Thunderbird Club

[Thumper]

I kinda came to a similar conclusion on my BaCH II. I really wanted a IV but just couldn’t bring myself to the point of carving up a rare pristine BaCH II to get there. So this is happening instead…
View attachment 4941905

Have you given details on this before. Body is? Neck is (make, heel size, nut width, radius)?

 

[JJR58]

Nah. I don't need another ban. PM sent.

You've been banned before?

 

[TBird1958]

Folks are slow on the uptake. Where’s Marshall when you need him. Said TT surprise in black and no one picks it out of the TTT photos. So, here it is in more obvious fashion. Still has the stickers on the pickups and plastic on the PG and swimming pool cover.

View attachment 4941832

And, yes, it fits in the triangular Epi case that came with my CP.

Is this the one that belonged to Will?
Regardless, it's a nice VP, great score there Dave!

 

[Blazer]

Well, how does one describe inspiration, I always loved Paul Weller and both The Jam and the Style council. He's bar none one of my favorite songwriters.

So yesterday, while watching a documentary about The Jam, I decided to see if I could write something which could have been from the "In the city" album, while also recalling songs like "Peacock suit"

The instruments used were my Yamaha PSR 1700 keyboard, my Acoustic from that same brand, my Vester Telecaster copy and my self-made bass, with a set of very dead and rubbery sounding strings.

As for the lyrics, I guess anybody who goes through a midlife crisis will recognize what they're saying.

Do as your father and grandfather did
walk in line with all the other kids
I always thought that I knew better
Escape from the mould
Break out into the big wide world
Pay no heed to what I was told

I'm just ordinary, I'm only normal
Just a man living in a miner's town
Doomed to the status quo
Of repeating what my father did
Working myself to death to support my wife and kids

And I see the man I don't want to be
I see the man I don't want to be
I see that man in my looking glass

No, I would never grow up to be one of them
I was sure I could run away and explore the land
But reality caught up with me
My destiny was so clear to see
There was no way for me to run
From what I would be from day one.

I'm just ordinary, I'm only normal
Just a man living in a miner's town
Doomed to the status quo
Of repeating what my father did
Working myself to death to support my wife and kids

And I see the man I don't want to be
I see the man I don't want to be
I see that man in my looking glass

I see the man I don't want to be
I see the man I don't want to be
I see him there in my looking glass

Destiny is a cruel mistress
She grabs you by the throat
As soon as the gray hairs appeared
I'm sure she enjoys to gloat
I hoped for better, it was impossible to achieve
As the years caught up with me
I can only sigh in grief

And I see the man I don't want to be
I see the man I don't want to be
I see that man in my looking glass

I see the man I don't want to be
I see the man I don't want to be
I see him oh so clearly...

 

[Stealth57]

Is this the one that belonged to Will?
Regardless, it's a nice VP, great score there Dave!

No, that is the one that might, depending on cost, get the Lulls. Travel has gotten in the way of figuring out a good shipping time. This one was in the City and @JIO graciously offered to be my backup if I couldn't pick it up in a timely fashion. At only $450, I couldn't let it sit long or someone would have snatched it up. Another case of someone not really knowing what things are worth. But then again, the seller said he prefers a 6 string bass...

 

[Haans]

Strings! We finally headed back to the rehearsal space after a long break, and I got to test drive my new Non-Reverse. It's still got stock strings, I have no idea which strings Gibson use, and I was slightly underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, it's hot and sounds great, there's a whole lot of treble, but lacking lower mids (I'm guessing). Missing the thickness if you will. It reminded me of what I experienced when putting a set of cheap strings on my P. Turning down the bridge pickup and the treble a bit brought me halfway there. Have you had the same experience? Any suggestions for strings that will bring out the full spectre? And perhaps tame the highs a smidge?

 

[Engle]

Folks are slow on the uptake. Where’s Marshall when you need him. Said TT surprise in black and no one picks it out of the TTT photos. So, here it is in more obvious fashion. Still has the stickers on the pickups and plastic on the PG and swimming pool cover.

View attachment 4941832

And, yes, it fits in the triangular Epi case that came with my CP.

Sweet! Black drives me crazy in terms of fingerprints and keeping it clean, but it sure looks great, especially on a VP.

