Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

I've have searching for the right used Thunderbird the last year. A few days ago I found this one; a 2018 in really nice shape. I mostly play Fenders and Music Mans (men?), so the T.Bird is quite a different beast to say the least. I figured it would take some getting used to, but it felt great right off the bat. The sound is amazing - super clear and articulate. Light-ish weight and perfect balance. I'm loving it. View attachment 5074939

Don't tell anybody about the balance. That is our little secret. It must have chosen you to be so perfect for you. That is how it works.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I lost my mom last Tuesday.

She had a nasty fall and broke ribs on both sides and during her stay in the hospital, they found cancer in her liver and kidneys, basically a death sentence, there was nothing they could do. She said that she didn't want to spend what little time she had left in the hospital, so me, my kid brother and his wife decided to bring her home. So for the last two months she was bedridden, and it was a never ending parade of family members and friends coming around to visit her.

Well, that saying of "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" certainly was true here, we were all ready for the funny farm with so much people coming around every day. Mom herself said that it was a Freak show. The day before yesterday, she gave the permission to administer the Morphine, so she could fall asleep and pass away peacefully.

At the day of her passing, I told the nurses how grateful I was for the terrific help they provided, they were going "Oh don't mention it, we're just doing our job." but I insisted, SOMEBODY should thank them. I guess mom must have heard me, because only a short time later, she passed.

After she passed, I made a three-hour walk because I knew that as soon as the word got out, the parade would return, I wanted no part of it. When I finally got back, her body was taken away.

I'm a wreck, the stress of dealing with all those people coming around and worrying about my mom did a number on me. Two days before she passed, I finally had my melt down, I simply couldn't take it any more. And now, I feel empty, almost relieved that it's over, finally a chance at peace of mind. For the last couple of weeks, I could sleep but not get any rest.

Today was her cremation, and it was the right time to write this song, it just came to me as I went along,


I heard from my sister-in-law that she had a dream where my mother and father were dancing as he swept her off her feet. I liked that, and so I used that in the lyrics. The bass I used is my self-made "Monster" with a Fender Sting signature single coil and very dead sounding strings.

See the flames in the fireplace
All the people in the hall
Everybody came to welcome you
So glad to see them all
Feel the passion as you dance with him
Inside your portrait on the wall.

Feel the gravity disappear
As he sweeps you off your feet
There is nothing left to fear
Your journey is complete
Finally in his arms again
What more could you want?

Sunshine doesn't last all day
Evening will always fall
Feel the chill as the light fades away
And you answered his call
Your laugh will continue on
Inside your portrait on the wall.

so sorry man…nice tune.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Not made any more.

FWIW I have the Seymour Duncan pickups wired into my Orville, they sound quite nice and I'm happy with them, to me, they're much fuller and better overall more complex than the EY Guitars. I'm going to tweak the height and will try to do a short video soon.

those Orvilles make my curious….would like to learn more about them….what strings do you have on it? would love to try one…..were the stock pups Gibson Sidewinders?….

 

[Stealth57]

Not made any more.

FWIW I have the Seymour Duncan pickups wired into my Orville, they sound quite nice and I'm happy with them, to me, they're much fuller and better overall more complex than the EY Guitars. I'm going to tweak the height and will try to do a short video soon.

You sold me...now just waiting for the special delivery at the GTG

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Duran Duran with Chic at the SAP center in Sanjo tomorrow …..…..love watching JT live…

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

You sold me...now just waiting for the special delivery at the GTG
View attachment 5075673

didn’t mention intentionally you know…..​

 

[Nocturnal]

I lost my mom last Tuesday.

She had a nasty fall and broke ribs on both sides and during her stay in the hospital, they found cancer in her liver and kidneys, basically a death sentence, there was nothing they could do. She said that she didn't want to spend what little time she had left in the hospital, so me, my kid brother and his wife decided to bring her home. So for the last two months she was bedridden, and it was a never ending parade of family members and friends coming around to visit her.

Well, that saying of "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" certainly was true here, we were all ready for the funny farm with so much people coming around every day. Mom herself said that it was a Freak show. The day before yesterday, she gave the permission to administer the Morphine, so she could fall asleep and pass away peacefully.

At the day of her passing, I told the nurses how grateful I was for the terrific help they provided, they were going "Oh don't mention it, we're just doing our job." but I insisted, SOMEBODY should thank them. I guess mom must have heard me, because only a short time later, she passed.

After she passed, I made a three-hour walk because I knew that as soon as the word got out, the parade would return, I wanted no part of it. When I finally got back, her body was taken away.

