Thunderbird Club

[Engle]

What???!!!!
I just picked up a set of the Xtra light version of those.
30 bucks.

Those are $56CAN on Amazon, so about $50USD. I’m actually thinking about trying a lighter set.

 

[Engle]

My experience is limited in terms of actual Gibsons, but the original run is the most aggressive I've heard. But you referenced some Epis, too. The VP (nee 60s Thunderbird) is very aggressive. If anything, the Greco is more aggressive than either of the above. But that original Gibson plays like a dream. Everything but the removable headstock is perfect. Why Gibson can't and won't simply reproduce that is beyond me. Epi, too, but they came close with the VP.

(I haven't (AFAIK) heard or played the new Gibson NR, the Nikki model, or the latest signature models).

I don’t think Gibson wants to put out any more basses with skinny mahogany necks.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I don’t think Gibson wants to put out any more basses with skinny mahogany necks.

I did exempt removable headstocks.

 

[PhR75]

Another new song from my alter ego. Tom Heslin sang it, some of you here might know him. A singer and a bass player from Chicago, a great guy. He also wrote the vocal melody. I played the guitars, basses (a T-Bird!) and multitracked the CS-5.

 

[Nocturnal]

Another new song from my alter ego. Tom Heslin sang it, some of you here might know him. A singer and a bass player from Chicago, a great guy. He also wrote the vocal melody. I played the guitars, basses (a T-Bird!) and multitracked the CS-5.

Good stuff!! Tom is talented. Familiar with him from the Last Bass Outpost.

 

[RedVee]

I'm the opposite, started out with a pick but played with fingers for years, (never slapped much though) and relearned pickstyle over the past couple of years. I'm still better with my fingers and probably always will be but the pick sounds great and I've improved a real lot.

Been learning guitar and ukulele with a pick as a way to get used to pick again. I tried again in my Gibson and my Challenge using a pick and it felt much more comfortable. probably an odd approach but it seems to be working for me so far
:crossed fingers:

 

[PhR75]

Good stuff!! Tom is talented. Familiar with him from the Last Bass Outpost.

That is where I "met" him first too.

 

[RedVee]

I have a set of pyramids that I like a lot on a classic pro. Had them make a custom gauge set 40,55,70,100.
They sounded great right away with no break in period and balanced tone across the strings. I think the lighter gauge solves the dead sounding E string that is a common complaint on these.
This is dark sounding bass, so it sounds good with the tone all the way up played with a felt pick. Classic country tones.

Also have a set of optima RB flats on a Vintage Pro. These are very glassy smooth feeling. Also sounded great fight out of the pack. VP is a brighter sounding bass, so tone gets set to about 4-5 for a similar country sound.

Two sets of GHS precision flats. One on a Burny LP that just doesn't sound right at all. The other is on a jaguar PJ, and it is great after a considerable break in period.

Bonus: Purple silks on all of them.

The other VP has Roto stainless which I didn't like playing by myself, but sounds good with a rock or punk band.

And the custom build whitebird has nickel superbrights. My go to roundwound for most anything.

Been reading about Ricks recently and a couple of people of stated that the Optima RB is a reissue of the original flats used on the Ricks, Maxima I think they said.
(Optima bought out Maxima evidently)

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Another new song from my alter ego. Tom Heslin sang it, some of you here might know him. A singer and a bass player from Chicago, a great guy. He also wrote the vocal melody. I played the guitars, basses (a T-Bird!) and multitracked the CS-5.

Nice! Beatles an influence?

 

[PhR75]

Nice! Beatles an influence?

Thanks! Actually no, the working title when I wrote the guitar part was "Terry Reid Graffiti" because I tried to get that vibe he had plus also some Zep thing. That late summer 1975 feel. Looks pretentious, I know, and the working title was horrible too but you gotta name the ideas somehow.
But I can see the Beatles thing too and take it as a huge compliment.

 

[TBird1958]

Another new song from my alter ego. Tom Heslin sang it, some of you here might know him. A singer and a bass player from Chicago, a great guy. He also wrote the vocal melody. I played the guitars, basses (a T-Bird!) and multitracked the CS-5.

That is where I "met" him first too.

Tom is a great guy, very talented bassist! I think he's playing in a Who tribute band currently, pretty sure I first met him on The Dudepit.

 

[MCF]

I'm the opposite, started out with a pick but played with fingers for years, (never slapped much though) and relearned pickstyle over the past couple of years. I'm still better with my fingers and probably always will be but the pick sounds great and I've improved a real lot.

Exactly this. Although I haven’t improved a real lot with the pick. But with fingers, I can (sort of) gallop with the best of them.

 

[PhR75]

All my "alter ego" songs are also in bandcamp. The sound should be better there. They are also downloadable. End of commercial with apologies.
O'Man

 

[MCF]

Yes, I think you are correct about some early Tele's.

Ok. So now I’m curious. Is the Boss’s Esquire/Tele hybrid a pine body? If so, I need to rethink where I stand re Pine. Other than Neil’s Old black, Bruce’s Tele is the best sounding guitar on the planet.

 

[MCF]

Overdrive still sitting on a trailer at another location here in town for yet another day.... Now Monday delivery. I was polite again today, but asked the guy if they could just have the post office pick up so I could get it in a reasonable time....

It’s only getting worse. Amazon laid off thousands this last week. Our delivery system is completely broken. Patience is a virtue. It wouldn’t be so bad if we had brick and mortar alternatives. But we don’t anymore.

 

[MCF]

Yeah, I PM’d him a couple of weeks ago

I’m pretty sure he knows we all care and have been concerned. He truly is a Brother.

 

[MCF]

Dead serious. Fortunately he has a large plot of land and not many neighbors, so if he wanted to he could probably get away with clearing dead stuff with a bow saw, a chain saw might draw a bit of attention though. But if he does clear anything he would need to figure out what to do with it, a controlled burn permit during a drought is pretty dicey and just stacking it all up in a big pile gets pretty easy for the airplane and helicopter spotters to see. Yes, they have those for both conservation and tax compliance. Good luck trying to dig a drainage trench or putting in a swimming pool, pond or large patio, they see everything.

Getting outta here is the plan, just taking much longer than planned.

I have a 1/2 acre. If it’s on my property, I still need to clear it with them before using a chainsaw. If it’s on their land, I need a permit which can take months to get. Fire risk be damned. It really makes no sense. But after all the cuts during the last administration, there is hardly anyone there to talk to.

 

[MCF]

I don’t think Gibson wants to put out any more basses with skinny mahogany necks.

But I think the Simmons and Brown are 1.5 at the nut. No? And if the noise turns out to happen about a Reverse with the NR hardware, I’ll be shocked if they don’t keep the 1.5 nut for the Reverse. But that being said, I’ve adapted to every neck on all my TBirds. It makes no difference to me. YMMV.

 

[bobyoung53]

Has anyone here tried a Rex Brown thunderbird?

 

[MCF]

No, I bet you aren't. Get out while you can!

Never. Second generation born and raised. California is a beautiful state. Much as I’ve wanted to leave for New Zealand, Scotland or Canada, we’re staying put. I have a nice place in the mountains and will soon be selling the place in the city. The Zombies will never find us here.