Thunderbird Club

[BklynKen]

Hi guys! I'm sorry if this has been brought up already, but I searched and didn't find anything about it.

Does anyone have experience in both Non Reverse models (2013 in pelham blue and the new ones)? How do they compare?

I really like the chrome hardware on the new ones, but something in the look of the 2013 version makes me think they look better, but I don't know what it is

I think it's the black hardware.

 

[straussenburger]

Ahahaha, it could be

 

[Stealth57]

I always liked the '70s pale natural finished T-birds. ...is the bass-players fly open?

Gotta love any bassline with a shuffle. Working on Some Kind of Wonderful.

 

[TBird1958]

I always liked the '70s pale natural finished T-birds. ...is the bass-players fly open?

That's Paul Champman playing the Non Reverse Firebird - so after Michael Schenker's departure, not the band's high point, though that wouldn't have anything to do with Chapman. Pete Way was an alcoholic so yeah the open fly on his trousers isn't a big surprise, from what I understand his behavior was at least part of why Schenker left the band as he was a rather unpleasant drunk. For a short season UFO was utterly brilliant, the inclusion of Paul Raymond on keys and guitar added to their sound immensely and Schenker's playing was huge, as a teenager I thought him to be worlds better than Jimmy Page, Clapton, etc. I saw them once at the U of W with Blue Oyster Cult just before Schenker left, he was very good that night, Pete, being Pete, pushed his Marshall stack over with his Thunderbird when they finished their set - not his best night on the bass.

 

[TBird1958]

Hi guys! I'm sorry if this has been brought up already, but I searched and didn't find anything about it.

Does anyone have experience in both Non Reverse models (2013 in pelham blue and the new ones)? How do they compare?

I really like the chrome hardware on the new ones, but something in the look of the 2013 version makes me think they look better, but I don't know what it is

The neck of 2013 will have a volute on it, 2023's do not, but the real difference is the pickups, ceramic magnet in the 2013 and alnico in the 2023, they sound closer to the originals.

Shameless video plug of me with my 2021 FF to 3:40 to skip my playing!

 

[MCF]

Ahahaha, it could be

If you’re looking at Pelham Blue ones, the colors are different. The ‘13 is a slightly sparkling finish. The ‘21 is a faded Pelham blue that can look green in certain light (See my Avatar pic). Both finishes are nitrocellulose.

The neck on the ‘13 has a volute under the headstock, the ‘’21 doesn’t. The nuts are the same with, 1.6”. The ‘21 neck feels slightly slimmer, but not really all that noticeably so. The nut on the ‘13 is Corian. The ‘21 has a Graph Tech nut. The ‘13 has the Black Grover Y tuners. The ‘21 has chrome Hipshot Ultralight mini clovers.

The pickups are different. The ‘13 has the black more modern sounding ceramic Tbird plus pickups. The ‘21 has slightly more vintage sounding chrome Alnico pickups. Both give you the Tbird grind.

The bodies on both are mahogany. The necks on both are mahogany set necks. The ‘13 has the black Gibson Three Point bridge (mine in the avatar has a Babicz bridge). The ‘21 has the chrome Gibson Three Point Bridge. The bodies on both have a modest belly cut. I think you’ll find that on average, the ‘13s weigh 9+ pounds. The 21’s seem to come in about a half pound lighter.

There were 400 Pelham Blue ‘13s produced and 400 Burst ‘13s. I’m not sure of the ‘21’s numbers in the three colors. They’re very popular and as far as I can tell, all three colors are still in production.

There is a Pelham Blue ‘13 for sale in England right now:
Link Removed

My recommendation is to get that one and a ‘21 too.

 

[Syd Rayne]

I always liked the '70s pale natural finished T-birds. ...is the bass-players fly open?

For when you gotta feel the thud on your pud, I would guess.

 

[JIO]

For when you gotta feel the thud on your pud, I would guess.

Marks explanation of him being an alcoholic explains everything. Happens to too many musicians.

