Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

ENOUGH FRIVOLITY!

Thunderbird things: I have a deal to buy a new (to me) white, neck through Epiphone Thunderbird. Pictures to follow when I pick it up in a week and a half.

I have NYXLs on my Yamaha and I am really liking them, so I am considering them on the new `bird. But, I also have Chromes on my Midtown and really like them. So my initial thought is that one of those two will be my strings. But I am also open to other suggestions. So, give me your input.

Have you tried DR Black Beauties? Seems to me (in theory, haven't tried it yet) to be the perfect string for the Thunderbird. When I get around to it, I plan on installing Optima Golds on my bird to see how they sound, if it's a fail then on go the Black Beauties.
I've never been a big fan of Chromes. They always sound mediocre to me and take forever to break in. I'm just not a zing, clack, finger or fret noise fan. For many it works really well (Entwistle) but not for me. YMMV

 

[kat888]

ENOUGH FRIVOLITY!

Thunderbird things: I have a deal to buy a new (to me) white, neck through Epiphone Thunderbird. Pictures to follow when I pick it up in a week and a half.

I have NYXLs on my Yamaha and I am really liking them, so I am considering them on the new `bird. But, I also have Chromes on my Midtown and really like them. So my initial thought is that one of those two will be my strings. But I am also open to other suggestions. So, give me your input.

Snakeskin strings are really rocknroll.

I'll always say Rotosounds, but you could try Ken Smiths?

 

[Korladis]

I just use regular D'Addario XLs. 130, 100, 80, 60 gauges on my T-bird (which is tuned BEAD).

 

[GBassNorth]

Since we're actually talking TBirds now - I'm looking for some pointers.

I have a line on a private party "friend of a friend" type sale for a claimed 1976 Gibson Thunderbird. It's one of those too good to be true type deals so I'm being fairly cautious but really don't know that much about the older birds. Are there unique things I should be looking for to confirm its authenticity beyond just the serial number and pot dates? Are there a lot of fakes floating around out there (like in the vintage Fender world)?

In addition, I still have to play it before a purchase, but my only Gibson reference point for the Thunderbird is my Gold Anniversary model. How does the mid seventies bird stack up against that? Specifically in the sound, feel, playability, ergonomics, hardware and control functionality departments.

Any advice is welcome.

 

[PillO]

Have you tried DR Black Beauties? Seems to me (in theory, haven't tried it yet) to be the perfect string for the Thunderbird. When I get around to it, I plan on installing Optima Golds on my bird to see how they sound, if it's a fail then on go the Black Beauties.
I've never been a big fan of Chromes. They always sound mediocre to me and take forever to break in. I'm just not a zing, clack, finger or fret noise fan. For many it works really well (Entwistle) but not for me. YMMV

I hadn't thought about black beauties. It would look good. I will have to find some sound clips to think about the sound.

I tried the cobalt flats and wanted to like them, but they just tore up my fingers. The Chromes have a similar sound and I like them with the semi-hollow body; they ain't the flats that the bumper crowd would like, so they have that going for them.

Snakeskin strings are really rocknroll.

I'll always say Rotosounds, but you could try Ken Smiths?

Rotosounds will go into the consideration set. Geddy Lee uses them, so they must be good (even if he took the cash to play a 7ender).

 

[PillO]

I just use regular D'Addario XLs. 130, 100, 80, 60 gauges on my T-bird (which is tuned BEAD).

Thanks. If I were to use, XLs, I would just go with the NYXLs. I keep thinking that one of my basses (probably the Yamaha) will end up BEAD.

 

[Klondike]

A studio is far more complicated. Not only do you have to worry about where chairs go, but you also have to work out speakers and tables. By the rule of 2^n arranging 3 items is 8 times more complicated than arranging 1 item.

Its acually quite simple. The chairs go under the audiences butts and the stage goes in front of the audience. The speakers will hang by the stage with care and cool ornate stuff goes everywhere else. See this is easy

 

[Korladis]

Thanks. If I were to use, XLs, I would just go with the NYXLs. I keep thinking that one of my basses (probably the Yamaha) will end up BEAD.

Sounds great on a T-bird, honestly.

 

[TBird1958]

Since we're actually talking TBirds now - I'm looking for some pointers.

I have a line on a private party "friend of a friend" type sale for a claimed 1976 Gibson Thunderbird. It's one of those too good to be true type deals so I'm being fairly cautious but really don't know that much about the older birds. Are there unique things I should be looking for to confirm its authenticity beyond just the serial number and pot dates? Are there a lot of fakes floating around out there (like in the vintage Fender world)?

In addition, I still have to play it before a purchase, but my only Gibson reference point for the Thunderbird is my Gold Anniversary model. How does the mid seventies bird stack up against that? Specifically in the sound, feel, playability, ergonomics, hardware and control functionality departments.

Any advice is welcome.

First, BFH Big &%$^#*@ Headstock.