 

[TBird1958]

quick initial physical comparison with the 68 (have not even tuned up the slack for strings yet) is a very close weight balance ratio to the original and a somewhat (not bad) bulkier feel to the body that could be partly due to the lack of belly cut. That said, the neck gets REALLY close..
really nice bass…….being as rare as the seem to be, other than for the pup where I’m thinking a 70’s sidewinder, I’ll leave it stock and perform the mod in a fully reversible manner….can’t wait to plug it in…

The neck on mine is very close in shape etc to the real deal, just a little more wood at the nut, otherwise it's right there and very nice to play!

Mine has a tummy cut and is quite thin, there were some variations in the three production batches, the EMG installed in mine a rather detestable thing tho, sounds like cack. Will try to get up to Lull's next Thursday AM to buy a real pickup.

 

[Stealth57]

Let me apologize for soliciting another string debate, but I would love to get some opinions on strings for my new VP. I am not a fan of round wounds, though the originals do sound good, because I have a busted up left hand and hate that string noise as I sloppily move around the fret board.

I have La Bella black tapes on my IV and EBCF on the CP. I love the feel of both but would like to try something else (SIT Power Flats?) that would also be a good choice for the Probucker 760's. And if they happen to have purple silks, all the better. Let the flinging begin

 

[dagrev]

In total agreement. It might not be as much 'fun' for the demo-er to play a P or J or(preferably)a 'Bird, but at least most people have a fairly good idea what the bass sounds like. Now. Play the same line with different settings on the ________(amp, effect,?)so we can judge that. As I've said b4, I'm "auditioning" the thing-y, not the player.
End similar rant.

Amen!

 

[Stealth57]

Sweet! Black drives me crazy in terms of fingerprints and keeping it clean, but it sure looks great, especially on a VP.

OCD will have my sprayer of cleaner and micro fiber towel at the ready

 

[GonePlaid]

You've been banned before?

Once. Coupla/few years ago.

 

[dagrev]

Andy Field of Mesa, who was the designer at Genz-Benz, and Jeff Genzler co-designed the new pedals. Andy solicited opinions over in the Mesa thread and received some good suggestions.

For in your face distortion, this is a nice, reasonably priced option.
View attachment 4942110

I'm sure they sound good if that's the plan, but would be way more than I would ever want. What I like about the 4 On The Floor is it can be a clean or driven as you want, and the nice thing is the overdrive doesn't sound like a second sound on top of the bass signal, which seems to be an issue with some such OD and distortion. This sounds really organic and not at all like an effect added into the signal/tone mix. They really did a great job. You can even use just the clean vol as a boost to overdrive the pre in an amp. Haven't tried or needed to try that yet. The only complaint/wish thus far is it would have been nice if it had a way to save a couple settings to switch between or in case a knob accidentally got moved. But it's not that important. I'm actually shocked how much I love this pedal.

 

[dagrev]

You've been banned before?

I don't remember it. I think he should do it again.

 

[GonePlaid]

Let me apologize for soliciting another string debate, but I would love to get some opinions on strings for my new VP. I am not a fan of round wounds, though the originals do sound good, because I have a busted up left hand and hate that string noise as I sloppily move around the fret board.

I have La Bella black tapes on my IV and EBCF on the CP. I love the feel of both but would like to try something else (SIT Power Flats?) that would also be a good choice for the Probucker 760's. And if they happen to have purple silks, all the better. Let the flinging begin

I'm happy(still)with the Power Flats on the 67 NR. Strings by Mail has them for ~$28 + shipping($7?).

 

[GonePlaid]

I don't remember it. I think he should do it again.

Thanks. No!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

The neck on mine is very close in shape etc to the real deal, just a little more wood at the nut, otherwise it's right there and very nice to play!

Mine has a tummy cut and is quite thin, there were some variations in the three production batches, the EMG installed in mine a rather detestable thing tho, sounds like cack. Will try to get up to Lull's next Thursday AM to buy a real pickup.

awesome pics, from what I can see mine is thinner at the nut unless 64s came with thinner necks than 68s…I’ll post a few pics….good for you on the stock belly cut….one thing I can say is the neck plays like butter with an incredibly low action from what seems like stock fairly inexpensive rounds….won’t be messing with the neck/strings anytime soon…

 

[BklynKen]

Julia's back with some Chuck Rainey bass lines.

 

[GonePlaid]

Julia's back with some Chuck Rainey bass lines.

Love to see and hear her on a 'Bird.

 

[BklynKen]

Love to see and hear her on a 'Bird.

Yeah. She seems to really love her Sandbergs, though.