Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

unfortunately, most (if not all) of the BLs I work/ed with don’t know Mike Watt…

Other than his name and the fact that he plays a bass, I know nothing about Mike Watt either. So I looked up his information…

“Michael David Watt is an American bassist, vocalist and songwriter. Watt co-founded and played bass guitar for the rock bands Minutemen, Dos, and Firehose. He began a solo career with the 1994 album Ball-Hog or Tugboat?, he has since released three additional solo albums, most recently in 2010 with Hyphenated-man.”

After reading that, I still don’t know anything about Mike Watt. I can’t name one song he played on, and have never heard of any of the bands he’s been in, or any of their songs. All I can assume is he at least played a thunderbird at some point (most of the pics I saw of him playing were non thunderbird basses) and is probably an excellent player. Obviously I need to do a deeper dive.

 

[WillyW]

Say Watt?

 

[BklynKen]

Other than his name and the fact that he plays a bass, I know nothing about Mike Watt either. So I looked up his information…

“Michael David Watt is an American bassist, vocalist and songwriter. Watt co-founded and played bass guitar for the rock bands Minutemen, Dos, and Firehose. He began a solo career with the 1994 album Ball-Hog or Tugboat?, he has since released three additional solo albums, most recently in 2010 with Hyphenated-man.”

After reading that, I still don’t know anything about Mike Watt. I can’t name one song he played on, and have never heard of any of the bands he’s been in, or any of their songs. All I can assume is he at least played a thunderbird at some point (most of the pics I saw of him playing were non thunderbird basses) and is probably an excellent player. Obviously I need to do a deeper dive.

 

[davelowell2]

Hi, Club.
I’m thinking of making a NR Non Reverse. Has anyone used a Rosser NR body?

I’ve seen one or two “regular” thunderbird bodies on here but no NR’s.

I think it will be NR body, single DarkStar, Badass bridge, and I think I’ll get a neck with a paddle to make more of an EB-O style headstock. Unless someone makes a fender pocket bolt on neck with that headstock?

Not sure of finish, right now Danish oil, but that could change.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Hi, Club.
I’m thinking of making a NR Non Reverse. Has anyone used a Rosser NR body?

I’ve seen one or two “regular” thunderbird bodies on here but no NR’s.

I think it will be NR body, single DarkStar, Badass bridge, and I think I’ll get a neck with a paddle to make more of an EB-O style headstock. Unless someone makes a fender pocket bolt on neck with that headstock?

Not sure of finish, right now Danish oil, but that could change.

more NR love......
all Plaid's fault....

@davelowell2 you've come to the right place....brace yourself for the barrage of info....

 

[davelowell2]

Idk about that, I’ve wanted one forever, Rosser seems to put it within reach.

 

[MCF]

how did you get the TBird logo on the PG? how come the pup ring, is it a different PG altogether?

As I understand it, this one passed through @godofthunder59 ‘s hands at one point. I believe he made the pg. It is a nice three ply. I bought it from @GBassNorth. The cut around the pickup was a little rough. George suggested the surround, which he never got around to installing. I really like how it looks.

I really want a Lull pickup for it. But they are unobtainable. I’m not dissing the inexpensive Artec. It certainly is different. But I believe the expectation of all those who worked to get them built was that these would be an affordable mod platform and many would change the pickups to Lulls, Thunderbuckers, etc.

I know some don’t care for the clunky claw, but I like it.

It it a very resonant and a very nice playing Thunderbird. The neck is wonderful. I love it, even if it isn’t blue like V’s.

 

[MCF]

A new song, sort of. More like a reconstruction. I used a bits of another song, made loops of parts etc and managed to build quite a different atmosphere.
I'm all for playing live in the studio and doing it "old style" but I've found that this lap top technology available today has made me to come up with songs (or tracks or atmospheres) I would have never thought of with just, say, acoustic guitar in my hands.

Love it. Perfect for a lazy weekend morning.

 

[icefly]

Have a nice day.

 

[PhR75]

Love it. Perfect for a lazy weekend morning.

Thanks. Today was the first day for some time I could take it a bit easier. Very hot here which is a good excuse too.

 

[icefly]

As promised to my favorite spot (thread) on Talkbass, have a nice day ².

 

[TBird1958]

As I understand it, this one passed through @godofthunder59 ‘s hands at one point. I believe he made the pg. It is a nice three ply. I bought it from @GBassNorth. The cut around the pickup was a little rough. George suggested the surround, which he never got around to installing. I really like how it looks.

I really want a Lull pickup for it. But they are unobtainable. I’m not dissing the inexpensive Artec. It certainly is different. But I believe the expectation of all those who worked to get them built was that these would be an affordable mod platform and many would change the pickups to Lulls, Thunderbuckers, etc.

I know some don’t care for the clunky claw, but I like it.

It it a very resonant and a very nice playing Thunderbird. The neck is wonderful. I love it, even if it isn’t blue like V’s.

I would certainly consider these, everyone that uses them likes them a lot.
Thunderbird Bass Pickup | Lollar Pickups (lollarguitars.com)

When I got my most recent one Spencer Lull explained to me that he decided not to dell them separately any more as they did not want to dilute the Lull name.

 

[MCF]

Mine in the beginning when I mentioned I play a Thunderbird said, "If it's good enough for Mike Watt, it's good enough for me."

Damn Ken. You really have found great people to play with. The guy gets it.

 

[BklynKen]

It it a very resonant and a very nice playing Thunderbird.

That reminds me Brad Whitford here talking about how he doesn't plug in guitars he tries out. He determines good ones by how much they ring out when playing them on their own.

 

[WillyW]

Hi, Club.
I’m thinking of making a NR Non Reverse. Has anyone used a Rosser NR body?

I’ve seen one or two “regular” thunderbird bodies on here but no NR’s.

I think it will be NR body, single DarkStar, Badass bridge, and I think I’ll get a neck with a paddle to make more of an EB-O style headstock. Unless someone makes a fender pocket bolt on neck with that headstock?

Not sure of finish, right now Danish oil, but that could change.

don't get ash, heavy as shag...

Probably veneer and paint this weekend.... finally...

 

[MCF]

unfortunately, most (if not all) of the BLs I work/ed with don’t know Mike Watt…

You’re kidding. Right? Maybe because I’m SoCal and the Minutemen were legends we grew up with. He played with Iggy Pop for forever. He’s also a nice guy. Remember, he’s touring small venues in September. I’m going to catch him in Bako. Anyone who wants to come down can crash here.

 

[JJR58]

don't get ash, heavy as shag...

Probably veneer and paint this weekend.... finally...

Not all ash is heavy, my 2 piece Ash J is about 8.5
All put together.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

@TBird1958


JBass 0 - TBird 1 (BaCH II)

 

[MCF]

Other than his name and the fact that he plays a bass, I know nothing about Mike Watt either. So I looked up his information…

“Michael David Watt is an American bassist, vocalist and songwriter. Watt co-founded and played bass guitar for the rock bands Minutemen, Dos, and Firehose. He began a solo career with the 1994 album Ball-Hog or Tugboat?, he has since released three additional solo albums, most recently in 2010 with Hyphenated-man.”

After reading that, I still don’t know anything about Mike Watt. I can’t name one song he played on, and have never heard of any of the bands he’s been in, or any of their songs. All I can assume is he at least played a thunderbird at some point (most of the pics I saw of him playing were non thunderbird basses) and is probably an excellent player. Obviously I need to do a deeper dive.

Start here.

 

[WillyW]

Not all ash is heavy, my 2 piece Ash J is about 8.5
All put together.

the stuff rosser uses is....