Thunderbird Club

[rodv66]

Can't imagine getting rid of my P bass or Gibson, so guess I'm bipolar. Thinking of getting a Rick, so would I be tripolar?

 

[Nocturnal]

That's rich - like Thunderbirds are so well designed... WADR - I own, love and play both and find the 'dead horse' Fender bashing so tired and unnecessary. FTR, people who own Fenders don't waste their time bashing other basses, including Thunderbirds.

TB is loaded with anti-Gibson/Anti-Tbird drivel. It's not hard to find. I don't bash Fender's products, I just don't worship at the alter of the almighty Fender. I don't attack people for their choices in gear. We are all free to like what we like. But to say the Fender users don't bash other brands?? It happens regularly here and the ire is not just focused on Gibson basses. Just like some boutique users bash other "less than" basses that aren't Brand X, it is prevalent on this board. 95% of my time on TB is between this thread and the Spector thread. These seem to be the two groups less likely to attack people for their choice of gear. And you are correct, the Thunderbird is not a perfect design. But it is great for what it is, just like a P or J is great for what it is. If these designs were perfect there wouldn't be so many companies making replacement and "upgraded" parts for them. As always YMMV and IMO.

 

[willsellout]

Fender folks are just insecure because they know Leo didn't get it right until he started up G&L...

 

[kat888]

Once upon a time I really really wanted a Jazz, or at least a parts-Jazz (to the extent I had a couple of SD 1/4 pounder pups) but we didn't get on and the moment passed.

 

[Christine]

Once upon a time I really really wanted a Jazz, or at least a parts-Jazz (to the extent I had a couple of SD 1/4 pounder pups) but we didn't get on and the moment passed.

I like the SD quarter pounders on mine, they match the hipshot bridge very well. Thanks God there are so many after market parts available for bumpers

 

[JIO]

TB is loaded with anti-Gibson/Anti-Tbird drivel. It's not hard to find. I don't bash Fender's products, I just don't worship at the alter of the almighty Fender. I don't attack people for their choices in gear. We are all free to like what we like. But to say the Fender users don't bash other brands?? It happens regularly here and the ire is not just focused on Gibson basses. Just like some boutique users bash other "less than" basses that aren't Brand X, it is prevalent on this board. 95% of my time on TB is between this thread and the Spector thread. These seem to be the two groups less likely to attack people for their choice of gear. And you are correct, the Thunderbird is not a perfect design. But it is great for what it is, just like a P or J is great for what it is. If these designs were perfect there wouldn't be so many companies making replacement and "upgraded" parts for them. As always YMMV and IMO.

I agree with you and because I personally don't see the bashing you describe I really didn't know. It's all very silly and counterproductive isn't it? Everyone should just be happy playing music on whatever instrument they play. I know I am.

 

[vdub75]

Can't imagine getting rid of my P bass or Gibson, so guess I'm bipolar. Thinking of getting a Rick, so would I be tripolar?

+1 on this! I love to Play my p-basses (3 at this time) in my punk-Hardrock-band whereas the bird is my true love and suits my stoner/70s band like a suit. so.... if I could only Keep two basses it would be my Fender p and my Gibson nonreverse bird....

 

[Count Bassie]

Gotta admit to the occasional guilty pleasure of appreciating a good snarky rant! But I've got an old Franken P-bass, and for a good number of years it was my standard. Old (Japanese) Johnson copy with a Squier affinity neck, bent flat-stock bridge, some split pup.

It's in pieces now, waiting to be put back together as a refin. Cut out a new brass pg for it... love a faithful old battle-axe, even more than a fun, snarky rant!

I once had a Gibson EB-0 with plastic bridge saddles. Nobody gets everything right...

 

[Count Bassie]

@ColinLP , heart goes out your way. That's a hard road, but love suffers it... For what it's worth, we've got your back. Peace on you man, and if it's any redemption, it's probably harder on you than your mom...

 

[redstrand]

Can't imagine getting rid of my P bass or Gibson, so guess I'm bipolar. Thinking of getting a Rick, so would I be tripolar?

I'm deca-polar then.

 

[rickwebb]

My Two Cents on the whole Fender thing- i've been using my MIJ Jazz Bass Specials an awful lot lately. My new band allows me to mix and match basses. Variety IS the spice of life and all. Plus i just love those 30-year old basses anyway.
Rant Over

 

[EdO.]

I swapped that bent tin bridge on my J bass for a really sweet Hipshot Kickass bridge. No real tonal difference but the adjustability is great.

Did the same thing to my '51 P reissue, same bridge. I got tonal improvement IMO. Made a noticable difference.

Leo didn't get it right until he started up G&L...

Personally I thought he got it right with the original issue Stingrays, but maybe that's just me...

 

[marko57]

We've all been here awhile and know this does go on, not saying it's right. I'll never go out of my way to criticize someone's bass, it just doesn't really matter that much in the big picture.
Here on the club thread we do take a poke at the big F and as long as it is in fun, or based on fact we're ok - I'd rather not see us degenerate into a lot of internecine bitching about it. A lot of folks (and the Moderators) look at this thread besides us, I read good things about it elsewhere on the forum, let's respect each other and go forward.

