Thunderbird Club

[NOLA Bass]

All my custom basses are poly - by Pat Wilkins. I don't cater to the poly vs nitro debate as todays poly is every bit as good or better than lacquer. The mystique for me is only about a '50s-'60s vintage bass and how it's amber'd/aged, worn and shrunk over time. Otherwise - (thin) poly rules. (and please spare me the "nitro finishes sounds better than poly" claptrap)

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That is a wild collection of basses! Really cool. Love the two gold ones especially (cue Goldmember in Austin Powers - "I love gooooold")

 

[Gaolee]

When I first joined BG, we tried to learn "View to a Kill" but it never got off the ground.

Here's a Bond theme that never was - too bad because it would be my favorite.

I don't remember which movie it was when Bond says "what difference does it make" when asked if he wants his martini shaken or stirred. I also don't remember who played Bond, just that I enjoyed the movie. It was about Bond, not gagets.

 

[Gaolee]

I just wasted a little time trying to figure it out. It was Craig in Casino Royale. He didn't say exactly what I remembered.

 

[JIO]

That is a wild collection of basses! Really cool. Love the two gold ones especially (cue Goldmember in Austin Powers - "I love gooooold")

Thanks! Firemist Gold Metallic - late '60s Pontiac GTO finish.

 

[JIO]

I just wasted a little time trying to figure it out. It was Craig in Casino Royale. He didn't say exactly what I remembered.

That's a good retort to the inevitable "shaken not stirred" question.

 

[WillyW]

Vodka martinis are for douchebags

 

[Stealth57]

Vodka martinis are for douchebags

Willy strikes again

 

[bobyoung53]

All my custom basses are poly - by Pat Wilkins. I don't cater to the poly vs nitro debate as todays poly is every bit as good or better than lacquer. The mystique for me is only about a '50s-'60s vintage bass and how it's amber'd/aged, worn and shrunk over time. Otherwise - (thin) poly rules. (and please spare me the "nitro finishes sounds better than poly" claptrap)

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Claptrap: I realize that people here argue about that, I don't, I just like it. I like thin finishes and like the looks of nitro, also the last three Fenders and two T-birds I bought all have have lacquer finishes.

 

[JIO]

Claptrap: They do.

I know you're kidding, but actually they 'did' when CBS/Fender did their thick poly coatings in the '70s. Thin lacquer coatings on acoustic instruments yes - but a solid hunk of wood being "choked" by a thick poly coating is marginally (if at all) an issue - it really comes down to durability and 'looks' and has nothing perceivable to do with tone.

 

[bobyoung53]

I know you're kidding, but actually they 'did' when CBS/Fender did their thick poly coatings in the '70s. Thin lacquer coatings on acoustic instruments yes - but a solid hunk of wood being "choked" by a thick poly coating is marginally (if at all) an issue - it really comes down to durability and 'looks' and has nothing perceivable to do with tone.

I completely changed that post. I don't know if it sounds better or not really, I think the whole package creates the sound as well as the player. I just like it.

 

[JIO]

I completely changed that post. I don't know if it sounds better or not really, I think the whole package creates the sound as well as the player. I just like it.

and that's... ok.

 

[MCF]

All my custom basses are poly - by Pat Wilkins. I don't cater to the poly vs nitro debate as todays poly is every bit as good or better than lacquer. The mystique for me is only about a '50s-'60s vintage bass and how it's amber'd/aged, worn and shrunk over time. Otherwise - (thin) poly rules. (and please spare me the "nitro finishes sounds better than poly" claptrap)

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We really have no choice here in Cali.

 

[bobyoung53]

and that's... ok.

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You do make a good point about the thickness of the paint though which is probably much more likely to impact the sound than the type of paint itself.

 

[bobyoung53]

We really have no choice here in Cali.

Are they all poly or nitro? Poly I assume?

 

[JIO]

We really have no choice here in Cali.

Yes - it's why Pat and Marty Bell only shoot poly.

 

[MCF]

Are they all poly or nitro? Poly I assume?

Poly.

 

[bobyoung53]

Poly.

Aren't American Fenders painted in California, or do they ship them somewhere else?

 

[MCF]

Aren't American Fenders painted in California, or do they ship them somewhere else?

Yes. I’m not sure how they are getting around the Air Quality Resources Board regs if they are actually shooting nitro in Corona. They can shoot it in Ensenada all they want.

 

[JIO]

Aren't American Fenders painted in California, or do they ship them somewhere else?

If they are lacquer - most likely finished in Mexico.

 

[dagrev]

That one Thunderbird I have no experience with. But I still suggest trying different strings first if everything else looks normal. Not the same PUs, but LaBella black nylons sound fantastic on modern Gibsons, and look great with the black hardware. They are not not rounds and not really flats, but sound great.