Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

Sweet! I listen to those albums on Apple music, but somehow they get messed up - the songs end up out of order, or there are live versions from the 2000's mixed in. I need to rebuild my vinyl collection.

Fortunately I kept mine, much to my wife’s chagrin. She calls that closet, which was completely full until I moved some albums up to the other place, the Toxic Waste Dump.

My only issue is that very occasionally when I go to look for something I know I had, it’s missing. I taught my son how to properly spin discs on the tables when he was in junior high. He and his friends played a lot of my albums, especially when he was in high school. And that’s great. They liked ZZ Top. Four of the early albums are MIA. Oh well.

I don’t know about Apple Music, but Spotify has a lot of albums in both original and remastered formats.

 

[MCF]

I never has a stalker. Had a couple young women who would visit my work at the time after HS, to the point my boss mentioned I should discourage this. I likely told him, "We can't really blame them, now can we." Not during the same time frame. One serious relationship ended as I wanted to move on (why I still don't know other than drink and drugs made me stupid--more stupid). Even my mother asked why. The girl was super sweet and kindness could have been her middle name. After we split she also kept showing up or making comments to our friends, but not in a creepy way. I confess I did not treat her well or as she deserved, which when I came to my sober senses regret to this day. Not abuse or anything like that.

One day at Walmart, maybe close to 20 yrs ago I guess by now I was in line and noticed the hand of the person holding an item on the checkout. I got this weird feeling but didn't know why. Like I've seen it before and it meant something. The woman left and I noticed it was her. I didn't chase her down and then felt bad about not taking that opportunity to apologize. I saw her again a couple months later in the store and did go up to her (and her mother) and said hello, and told her was sorry for how I acted and how things went for us and that I let a diamond slip away. Her mother said something about nice her daughter was and fully agreed. The former girl friend said that was so sweet and hugged me in the middle of a main isle. A real hug. I can't deny I liked it as he hugged. She asked if I was married and I said yes, and the same for her. She would have talked more but I felt so awkward I just said it was good to see her and left. Without meaning to disparage my wife in any way, in hindsight the other girl could have been Mrs. Thunderbird as well (and no doubt would have let me buy as many as I wanted). Kind of an unfair, if not tortuous what if kind of thought, so I try never to think about it.

I guess having two good wives is not ideal!

I don’t really have any regrets like that. But the girl from college whose stalker came looking for us with a gun came from a wealthy family. Old Pasadena money.

 

[JJR58]

Any ideas what that bass amp is? I tried to solve the name before the book's release but then I didn't have that picture:
View attachment 5143926

“Maybe Traynor Mono Block“

Yup , that’s exactly what that is.

 

[Engle]

Fortunately I kept mine, much to my wife’s chagrin. She calls that closet, which was completely full until I moved some albums up to the other place, the Toxic Waste Dump.

My only issue is that very occasionally when I go to look for something I know I had, it’s missing. I taught my son how to properly spin discs on the tables when he was in junior high. He and his friends played a lot of my albums, especially when he was in high school. And that’s great. They liked ZZ Top. Four of the early albums are MIA. Oh well.

I don’t know about Apple Music, but Spotify has a lot of albums in both original and remastered formats.

I probably need to delete the albums and reload them, then delete the bonus tracks.

 

[cuth]

It’s been a while since I’ve been in this thread but I wanted to show off my two new Greco ‘birds. An ‘89 and a ‘78.
Heavy as hell with ridiculous neck dive, but they both sound divine. These last few years I’ve gotten away from playing Thunderbirds but these two have sucked me back in.

 

[MCF]

It’s been a while since I’ve been in this thread but I wanted to show off my two new Greco ‘birds. An ‘89 and a ‘78.
Heavy as hell with ridiculous neck dive, but they both sound divine. These last few years I’ve gotten away from playing Thunderbirds but these two have sucked me back in.
View attachment 5144239

Awesome!

 

[TBird1958]

It’s been a while since I’ve been in this thread but I wanted to show off my two new Greco ‘birds. An ‘89 and a ‘78.
Heavy as hell with ridiculous neck dive, but they both sound divine. These last few years I’ve gotten away from playing Thunderbirds but these two have sucked me back in.
View attachment 5144239

I have a '77 II, never have weighed it but it doesn't seem heavy at all, odd. For me they're the next best thing compared to the real deal. I see you're #601 here, don't be a stranger

 

[cuth]

I have a '77 II, never have weighed it but it doesn't seem heavy at all, odd. For me they're the next best thing compared to the real deal. I see you're #601 here, don't be a stranger

Thanks. The TB700 is over 10 lbs. I haven’t weighed the II but it’s close to that. I don’t mind the weight though and I’m loving how they sound. I think they both sound better than the Bicentennial I once had.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I have a '77 II, never have weighed it but it doesn't seem heavy at all, odd. For me they're the next best thing compared to the real deal. I see you're #601 here, don't be a stranger

yeah, same here, I have that exact 89 and it’s not as heavy as my 2013…

 

[dagrev]

View attachment 5144129

That's like "a pretty ugly guitar"

Oh, heck no. That's what I was avoiding! She specked within the right tolerances. . Also keeps you out of jail. Since she was older than me, we were both safe.

