Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

Wow. I can’t imagine anyone thinking a Wattplower is a toy. It is the only non-Tbird on my GAS list. I’m catching Mike’s show 09/06 in Bakersfield.

The "man in the van with a bass in his hand" playing his orange Gen1 Wattplower at Winters' for legendary saxman Steve MacKay's memorial gig in 2016. They've gone through a number of iterations.

I had the good fortune to jam (live) with Steve and my friend Thollem a couple times before he passed away. He lived in Pacifica.

 

[RedVee]

So looking for a little input from folks that know more than me on this stuff. (ie everyone).

So the accordionist has bought a Roland BK7m thingy. He already has a Roland accordion that has a gazillion possible tones.

https://www.roland.com/au/products/bk-7m/

It seems he could use these together somehow, but he thinks it will be better to use a digital keyboard. I have an old old household Casio that can be connected to an amp. Looking further both devices have MIDI input and output.

So, I’m guessing I can buy a couple of MIDI cables, use the Out on the keyboard into the In on the Roland and use the BK’s stereo output into an amp or a little mixer (just bought a Mackie Mix5 for home so will test using this) and into an amp.
He can play the keyboard and a string section or grand piano type sounds will come out???

At the moment the accordion is the only music we use, we are looking to get some variety into the set.

I think we will be doing a bit of mucking around, but am I on the right track?

 

[GonePlaid]

I see they're still using metric. They'll catch up one day. The ease of dealing with fractions will remedy all that.

 

[smeet]

OK. It arrived. It’s awesome, 18mm at bridge and 34”scale. Fantastic B string, plays great. I see what you all mean by articulate. The strings are dead dead dead and still every note is clear and punchy down to the low B. I do wish it were VBT instead of VVT, but whatever.

It has some kind of Daddarios on it (rounds, multicolored ball ends), and they are DEAD. My go-to strings are Nickel Lo-Riders. Will those do the job (defined, thick, aggressive, some spank and sparkle)? Any other suggestions?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

The "man in the van with a bass in his hand" playing his orange Gen1 Wattplower at Winters' for legendary saxman Steve MacKay's memorial gig in 2016. They've gone through a number of iterations.

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I had the good fortune to jam (live) with Steve and my friend Thollem a couple times before he passed away. He lived in Pacifica.
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Looks like someone in the club aged about 50 years and now thinks a sax is a bass.

 

[TBird1958]

OK. It arrived. It’s awesome, 18mm at bridge and 34”scale. Fantastic B string, plays great. I see what you all mean by articulate. The strings are dead dead dead and still every note is clear and punchy down to the low B. I do wish it were VBT instead of VVT, but whatever.

It has some kind of Daddarios on it (rounds, multicolored ball ends), and they are DEAD. My go-to strings are Nickel Lo-Riders. Will those do the job (defined, thick, aggressive, some spank and sparkle)? Any other suggestions?
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With those pickups I like Ken Smith Stainless Rounds a lot, SIT Power Steels and if you have to have Nickel, SIT Fusion Wound. Lovely Bass!

 

[Border]

Good evening Thunderbird loving sisters and brothers. I hope everyone is staying cool and enjoying a relaxing weekend. Spent most of yesterday at the Gorge visiting friends and enjoying the Dead and Company show. I was fortunate to get seats center stage on the second level. As expected, it was a fantastic show. I was relieved when the sun started to set and the heat eased. They are almost at the end of the tour and they sounded great. Most of the songs became extended jams, and I particularly enjoyed the Estimated Prophet, Scarlett Begonias, Cumberland Blues section. Bobby sounded good, and traded leads seamlessly with John Mayer. Oteil Burbridge is an amazing bass player and tore it up all night on a 6 string Sadowsky. They are literally playing a second show while I write this, and then ending the tour with three shows in San Francisco. Wishing I was heading to the city by the bay, but glad I saw them at the Gorge. Would love to hear from anyone here who attends one of those shows. Have a great rest of the weekend.
Cheers!

 

[MCF]

OK. It arrived. It’s awesome, 18mm at bridge and 34”scale. Fantastic B string, plays great. I see what you all mean by articulate. The strings are dead dead dead and still every note is clear and punchy down to the low B. I do wish it were VBT instead of VVT, but whatever.

It has some kind of Daddarios on it (rounds, multicolored ball ends), and they are DEAD. My go-to strings are Nickel Lo-Riders. Will those do the job (defined, thick, aggressive, some spank and sparkle)? Any other suggestions?
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Stunning. Congratulations!

 

[GBassNorth]

OK. It arrived. It’s awesome, 18mm at bridge and 34”scale. Fantastic B string, plays great. I see what you all mean by articulate. The strings are dead dead dead and still every note is clear and punchy down to the low B. I do wish it were VBT instead of VVT, but whatever.