Hear hear my Queen! Spot on!

 

[godofthunder59]

I am curious. Has anyone tried a Jackson Kellybird? And if so, how does it compare to an Epiphone or Gibson Thunderbird?

I had one for a short time, whole lotta bass for the money. A bit heavy but other than that a real rock workhorse.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Fender, MusicMan, G&L, Gibson, Hamer, Harmony, Washburn, Status, Squier, Epiphone, Hondo, Curlee, Guild, Brice, SX, Grand, Robelli, Dean, Rogue, Vox, a bunch of Fneder style parts basses, and Cataldo builds. I own them all.

What's not to love? Let the haters hate, no reason to sink to their level. Just ignore them and talk about the good stuff.

That said, IMO the only bridge worse than the Gibson three point is the Guild version made by Schaller. It's perfectly flat, doesn't even conform to the Guild fretboard radius and can't be shimmed. However the saddles do stay in place and my B-301 kicks serious ass with its set neck and single coil P-90 style DiMarzio.

...and there's no way those studs are pulling out!

 

[godofthunder59]

We've all been here awhile and know this does go on, not saying it's right. I'll never go out of my way to criticize someone's bass, it just doesn't really matter that much in the big picture.
Here on the club thread we do take a poke at the big F and as long as it is in fun, or based on fact we're ok - I'd rather not see us degenerate into a lot of internecine bitching about it. A lot of folks (and the Moderators) look at this thread besides us, I read good things about it elsewhere on the forum, let's respect each other and go forward.

Agreed Mark. I can find something redeeming in almost any bass, though it took me almost 35 years to appreciate Fenders and I am glad I put my bias aside. I was at a multi band tribute last weekend for a musician friend who passed away. All kinds of basses to be seen, Hofner, Fender, Double Bass, Ampeg baby bass, custom builds and yes even a Thunderbird each brought something different to the table and I couldn't help but think how boring it would be if we all played the same thing.

 

[TBird1958]

Great looking bass, Carlo!

 

[Dadagoboi]

Great looking bass, Carlo!

Fantastic with a pair of thigh highs!

 

[godofthunder59]

Ok seeing as we are completely off the rails. My Sandblasted Fender Precision. Kinda gimmicky, hippie ish but it has that special something. The Ric 4003s went the Fender stayed, kinda even surprised myself.

 

[Korladis]

I don't wanna live that long.

I do. My grandparents had such a great retirement that as a kid I asked if I could skip straight to being old like them.

Seeing my mother go downhill with dementia I'm with you and the Who on that one. That probably would mean I haven't got that long left but what the hell, I don't want to suffer like that

Dementia isn't inevitable.

My grandmother on my father's side just passed away a month ago. Until a couple months prior to that, just after her 90th birthday, she'd been very active, out and about basically every day.

My grandmother on my mom's side is about the same age and I'm pretty sure she's still coaching swimming.

Can't imagine getting rid of my P bass or Gibson, so guess I'm bipolar. Thinking of getting a Rick, so would I be tripolar?

Do it.

TB is loaded with anti-Gibson/Anti-Tbird drivel. It's not hard to find. I don't bash Fender's products, I just don't worship at the alter of the almighty Fender. I don't attack people for their choices in gear. We are all free to like what we like. But to say the Fender users don't bash other brands?? It happens regularly here and the ire is not just focused on Gibson basses. Just like some boutique users bash other "less than" basses that aren't Brand X, it is prevalent on this board. 95% of my time on TB is between this thread and the Spector thread. These seem to be the two groups less likely to attack people for their choice of gear. And you are correct, the Thunderbird is not a perfect design. But it is great for what it is, just like a P or J is great for what it is. If these designs were perfect there wouldn't be so many companies making replacement and "upgraded" parts for them. As always YMMV and IMO.

If I was going to get a Fender, I'd slap myself and get a G&L instead.

Fender folks are just insecure because they know Leo didn't get it right until he started up G&L...

Yep, exactly. G&Ls play how I always wish Fenders would.

Fender, MusicMan, G&L, Gibson, Hamer, Harmony, Washburn, Status, Squier, Epiphone, Hondo, Curlee, Guild, Brice, SX, Grand, Robelli, Dean, Rogue, Vox, a bunch of Fneder style parts basses, and Cataldo builds. I own them all.

What's not to love? Let the haters hate, no reason to sink to their level. Just ignore them and talk about the good stuff.

That said, IMO the only bridge worse than the Gibson three point is the Guild version made by Schaller. It's perfectly flat, doesn't even conform to the Guild fretboard radius and can't be shimmed. However the saddles do stay in place and my B-301 kicks serious ass with its set neck and single coil P-90 style DiMarzio.

...and there's no way those studs are pulling out!

The old Guild B300 series basses are so damn cool.