• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#257,121
JIO said:
I've already stated a bit of my Sat T-bird GTG day at Dave's music store bass impressions, but there were basses that 'played themselves' - and Chucky's '72 J (not at that event) is one. The other, that was there was (music store owner) Dave's '66 P - through a '66 Fender Bassman amp. Tone bliss - his P sounded very similar to mine and checked all my boxes. Personal tone preferences? - no question, but their feel is part of that assessment, both of which were excellent. V's robin's-egg blue NR was also exceptional (looks/feel/tone). The black late '65 NR was exceptional. Others were good, but I'm recalling personal preferences.

(our) Daves' '60s National short-scale (were there any pics shot of it?) was surprisingly nice. In VGC for a 50+ yr old bass, it played well and sounded great. A bass doesn't have to cost any more than whatever he paid for it (very little) to be a great player. One just needs to drop all the stigma's about this and that and approach any bass of any age/vintage, brand, scale or notoriety as an electric bass that can be played in any situation from bedroom to a stage to a recording studio - and judge it objectively from that point of view. Thanks for bringing it Dave, it reaffirms my support of these mostly lambasted basses from '60s Japan.
Click to expand...
Maybe the most surprising $200 I’ve ever spent. I wasn’t expecting the fullness those old pickups put out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: _Tay_, RedVee, Miles_ONeal and 7 others
#257,122
JIO said:
I've already stated a bit of my Sat T-bird GTG day at Dave's music store bass impressions, but there were basses that 'played themselves' - and Chucky's '72 J (not at that event) is one. The other, that was there was (music store owner) Dave's '66 P - through a '66 Fender Bassman amp. Tone bliss - his P sounded very similar to mine and checked all my boxes. Personal tone preferences? - no question, but their feel is part of that assessment, both of which were excellent. V's robin's-egg blue NR was also exceptional (looks/feel/tone). The black late '65 NR was exceptional. Others were good, but I'm recalling personal preferences.

(our) Daves' '60s National short-scale (were there any pics shot of it?) was surprisingly nice. In VGC for a 50+ yr old bass, it played well and sounded great. A bass doesn't have to cost any more than whatever he paid for it (very little) to be a great player. One just needs to drop all the stigma's about this and that and approach any bass of any age/vintage, brand, scale or notoriety as an electric bass that can be played in any situation from bedroom to a stage to a recording studio - and judge it objectively from that point of view. Thanks for bringing it Dave, it reaffirms my support of these mostly lambasted basses from '60s Japan.
Click to expand...
Agreed on the stigmas. I didn’t play a lot of the basses but I was intently listening to almost all of them. The one that I briefly played that really struck me as having something extra special was the store owners Jazz mash up. The body and neck were different years of 1960’s offerings, the bridge pup was a 1974 and the neck pup was a 1968? , the body was even an old refin. The thing is, it all came together great as a fantastic player.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Engle, RedVee, Miles_ONeal and 7 others
#257,123
GBassNorth said:
Agreed on the stigmas. I didn’t play a lot of the basses but I was intently listening to almost all of them. The one that I briefly played that really struck me as having something extra special was the store owners Jazz mash up. The body and neck were different years of 1960’s offerings, the bridge pup was a 1974 and the neck pup was a 1968? , the body was even an old refin. The thing is, it all came together great as a fantastic player.
Click to expand...

Oddly enough, I didn't get around to playing it.., but I trusted it was going to be good if I did.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Engle, Roger W, GBassNorth and 1 other person
#257,124
MCF said:
Ha. Everyone there is so much better than me. But I knew that going in. I’m an old hack trying to find the skills I had when I was a teen into my early twenties. It is taking so freaking long to get back there.
Click to expand...
I could kick myself for not playing for 20 yrs. I was even sober.... It's weird, I know more now and know how to do more, but in some ways I was better when I was younger. Seems like I make more mistakes. But then again I'm not practicing with a band 2-3 nights a week either, so I guess that's a big part of it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Engle, Roger W, RedVee and 6 others
#257,126
MCF said:
It’s cool that you like it. The Ampeg tone is special. And it’s impossible to duplicate with other amps. There are literally hundreds of post on TalkBass asking “how do I get an Ampeg tone with my ___________?” The correct answer is buy an Ampeg.
Click to expand...
Yep. When I played this head in a store, it was the sound I was searching for.

1.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Engle, Roger W, RedVee and 8 others
#257,128
Stealth57 said:
Maybe the most surprising $200 I’ve ever spent. I wasn’t expecting the fullness those old pickups put out.
Click to expand...

It was the package - looks good, plays good, and sounds good. Some people think the look of these quirky basses is unattractive/"novelty", some people discount short-scale altogether, and some people have a negative opinion based on their first ss '60s MIJ bass. Those '60s pu's are usually pretty hot (high output) - as long as the neck is good and the frets are good... it will have a good chance of sounding good in the right hands.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Engle, MCF, Miles_ONeal and 5 others
#257,129
  • Like
Reactions: Gaolee, Engle, MCF and 6 others
#257,131
Stealth57 said:
Thanks for your overly generous appraisal. I guess if it’s fun, that’s all that matters.
Click to expand...
That's how I look at it. I listen to others play and always am impressed. I'm very average--and that's being kind to myself, but as I've said before, I have as much fun as someone who is great. Fortunately I don't have to be great for what I do. I fill a role in the band and have fun doing it. Win, win.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Engle, MCF, RedVee and 5 others
#257,132
dagrev said:
I could kick myself for not playing for 20 yrs. I was even sober.... It's weird, I know more now and know how to do more, but in some ways I was better when I was younger. Seems like I make more mistakes. But then again I'm not practicing with a band 2-3 nights a week either, so I guess that's a big part of it.
Click to expand...

I've gone through dry (band) periods over my life, and feel lucky to have more recently connected with like-minded musicians/bandmates who are experienced/play well, are dedicated and are fun to hang with. I initially had to make that happen for myself which takes energy/work, but the result so far has been very rewarding in many ways.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Engle, MCF, Miles_ONeal and 4 others
#257,135
GBassNorth said:
Agreed on the stigmas. I didn’t play a lot of the basses but I was intently listening to almost all of them. The one that I briefly played that really struck me as having something extra special was the store owners Jazz mash up. The body and neck were different years of 1960’s offerings, the bridge pup was a 1974 and the neck pup was a 1968? , the body was even an old refin. The thing is, it all came together great as a fantastic player.
Click to expand...
That was very nice, and I don't usually like P necks on J bodies.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Nocturnal, GBassNorth and 1 other person
#257,136
BklynKen said:
For everyone comparing their playing to others, I'll give an analogy from running. Run your own race. I consider myself competent and that's fine with me. There are lots of much better players; hooray for them. I'm in a band I love and my playing is good enough for that.
Click to expand...
Yup. There are (literally) 11 year girls with much better chops than me;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, RedVee, Miles_ONeal and 5 others
#257,137
MCF said:
It’s cool that you like it. The Ampeg tone is special. And it’s impossible to duplicate with other amps. There are literally hundreds of post on TalkBass asking “how do I get an Ampeg tone with my ___________?” The correct answer is buy an Ampeg.
Click to expand...

yes - and a vintage P-bass...

upload_2023-8-8_19-6-32.jpeg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: JJR58, Engle, _Tay_ and 8 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back