Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

Does anyone have any experience with this particular model?

Pro's/Con's, i keep looking at these.
I see them come along once in a while and curious about the pick ups and the switches on this Bird.

That's a 2015 Gibson. I have one. Those pickups are big, hot humbuckers. The switches are coil taps. They are the same pickups Gibson put into 2013 and 2014 EBs. In a mahogany Thunderbird, they are a little more thunderous than they are in a maple/ash EB, but just as versatile. The 2015 isn't the best Thunderbird I own, whatever that means, but it's the most versatile and it's the one I play the most. Gibson only made 'em for one year, so they are fairly rare. You don't see them or EBs come up for sale much, since there aren't that many of them, and they have gotten into the hands of people who understand how to use and appreciate them by now.

My 2015 had some resonance weirdness on the G string that was almost like a 7ender dead spot. I tried all kinds of strings on it, and have finally settled on stainless DR rounds as what it needs. I think that's a quirk of my specific bass, not the species. There was more of a learning curve for how to use it to full advantage compared to other Thunderbirds, but I enjoy that kind of process.

It may or may not be the best introduction to Thunderbirds, because it's a little different from most of them. Other years of Thunderbirds are far more versatile than they get credit for, and a 2015 is even more versatile after you explore it for a while.

If you can get your hands on one at a decent price, I would say go for it.

 

[hillerup]

Right now I'm holding out to see what the new Epiphone will be like.

Wise decision, although you could just get another one now, and later add the new Epi - After all, one Thunderbird is not enough.

 

[JJR58]

That's a 2015 Gibson. I have one. Those pickups are big, hot humbuckers. The switches are coil taps. They are the same pickups Gibson put into 2013 and 2014 EBs. In a mahogany Thunderbird, they are a little more thunderous than they are in a maple/ash EB, but just as versatile. The 2015 isn't the best Thunderbird I own, whatever that means, but it's the most versatile and it's the one I play the most. Gibson only made 'em for one year, so they are fairly rare. You don't see them or EBs come up for sale much, since there aren't that many of them, and they have gotten into the hands of people who understand how to use and appreciate them by now.

My 2015 had some resonance weirdness on the G string that was almost like a 7ender dead spot. I tried all kinds of strings on it, and have finally settled on stainless DR rounds as what it needs. I think that's a quirk of my specific bass, not the species. There was more of a learning curve for how to use it to full advantage compared to other Thunderbirds, but I enjoy that kind of process.

It may or may not be the best introduction to Thunderbirds, because it's a little different from most of them. Other years of Thunderbirds are far more versatile than they get credit for, and a 2015 is even more versatile after you explore it for a while.

If you can get your hands on one at a decent price, I would say go for it.

Very helpful indeed Gaolee!

I know it's not the traditional Bird pups, but i find the coil tapping might be very useful for me.
They still seem to be a bit on the spendy side since they are discontinued and a bit rare, but i do see them come up.

 

[JJR58]

Wise decision, although you could just get another one now, and later add the new Epi - After all, one Thunderbird is not enough.

Oh, if funds would only allow for that right now.

 

[Gaolee]

I know there is one out there somewhere that is calling for me.

That's kinda how it works. I bought a bottom of the line bolt-on neck Epiphone a long time ago. I had (and still have) an EB-2 that I have had forever, and decided that it might be a good idea if I got a plank to schlep around in lousy weather, ugly bars, etc. The Epi turned up for dirt cheap, with a case, so I bought it and played it for a year. Then I let it go, but it never really let me go. I played a P for a while, then a Ric 4003, but there was always something not quite right about those. Then I picked up another Thunderbird with a "losing" bid on eBay. It was a Pro IV, and although I hated the active electronics and pickups, I loved the ergos. That one is now modified with Alumitone pickups and has no frets. I still play it off and on when a fretless bass guitar is more appropriate than the upright. It convinced me that Thunderbirds were the way to go, so I sold the Ric, and bought a 1991 Thunderbird. That led to a 2001, which is magic, and a 2015. And another bolt-on neck Epiphone, because they are also very good and work well for some thing. Plus, they are astonishingly cheap for how good they are.

So, there you have it. You will know somehow. I didn't set out to be a Thunderbird player, even though the Ox was probably the one bass player I tried to emulate for a while. He didn't always play Thunderbirds, because he always seemed to go from one thing to the next in rapid succession. But, never mind that, Thunderbirds work in a way nothing else does if you are a Thunderbird person.

 

[Gaolee]

Very helpful indeed Gaolee!

I know it's not the traditional Bird pups, but i find the coil tapping might be very useful for me.
They still seem to be a bit on the spendy side since they are discontinued and a bit rare, but i do see them come up.

Patience is sometimes necessary, unfortunately. I waited for a fairly long time to find one for a price I was willing to pay. I may have got lucky and got one when people who bought them thinking they were Thunderbird people found out they weren't, but before real Thunderbird people figured them out. I don't remember what I paid, but I'm enough of a cheapskate that it wasn't anywhere near some of the more outrageous prices I have seen for them recently. It had a drop D tuner on it when I got it, too. That's a fun little toy to play with sometimes.

