Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

I’ve always thought the lucite basses would be the perfect axe for a good old bar fight. You could smash someone in the face with one and still get to enjoy seeing the look on their face (thru the clear bass) at the moment of impact!

 

[GBassNorth]

Why not. And in VP the bridge pickup is indeed closer to the bridge than on an original. Also some of the Fenderbirds look like the pickups are even closer together, also on some Greco's.

Anyway, I wouldn't put them back to back 'though. A bit closer only. Ask the owners of the originals the exact locations and work from there.

Good point! I could just check my Greco IV to see where the pups are placed. I may have to account for the scale length difference as well since they are a bit less than the standard 34” scale.

 

[JJR58]

They made a brown 'smoke' RI in 1998 which has the slide-in pu - pretty cool. I just saw this and noticed they up-graded the classic Dano bridge with brass saddles...
View attachment 4919094
...I did the same thing in my '68 Coral (Dano) Deluxe Bass -
View attachment 4919096

 

[PhR75]

Geezer used the John Birch basses until "Never Say Die" album in 1978 on which he used a lot Glenn Hughes' old Rickenbacker 4001FG.They swapped basses, Glenn got a Thunderbird from Geezer if the interview from Bass Player mag is correct. What model etc.? Somebody could invite Glenn to this group...
Anyway, he still used the John Birch bass for the tour (the striped SG -style in a pic JIO posted) until he got this JayDee bass:

I also like that the Sabs were a very colorful bunch of blokes in the seventies. Geezer's fashion sense especially was very eccentric. As is his bass playing.

 

[MCF]

Can I just say what a delight you guys and gals are?

Coming from years on TGP and Gearspace, Talkbass seems like a breath of fresh COVID-free air. You guys give me hope for humanity—maybe bassists should’ve been running the world all along.

I’m sure I’ll post again before the New Year but just incase, my best wishes, gratitude and ‘Happy Birthdays’ to all of you!

Back at you!

 

[WillyW]

Does anyone here own an Ibanez Destroyer bass? There were several models apparently but if I could choose I'd get the DT670 with two humbuckers (I wonder why). Not necessarily in black 'though.

Link Removed

The pickups are the same they used on a Roadstar II RB950 bass which has been on my endless G.A.S. list for a while. The Destroyer would be nice especially as I don't play metal.

A few players here own Explorer-type basses, so you might get a few replies. Me, I owned one for a short time, with TBird type humbuckers, couldn't tell you which ones though. Only owned one Explorer, the Epi Korina model and didn't mod it, so can compare with other electronics.

You'll probably get more replies here.

The Explorer Bass Club | Page 31 | TalkBass.com

I had an Ibanez destroyer guitar, and it rivals a Gibson Explorer. Sold it to a friend because I have a Gibson I prefer.

I made my own TelExploder bass and it’s featured on the top of that linked bass club page.

I much prefer an explorer shape bass than a guitar.

 

[RedVee]

All this constant focus on pup locations and pup types has me wanting to try something on the next build, most likely an NR bird…
I have a set of VP pickups. I’m leaning on placing the neck pup on the NR build at the same location as the stock VP bird. However, the bridge pup (which I rarely ever solo, but do blend in to a small degree for bite or definition) I’m thinking I might bump that a tad closer to the neck to thicken up the mids and still keep the majority of the grit and grind. Might be an interesting sound.
Anyone try that yet or have any thoughts on it?

Don’t forget to check the wiki

dig this view….cold and rainy…
rear end DONE….
View attachment 4919026

Beautiful. I’d sit there and say to myself “Ah, it’s a triumph”

 

[RedVee]

Geezer used the John Birch basses until "Never Say Die" album in 1978 on which he used a lot Glenn Hughes' old Rickenbacker 4001FG.They swapped basses, Glenn got a Thunderbird from Geezer if the interview from Bass Player mag is correct. What model etc.? Somebody could invite Glenn to this group...
Anyway, he still used the John Birch bass for the tour (the striped SG -style in a pic JIO posted) until he got this JayDee bass:

I also like that the Sabs were a very colorful bunch of blokes in the seventies. Geezer's fashion sense especially was very eccentric. As is his bass playing.

I have read that Hughes has tried to get the Rick back from Geezer but no luck

 

[GBassNorth]

Don’t forget to check the wiki

Good reminder, haven’t done that yet since I don’t have the body style nailed down, but will do when the time comes.

 

[BklynKen]

Good reminder, haven’t done that yet since I don’t have the body style nailed down, but will do when the time comes.

BC Rich Ironbird. You know you want to.

 

[RedVee]

BC Rich Ironbird. You know you want to.

Or a back up Dragonbird?

 

[WillyW]

When they call me "sir," I slug 'em. Nobody calls me sir and lives.

I always say "Sir was my grandfather."

I tell people "I was an enlisted swine, not an officer. Don't call me sir".

I’m a civilian now, I call people Sir that deserve it.

known too many shagers that deserved a bullet instead of a bar.

 

[KaraQ]

dig this view….cold and rainy…
rear end DONE….
View attachment 4919026

Today's weather:

....too much like TN

 

[JJR58]

Let’s take a drive to see Geo.

 

[TBird1958]

Today's weather:

View attachment 4919205


....too much like TN

Looks like Seattle! Could be a bit darker gray tho!

 

[TBird1958]

Let’s take a drive to see Geo.

View attachment 4919215

You're making me really want to come on back for another visit, so beautiful there.
Have a good visit with Geo!

 

[GBassNorth]

BC Rich Ironbird. You know you want to.

The Iron Bird is for posers, real metal basses have at least 11 sharp points, the BC only has 9.

 

[JJR58]

You're making me really want to come on back for another visit, so beautiful there.
Have a good visit with Geo!

Ok.
Now i'm all Twin Peaks on The Pacific NW.

 

[BklynKen]

The Iron Bird is for posers, real metal basses have at least 11 sharp points, the BC only has 9.

I hang my head in shame.

 

[GonePlaid]

Doesn't look to me to be a particularly ugly Thunderbird. Why the bag over it's head?

Headstock catcher. Seriously, it provides a little extra protection in that gigbag.