 

[Syd Rayne]

Wearing a Thunderbird down that low can almost hide a multitude of sins...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

feel for the non techie inclined….seems like you have to be an EE to play/sing music these days…kinda sux…
https://youtube.com/shorts/ayIZVPNQ-VI?feature=share

 

[Syd Rayne]

First we had to deal with buckle rash on a used bass. Now there could be open zipper rash...?

 

[Stealth57]

For when you gotta feel the thud on your pud, I would guess.

Let me be the first to say AHEM

 

[BklynKen]

I think you’ll find that on average, the ‘13s weigh 9+ pounds. The 21’s seem to come in about a half pound lighter.

Wow, I lucked out. My RNR is only around 8 lbs. Great writeup, Marshall.

 

[Stealth57]

feel for the non techie inclined….seems like you have to be an EE to play/sing music these days…kinda sux…
https://youtube.com/shorts/ayIZVPNQ-VI?feature=share

The Magic Man

 

[Syd Rayne]

Let me be the first to say AHEM

Was beginning to think this was a tough crowd.

 

[Stealth57]

First we had to deal with buckle rash on a used bass. Now there could be open zipper rash...?

But where's the rash?

 

[PhR75]

That's Paul Champman playing the Non Reverse Firebird - so after Michael Schenker's departure, not the band's high point, though that wouldn't have anything to do with Chapman. Pete Way was an alcoholic so yeah the open fly on his trousers isn't a big surprise, from what I understand his behavior was at least part of why Schenker left the band as he was a rather unpleasant drunk. For a short season UFO was utterly brilliant, the inclusion of Paul Raymond on keys and guitar added to their sound immensely and Schenker's playing was huge, as a teenager I thought him to be worlds better than Jimmy Page, Clapton, etc. I saw them once at the U of W with Blue Oyster Cult just before Schenker left, he was very good that night, Pete, being Pete, pushed his Marshall stack over with his Thunderbird when they finished their set - not his best night on the bass.

The Chapman era is pretty good too, especially "The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent". Raymond left before that and was replaced by the future Gary Moore sidekick Neil Carter who played also sax besides the keyboard & rhythm guitar duties. He joined so late he didn't play on the album, they keyboards were played by John Sloman (uncredited).

 

[Syd Rayne]

But where's the rash?

It'll buff out with some polish.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Marks explanation of him being an alcoholic explains everything. Happens to too many musicians.

they used to terrorize goody two shoes laugh Rush when on tour together….something tells me a lot of that had to do with Pete…

 

[dagrev]

If you’re looking at Pelham Blue ones, the colors are different. The ‘13 is a slightly sparkling finish. The ‘21 is a faded Pelham blue that can look green in certain light (See my Avatar pic). Both finishes are nitrocellulose.

The neck on the ‘13 has a volute under the headstock, the ‘’21 doesn’t. The nuts are the same with, 1.6”. The ‘21 neck feels slightly slimmer, but not really all that noticeably so. The nut on the ‘13 is Corian. The ‘21 has a Graph Tech nut. The ‘13 has the Black Grover Y tuners. The ‘21 has chrome Hipshot Ultralight mini clovers.

The pickups are different. The ‘13 has the black more modern sounding ceramic Tbird plus pickups. The ‘21 has slightly more vintage sounding chrome Alnico pickups. Both give you the Tbird grind.

The bodies on both are mahogany. The necks on both are mahogany set necks. The ‘13 has the black Gibson Three Point bridge (mine in the avatar has a Babicz bridge). The ‘21 has the chrome Gibson Three Point Bridge. The bodies on both have a modest belly cut. I think you’ll find that on average, the ‘13s weigh 9+ pounds. The 21’s seem to come in about a half pound lighter.

There were 400 Pelham Blue ‘13s produced and 400 Burst ‘13s. I’m not sure of the ‘21’s numbers in the three colors. They’re very popular and as far as I can tell, all three colors are still in production.

There is a Pelham Blue ‘13 for sale in England right now:
Link Removed

My recommendation is to get that one and a ‘21 too.

Professional enabler.