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Thunderbird Club

#23,922
BassJuju said:
I decided to take the bird to practice last night. We are adding more rock to our set and the primary focus was the new tunes. I also wanted to get a feel for how it fit in the mix. I had a great time. I had the bird dimed and the amp rolled up pretty good too, they loved the tone. I may never get to take anything else every again. Suffice it to say, the bird rocked!! Love it and now I want more. IS that normal? :smug:

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Might I ask how tall you are? Seeing that picture makes me think I wouldn't have any issues playing them. So is the only difference between the T-bird IV and the T-bird Classic Pro the neck?
 
#23,923
BassJuju said:
I decided to take the bird to practice last night. We are adding more rock to our set and the primary focus was the new tunes. I also wanted to get a feel for how it fit in the mix. I had a great time. I had the bird dimed and the amp rolled up pretty good too, they loved the tone. I may never get to take anything else every again. Suffice it to say, the bird rocked!! Love it and now I want more. IS that normal? :smug:
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Yessir. Perfectly normal for we chosen few Bird lovers!
 
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#23,924
rodv66 said:
Well, I'm 6'4, so more proportional. Still hard to get dress shirts in that length, with an 18 1/2 inch neck
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I can sympathize. I have a 17 inch neck. When I find a dress shirt that fits both neck and wingspan, it's like wearing a circus tent. And, there's usually two of 'em on a shelf somewhere hidden in the back. Being a CroMagnon primate has advantages and disadvantages. I'm built like a skinny old man. I have to buy shirts made for a blimp or an Adonis. It makes no sense.
 
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#23,925
willsellout said:
Might I ask how tall you are? Seeing that picture makes me think I wouldn't have any issues playing them. So is the only difference between the T-bird IV and the T-bird Classic Pro the neck?
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That picture shows the headstock up position that I tried to explain. He has the bass higher than I usually do, but then he's playing with a pick, which I usually don't do. Plus, I beat on an upright regularly, which means I like my right arm dangling a bit. The good thing about a Thunderbird is that once you figure out the balance, you can put it nearly anywhere and it will mostly stay there. It doesn't make you play it one way or another like so many other bass guitars do.

The T-Bird IV is a bolt-on neck and if you get an older Korean made one, the necks on those are huge. 1.75" at the nut and chunky. I don't know what the newer Chinese made ones are like - I think they may be thinner and more similar to a J neck or neck-through Thunderbird. A Classic Pro is essentially the same as a Gibson only with a poly finish instead of nitro. The bodies may be a hair thinner as well. Just to confuse things further, there are Pro IV Thunderbirds out there. Those are neck-through but they have an active preamp.
 
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#23,926
FB_IMG_1483629944383.jpg
MY 2001 Gibson "Butcherbird" getting some stage time. Deepened cutaway, Dimarzio Model G under chrome in the neck position, Duncan custom shop in the bridge along with a Badbird II Bridge. Killer bass.
 
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#23,928
Gaolee said:
I can sympathize. I have a 17 inch neck. When I find a dress shirt that fits both neck and wingspan, it's like wearing a circus tent. And, there's usually two of 'em on a shelf somewhere hidden in the back. Being a CroMagnon primate has advantages and disadvantages. I'm built like a skinny old man. I have to buy shirts made for a blimp or an Adonis. It makes no sense.
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Cro-Magnon just refers to a regional population of early anatomically modern humans.
 
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#23,931
willsellout said:
Are there any particular straps that people seem to like with the T-birds? Might be a stupid question but I don't think any of my straps are long enough so I might have to purchase a new one. I'm assuming with the strap locks are a good idea for the rear button?
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I don't remember what kind of straps I use. Just whatever, adjusted as long as it will go. I put strap locks on the 1991, but they are more of a pain than they are worth. None of the other 'Birds have strap locks, and I probably won't put strap locks on the BumperBird when it's done.
 
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#23,932
Gaolee said:
Ah, now there you go being all scientific and stuff. Burst my poetic bubble!

;)
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The only real differences between a Cro-Magnon and someone living today are that Cro-Magnons were slightly more physically robust than the modern average, and had slightly larger brains.

Neanderthals were living in Europe around the same time. And were much different (short and stocky, though interestingly they also had somewhat larger brains than modern humans).
 
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#23,933
Gaolee said:
I don't remember what kind of straps I use. Just whatever, adjusted as long as it will go. I put strap locks on the 1991, but they are more of a pain than they are worth. None of the other 'Birds have strap locks, and I probably won't put strap locks on the BumperBird when it's done.
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I find that with the strap button on the back of the neck heel, my T-bird doesn't really need straplocks.
 
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#23,934
Korladis said:
The only real differences between a Cro-Magnon and someone living today are that Cro-Magnons were slightly more physically robust than the modern average, and had slightly larger brains.

Neanderthals were living in Europe around the same time. And were much different (short and stocky, though interestingly they also had somewhat larger brains than modern humans).
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Enough with reality already! Doggone educated people who read and remember things and stuff! How am I going to explain how a skinny old guy can have a huge neck and longish arms now? And then there's the descending hairline...
 
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#23,937
Instead of strap locks on the TBird (I use the Schallers in my 88 Charvel) I tried those twist on, pick-shaped dealies that I think come from D'Addario. Getting them on: easy. Getting them off: easy once I destroyed them. Now I use beer washers like those found in Grolsch bottles. Easy on, easy off, and secure.

My strap is a nylon Planet Waves slightly padded, 3" wide one I got from Sam Ash. I've been pretty happy with it, except that I need it to be a little longer. I am among the tallest in the club at 6'6".
 
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