Thunderbird Club

[rumblejunkie]

I'm GASing real hard for this stupid thing. I have spent very little time with T-bird types. Not even sure it would be comfortable for me to play. I just love the tone of T-birds in general and Lull's pickups in particular. It seems like it would be a long reach to the nut on these basses on a strap?

Thats cool . Pricey , but cool none the less .

 

[rumblejunkie]

Only if you are shorter than 5ft.

Seriously, try one, they aren't longer, they just look it, I find them easier to handle than my jazz

I never got that "Oh the necks too long" , thing . I read that Lemmy used a T bird once upon a time , but found the reach too much . He asked Gibson if the could make him one with a shorter neck but never got a reply . This was from an interview I found online somewhere but cant remember where unfortunately .

 

[Korladis]

I never got that "Oh the necks too long" , thing . I read that Lemmy used a T bird once upon a time , but found the reach too much . He asked Gibson if the could make him one with a shorter neck but never got a reply . This was from an interview I found online somewhere but cant remember where unfortunately .

Eh, between my Rickenbackers and my T-bird, the latter definitely feels like a longer reach. It might not actually be, but it feels like it is.

 

[Christine]

I never got that "Oh the necks too long" , thing . I read that Lemmy used a T bird once upon a time , but found the reach too much . He asked Gibson if the could make him one with a shorter neck but never got a reply . This was from an interview I found online somewhere but cant remember where unfortunately .

Lemmy came from Benllech (near me) what do you expect

 

[Gaolee]

I'm GASing real hard for this stupid thing. I have spent very little time with T-bird types. Not even sure it would be comfortable for me to play. I just love the tone of T-birds in general and Lull's pickups in particular. It seems like it would be a long reach to the nut on these basses on a strap?

A Thunderbird has different ergos that the usual clone type bass, which means there's a learning curve. Or maybe not, in the case of some of us who naturally find the way you can have a low picking hand and high fretting hand ideal. It's an easy reach and more comfortable if it works for you. It's not a long reach at all with the neck tipped up. If you swing the bass around to your hip, it's an easy reach even if you don't have it tipped up.

If that bass has chosen you, you have been chosen. That's how you become a Thunderbird player. It's kismet.

 

[GBassNorth]

Had some shots done for the band I have been with since last September.Invalid Link Removed

Great pic, but which is it - a Frampton or a Beatles tribute band?

 

[Gaolee]

I got told the 2001 was "rude" last night. That made me happy.

 

[JJR58]

A Thunderbird has different ergos that the usual clone type bass, which means there's a learning curve. Or maybe not, in the case of some of us who naturally find the way you can have a low picking hand and high fretting hand ideal. It's an easy reach and more comfortable if it works for you. It's not a long reach at all with the neck tipped up. If you swing the bass around to your hip, it's an easy reach even if you don't have it tipped up.

If that bass has chosen you, you have been chosen. That's how you become a Thunderbird player. It's kismet.

I've got long skinny gorilla arms, (i know, nothing skinny bout gorilla arms), but, i'm not a low gun slinging type of player.
But i could get use to it i'm sure.

 

[willsellout]

A Thunderbird has different ergos that the usual clone type bass, which means there's a learning curve. Or maybe not, in the case of some of us who naturally find the way you can have a low picking hand and high fretting hand ideal. It's an easy reach and more comfortable if it works for you. It's not a long reach at all with the neck tipped up. If you swing the bass around to your hip, it's an easy reach even if you don't have it tipped up.

If that bass has chosen you, you have been chosen. That's how you become a Thunderbird player. It's kismet.

Yeah I'm a finger style player and I typically keep my bass centered on my belt line. Not terribly high but not low either. I just sold my Ric. I liked playing that one a bit lower, but the neck prevented me from playing it comfortably. I rarely play with a pick.

So whats the consensus on the Epiphone Classic T bird? Obviously I love the styling but that J neck is a nice feature.

 

[Gaolee]

I've got long skinny gorilla arms, (i know, nothing skinny bout gorilla arms), but, i'm not a low gun slinging type of player.
But i could get use to it i'm sure.

