Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

I'll have to get a better pic during daylight sometime. Looks like brown paint in that pic. It's a dark translucent finish, but in person you can easily see the Mahogany grain.

Thank you. I'm super impressed.

I'll have to see how the toggle works in a live setting. Could be very interesting.
"The 3-way mini-toggle puts the pickup coils in parallel, single, or OMG modes — the latter is often mistaken for series mode because of the volume bump. “OMG mode” is achieved by adding a 0.1μf capacitor across one of the pickup coils, drastically cutting the high frequencies, which effectively acts like a bass boost. Although both coils are on, they are no longer running equally, which creates some single-coil-type hum."

This is what makes it a Leo Fender bass. Ads from the day stated G&L was his pinnacle of bass technology.

 

[dagrev]

 

[MCF]

I paid in the upper range for this one. I'm fine with that. The thing is about as close to museum quality as any bass I've personally seen that's had any use. Someone bought it and hardly ever played it. I kept looking to make sure it was really an '80 or 81 and not a reissues. Minor checking, chrome is perfect, neck is amazing grain lime a special order today is outstanding. Needs a little cleaning and a set up.
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The current reissues are over 2k. I’d much rather have the real thing were I into G&L. I refuse to become a crazy fanatic of more than one bass.

 

[Engle]

She hopes to get a bow, but we’ll see. They can cost 8-10K…
The Orville was pretty nice, but a little pricey considering it had a headstock repair. The pickguard went right to the edge of the body, and had an Epi logo. I’ll compare to V’s tomorrow.

 

[MCF]

this movie kicks some serious arse…..finally they reenact Korea war dogfights….in this case more specifically a Mig 15 chasing an F4U Corsair…..

It will be huge. And the first movie to get me to go to a real theater in more than five years.

 

[MCF]

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That’s a beautiful bass Donnie.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

next!…..can totally see why although they know how to, rickety old guys don’t want to work on these…..I usually leave them on the cab instead of the bench….easier (at least for me) that way…..
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seriously old school…..preamp separate from power amp…..don’t believe the 6550 clasps are original….this may have been an early 6146 model….
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Yeah, the 6550 spacing is stupidly small, so 6146s would make sense. Any evidence of former wiring for plate caps?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Six power tubes? I didn't know those had that kind of horsepower.

The funny thing is that with the right transformers, etc., 6x6146 (never mind 6146b) could have gotten even more power out of those amps. With more weight and cost, of course. And possibly needing a fan…

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I paid in the upper range for this one. I'm fine with that. The thing is about as close to museum quality as any bass I've personally seen that's had any use. Someone bought it and hardly ever played it. I kept looking to make sure it was really an '80 or 81 and not a reissues. Minor checking, chrome is perfect, neck is amazing grain lime a special order today is outstanding. Needs a little cleaning and a set up.
View attachment 5161111

Congrats, sir! Stoked for you.

 

[Nocturnal]

Popping in to say hi to everyone. I’ve been meaning to check in. Really appreciate the nice introduction that TBird58 gave me awhile back and also loved the great feedback that I received from some of the other members. It was great meeting everyone who attended the Thunderbird gathering in Santa Cruz. I’ve not been around so many bass players at one time! It was a fun event for me and such a good group of people to hang with. During this event I mentioned to JJR58 I own a Gibson Ripper. I believe it’s a 1976. I would have brought it to our event if I would have realized this was more than just a Thunderbird event. It’s a great bass. I’ll post some photos of this bass soon as Jeff was asking for some pics.

It was great meeting you Erik!! Enjoyed playing those killer Thunderbirds you brought to the gathering.

 

[Nocturnal]

Well, for the second time now, I can’t catch @dukeorock Mark & The Eskimo Brothers. I was set to see them in Paso Robles tomorrow night. But, I was at the ER all day. It’s a lung issue, but thank god not an embolism. Likely related to the anesthesia from surgery last month. Anyway, can’t drive for awhile. And my son can’t drive me over.

Sorry Mark. Please come back. And have your booking agent get you into Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace in Bakersfield. You guys are better than a lot of bands that play there.

I am sorry to hear about the health issue Marshall. Take care of yourself my friend!!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

this movie kicks some serious arse…..finally they reenact Korea war dogfights….in this case more specifically a Mig 15 chasing an F4U Corsair…..

Have to psych myself up for that one. Hits close to home. Our family won’t forget that war.

 

[Erik Rollain]

It was great meeting you Erik. I was particularly taken with your beautiful Bicentennial. I hope to get a chance to try your Ripper some day.

Likewise, great meeting you. They are both awesome. Would love for you to try it.

 

[JIO]

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Beauty - so much to like. The G&L bridge has a sub-level flange that anchors the bridge more dynamically to the routed body, an out-of-sight improvement that Leo incorporated. And look at how tight the neck-pocket and pu route is. Quality craftsmanship was Leo's domain that Fender lost during the later CBS years - MusicMan and G&L was his return to quality.

 

[Nocturnal]

Checking out an Orville at Mike and Mikes in Seattle:
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What did you think of the pickups?

Those seem to have a fairly high asking price (usually more than a Greco just slightly under a modern Gibson). What are your thoughts on it?

Used at GC they seem to go around $500 if its clean. New old stock or not, she may be on the high side for that model. She seems like a nice lady from my interactions with her on the Facebook page.

 

[JIO]

I'll have to get a better pic during daylight sometime. Looks like brown paint in that pic. It's a dark translucent finish, but in person you can easily see the Mahogany grain.

Thank you. I'm super impressed.

I'll have to see how the toggle works in a live setting. Could be very interesting.
"The 3-way mini-toggle puts the pickup coils in parallel, single, or OMG modes — the latter is often mistaken for series mode because of the volume bump. “OMG mode” is achieved by adding a 0.1μf capacitor across one of the pickup coils, drastically cutting the high frequencies, which effectively acts like a bass boost. Although both coils are on, they are no longer running equally, which creates some single-coil-type hum."

Oh, I know it's mahogany ... but he also did similarly brown paint finishes. Who else did brown painted finishes? But (Music Man) it was the '70s when brown was very fashionable...

 

[RedVee]

I paid in the upper range for this one. I'm fine with that. The thing is about as close to museum quality as any bass I've personally seen that's had any use. Someone bought it and hardly ever played it. I kept looking to make sure it was really an '80 or 81 and not a reissues. Minor checking, chrome is perfect, neck is amazing grain lime a special order today is outstanding. Needs a little cleaning and a set up.
View attachment 5161111

Looks beautiful Donnie

 

[RedVee]

Hope you get better soon Marshall
@MCF

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

The funny thing is that with the right transformers, etc., 6x6146 (never mind 6146b) could have gotten even more power out of those amps. With more weight and cost, of course. And possibly needing a fan…

it’s got a fan, thought they all did…

 

[GonePlaid]

Looks about right: