Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

I want to share a recent issue related to our recent (last Sat night) BG & TSC's show at Winters' Tavern in Pacifica. I need to set it up with some background to make it clear.

Winters' Tavern was taken over by San Diego residents CJ & Corrine 10 years ago. (they had a music related bar there) Before they bought the biz, 100yr old Winters' was a dismal 'biker bar' with very marginal local live music. Pre CJ/Corrine I played there a couple of times and people were confused by our original songs/music. ("when are you going to play something we've heard hundreds of times?") Anyway - when CJ & Corrine entered, they actively promoted local bands playing original music. (AKA - no cover bands) There is a place not far from Winters' in an old Pacifica mall that books cover bands - I've played there too. Anyway - Winters books grass-roots originals, down & dirty R&R, punk, post-punk, folk, jazz - whatever etc was the norm. Word got around and the internet emerged for national networking and Winters' has evolved into thee place to play in the Bay Area. And not just local - Mile Watt played there a few times, Agent Orange, and other famous/infamous bands.

I introduce this caveat to explain my related story; most bands that play at Winters' do not exclusively play there "because of the money". Take that any way you wish - bands play there because CJ & Corrine provide a venue to play. When I first approached CJ shortly after they took ownership of Winters' for BG, he was reluctant to book a 'cover-band' but needed a slot filled the week between Christmas & NYE. We worked it out and since then BG & TSC's has played there numerous times over 9+ years. We've grown a very small but dedicated following in Pacifica - especially Winters' staff. It feels like 'home turf' to play there regardless of its shortfalls. (marginal PA, playing for tips...) We are "friends of the family" there and always enjoy playing a night of music.

So, BG's more recently enlisted drummer Phil, who we all love and does a great job - is in another band called The Road Runners. The RR's is a generic 'cover band' that plays paid private parties etc. I like Phil, and have interfaced with their female bass-player who is nice, and their guitarist John who also is nice. I've not had communications with their front-man guitarist Geoff, even after giving them a gig with us a couple times so far. So last Saturday at Winters', I orchestrated the night with TSC's, RR's and BG. Seemed like a fun, easy to coordinate night of 3 related bands. Everything seemed to go well and that was that.

So I get a call from CJ mid-day today that RR's guitarist Geoff was on fb slagging Winters' !!! - I was crushed that a band that I coordinated to play at CJ's tavern lashed-out at them! I couldn't believe what an a-hole this guy was attacking my friends' establishment. I apologized to CJ - he laughed it off and the loyal fans of Winters' chimed in to negate this clueless "wedding band" hack. I have nothing against musicians making a living playing music of any sort - but all players in that band have day jobs and I won't suffer their "we only take paid gigs" BS.

BG plays James Bond covers, and TSC's plays a mix of original music and covers so CJ has always been very tolerant of our straying from 100% original material. So for this ... to go out of his way to post a mean comment is unacceptable. Needless to say - that's the last time we share a night. I tried to post the fb posts - but they didn't transfer. He revised his original post to 'soften' it later... (a-hole)

Band drama! Not fun when you have to deal with it in your band, and even less so when you have to deal with it in someone else’s band. Good to hear that your bands are still in good standing with the owners. I’m guessing Winters won’t be inviting Road Runners back anytime soon.

 

[JIO]

Band drama! Not fun when you have to deal with it in your band, and even less so when you have to deal with it in someone else’s band. Good to hear that your bands are still in good standing with the owners. I’m guessing Winters won’t be inviting Road Runners back anytime soon.

Well, unfortunately that was my problem - because I invited them to play there with us. I knew that they were a basic/generic cover band having done one night with them at the Hotel Utah SF, so I felt it was pretty harmless to include them for the night at Winters'. People in attendance liked them. To soil that night/experience 'after the fact' ... unacceptable.

 

[RedVee]

Well this was a surprise. Bruce Lee has a statue in Kogarah a suburb in Sydney (and the home of my NRL team the St George Dragons).
Did anyone say “Enter the Dragons”?

Bruce Lee | Monument Australia

 

[Count Bassie]

I don’t remember seeing a Travis Bean with this body before. Awesome sounding/playing bass, but way too heavy.
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I love those. And yeah, Kramer...

 

[Count Bassie]

Well this was a surprise. Bruce Lee has a statue in Kogarah a suburb in Sydney (and the home of my NRL team the St George Dragons).
Did anyone say “Enter the Dragons”?

Bruce Lee | Monument Australia

Wm Cheung, the Grandmaster of Wing Chun Kung Fu, introduced Bruce Lee to his Sifu, IP Man, in Hong Kong when Bruce was a trouble-finding kid. They had been friends, and finally, after Bruce harangued him, Cheung brought Bruce to introduce him to his teacher.
Bruce's own Jeet Kun-Do has its roots in Wing Chun, but incorporates a whole broad realm of different ideas, like Western boxing, and Street fighting sensibility (well Wing Chun has that too...).
Bruce was an interesting guy, very driven always. Grandmaster Cheung has some good stories about him...
After Bruce left China, Wm Cheung eventually moved to Australia to open a school. I'd guess he may have had something to do with the statue. Don't know if it was his idea, but he did bring his history with him, and Wing Chun has become very popular in Australia.

