Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

I have a Precision. It is not just a 7ender, it is a Road Worn. The whole relic thing got beat to death, and I thought the idea was silly. I still do, but that specific bass felt so good that I had to have it. It's radically different from any Gibson ever made, which makes it great to have around as a change-up. I still don't care for the bridge. It's a keeper anyway. It's thrashed now, since the finish on those is thin, and it got played every day for a couple years straight. When it looks a little battered to begin with, you don't worry much about what happens to it. Plus, the headstock is a head and mic stand seeking missile. I don't know what it is about that bass, but the headstock just has a bad attitude. Good thing it's maple and made like a war club.

The P-Bird will have a Babicz bridge on it. It will be built like a standard issue Precision in all other ways, from the clovers (chrome of course) to the body and neck woods, to the neck bolts. It will probably even have a tobacco burst finish unless I get inspired sometime between now and this summer when I can spray it with the windows open. That's a wife requirement. Non-negotiable, and that's fair enough. But, it will be shaped like a 'Bird. It will be the best of both worlds, in my opinion. The classic Precision sound with 'Bird ergonomics and looks. I haven't decided if it will get single coil P covers or 'Bird covers, but it will get one or the other. I already have a Badbird bridge cover (thanks, Scott), so it's likely that I'll put a Thunderbird pickup cover on it instead of buying two 7ender covers for it. The draw of single coil Precision covers (aside from the fact that I like the shape) is the complete mixing of parts, shapes, eras, and ideas.

 

[godofthunder59]

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming. My first and favorite NR. I bought this in 77 or 78 my main bass for years now semi retired. The body is thicker than most with not much of a radius on the edges, the neck is also very beefy. The hammer and screw driver marks on the back were there when I bought it. Sitting right next to it in the display case was Craig Gruber's white multi pickup NR, at the time I vaguely remember thinking that looks like the bass the guy in Rainbow used but I didn't think it could possibly be his. I didn't realize he was from upstate NY at the time.

 

[godofthunder59]

Here it is in action 1986!

 

[godofthunder59]

Not to mention not one but two headstock repairs! Tbirds with a repaired headstock don't worry me.

 

[PillO]

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

Thank you.

As I have said many times, I'm not in the market for another bass, but if the right one comes along...

 

[marko57]

My apologies if this has already been discussed (I don't recall seeing it if it was) but have you seen the new skinny stringed sister to our TBirds? The 2017 Gibson Firebird Zero which is essentially a Lefty Firebird for a Righty. I haven't yet found any indication of a TBird equal.

 

[marko57]

Just ran across this on a search too. Grass Roots Bass with obvious nod to a Thunderbird, Ibanez Iceman and you can't see it in this image but the headstock smacks of a Rickenbacker bass.

 

[Korladis]

Just ran across this on a search too. Grass Roots Bass with obvious nod to a Thunderbird, Ibanez Iceman and you can't see it in this image but the headstock smacks of a Rickenbacker bass.

View attachment 1047180

Link?

 

[marko57]

Link?

Really not much to link to, I found it on a Google image search, you can try this link but there's not much info on it...

Used GrassRoots G-AC-55SM Electric Bass - EverAfterGuide.com

 

[godofthunder59]

Just ran across this on a search too. Grass Roots Bass with obvious nod to a Thunderbird, Ibanez Iceman and you can't see it in this image but the headstock smacks of a Rickenbacker bass.

View attachment 1047180

Bonerbird!

 

[JJR58]

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.

Well said!!

it's the Fender snob here, And i LOVE Gibsons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[woodyng2]

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!

Love your Guild. I bought an SB 202 last year,but we're still in the honeymoon phase,not sure if it's gonna be a keeper. The pickups in it sound fantastic.
And your list of owned basses has kind of a glaring American-made omission,imho.
I'm making up for your lack of buying them,lol....see my next post.

 

[woodyng2]

 

[JJR58]

View attachment 1047264

Really diggin your model 4000.

 

[JIO]

My apologies if this has already been discussed (I don't recall seeing it if it was) but have you seen the new skinny stringed sister to our TBirds? The 2017 Gibson Firebird Zero which is essentially a Lefty Firebird for a Righty. I haven't yet found any indication of a TBird equal.

View attachment 1047175 View attachment 1047176

An upper horn - what a novel idea!

Just ran across this on a search too. Grass Roots Bass with obvious nod to a Thunderbird, Ibanez Iceman and you can't see it in this image but the headstock smacks of a Rickenbacker bass.

View attachment 1047180

Access to the lower frets - what a novel idea!

 

[Dadagoboi]

Love your Guild. I bought an SB 202 last year,but we're still in the honeymoon phase,not sure if it's gonna be a keeper. The pickups in it sound fantastic.
And your list of owned basses has kind of a glaring American-made omission,imho.
I'm making up for your lack of buying them,lol....see my next post.

Not a Rick fan, never was and never will be. I did like the checkered binding though.

 

[GBassNorth]

Call me Ric curious. I've never played one but have often thought about getting one of the walnut radius edged models (identical to the lower left one in Woodys post), no idea what model it is or what it costs but it looks cool and I assume the neck Humbucker warms up the tone nicely. Maybe one of these days I'll bite the bullet.

 

[woodyng2]

Call me Ric curious. I've never played one but have often thought about getting one of the walnut radius edged models (identical to the lower left one in Woodys post), no idea what model it is or what it costs but it looks cool and I assume the neck Humbucker warms up the tone nicely. Maybe one of these days I'll bite the bullet.

The walnut 4004 is the Cheyenne. They are not currently in production,but used ones do come up for sale now and again.It is the lightest,most contoured Rickenbacker i've ever played. That,along with the satin oil finish,make it a delight to play. And Rick HB1 pickups sound not dissimilar to 60's TB pickups,when you change out the tone mufffling RIC pots/caps components.
(I used to own a '67 Epiphone Embassy,so i know whereof i speak.)

 

[EdO.]

View attachment 1047264

I learned to play on the 4001 in my avatar, wish to hell I hadn't sold it all those years ago. Would love to add a 4004 to the herd, just having a tough time parting with the $2300 or so they want for one.

 

[GBassNorth]

The walnut 4004 is the Cheyenne. They are not currently in production,but used ones do come up for sale now and again.It is the lightest,most contoured Rickenbacker i've ever played. That,along with the satin oil finish,make it a delight to play. And Rick HB1 pickups sound not dissimilar to 60's TB pickups,when you change out the tone mufffling RIC pots/caps components.
(I used to own a '67 Epiphone Embassy,so i know whereof i speak.)

I found this one on Reverb...
2016 Rickenbacker 4004CII Cheyenne Mapleglo w/case
It's nice looking and new, is there a big difference between the Cii and the Cheyenne? What's the going rate for a used one in mint condition?