 

[dagrev]

It’s been a while since I’ve been in this thread but I wanted to show off my two new Greco ‘birds. An ‘89 and a ‘78.
Heavy as hell with ridiculous neck dive, but they both sound divine. These last few years I’ve gotten away from playing Thunderbirds but these two have sucked me back in.
View attachment 5144239

Those are awful and frowned upon here. I'll save you some embarrassment and buy them from you cheap to get them off your hands.

 

[Richard I]

Hi guys!
I'm back. Well, not to stay, but I'd like to share with you my latest experience with a Thunderbird.
I've previously been part of this club, around 2019 if I remember correctly, with a Gibson Thunderbird (2018-2019 model). That one got traded for my American Original 60 P bass, which I absolutely love.
Last week I bought an Epiphone Thunderbird 60s Bass (the "Vintage Pro" after the "line up lifting"), because I wanted a T-bird once again without spending lots of money (it wouldn't have been my #1 bass, you know), and due to the fact that I had quite nice memories of the first Vintage Pros and Classic IV Epis.

When they came out, they were crafted in china, if I'm right. The latter ones are Indonesia made, as Squier Classic Vibes. Well, long story short, it was a bucket of ****, the bridge itself literally came out of the wood, bridge screws started shifting towards the neck and the string tension started pulling the tailpiece away from the body.
I couldn't play 1 minute because the tuning would have gone out of pitch, with the bridge slowly moving.
Plus, pu ring screws were mounted improperly (angled towards the cavity) and the finish wasn't perfect.

I'm obviously returning it to the shop (which is a serious and kind shop) asking for something else (no way I'll purchase another one), but I'm a bit afraid because I had an awful experience with an indonesian Squier CV P bass (bad fret leveling, horrible and unusable nut, very plastic feel...)

I'm I the only who noticed that drop in quality, along with a price increase?
These basses started to get expensive (450€ circa for a Squier CV, 650€ circa for the Epiphone Thunderbird 60s), but the quality seems really poor.

 

[Stealth57]

Hi guys!
I'm back. Well, not to stay, but I'd like to share with you my latest experience with a Thunderbird.
I've previously been part of this club, around 2019 if I remember correctly, with a Gibson Thunderbird (2018-2019 model). That one got traded for my American Original 60 P bass, which I absolutely love.
Last week I bought an Epiphone Thunderbird 60s Bass (the "Vintage Pro" after the "line up lifting"), because I wanted a T-bird once again without spending lots of money (it wouldn't have been my #1 bass, you know), and due to the fact that I had quite nice memories of the first Vintage Pros and Classic IV Epis.

When they came out, they were crafted in china, if I'm right. The latter ones are Indonesia made, as Squier Classic Vibes. Well, long story short, it was a bucket of ****, the bridge itself literally came out of the wood, bridge screws started shifting towards the neck and the string tension started pulling the tailpiece away from the body.
I couldn't play 1 minute because the tuning would have gone out of pitch, with the bridge slowly moving.
Plus, pu ring screws were mounted improperly (angled towards the cavity) and the finish wasn't perfect.

I'm obviously returning it to the shop (which is a serious and kind shop) asking for something else (no way I'll purchase another one), but I'm a bit afraid because I had an awful experience with an indonesian Squier CV P bass (bad fret leveling, horrible and unusable nut, very plastic feel...)

I'm I the only who noticed that drop in quality, along with a price increase?
These basses started to get expensive (450€ circa for a Squier CV, 650€ circa for the Epiphone Thunderbird 60s), but the quality seems really poor.

View attachment 5144310View attachment 5144311View attachment 5144312

Never seen that on a VP.

 

[RedVee]

I wish! What matches sequins?

Champagne of course

 

[MCF]

Hi guys!
I'm back. Well, not to stay, but I'd like to share with you my latest experience with a Thunderbird.
I've previously been part of this club, around 2019 if I remember correctly, with a Gibson Thunderbird (2018-2019 model). That one got traded for my American Original 60 P bass, which I absolutely love.
Last week I bought an Epiphone Thunderbird 60s Bass (the "Vintage Pro" after the "line up lifting"), because I wanted a T-bird once again without spending lots of money (it wouldn't have been my #1 bass, you know), and due to the fact that I had quite nice memories of the first Vintage Pros and Classic IV Epis.

