a seller's website she found while looking for a certain kind of makeup. It was only $13, but PP eventually made it right once they were satisfied the seller was really not cooperating and we had tried obvious measures.

 

[JIO]

I've never had a problem, even on ebay. Like you said, due diligence greatly minimizes risks. My wife had a snag recently with a seller's website she found while looking for a certain kind of makeup. It was only $13, but PP eventually made it right once they were satisfied the seller was really not cooperating and we had tried obvious measures.

When I first bought something on eBay - the seller didn't show a critical pic which lead to an issue. So I learned from day 1 how important clear, in-focus pics of all vantage points, along with an honest, thorough description is imperative before bidding/buying.