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Thunderbird Club

My Uncle Randy had one of those. He wore a wetsuit to play it, which meant the static charge built up throughout the set, starting to glow about half way through. He could gauge it just right, and hit the climax of their closing song right when the static built up enough to discharge through a 3 foot lightning bolt to the ground, a mic stand, the lead guitarist, whatever was nearest. His third drummer pioneered the use of the plexiglass drum cage. That guy lasted, unlike the first two.
LOL - there’s one more reason drummers should use wooden drum sticks!
 
Somebody in my little corner of the world has a Gibson Nikki Sixx for sale. 2001, original owner, sez it's excellent/mint cuz he never really played it. Any idea how many were made and if they'll ever reach collectable status? There's no real market for nice basses here (except for me). Asking $1,800

Not too bad on the price but that bass is either ON all the way or OFF, fine in a lot of settings but not all. FWIW I had one and later sold it, kinda wish I still had it.
 
upload_2022-12-8_21-42-13.jpeg
 
My Uncle Randy had one of those. He wore a wetsuit to play it, which meant the static charge built up throughout the set, starting to glow about half way through. He could gauge it just right, and hit the climax of their closing song right when the static built up enough to discharge through a 3 foot lightning bolt to the ground, a mic stand, the lead guitarist, whatever was nearest. His third drummer pioneered the use of the plexiglass drum cage. That guy lasted, unlike the first two.

That's insane! (in a good way!) :D
 
He was a guitarist who played bass very well. He once said he tried to emulate what Leon had been doing (but no doubt added his out touch), and I'm thinking he played a Ric. Seems like I saw a pic once. Leon was playing one about that time and a first gen Pbass.

Here's an isolated bass track of him doing Simple Man. Great playing.

for me (probably totally wrong) the only way that bass would sound like a Ric is with the bridge pup dimed, tone rolled off and little or no neck pup….wonder if it was recorded on something else….J?..
 
Not too bad on the price but that bass is either ON all the way or OFF, fine in a lot of settings but not all. FWIW I had one and later sold it, kinda wish I still had it.
I wouldn't pay that much, maybe 1.6k, I can wait him out. There's been a beautiful Sadowsky Metro for sale for 1.5 years, price has gone from $2,500 to $2.000, like I said small market
 
there’s literally after market enhancements for everything……cool after market Dynaco enhancement kits…

got a preamp that uses a (very toxic) old school selenium rectifier for the dc fed filaments…
upload_2022-12-8_22-21-21.jpeg


the way forward is to literally rebuild/upgrade the power supplies….and of course a little company (SDS) makes the whole replacement kit designed to go into the same space…so cool…
below, a kit (upper left corner new blue electrolytics from the same company for the 70, power amp…..
upload_2022-12-8_22-25-19.jpeg

 
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for me (probably totally wrong) the only way that bass would sound like a Ric is with the bridge pup dimed, tone rolled off and little or no neck pup….wonder if it was recorded on something else….J?..
Most definitely. I'm the one that's likely wrong. Going off an isolated pic and what Leon tended to play at that time isn't the most certain reasoning! And you're right, it doesn't really sound much like a Ric.
 
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Somebody in my little corner of the world has a Gibson Nikki Sixx for sale. 2001, original owner, sez it's excellent/mint cuz he never really played it. Any idea how many were made and if they'll ever reach collectable status? There's no real market for nice basses here (except for me). Asking $1,800

I wouldn't pay that much, maybe 1.6k, I can wait him out. There's been a beautiful Sadowsky Metro for sale for 1.5 years, price has gone from $2,500 to $2.000, like I said small market

$1800 for a clean one is a good price. $1600 is even better! There are beat up BlackBirds listed for a lot more $$$. Like V said, it is on or off, no vol-tone controls, but they are nice Birds. I still have one that was well played and modified by a previous owner and I love it! **Previous owner made it a Vol-Vol setup. I added a kill-switch back to it because thats just the way I am :cool::cool::smug:
 
there’s literally after market enhancements for everything……cool after market Dynaco enhancement kits…

got a preamp that uses a (very toxic) old school selenium rectifier for the dc fed filaments…
View attachment 4897685

the way forward is to literally rebuild/upgrade the power supplies….and of course a little company (SDS) makes the whole replacement kit designed to go into the same space…so cool…
below, a kit (upper left corner new blue electrolytics from the same company for the 70, power amp…..
View attachment 4897686

You're gonna a text from me later regarding the Ashly.
 
$1800 for a clean one is a good price. $1600 is even better! There are beat up BlackBirds listed for a lot more $$$. Like V said, it is on or off, no vol-tone controls, but they are nice Birds. I still have one that was well played and modified by a previous owner and I love it! **Previous owner made it a Vol-Vol setup. I added a kill-switch back to it because thats just the way I am :cool::cool::smug:
So I'm guessing the prognosis is they will appreciate?
 

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