When they came out, they were crafted in china, if I'm right. The latter ones are Indonesia made, as Squier Classic Vibes. Well, long story short, it was a bucket of ****, the bridge itself literally came out of the wood, bridge screws started shifting towards the neck and the string tension started pulling the tailpiece away from the body.
I couldn't play 1 minute because the tuning would have gone out of pitch, with the bridge slowly moving.
Plus, pu ring screws were mounted improperly (angled towards the cavity) and the finish wasn't perfect.

I'm obviously returning it to the shop (which is a serious and kind shop) asking for something else (no way I'll purchase another one), but I'm a bit afraid because I had an awful experience with an indonesian Squier CV P bass (bad fret leveling, horrible and unusable nut, very plastic feel...)

I'm I the only who noticed that drop in quality, along with a price increase?
These basses started to get expensive (450€ circa for a Squier CV, 650€ circa for the Epiphone Thunderbird 60s), but the quality seems really poor.

View attachment 5144310View attachment 5144311View attachment 5144312

So sorry to hear that. I’ve only had one issue like that with the now eight Epi Thunderbirds I own, inserts lifting on my Korean Silverburst. Glued in with Titebond five or so years ago and no issues since. The frets on all my Epis are all nicely finished.

Vintage Pros have always been made in Indonesia. IVs were made in Korea until about 2010 when production shifted to China.

 

[GBassNorth]

yeah, same here, I have that exact 89 and it’s not as heavy as my 2013…

I’ll have to weigh my 77 II and my 90 IV to be sure, but neither one struck me as inordinately heavy. I’d guess in the 8.5 to 9 pound range. I’ll have the 77 at the GTG, @JIO has offered to show me what a real Motown sound is like. Looking forward to the weekend.

 

[Richard I]

I may have had serious bad luck, but...
At this price point, I think they should be way more careful with the QC. These ain't no more cheap instruments.

 

[AHaze]

Hi guys!
I'm back. Well, not to stay, but I'd like to share with you my latest experience with a Thunderbird.
I've previously been part of this club, around 2019 if I remember correctly, with a Gibson Thunderbird (2018-2019 model). That one got traded for my American Original 60 P bass, which I absolutely love.
Last week I bought an Epiphone Thunderbird 60s Bass (the "Vintage Pro" after the "line up lifting"), because I wanted a T-bird once again without spending lots of money (it wouldn't have been my #1 bass, you know), and due to the fact that I had quite nice memories of the first Vintage Pros and Classic IV Epis.

When they came out, they were crafted in china, if I'm right. The latter ones are Indonesia made, as Squier Classic Vibes. Well, long story short, it was a bucket of ****, the bridge itself literally came out of the wood, bridge screws started shifting towards the neck and the string tension started pulling the tailpiece away from the body.
I couldn't play 1 minute because the tuning would have gone out of pitch, with the bridge slowly moving.
Plus, pu ring screws were mounted improperly (angled towards the cavity) and the finish wasn't perfect.

I'm obviously returning it to the shop (which is a serious and kind shop) asking for something else (no way I'll purchase another one), but I'm a bit afraid because I had an awful experience with an indonesian Squier CV P bass (bad fret leveling, horrible and unusable nut, very plastic feel...)

I'm I the only who noticed that drop in quality, along with a price increase?

Ooooh, I hate to see that considering the great reputation these have enjoyed so far. I just picked up this one (with a 2017 serial #) and it's spectacular.

My MIC Pro-IV had a wonky ground but after fixing that, it has also held up admirably. I hope yours was just one that slipped through QC rather than an indication of what we can expect going forward.

 

[cuth]

I weighed them again. The ‘78 II isn’t bad at 8.6 lbs but the ‘89 TB750 is just a hair under 11.

I’ll have to weigh my 77 II and my 90 IV to be sure, but neither one struck me as inordinately heavy. I’d guess in the 8.5 to 9 pound range. I’ll have the 77 at the GTG, @JIO has offered to show me what a real Motown sound is like. Looking forward to the weekend.

 

[MCF]

Ooooh, I hate to see that considering the great reputation these have enjoyed so far. I just picked up this one (with a 2017 serial #) and it's spectacular.
View attachment 5144357
My MIC Pro-IV had a wonky ground but after fixing that, it has also held up admirably. I hope yours was just one that slipped through QC rather than an indication of what we can expect going forward.

Beautiful! Congrats!