Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

Might be patent issues, but I doubt a different control layout would keep him out of trouble. I suspect it’s more an ease of routing and routing time reduction, or just a design detail he chose. It’s very basic and pretty minimalist…
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Single pickup, absolutely go with the bridge spec!
On my BlingBird I went with bridge/bridge/neck. I only went with the lower output neck pup at the heel of the neck because I was afraid it would overpower the other two pickups if all three were bridges.

Thanks George. I have pretty much convinced myself that is the way to go. But if others have different thoughts, I’d love to hear them.

 

[JJR58]

Nice! But I don't think that's a studio. It has the raised center section and a standard headstock.

You're right Ken. Def not a Studio.

 

[Roger W]

Beautiful Cherry Reverse! It is the standard version, which I really like and they're quite heavenly when you change out the hardware for chrome bits. Let me know if you would like a club number and congratulations on a gorgeous bass!


Here's a Studio, note the flat one piece slab body, 2/3 headstock, different bridge and PG.

Thank you! I’ve had mixed results with the Hipshot replacement bridge. It was marginally successful on my Epiphone Jack Casady (no longer with me). I’d love a number.

 

[MCF]

Nice! But I don't think that's a studio. It has the raised center section and a standard headstock.

It definitely isn’t a studio. Wrong bridge and headstock. It is a beautiful standard Gibson Reverse Thunderbird. I have so many Thunderbirds that I can’t keep track. Funny thing is, I don’t have a Reverse Gibson Thunderbird with Tbird+ pickups. That will change.

 

[Count Bassie]

Non-sequitur...
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrMw_Fpu9rp/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

 

[Gaolee]

Some cool magnet configurations - with all those options it would be helpful/enlightening to have a youtube vid hearing them. Boasting (in the ad copy) about how 3-poles per string is bigger/bassier/better is a bit like "turning up to 11..." I'd like to hear that difference before I'd buy into it.

Turning up to 11 isn't always a good thing.

 

[Gaolee]

Ahem!

If he had said the tone was in the f-holes, the answer would be "amen" instead of "ahem."

 

[Gaolee]

The other day I was fooling around with the idea of a double neck Thunderbird.
Made some sketches.
I'd love to actually build one, some day.
But for now they're just crazy ideas ;-)

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I would expect the bass on top version would balance better. But, I don't know for sure.

 

[Gaolee]

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."

I have had a few band members express surprise and a bit of awe whey they see a 'Bird for the first time. I have heard "Ooooh, a real Thunderbird" more than once. I guess there's a certain amount of novelty involved, and if they aren't completely hide-bound, the difference is intriguing.

 

[Gaolee]

had a BL buy me a bass amp once….

Did it end well?

 

[BklynKen]

I have had a few band members express surprise and a bit of awe whey they see a 'Bird for the first time. I have heard "Ooooh, a real Thunderbird" more than once. I guess there's a certain amount of novelty involved, and if they aren't completely hide-bound, the difference is intriguing.

I've gotten pretty much all very positive comments on mine. More than once sort of amazement at a left-handed Gibson Thunderbird.

 

[Gaolee]

Start here.

That drummer is going to break everything. Animal got nothing on him.

 

[MCF]

It’s incredibly light, around 8.5 pounds. It was labeled as a studio, but it is neck through, not set neck. I looked up the SN, all that I have in that is that it was made on 1 Mar 2012 in Nashville.

Still, Congratulations! If that’s your first, what a great first Thunderbird!

 

[JIO]

Turning up to 11 isn't always a good thing.

Turning down to 10 is always prudent.

 

[JIO]

I have had a few band members express surprise and a bit of awe whey they see a 'Bird for the first time. I have heard "Ooooh, a real Thunderbird" more than once. I guess there's a certain amount of novelty involved, and if they aren't completely hide-bound, the difference is intriguing.

I can't recall anyone ever commenting on what bass I'm playing at our shows regardless of what I'm playing. Someone might tell me they liked our band, or less often liked my playing, but that's about it. Fine with me.

Only bass that Cherie and Kirstin both noticed (on separate occasions) was my Glam P/J. It is sparkly.

 

[Gaolee]

It is my first Tbird. I really like the neck so far. Very comfortable. And despite the rumors, no neck dive. LaBella DTF flats.

The lack of neck dive is our little secret in here. If a Thunderbird has chosen you, it balances perfectly. But don't give away the secret. If anybody asks, it's like a broomstick with a bowling ball tied to the wrong end.

And congratulations - you got a deal if they sold you a neck through for the price of a studio. That means it was meant to be.

 

[WillyW]

An Exploder. Great name for a bass!

Alembic thought of it first, I just re-appropriated it....

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better pic… got this from a guy named gluff on the bay, it’s chambered or some poopie, he makes them out of fancy swirly wood but I hate that poopie so I painted over that shager.

still not it’s final incarnation

 

[Miles_ONeal]

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

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

Swamp ash is popular for guitars. I've played some great swamp ash guitars that felt just right.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Thank you! I’ve had mixed results with the Hipshot replacement bridge. It was marginally successful on my Epiphone Jack Casady (no longer with me). I’d love a number.

I love my Hipshot Supertone, but some people swear by the Babicz, and there's always the KickAss bridges (probably not drop-in).

 

[Engle]

Hey, look what FedEx dropped off today:

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2012 Thunderbird Studio.

Nice!