I'm a wreck, the stress of dealing with all those people coming around and worrying about my mom did a number on me. Two days before she passed, I finally had my melt down, I simply couldn't take it any more. And now, I feel empty, almost relieved that it's over, finally a chance at peace of mind. For the last couple of weeks, I could sleep but not get any rest.

Today was her cremation, and it was the right time to write this song, it just came to me as I went along,


I heard from my sister-in-law that she had a dream where my mother and father were dancing as he swept her off her feet. I liked that, and so I used that in the lyrics. The bass I used is my self-made "Monster" with a Fender Sting signature single coil and very dead sounding strings.

See the flames in the fireplace
All the people in the hall
Everybody came to welcome you
So glad to see them all
Feel the passion as you dance with him
Inside your portrait on the wall.

Feel the gravity disappear
As he sweeps you off your feet
There is nothing left to fear
Your journey is complete
Finally in his arms again
What more could you want?

Sunshine doesn't last all day
Evening will always fall
Feel the chill as the light fades away
And you answered his call
Your laugh will continue on
Inside your portrait on the wall.

So sorry for the loss of your mother. Caring for a family member takes a toll on you and everyone involved. Get some rest and maybe talk to someone just to get everything out. It really helps.

 

[Blazer]

Dang, Walt. I'm sorry. The song is a beautiful tribute. The bass tone is perfect for the song to my ears. It's awesome y'all were able to have her at your brother's house and care for her, but yeah, it takes a toll. You don't really have time to process your own grief and feelings with so many people in and out, and it can multiply the stress. As others have said, take some time for you. Losing a parent can hard enough under any circumstances. I lost my mom some years ago, and with Dad 95 and declining and Mom II not taking care of herself, we may well lose one or the other - possibly both - within the next 2-3 years. I'll offer a hug, in case you want one. Sorry it's only virtual.

She actually was at my house, in a room just above my bedroom.

So yeah, it's tough.

 

[TBird1958]

those Orvilles make my curious….would like to learn more about them….what strings do you have on it? would love to try one…..were the stock pups Gibson Sidewinders?….

The stock pickups are TB Plus with chrome covers, honestly in this bass they sounded like dead meat being flogged ( to paraphrase Mr Dasson) thus my search for something else. It currently has a set of Ken Smith Rockmaster stainless 45-105 on it, I may try some SIT Powersteels.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

The stock pickups are TB Plus with chrome covers, honestly in this bass they sounded like dead meat being flogged ( to paraphrase Mr Dasson) thus my search for something else. It currently has a set of Ken Smith Rockmaster stainless 45-105 on it, I may try some SIT Powersteels.

more of a recent vintage than I thought…could you get those in most Gibson colors? they seem like such unsung heros in that they appear to have the pedigree yet you hear so very little about them…

 

[bobyoung53]

I lost my mom last Tuesday.

She had a nasty fall and broke ribs on both sides and during her stay in the hospital, they found cancer in her liver and kidneys, basically a death sentence, there was nothing they could do. She said that she didn't want to spend what little time she had left in the hospital, so me, my kid brother and his wife decided to bring her home. So for the last two months she was bedridden, and it was a never ending parade of family members and friends coming around to visit her.

Well, that saying of "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" certainly was true here, we were all ready for the funny farm with so much people coming around every day. Mom herself said that it was a Freak show. The day before yesterday, she gave the permission to administer the Morphine, so she could fall asleep and pass away peacefully.

At the day of her passing, I told the nurses how grateful I was for the terrific help they provided, they were going "Oh don't mention it, we're just doing our job." but I insisted, SOMEBODY should thank them. I guess mom must have heard me, because only a short time later, she passed.

After she passed, I made a three-hour walk because I knew that as soon as the word got out, the parade would return, I wanted no part of it. When I finally got back, her body was taken away.

I'm a wreck, the stress of dealing with all those people coming around and worrying about my mom did a number on me. Two days before she passed, I finally had my melt down, I simply couldn't take it any more. And now, I feel empty, almost relieved that it's over, finally a chance at peace of mind. For the last couple of weeks, I could sleep but not get any rest.

Today was her cremation, and it was the right time to write this song, it just came to me as I went along,


I heard from my sister-in-law that she had a dream where my mother and father were dancing as he swept her off her feet. I liked that, and so I used that in the lyrics. The bass I used is my self-made "Monster" with a Fender Sting signature single coil and very dead sounding strings.

See the flames in the fireplace
All the people in the hall
Everybody came to welcome you
So glad to see them all
Feel the passion as you dance with him
Inside your portrait on the wall.

Feel the gravity disappear
As he sweeps you off your feet
There is nothing left to fear
Your journey is complete
Finally in his arms again
What more could you want?