Think of the ergos as more similar to an upright bass than other bass guitars. If you tilt the neck toward the sky, it lets your left hand move easily without bending your wrist, and it lets your right hand move easily without bending your wrist.

 

[Christine]

I've got long skinny gorilla arms, (i know, nothing skinny bout gorilla arms), but, i'm not a low gun slinging type of player.
But i could get use to it i'm sure.

You'll be OK, the non reverse I imagine will hang slightly further back than the reverse because of the strap button on the horn rather than on the back of the body. Just a guess though I've never played one

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah I'm a finger style player and I typically keep my bass centered on my belt line. Not terribly high but not low either. I just sold my Ric. I liked playing that one a bit lower, but the neck prevented me from playing it comfortably. I rarely play with a pick.

So whats the consensus on the Epiphone Classic T bird? Obviously I love the styling but that J neck is a nice feature.

One thing that you will find is that a Thunderbird balances in a way that lets you move the neck up and down to where you want it. With the vestigial upper horn, there's nothing that will push it back down by digging into your body when you rotate it up. I don't play with a pick much, either. I just call it the picking hand to identify which hand I'm talking about.

The general consensus around here is that the Epi Classic lives up to its name. I don't have one, but those who do seem to think it's as good or better than a Gibson.

 

[JJR58]

You'll be OK, the non reverse I imagine will hang slightly further back than the reverse because of the strap button on the horn rather than on the back of the body. Just a guess though I've never played one

I do prefer the reverse style.

 

[JJR58]

Think of the ergos as more similar to an upright bass than other bass guitars. If you tilt the neck toward the sky, it lets your left hand move easily without bending your wrist, and it lets your right hand move easily without bending your wrist.

That totally makes sense.

 

[willsellout]

One thing that you will find is that a Thunderbird balances in a way that lets you move the neck up and down to where you want it. With the vestigial upper horn, there's nothing that will push it back down by digging into your body when you rotate it up. I don't play with a pick much, either. I just call it the picking hand to identify which hand I'm talking about.

The general consensus around here is that the Epi Classic lives up to its name. I don't have one, but those who do seem to think it's as good or better than a Gibson.

Cool thank you for the answer. Ever since I heard the Lull t-bird pickups I've been obsessed with the sound of these basses. Never touched one in person though. I should probably head to Portland at some point to lay hands on one.

 

[Gaolee]

Cool thank you for the answer. Ever since I heard the Lull t-bird pickups I've been obsessed with the sound of these basses. Never touched one in person though. I should probably head to Portland at some point to lay hands on one.

I go down to the Long Beach peninsula on occasion. It won't happen again for a while. Too bad. I could have brought a 'Bird down that way to let you try somewhere in Ilwaco. I'm pretty sure it would get some odd looks to be messing with a bass guitar in a coffee shop or something, but it would be worth it. I'm convinced that 'Bird people are born as much as made. Picking up a Thunderbird was like coming home for me. Other people don't get along with them at all.

 

[veebass]

Great pic, but which is it - a Frampton or a Beatles tribute band?

Thanks, neither. Pretty eclectic collection of rock classics, fair percentage Aussie Bands.
In fact, the closest we get to either of those bands is the Hoodoo Gurus version of A Hard Days Night.

 

[Christine]

I do prefer the reverse style.

Take that as a big hint I would, you've heard your calling, do it you'll never look back and never look cooler. A Tbird even makes me look.. a long pause for thought here and I can't say cool, I'll have to settle for more appealing

 

[Haji]

I never got that "Oh the necks too long" , thing . I read that Lemmy used a T bird once upon a time , but found the reach too much . He asked Gibson if the could make him one with a shorter neck but never got a reply . This was from an interview I found online somewhere but cant remember where unfortunately .

He was under the influence much of his life. I'm sure the acid made the neck look much longer to him.

 

[JJR58]

Take that as a big hint I would, you've heard your calling, do it you'll never look back and never look cooler. A Tbird even makes me look.. a long pause for thought here and I can't say cool, I'll have to settle for more appealing

That'll probably be the same sort of post from me once I get one.