Thunderbird Club

[Nocturnal]

mid '60s MIJ Damian - gold-foil pu and metal pg/control-plate.

View attachment 5034373

It reminds me a bit of the St. George Tbird style bass.

I often see it ref'd as "trans-black", but yeah.

That is how I have seen it listed as well.

 

[JIO]

It reminds me a bit of the St. George Tbird style bass.

That is how I have seen it listed as well.

That's because it is the same bass made in the same factory, branded St George. "St George" was branded by Fujigen for Anthony George who had music stores in NY and CA called "Georges Music" in the '60s. The Japanese factories cranked out thousands of guitars/basses then and branded them with many different names for distribution throughout the world.

 

[JIO]

you're readin' my mail...

 

[JIO]

Did another sound check on all three birds. This time using I'm a Man by The Spencer Davis Group. The entire bassline is on the E string, so pretty low.

(VP)
(CP)
(IV)

They sound especially gnarly if all three are played at once.

 

[Stealth57]

They sound especially gnarly if all three are played at once.

That gives me an idea for a new render

 

[Nocturnal]

That's because it is the same bass made in the same factory, branded St George. "St George" was branded by Fujigen for Anthony George who had music stores in NY and CA called "Georges Music" in the '60s. The Japanese factories cranked out thousands of guitars/basses then and branded them with many different names for distribution throughout the world.

Yeah, their guitars look almost identical to many other companies offerings from that era. Minor cosmetic differences but basically the same guitars.

 

[Thumper]

Did another sound check on all three birds. This time using I'm a Man by The Spencer Davis Group. The entire bassline is on the E string, so pretty low.

(VP)
(CP)
(IV)

What PUP and tone settings? Same type/brand strings?

 

[JIO]

Yeah, their guitars look almost identical to many other companies offerings from that era. Minor cosmetic differences but basically the same guitars.

Many Japanese guitar making factories in the '60s were originally furniture makers and many were connected in one way or another making guitars/basses starting in 1960 producing/supplying parts, pu's, bodies, necks etc to each other. Branding was only a distribution need unlike Fender, Gibson, Guild, Gretsch, Rickenbacker etc. So most '60s Japanese guitars/basses were branded with multiple names. The one I just bought (w/o a hs badge) was sold under multiple brand-names, including St George. I think mine was called a "Stadium" (no pics - only going by memory) - but I found a nice chrome "Tempo" badge on eBay (like this one) - so it'll be a Tempo!

 

[Stealth57]

What PUP and tone settings? Same type/brand strings?

Dimed both pickups and tone for all three. VP has SIT Power Flats, CP has EBCF, and the IV has La Bella black tapes.

 

[Count Bassie]

1964 Thunderbird IV

One of mine too. I wanted my daughter, when she was doing ballet, to choreograph a dance to this tune. Oh well... Yep.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

That's because it is the same bass made in the same factory, branded St George. "St George" was branded by Fujigen for Anthony George who had music stores in NY and CA called "Georges Music" in the '60s. The Japanese factories cranked out thousands of guitars/basses then and branded them with many different names for distribution throughout the world.

I bet they did the guitars and basses for Lafayette Electronics, as well. I always wanted one of those.

 

[RedVee]

That is very cool. Same ashtray as on my Sears Silvertone 1490 and Dave’s National. I’d rock that any day.

And my Challenge

 

[JIO]

I bet they did the guitars and basses for Lafayette Electronics, as well. I always wanted one of those.

Yep - like Silvertone for Sears, Lafayette was sold through Radio Shack. Invalid Link Removed

These are Lafayette basses - made by Teisco.

Both had the same whacky hs shape - different fret markers.

 

[JIO]

And my Challenge

You probably see cool vintage Manton's in your neck of the woods right?

 

[Gaolee]

1964 Thunderbird IV

With rounds and a pick. It is a great sound.

 

[GBassNorth]

Is that related to "Well bless your heart"?

...and "isn't that special"...

Yep, all interchangeable.

 

[Gaolee]

"Well, you know people who buy expensive instruments are compensating for their lack of ability."
This hits a little close to home.

I embrace it. And buy cheap ones, too. Same compensation, because, at some point, it just doesn't matter. And I don't give a rat's ass what anybody else thinks.

 

[Gaolee]

Did another sound check on all three birds. This time using I'm a Man by The Spencer Davis Group. The entire bassline is on the E string, so pretty low.

(VP)
(CP)
(IV)

I liked the CP best of the three recordings.

 

[JIO]

And just today:
Not sure what to make of this statement.

I have long-time friends I jam with (very good musicians) who never talk about gear. We mostly just play/jam, and otherwise talk about anything but gear. I do own and play vintage basses, but don't own or play expensive boutique basses - but regardless, if anyone said that to me, and knowing they are posers... I probably would be less, shall we say, 'neutral' in response.

 

[Gaolee]

That's because it is the same bass made in the same factory, branded St George. "St George" was branded by Fujigen for Anthony George who had music stores in NY and CA called "Georges Music" in the '60s. The Japanese factories cranked out thousands of guitars/basses then and branded them with many different names for distribution throughout the world.

I have two "Reuther" drum kits. The shells are thin three ply Luan mahogany, just like a whole lot of other drums made back in the 1960s and 1970s. Pearl and Tama probably used the same shells. Mine are officially Taiwanese, but the shells are probably Japanese. They were intended to be cheap junk, but they sound great to me. They are easy to tune, stay tuned, and project as they should. I love 'em and have no urge to play anything else. Same kind of thing as Japanese made guitars and basses from the same period.

Only thing is that they are a little delicate. Oh, well. There were a zillion made, and if anything happens, finding cheap replacements is pretty easy.