Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

Maybe take a look at a Peavey VB-2. 225 Watts, all tube, made in the US. Here is one at a great price:

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It has a separate clean and drive channel and can be run at 4 or 8 ohms. Here is a link to a thread about it.

Peavey VB-2 vs. The World

Nice find. I'd be all over that if I were looking for another head.

 

[dagrev]

I was asked to be the house bassist for a jam night at the local legion last night. It's good that there is a safe space for people of varying abilities to get up on a stage, but there some pretty funny moments.
This guy started Brown Eyed Girl on his acoustic at breakneck speed (think Ramones live maybe 180 bpm?)
I think he would have slowed down on his own, but the drummer and I dutifully kept it there the whole way through. It kind of works until you get to the shalalala part

Poor guy. You and the drummer were brutal! Sure would have made for a great youtube clip so we cold all enjoy the brutality.

 

[dagrev]

Speaking of mods.
As you all know, Ken turned a NR into a lefty RNR, he seems pretty happy about it.
View attachment 5069645

And it looks great and just a tad funky (in a good way).

 

[Nocturnal]

Nice find. I'd be all over that if I were looking for another head.

I have one of these and like it. Need to set it up and play thru it again soon as its been a little while. I think they weigh 42 lbs +/-. Less than half of an SVT.

 

[dagrev]

Just to be an enabler, and in case no locals have seen this:

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No idea if that’s a good deal or not.

Not yet at 2k, but it could get to a good price.

Pro tip: The Burgundy NRs sound better.

 

[dagrev]

I've created a thread in Luthiers Corner to cover documentation and work on Chucky's 1970 Fender Jazz Bass. I felt this was the best place as I've already posted many pics and will post many more as I work on it, and also because I don't trust the GP to be adults considering the decals. (which I am removing) Luthiers Corner is populated with adults and I trust I won't have issues there.

check it out -

Overhaul on a vintage 1970 Fender J player

View attachment 5069667

Subed!

The neck and pretty fretboard look fantastic.

 

[dagrev]

I have one of these and like it. Need to set it up and play thru it again soon as its been a little while. I think they weigh 42 lbs +/-. Less than half of an SVT.

I think my Ampeg V4-BHs are 45#. Feels more than that when I have to move it but I think that's my age getting to me!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

That's just too funny. To the average person it looks like to took it to a jeweler and he broke out his loop!
It's about a 4,300 karat gem.

didn’t realize those original tort PGs are getting over 500 bucks on ebay!….

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Chuck, those are both beautiful basses!

Is your nicely modded IV on the right a 1960’s Gibby NR? If so, I’d never consider a refin, even if the finish was down to bare wood. The BaCH could certainly use a pup upgrade. But that’s all I’d do to either of them.

A refin on a set neck or neck through bass is gonna set you back $800 plus shipping, if there’s any dent or ding fixes or body mods it’ll be even more. So if you paid $800 for your BaCH and you drop a $200 pup upgrade in it and fix a few dings and do a refin and slap on a pickguard that fits the new pup correctly you could easily have over $2000 in that bass. Almost twice what it’s worth even with the upgrades. That’s a no go in my book.

If you’re remotely open to the idea of a white reverse as opposed to the BaCH NR you could easily get a white Greco IV (don’t think I’ve ever seen a white II) and actually have a better sounding bass for about half the cost of a modded BaCH.
Greco TRB 70 Thunderbird Type Electric Bass | eBay

Then delete the bridge pup (and sell it to me for a couple hundred bucks) to offset the $300 charge you’d incur having the Greco bridge pup route filled and color matched to the existing white paint. You’d be all in at least $600 less than a modded BaCH, it’ll flatout run circles around the BaCH and with the relatively low investment you’d have in it, it would be the perfect gigging bass. Just my two cents.

thanks George….both BaCHs in the pic, the IV with a Gibby TRC….
I’ve always wanted this and Andy’s input confirmed a few items for me…..great club this one…..

yep!…

 

[TBird1958]

still figuring it out….got a 70’s sidewinder I want on there……possibly a belly cut (none now) but these being so rare, still debating if the mod needs to be reversible (where a belly cut isn’t) or to go for the gusto and completely refinish it in another color (belly cut and all) add new tuners, new claw…..

JohnK did this to his BaCH, only made it a lot better!

Bach T-Bird Bass (homestead.com)

 

[Gaolee]

Hey Will, @Gaolee

How’s this for a colour.
GM-H Orchid Metallic circa 74-75

View attachment 5069334

I like it.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Speaking of mods.
As you all know, Ken turned a NR into a lefty RNR, he seems pretty happy about it.
View attachment 5069645

This is a great photo!

