Thunderbird Club

[WillyW]

Epiphone Newport Review

I've been very happy with my(second-first was defective)Epi Embassy, which has allowed me to 'save' the 67(?)*NR for special-read safe-gigs.
*Gibson says it's prolly a 65 by serial #

I bought 2 of the embassy basses because I thought nothing better could be had… I did have to return one due to a shallow neck angle, but my many epiphones have been quite stellar otherwise.

I’m almost tempted to get a Newport but I hate those bridge pickups…. Well I hate most bass bridge pickups… even on the birds and embassies…

My rickenbackers have given me some appreciation of bridge pickups.

EDIT: shaging crap sammiches! The Newport is a 30.5” scale… haven’t gotten along with those in the past…. Even my danny lectro is a 34”…

nevermind…

 

[5StringBlues]

An invisible man and an invisible woman got married. Their children were nothing to see

 

[GBassNorth]

Wow, with videos like that, who needs drugs - LOL.

 

[Ringhammer]

What were the first years of Gibson Thunderbirds.

People are referring to those ‘60’s ‘birds. I understand they were produced, then stopped, then re-introduced. I’m only curious about regular reverse ‘birds.

Also, I hear (read) about a fondness for the pickups in the newer very recent NR birds. What is it that people like, are they hotter, or darker?

 

[dagrev]

What were the first years of Gibson Thunderbirds.

People are referring to those ‘60’s ‘birds. I understand they were produced, then stopped, then re-introduced. I’m only curious about regular reverse ‘birds.

Also, I hear (read) about a fondness for the pickups in the newer very recent NR birds. What is it that people like, are they hotter, or darker?

Gibson Thunderbird Bass Guitar >> FlyGuitars
Easier than typing!

I will say that it is often the case that the Non-Reverse pickups were a little hotter than the originals. I'm not sure if every pickup was, but seems it was true a lot if not most all the time.

 

[icefly]

Lobster should do a review - he's pretty frank about the good & bad of a bass.

 

[WillyW]

 

[Ringhammer]

Gibson Thunderbird Bass Guitar >> FlyGuitars
Easier than typing!

I will say that it is often the case that the Non-Reverse pickups were a little hotter than the originals. I'm not sure if every pickup was, but seems it was true a lot if not most all the time.

Thank you sir.

Any thoughts on how NR pickups compare to the Eppi VP pickups?

 

[WillyW]

I like the lobster videos, he calls it like he sees it and isn't as obnoxious as most.

He did a NR review that wasn't positive, but he did call it like he seen it.

He did an end of the year best/worst video collaboration with a few other you tubers, and they all sucked except him.

 

[GonePlaid]

Have they ever reviewed anything and gave it a negative review?

Well, they are trying to sell [stuff].

 

[Gaolee]

Of course, no comparison.
Always dug how the little one sounded at low volumes.

The amazing thing about old ACC equipment is how reliable it is. I have had the 126 for more than 40 years, and it has needed exactly two capacitors and one resistor in all that time. I got the 360 stack used, of course, since I was 8 when it was built. In the time I have owned it, it has needed exactly no maintenance. Treat them halfway well and they will last forever. Treat them poorly, and they might anyway. I used my 360 stack playing an outdoor wedding at a farm. While we were playing, a thick fog rolled in, and it was a bit like playing in rain. Everything got soaked, including my amp. That didn't faze it a bit, and doesn't seem to have had any effect on it. That was about ten years ago now.

 

[BklynKen]

This is really cool. I hadn't seen it before. CC: @TBird1958

Plus a BC Rich Eagle on a stand.

 

[Gaolee]

I'm loving riding the "Heavy Metal" Sounder train keeps me from turning into an A-Hole in Seattle traffic, was a beautiful trip in today, cool seeing the planes on Boeing Field.

That's the only way to go with the commute you have. Especially since Seattle Lighting is about as close to the station as you can get without staying in the station. There's something really satisfying about riding in a train.

My wife and I take Amtrak for longer distances occasionally. About two days is all I can really stand, even going first class with a sleeper car. That means Chicago. It sure is fun though. They treat you like royalty and have wine tasting and other things for you as the landscape rolls by. The food isn't too bad, either. You would think that it wouldn't be great on a train. It's not going to win foodie awards, but it's far better than you might expect.

Not enough people out here know how great trains really are. They do know on the east coast.

 

[Gaolee]

View attachment 5058743 View attachment 5058747

 

[TBird1958]

This is really cool. I hadn't seen it before. CC: @TBird1958

Plus a BC Rich Eagle on a stand.

John Taylor is a fave of mine, I had seen this before, he did quite a few breakdowns of his songs during covid, posted on FB and Insta. At one point I had learned this song and pushed the band into playing it as well, we rehearsed it through but never played it live - shame! I've completely forgotten it now!

 

[Gaolee]

Yes it will. I need to retire. I’ve worked longer than my Dad, my father-in-law, my uncle, her uncle, and our grandfathers. 39 + years of very stressful work in an ever changing and more difficult environment. Just trying to hang on at this point. I thank God every day for my family. And my Thunderbirds.

My dad was a lawyer. He made plenty of money, but it was killing him. I'm older now than he was when he retired. He pretty much wore out by the age of 80 and died before his 82nd birthday. At this point, I'd kinda like to last longer than that. Good thing is that I like my job a lot. For me, it's pretty low stress. It's time consuming and a lot of work, but it's even fun sometimes. Can't beat that. I don't always leap out of bed, and I sure don't think about work on weekends. That might be why it's low stress. Good thing because we don't have enough money to retire, so I keep working for a while longer.

 

[dagrev]

Thank you sir.

Any thoughts on how NR pickups compare to the Eppi VP pickups?

You are very welcome.
Are you talking old NR pickups or the new version? For the new NR pickups, see my post above.
As for the old version, since some seem a little hotter, the VP (Probuckers) may be a little more like those in some ways. I can't say for sure as I don't have an original NR. Someone with firsthand experience can speak to this better than I can. I will say that the Probuckers are hotter than either of my '64 sets. But they ('64s), are much older and pickups generally a little weaker with age if anything.

 

[Ringhammer]

I’m considering getting a Gibson NR bridge pickup to try in my VP, if for no other reason as one is (currently) available, and I have this problem where I can’t leave s&@$ alone. There is no mention of what year, but I’m assuming it’s newer.

Digging the VP A LOT! If I could get it a touch darker by adding the NR at the bridge, it could be even better (or worse)…

 

[dagrev]

That's the only way to go with the commute you have. Especially since Seattle Lighting is about as close to the station as you can get without staying in the station. There's something really satisfying about riding in a train.

My wife and I take Amtrak for longer distances occasionally. About two days is all I can really stand, even going first class with a sleeper car. That means Chicago. It sure is fun though. They treat you like royalty and have wine tasting and other things for you as the landscape rolls by. The food isn't too bad, either. You would think that it wouldn't be great on a train. It's not going to win foodie awards, but it's far better than you might expect.

Not enough people out here know how great trains really are. They do know on the east coast.

I haven't ridden one since a kid, when that was an option for travel here. Both Gr fathers, an uncle and oldest cousin used to work for L&N. My Gr fathers and families used to ride for free just before my time. Mom said it was great. With all the lunatics on planes these days and that they have devolved into Greyhound busses in the sky, trains are likely better for personal safety and sanity.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Peggy Fleming - Wikipedia

yeah looked up the wiki page but nowhere does it say anything about Bond…