Believe it or not other than shape the two have almost nothing in common. 76's are all over the place when it comes to the pickups, my three are each different from the other. A good set of pickups just has this Piano tone that I love, the neck is very similar in shape and dimension at the nut, maybe a little flatter. Gibson did pretty nice woodwork on the '76s, for me they balance the same as the newer ones, but that has a lot to do with strap length and body type too. 76's are wired differently as well, somewhere (not here) I have a schematic, but it's still VVT.
Most importantly, the hardware is CHROME none of that black stuff, great big tuners and hopefully bridge and pickup covers as well.
Any year Thunderbird made before 1988 is rare, some more than others, some colors from '76-'79 like white are highly sought after (Pretty sure Carlo has one) and get good money. To my knowledge some may have been produced in Nashville but most were from Kalamazoo, MI. '79s have stamped numbers, '76s up to some point in '78 are decaled numbers.
Most regard the '60s era version more highly, in no small part because of the pickups, but through a good modern amp (yeah, GK) '76s are great sounding basses and any lesser overall output isn't an issue.
When I'm playing any of mine, I know I have a piece of history, far rarer than any 7ender and I like that a lot.

 

[Nocturnal]

Have you tried DR Black Beauties? Seems to me (in theory, haven't tried it yet) to be the perfect string for the Thunderbird. When I get around to it, I plan on installing Optima Golds on my bird to see how they sound, if it's a fail then on go the Black Beauties.
I've never been a big fan of Chromes. They always sound mediocre to me and take forever to break in. I'm just not a zing, clack, finger or fret noise fan. For many it works really well (Entwistle) but not for me. YMMV

I love Black Beauties on a Thunderbird. They are less "zingy" than regular DR Highbeams, but I like both BB's and HB's.

 

[Korladis]

Why did Gibson make them so sporadically?

 

[Gaolee]

Why did Gibson make them so sporadically?

Gibson seems to do all kinds of weird stuff when it comes to bass guitars. They even made an upright bass at one point in the mists of time.

 

[PillO]

Gibson seems to do all kinds of weird stuff when it comes to bass guitars. They even made an upright bass at one point in the mists of time.

A couple of rules of thumb (from an investor point of view) don't put money into businesses run by artists or scientists. Neither group worry about investor returns; both just fritter money away.

I expect Gibson has been run (or heavily influenced) by the artists. So, no good long term planning. Probably little or no planning at all.

 

[Gluvhand]

First, BFH Big &%$^#*@ Headstock.

Believe it or not other than shape the two have almost nothing in common. 76's are all over the place when it comes to the pickups, my three are each different from the other. A good set of pickups just has this Piano tone that I love, the neck is very similar in shape and dimension at the nut, maybe a little flatter. Gibson did pretty nice woodwork on the '76s, for me they balance the same as the newer ones, but that has a lot to do with strap length and body type too. 76's are wired differently as well, somewhere (not here) I have a schematic, but it's still VVT.
Most importantly, the hardware is CHROME none of that black stuff, great big tuners and hopefully bridge and pickup covers as well.
Any year Thunderbird made before 1988 is rare, some more than others, some colors from '76-'79 like white are highly sought after (Pretty sure Carlo has one) and get good money. To my knowledge some may have been produced in Nashville but most were from Kalamazoo, MI. '79s have stamped numbers, '76s up to some point in '78 are decaled numbers.
Most regard the '60s era version more highly, in no small part because of the pickups, but through a good modern amp (yeah, GK) '76s are great sounding basses and any lesser overall output isn't an issue.
When I'm playing any of mine, I know I have a piece of history, far rarer than any 7ender and I like that a lot.

I get where you're going, and I hate to be "that" guy, but there are some rare Fenders out there. Yeah. I know. A Fender is a Fender is a Fender.

 

[Korladis]

I get where you're going, and I hate to be "that" guy, but there are some rare Fenders out there. Yeah. I know. A Fender is a Fender is a Fender.

Most of the rare ones are rare because they weren't successful in terms of sales.

Some of them have been cool, though. Just overshadowed by the mountains of Ps and Js.

 

[Gluvhand]

Most of the rare ones are rare because they weren't successful in terms of sales.

Some of them have been cool, though. Just overshadowed by the mountains of Ps and Js.

Agreed. But there are rare Ps and Js and I'd mainly put age as the main factor. What would you say the main reason is for vintage T-Bird rarity? Low production numbers? Poor sales? Broken necks/head stocks?

 

[TBird1958]

I get where you're going, and I hate to be "that" guy, but there are some rare Fenders out there. Yeah. I know. A Fender is a Fender is a Fender.

Well, I'm thinking in terms of the number Jazz basses made between the years 76-79, I honestly have no idea. There were only 1855 Thunderbirds made during those years.

 

[Klondike]

A couple of rules of thumb (from an investor point of view) don't put money into businesses run by artists or scientists. Neither group worry about investor returns; both just fritter money away.

I expect Gibson has been run (or heavily influenced) by the artists. So, no good long term planning. Probably little or no planning at all.

You got that right. I actually looked at Gibson amd as an investment they are horrible. No need to worry about their stock as they also are a private company. Probably the only this leeping them in business.

 

[Korladis]

Agreed. But there are rare Ps and Js and I'd mainly put age as the main factor. What would you say the main reason is for vintage T-Bird rarity? Low production numbers? Poor sales? Broken necks/head stocks?

I don't think any P or J bass is particularly rare. They've all been pretty plentiful since introduced, with very early ones being rarer than others, but no more rare than other early electric basses.

 

[Klondike]

I don't think any P or J bass is particularly rare. They've all been pretty plentiful since introduced, with very early ones being rarer than others, but no more rare than other early electric basses.

I bet any real driver to raising the dollar value would be in who has owned said bass in the past.