It has some kind of Daddarios on it (rounds, multicolored ball ends), and they are DEAD. My go-to strings are Nickel Lo-Riders. Will those do the job (defined, thick, aggressive, some spank and sparkle)? Any other suggestions?
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View attachment 5119489

If you’re so inclined, Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats sound fantastic with Tbird pickups. SIT Power Steels are right at the top of the list as well.

 

[Stealth57]

Hoping a VP with EBCF makes it to the GTG. I want to compare to my VP with SIT Power Flats.

 

[PhR75]

From yesterday's wedding gig. Non-rev did all the dirty work.

 

[Stealth57]

makloubeh Sunday

 

[Roger W]

Wow. I can’t imagine anyone thinking a Wattplower is a toy. It is the only non-Tbird on my GAS list. I’m catching Mike’s show 09/06 in Bakersfield.

She meant the scale, not that it doesn’t sound awesome. I tend to go with the neck pu because, like the EB0, it’s right up against the neck and has a unique sound/feel. The only mod (unlike some people in TB, I don’t consider changing strings a modification) was moving the front strap button to the end of the top horn.

 

[Jaime Poole]

If you'd like a club number just let me know, really cool Thunderbird.

Yes I would like to have a number, I own a few Thunderbirds and will be active in the group.

 

[Instagator]

Yes I would like to have a number, I own a few Thunderbirds and will be active in the group.

Welcome aboard.

 

[JJR58]

Yep, that's the same one as I purchased, black face version. Do you use the distortion mod? I'm figuring for recording I'll have one clean signal thru a DI, and a dirty signal thru the Ashly with distortion mod.

Actually I’m not. I’m sure sure how to set that up. But the way I’m using it as is gets me what I want. Not really a fan of distortion and I can get a pretty grindy tone depending on how I set the gain stages. @Chucky Stiletti explained to me how to do it. But I haven’t felt the need for it.

 

[GonePlaid]

View attachment 5119568

From yesterday's wedding gig. Non-rev did all the dirty work.

 

[Thumper]

With those pickups I like Ken Smith Stainless Rounds a lot, SIT Power Steels and if you have to have Nickel, SIT Fusion Wound. Lovely Bass!

I tend to march to my own beat. What are your normal string choices? I would start there. I personally like DR, so I go with Sunbeams or Fatbeams. And VVT on all my builds. Sorry, re-read your thread, you like Lowriders, definitely would start there.

 

[godofthunder59]

The Butcherbird rises! Some of you might remember this bass, frankly I forget I had it. 2001 Gibson Thunderbird heavily modified and cutaway deepened touched up quickly and pressed into service as a stage bass, around 2008 with JOHNNY SMOKE. Original outfitted with '76 covers and rings with a Dimarzio Model G in the neck position and a empty cover in the bridge. Badass bridge then swapped to my Badbird II. I've had my way with it and sort or regret deepenig the cutaway , it certainly makes it mine though lol.
First I wet sanded all the touch up over spray of which there was quite a bit, then I polished, looks much better! Next I decided the Bicentennial covers and rings were to valuable (they will be going up on Ebay soon) to be on this bass so I replaced the rings and the empty bridge cover with unit that are readily available online. Gone is the model G in the neck replaced with a Epiphone 760 Probucker, the bass functions as a single pickup II. I really love the Probucker and the bass sounds amazing!!!! I'm really happy to reconnect with this bass and fine tune it's metamorphosis.

Video demo soon

 

[GonePlaid]

The Butcherbird rises! Some of you might remember this bass, frankly I forget I had it. 2001 Gibson Thunderbird heavily modified and cutaway deepened touched up quickly and pressed into service as a stage bass, around 2008 with JOHNNY SMOKE. Original outfitted with '76 covers and rings with a Dimarzio Model G in the neck position and a empty cover in the bridge. Badass bridge then swapped to my Badbird II. I've had my way with it and sort or regret deepenig the cutaway , it certainly makes it mine though lol.
First I wet sanded and all the touch up over spray of which there was quite a bit, then I polished, looks much better! Next I decided the Bicentennial covers and rings were to valuable (they will be going up on Ebay soon) to be on this bass so I replaced the rings and the empty bridge cover with unit that are readily available online. Gone is the model G in the neck replaced with a Epiphone 760 Probucker, the bass functions as a single pickup II. I really love the Probucker and the bass sounds amazing!!!! I'm really happy to reconnect with this bass and fine tune it's metamorphosis. View attachment 5119691 View attachment 5119692 View attachment 5119693 View attachment 5119694 View attachment 5119695 View attachment 5119696 View attachment 5119698 View attachment 5119699 View attachment 5119700 Video demo soon