Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

These are great basses and you have a beautiful example here.

Thanks sir!

 

[Roger W]

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

My dad was in the (brand new at the time) USAF in San Antonio, his younger brother was in the USMC in Korea, and his older half brother was a squid on a diesel attack sub during the Korean War.

The Marine brother went on to be an Oakland city policeman with a propensity for violence; I didn’t understand when I was a kid in the 60s, but I wonder if he suffered from PTSD.

 

[Count Bassie]

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

Those are generally long scale I think...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

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)

how did he slag them? what did he say?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

My dad was in the (brand new at the time) USAF in San Antonio, his younger brother was in the USMC in Korea, and his older half brother was a squid on a diesel attack sub during the Korean War.

The Marine brother went on to be an Oakland city policeman with a propensity for violence; I didn’t understand when I was a kid in the 60s, but I wonder if he suffered from PTSD.

I've found most vets will (sometimes very briefly) talk about the conflict they participated in with exception of the Korea guys....

 

[Engle]

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

Does she like playing electric bass much?

I think she would play electric if she had a rock band, but she is more interested in playing classical music.

 

[GBassNorth]

Friday’s fantastic find…
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
@Engle @TBird1958 @Gaolee
In your neck of the woods and darn good pricing!

 

[Stealth57]

Friday’s fantastic find…
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
@Engle @TBird1958 @Gaolee
In your neck of the woods and darn good pricing!

New looking VP with case for $350. Steal.

 

[Gaolee]

I didn’t get the impression the pickups were weak, but I did play it first.
The next bass I played was an EB2. That mudbucker outpowers most other pickups. View attachment 5161250
And the rig was a Hiwatt on an old Ampeg 810.

That EB-2 has its original mudbucker and mud button. Mine never had a mud button and has a different pickup that's not as much of a speaker cone killer as an original mudbucker. That one is a little older and a little confusing. Does it have two pickups? If it does, it must be a '67, and it's really pristine looking.

 

[Gaolee]

Friday’s fantastic find…
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
@Engle @TBird1958 @Gaolee
In your neck of the woods and darn good pricing!

Well, gosh. It's not a 2015, and I don't want a VP. But for that price...

If it's still around tomorrow, I may call him.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

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'...

Fender bass amps (especially tube) sound great, they've got the right recipe......what output tubes does yours use? How many?

 

[Gaolee]

I've found most vets will (sometimes very briefly) talk about the conflict they participated in with exception of the Korea guys....

A relative who was aboard a ship in the Pacific during WWII, including Iwo Jima, never said a word about any of it until he was in his early 90s. My wife and I interviewed him as part of the Smithsonian's veteran's project, and he told us stuff he asked not to be in the official transcript. After 70 years, it still was painful to him.

 

[JIO]

how did he slag them? what did he say?

I can't grab it so here it is -

They need much better bands. The bar is cool but they can't get decent bands to play. Terrible sound system and poor pay are driving this place into the ground.


And CJ's adult response -

Ha! I don't pay attention to reviews really as the majority of them are close to reality and quite complimentary. We actually work really hard, as most of you know & realize, to create a good spot for all. Proud of my business partner and staff beyond all words.

You can't please everyone/what's the angle?

I wouldn't be blasting this if it wasn't so comically off the mark.

 

[JIO]

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.

Kojak -

 

[JJR58]

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.

Oh crap, rest and and feel better Marshall. Sending you good vibes

 

[Ringhammer]

Not that either of my bands has had the chance to play with RR, but I will recommend that we don’t if offered. We’re all originals anyway, so not likely to play with cover bands often anyway.

Winters is a LIFESAVER for those of us that NEED to play live. Funky PA, weird mix of bands, whatever, there needs to be more places like that, and more guys like CJ supporting all acts.

 

[JIO]

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

He apologized for his bandmates actions but stated he has no control over him/people. I don't blame Phil but had to let him know about it and how I felt.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I can't grab it so here it is -

They need much better bands. The bar is cool but they can't get decent bands to play. Terrible sound system and poor pay are driving this place into the ground.


And CJ's adult response -

Ha! I don't pay attention to reviews really as the majority of them are close to reality and quite complimentary. We actually work really hard, as most of you know & realize, to create a good spot for all. Proud of my business partner and staff beyond all words.

You can't please everyone/what's the angle?

I wouldn't be blasting this if it wasn't so comically off the mark.

what a jackazz….FB can svck, that said, if he’s not paying the bands he could invest in a better PA but I guess the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach has worked for him so far…..like a double edged sword, I’ve heard more than one person slag that place for the same reasons….tweechy tweechy zone….

 

[JJR58]

@JJR58
where’s Jeff when I need him……
View attachment 5161033

Be right over!

 

[JJR58]

Ha! sounds like you got a crush on Jeff….

Don’t they all….