 

[MCF]

it’s got a fan, thought they all did…

How loud is the fan in that one? The fan in the SVT VR pretty loud.

 

[MCF]

The boots!

A Mott The Hoople cover band before cover bands were a thing?

 

[Count Bassie]

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….
View attachment 5161076

Sweet.
I sometimes consider trying to swap Tubezilla (Fender Bassman 300 Pro) for one of these. Different animals I know, but the relative SVT simplicity is a winner for me. And the classic sound is always right on.
But I'm lucky to have the Fender! Just sayin'...

 

[MCF]

It looks petite - looks are deceiving...

I’ve seen a short scale like that but with hunbuckers. I’m thinking that’s a short?

 

[MCF]

I want to share a recent issue related to our recent (last Sat night) BG & TSC's show at Winters' Tavern in Pacifica. I need to set it up with some background to make it clear.

Winters' Tavern was taken over by San Diego residents CJ & Corrine 10 years ago. (they had a music related bar there) Before they bought the biz, 100yr old Winters' was a dismal 'biker bar' with very marginal local live music. Pre CJ/Corrine I played there a couple of times and people were confused by our original songs/music. ("when are you going to play something we've heard hundreds of times?") Anyway - when CJ & Corrine entered, they actively promoted local bands playing original music. (AKA - no cover bands) There is a place not far from Winters' in an old Pacifica mall that books cover bands - I've played there too. Anyway - Winters books grass-roots originals, down & dirty R&R, punk, post-punk, folk, jazz - whatever etc was the norm. Word got around and the internet emerged for national networking and Winters' has evolved into thee place to play in the Bay Area. And not just local - Mile Watt played there a few times, Agent Orange, and other famous/infamous bands.

I introduce this caveat to explain my related story; most bands that play at Winters' do not exclusively play there "because of the money". Take that any way you wish - bands play there because CJ & Corrine provide a venue to play. When I first approached CJ shortly after they took ownership of Winters' for BG, he was reluctant to book a 'cover-band' but needed a slot filled the week between Christmas & NYE. We worked it out and since then BG & TSC's has played there numerous times over 9+ years. We've grown a very small but dedicated following in Pacifica - especially Winters' staff. It feels like 'home turf' to play there regardless of its shortfalls. (marginal PA, playing for tips...) We are "friends of the family" there and always enjoy playing a night of music.

So, BG's more recently enlisted drummer Phil, who we all love and does a great job - is in another band called The Road Runners. The RR's is a generic 'cover band' that plays paid private parties etc. I like Phil, and have interfaced with their female bass-player who is nice, and their guitarist John who also is nice. I've not had communications with their front-man guitarist Geoff, even after giving them a gig with us a couple times so far. So last Saturday at Winters', I orchestrated the night with TSC's, RR's and BG. Seemed like a fun, easy to coordinate night of 3 related bands. Everything seemed to go well and that was that.

So I get a call from CJ mid-day today that RR's guitarist Geoff was on fb slagging Winters' !!! - I was crushed that a band that I coordinated to play at CJ's tavern lashed-out at them! I couldn't believe what an a-hole this guy was attacking my friends' establishment. I apologized to CJ - he laughed it off and the loyal fans of Winters' chimed in to negate this clueless "wedding band" hack. I have nothing against musicians making a living playing music of any sort - but all players in that band have day jobs and I won't suffer their "we only take paid gigs" BS.

BG plays James Bond covers, and TSC's plays a mix of original music and covers so CJ has always been very tolerant of our straying from 100% original material. So for this ... to go out of his way to post a mean comment is unacceptable. Needless to say - that's the last time we share a night. I tried to post the fb posts - but they didn't transfer. He revised his original post to 'soften' it later... (a-hole)

That is really bush league of the guy. Hope things stay ok with Phil.

 

[Roger W]

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.

sounds horrible. I hope you get well soon.

 

[dagrev]

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.
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Careful. She could get addicted to electric Thunderbirds and ditch those doghouses!

Does she like playing electric bass much?

 

[dagrev]

That’s a beautiful bass Donnie.

Thanks Marshall. As with most, it does look even better in person. I'm not a brown kind of person at all, but I like that you can see the Mahogany. If it was brown paint I likely would have passed.

 

[Roger W]

Checking out an Orville at Mike and Mikes in Seattle:
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Small world. I bought an FGN Jazz from them via reverb. It’s gone now.

 

[dagrev]

Congrats, sir! Stoked for you.

Thanks Miles.

 

[MCF]

Careful. She could get addicted to electric Thunderbirds and ditch those doghouses!

Does she like playing electric bass much?

It would certainly cost him less money.

 

[dagrev]

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

My Dad spent a little over two years there, always near the the front line. Some times he would watch the few programs about the war that wasn't a war and sometimes he didn't want to relive it I suppose. I think it reminded him of all the young men who never came home. That was something that always bothered him.

 

[dagrev]

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.

Thanks. All very true and great points. Most people never know that about the bridges.

 

[dagrev]

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...

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Yes it was. Chrysler had some horrific browns and tans back then. Kids back then didn't know their dads went to work and drunk or high and picked out colors.

 

[dagrev]

Looks beautiful Donnie

Thanks, Mate!