Sunshine doesn't last all day
Evening will always fall
Feel the chill as the light fades away
And you answered his call
Your laugh will continue on
Inside your portrait on the wall.

Sorry, I lost both my parents within the past ten years, it's quite a transition, lots of things I would have done differently......

 

[JJR58]

I lost my mom last Tuesday.

She had a nasty fall and broke ribs on both sides and during her stay in the hospital, they found cancer in her liver and kidneys, basically a death sentence, there was nothing they could do. She said that she didn't want to spend what little time she had left in the hospital, so me, my kid brother and his wife decided to bring her home. So for the last two months she was bedridden, and it was a never ending parade of family members and friends coming around to visit her.

Well, that saying of "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" certainly was true here, we were all ready for the funny farm with so much people coming around every day. Mom herself said that it was a Freak show. The day before yesterday, she gave the permission to administer the Morphine, so she could fall asleep and pass away peacefully.

At the day of her passing, I told the nurses how grateful I was for the terrific help they provided, they were going "Oh don't mention it, we're just doing our job." but I insisted, SOMEBODY should thank them. I guess mom must have heard me, because only a short time later, she passed.

After she passed, I made a three-hour walk because I knew that as soon as the word got out, the parade would return, I wanted no part of it. When I finally got back, her body was taken away.

I'm a wreck, the stress of dealing with all those people coming around and worrying about my mom did a number on me. Two days before she passed, I finally had my melt down, I simply couldn't take it any more. And now, I feel empty, almost relieved that it's over, finally a chance at peace of mind. For the last couple of weeks, I could sleep but not get any rest.

Today was her cremation, and it was the right time to write this song, it just came to me as I went along,


I heard from my sister-in-law that she had a dream where my mother and father were dancing as he swept her off her feet. I liked that, and so I used that in the lyrics. The bass I used is my self-made "Monster" with a Fender Sting signature single coil and very dead sounding strings.

See the flames in the fireplace
All the people in the hall
Everybody came to welcome you
So glad to see them all
Feel the passion as you dance with him
Inside your portrait on the wall.

Feel the gravity disappear
As he sweeps you off your feet
There is nothing left to fear
Your journey is complete
Finally in his arms again
What more could you want?

Sunshine doesn't last all day
Evening will always fall
Feel the chill as the light fades away
And you answered his call
Your laugh will continue on
Inside your portrait on the wall.

So sorry to hear this.
As Dave said, give yourself some time.

 

[MCF]

I absolutely love EBCF on some of my Fenders, and I have a set (50-105) tuned to Eb (and drop Db) on one of my “double p” Precisions, and another set (55-110) tuned to D standard (and drop C) on another of my “double p” Precisions, and they work perfectly, just the right tension and full sound with a perfect amount of “bright” for these two instruments in these lower tunings.

I plan on setting up one of my Gibson ‘birds in D standard/Drop C and started with Cobalt rounds, but, so far I have just stuck a new Babicz bridge on and strung it with the Cobalt rounds, and those things are so bright I’m not sure I will keep heading down that road. It’s surprisingly playable after simply sticking the bridge and strings on, but I haven’t even started adjusting the Babicz yet. Quite the apparatus that thing is. Currently, with no setup, and it being very fret buzzy, it’s super (acoustically) noisy. I’m sort of stuck deciding which of the two Gibsons I want to set up for D and which to leave in E.

The only bass I can see putting EBCFs on is my MIM Pbass. But that bass has a six year old set of Chromes on it and it sounds great. They’re just getting broken in.

The Babicz is the best bridge for Thunderbirds IMO. Fine tuning very low action is the attraction for me. A bit of a learning curve, but not all that complicated. Much more adjustable for intonation and string height than the Hipshot Supertone. YMMV.

 

[TBird1958]

more of a recent vintage than I thought…could you get those in most Gibson colors? they seem like such unsung heros in that they appear to have the pedigree yet you hear so very little about them…

They did them in black, classic white and burst, set neck. They're really nicely made but I think the pickups are the weak point. They're kissing cousins to the Epiphone Elitist.

 

[MCF]

Who bought this?
SOLD - 2011 Gibson Thunderbird w/ Thunderbucker pickups/Hipshot upgrades

Don’t know. What a buy. That looked to be an excellent Thunderbird.

 

[GonePlaid]

I lost my mom last Tuesday.

She had a nasty fall and broke ribs on both sides and during her stay in the hospital, they found cancer in her liver and kidneys, basically a death sentence, there was nothing they could do. She said that she didn't want to spend what little time she had left in the hospital, so me, my kid brother and his wife decided to bring her home. So for the last two months she was bedridden, and it was a never ending parade of family members and friends coming around to visit her.

Well, that saying of "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" certainly was true here, we were all ready for the funny farm with so much people coming around every day. Mom herself said that it was a Freak show. The day before yesterday, she gave the permission to administer the Morphine, so she could fall asleep and pass away peacefully.

At the day of her passing, I told the nurses how grateful I was for the terrific help they provided, they were going "Oh don't mention it, we're just doing our job." but I insisted, SOMEBODY should thank them. I guess mom must have heard me, because only a short time later, she passed.

After she passed, I made a three-hour walk because I knew that as soon as the word got out, the parade would return, I wanted no part of it. When I finally got back, her body was taken away.

I'm a wreck, the stress of dealing with all those people coming around and worrying about my mom did a number on me. Two days before she passed, I finally had my melt down, I simply couldn't take it any more. And now, I feel empty, almost relieved that it's over, finally a chance at peace of mind. For the last couple of weeks, I could sleep but not get any rest.

Today was her cremation, and it was the right time to write this song, it just came to me as I went along,


I heard from my sister-in-law that she had a dream where my mother and father were dancing as he swept her off her feet. I liked that, and so I used that in the lyrics. The bass I used is my self-made "Monster" with a Fender Sting signature single coil and very dead sounding strings.

See the flames in the fireplace
All the people in the hall
Everybody came to welcome you
So glad to see them all
Feel the passion as you dance with him
Inside your portrait on the wall.

Feel the gravity disappear
As he sweeps you off your feet
There is nothing left to fear
Your journey is complete
Finally in his arms again
What more could you want?

Sunshine doesn't last all day
Evening will always fall
Feel the chill as the light fades away
And you answered his call
Your laugh will continue on
Inside your portrait on the wall.

Well done. Sorry for your loss.

 

[MCF]

Where can someone find these Thunderbucker pickups?

Watch Reverb. He sadly closed up shop a couple years ago. Before I got the BaCH which would be a great home for one.

 

[Gaolee]

I like that. It would need to be a four though.

If the only Lullbird I could have is a fiver, learning to play a fiver would suddenly be compelling. It ain't happening, unfortunately.

 

[MCF]

I lost my mom last Tuesday.

She had a nasty fall and broke ribs on both sides and during her stay in the hospital, they found cancer in her liver and kidneys, basically a death sentence, there was nothing they could do. She said that she didn't want to spend what little time she had left in the hospital, so me, my kid brother and his wife decided to bring her home. So for the last two months she was bedridden, and it was a never ending parade of family members and friends coming around to visit her.

Well, that saying of "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" certainly was true here, we were all ready for the funny farm with so much people coming around every day. Mom herself said that it was a Freak show. The day before yesterday, she gave the permission to administer the Morphine, so she could fall asleep and pass away peacefully.

At the day of her passing, I told the nurses how grateful I was for the terrific help they provided, they were going "Oh don't mention it, we're just doing our job." but I insisted, SOMEBODY should thank them. I guess mom must have heard me, because only a short time later, she passed.

After she passed, I made a three-hour walk because I knew that as soon as the word got out, the parade would return, I wanted no part of it. When I finally got back, her body was taken away.

I'm a wreck, the stress of dealing with all those people coming around and worrying about my mom did a number on me. Two days before she passed, I finally had my melt down, I simply couldn't take it any more. And now, I feel empty, almost relieved that it's over, finally a chance at peace of mind. For the last couple of weeks, I could sleep but not get any rest.

Today was her cremation, and it was the right time to write this song, it just came to me as I went along,


I heard from my sister-in-law that she had a dream where my mother and father were dancing as he swept her off her feet. I liked that, and so I used that in the lyrics. The bass I used is my self-made "Monster" with a Fender Sting signature single coil and very dead sounding strings.

See the flames in the fireplace
All the people in the hall
Everybody came to welcome you
So glad to see them all
Feel the passion as you dance with him
Inside your portrait on the wall.

Feel the gravity disappear
As he sweeps you off your feet
There is nothing left to fear
Your journey is complete
Finally in his arms again
What more could you want?

Sunshine doesn't last all day
Evening will always fall
Feel the chill as the light fades away
And you answered his call
Your laugh will continue on
Inside your portrait on the wall.

Hard to like this. I’m so sorry. Prayers my friend. And the song is a loving tribute to someone who sounds like a wonderful lady, well loved by family and friends.

Although many of us are half a world away, we’re here for you.

 

[Gaolee]

As with most covers - the first thing to come off for players regardless.

As a complete hack and poseur, I install covers where they weren't before.