 

[JIO]

they haven’t taken any pics down yet? they did on the “ Show your Basses” thread…

I'm not anticipating it as I wrote a pretty pointed introduction letting people know that any triggering posts will not be tolerated. I've run into a similar situation on my SHOW YOUR DISTRESSED FINISHES! thread but I monitor it pretty closely and have contacted the Mods when someone attempts to steer it into contentious territory. 297 pages/5,937 posts/10yrs old Nov 5th

 

[WillyW]

Pro tip: The Burgundy NRs sound better.

only if you remove the unnecessary items like the bridge pickup and frets…

 

[GBassNorth]

thanks George….both BaCHs in the pic, the IV with a Gibby TRC….
I’ve always wanted this and Andy’s input confirmed a few items for me…..great club this one…..
View attachment 5069849yep!…

That one does look killer!
Sounds like you’re set on a refin. If so, check out the link @D.M.N. forwarded to me yesterday, looks like they can do everything you want…
https://www.bravoscustomguitars.com/paint
I haven’t tried them yet but am strongly considering them. Pretty much the same price as Pat Wilkins who also does great work.

 

[GBassNorth]

only if you remove the unnecessary items like the bridge pickup and frets…

Mine still has the frets and pickup, so I guess it only sounds half as good as it could, which is still twice as good as I’m capable of playing.

 

[TBird1958]

Working the frets on my '89 last night.
We did pretty well for our first two shows as what is basically a new band, no trainwrecks, onstage sound was cack on Friday (FOH was fine) so it was a lot more work than usual as all I could really hear clearly was myself and the drums. We showed up early on Saturday and worked with the sound guy to get a better monitor mix and that helped immensely.
I used my Trace Elliott GP7SM250 and SWR 6x10 cab, honestly I think its the best live sound I've ever had, the was about 1/3 up and really has nice grind to it with that nice lo mid bump. Three basses made the trip, Lull, '89 Gibson and VP with Gibson pickups, I didn't use the Lull at all this time out, used the VP for the first two sets on Friday and finished with the '89. I have to say playing live and a bit loud those Gibson pickups really sound very good, totally solid, great for a lot of the material we do and still sounded nice when I used the Hipshot to go to low D for a couple songs, the VP was really a solid player, the only downside to it for me is that the neck is bit bigger than a like, switching to the '89 Gibson was pure bliss for my left hand, and well, the Lull pickups sounded really good too.
Playing 6 hours over two nights after not playing at all for more than 3 years was a real test for me, I managed, but not without paying a price, my body is sore and both hands ached quite a lot on Saturday morning, a couple doses of Advil really helped, same thing today too, being 64 is a Bitch.

 

[Engle]

Poor guy. You and the drummer were brutal! Sure would have made for a great youtube clip so we cold all enjoy the brutality.

If any video evidence surfaces I will post it. My daughter thought it was pretty funny!

 

[Engle]

Working the frets on my '89 last night.
We did pretty well for our first two shows as what is basically a new band, no trainwrecks, onstage sound was cack on Friday (FOH was fine) so it was a lot more work than usual as all I could really hear clearly was myself and the drums. We showed up early on Saturday and worked with the sound guy to get a better monitor mix and that helped immensely.
I used my Trace Elliott GP7SM250 and SWR 6x10 cab, honestly I think its the best live sound I've ever had, the was about 1/3 up and really has nice grind to it with that nice lo mid bump. Three basses made the trip, Lull, '89 Gibson and VP with Gibson pickups, I didn't use the Lull at all this time out, used the VP for the first two sets on Friday and finished with the '89. I have to say playing live and a bit loud those Gibson pickups really sound very good, totally solid, great for a lot of the material we do and still sounded nice when I used the Hipshot to go to low D for a couple songs, the VP was really a solid player, the only downside to it for me is that the neck is bit bigger than a like, switching to the '89 Gibson was pure bliss for my left hand, and well, the Lull pickups sounded really good too.
Playing 6 hours over two nights after not playing at all for more than 3 years was a real test for me, I managed, but not without paying a price, my body is sore and both hands ached quite a lot on Saturday morning, a couple doses of Advil really helped, same thing today too, being 64 is a Bitch.

Nice! Pretty rockin for 64

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Just to be an enabler, and in case no locals have seen this:

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No idea if that’s a good deal or not.

New ones are going for $2,400 so $2,000 isn’t a bad price. Nor is it a great price. I’d want a bigger discount since the lifetime warranty doesn’t transfer, but that’s hard to come by, which I get.