 

[JJR58]

That's kinda how it works. I bought a bottom of the line bolt-on neck Epiphone a long time ago. I had (and still have) an EB-2 that I have had forever, and decided that it might be a good idea if I got a plank to schlep around in lousy weather, ugly bars, etc. The Epi turned up for dirt cheap, with a case, so I bought it and played it for a year. Then I let it go, but it never really let me go. I played a P for a while, then a Ric 4003, but there was always something not quite right about those. Then I picked up another Thunderbird with a "losing" bid on eBay. It was a Pro IV, and although I hated the active electronics and pickups, I loved the ergos. That one is now modified with Alumitone pickups and has no frets. I still play it off and on when a fretless bass guitar is more appropriate than the upright. It convinced me that Thunderbirds were the way to go, so I sold the Ric, and bought a 1991 Thunderbird. That led to a 2001, which is magic, and a 2015. And another bolt-on neck Epiphone, because they are also very good and work well for some thing. Plus, they are astonishingly cheap for how good they are.

So, there you have it. You will know somehow. I didn't set out to be a Thunderbird player, even though the Ox was probably the one bass player I tried to emulate for a while. He didn't always play Thunderbirds, because he always seemed to go from one thing to the next in rapid succession. But, never mind that, Thunderbirds work in a way nothing else does if you are a Thunderbird person.

I know it's calling me because i keep getting drawn to it when i play one.
Some of the Epi Birds i've been checking out recently have been pretty good.
But hasn't been a match yet.

But i know she is out there.
I also seem to think that the early 2000's models are really good, i've played a couple in the past years, or i should say, demo'd them, and found something special about them.

 

[JJR58]

Patience is sometimes necessary, unfortunately. I waited for a fairly long time to find one for a price I was willing to pay. I may have got lucky and got one when people who bought them thinking they were Thunderbird people found out they weren't, but before real Thunderbird people figured them out. I don't remember what I paid, but I'm enough of a cheapskate that it wasn't anywhere near some of the more outrageous prices I have seen for them recently. It had a drop D tuner on it when I got it, too. That's a fun little toy to play with sometimes.

Patience huh?

I'm not so good with that, but in this case, i know it will pay off.
I'm holding out, somehow.

 

[Gaolee]

I know it's calling me because i keep getting drawn to it when i play one.
Some of the Epi Birds i've been checking out recently have been pretty good.
But hasn't been a match yet.

But i know she is out there.
I also seem to think that the early 2000's models are really good, i've played a couple in the past years, or i should say, demo'd them, and found something special about them.

My 2001 has some kind of pixie dust sprinkled on it. I'm a little nervous about even changing strings. It has been called "rude" a few times. It is rude. It's pushy. I love 'em all, but it's the star.

Sounds like you have been chosen by 'Birds.

 

[JJR58]

By the way Gaolee, how's the weather in your neck of the woods?

I used to live in PDX form '93-97, then again from '01-'07.
Not sure i really miss it, but it sure beats the heck out of NYC.

 

[JJR58]

My 2001 has some kind of pixie dust sprinkled on it. I'm a little nervous about even changing strings. It has been called "rude" a few times. It is rude. It's pushy. I love 'em all, but it's the star.

Rude is good.

 

[Gaolee]

By the way Gaolee, how's the weather in your neck of the woods?

I used to live in PDX form '93-97, then again from '01-'07.
Not sure i really miss it, but it sure beats the heck out of NYC.

I lived on West 102nd between Broadway and Amsterdam from 1982 to 1987, and I don't miss NYC except for a few things. It's been damp, but that doesn't bother me very much. Seattle's climate is just an eyelash milder than Portland's.

 

[JJR58]

Now that wasn't really a bad time to be in NY.

But yeah, all the talk about Seattle rain and all that blah, blah, i always loved Seattle when ever i got up there.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Patience huh?

I'm not so good with that, but in this case, i know it will pay off.
I'm holding out, somehow.

When you see the one you'll know. Some people find it right away, some people go through a couple before they find it, and there are some still looking. But never expect to own only one Thunderbird, so it's your call to wait or buy one for a decent price. Which ever you choose it probably won't be your last.

 

[JJR58]

When you see the one you'll know. Some people find it right away, some people go through a couple before they find it, and there are some still looking. But never expect to own only one Thunderbird, so it's your call to wait or buy one for a decent price. Which ever you choose it probably won't be your last.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is the gut feeling i have.

Can i keep my Jazz Bass?

 

[Larry V]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is the gut feeling i have.

Can i keep my Jazz Bass?

If you must...

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is the gut feeling i have.

Can i keep my Jazz Bass?

Yes you can. I have one. Different tool for a different job. But the Bird will keep calling your name.

 

[JJR58]

If you must...

I must, i must, gotta a thing for it.

 

[JJR58]

Yes you can. I have one. Different tool for a different job. But the Bird will keep calling your name.

Lately it has been calling, very loudly, is that a word?, loudly?

 

[Klondike]

I lived on West 102nd between Broadway and Amsterdam from 1982 to 1987, and I don't miss NYC except for a few things. It's been damp, but that doesn't bother me very much. Seattle's climate is just an eyelash milder than Portland's.

My first ever concert was in Portland - April Wine 1982/3 at the Portland Coliseum.