Thunderbird Club

[WillyW]

Where's Willy when we need this date thing straightened out?

32nd of august 1985

 

[dagrev]

I do 52kms each way, which is 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours in the traffic. 2 hrs if things go wrong. About 50 mins outside commute times.

Plenty here also do biggish commutes, like Wollongong to Sydney, Blue Mountains (Katoomba) to Sydney, Sthn Highlands (Bowral) to Sydney, Central Coast (Gosford) to Sydney, some from Newcastle. But it is a grind. Those going to the Sydney CBD will use the trains, but if the office is in suburb's, or mini CBDs, driving may be the only convenient way.

People who don't want to live in the city will drive 50-60 or so miles for a decent job here, but as far as I know it's very uncommon for much more than that, but know there has to be a few doing it. We're supposed to be saving the planet, so we do our part around here. Some like living in more rural areas to avoid the idiocy of cities and will drive in and head out ASAP. I would live further out as well, but as you age and Drs and hospital visits become more likely/necessary it's a trade off one has to think about. As it is, we live in the city, but not a crowded part you might say.

 

[MCF]

In that case, you may prefer the Gibson. The pickups are farther apart and therefore lean in that direction more so than the Epis. One thing about the Gibsons it that they play and feel wonderful. There were some complaints years ago about QC, but mine is perfect and as enjoyably to play as anything I have.

Some of the so called “QC” issues were complaints about the nitro finishes not being 100% perfectly smooth looking like one gets on a poly finish. A little rougher at the seems so to speak. But that’s the nature of nitro. I have five Gibson Thunderbirds. No QC complaints from me.

 

[MCF]

It's definitely in the sweet spot Donnie.
I'd be perfectly happy if the Sidewinder was the only pick up in this bass.

Well sell me the Thunderbuckers then.

 

[JJR58]

Well sell me the Thunderbuckers then.

Sorry there sir, unobtainable stays with me.
They'll be going in the Precision.

 

[dagrev]

Some of the so called “QC” issues were complaints about the nitro finishes not being 100% perfectly smooth looking like one gets on a poly finish. A little rougher at the seems so to speak. But that’s the nature of nitro. I have five Gibson Thunderbirds. No QC complaints from me.

No nitro issues on mine that I have even noticed. Wonderful bass.

 

[TBird1958]

Downtown Seattle is about 12 miles from my domicile, I work Sat-Wed, the drive in on the weekends is easy and I have gated free parking, which is kinda plush. But, the 12 mile each way commute is intolerable during the work week so I rarely drive in on those days, my ride of choice:
'98 EMD F59PHI, 3,200hp 12 cylinders, track is rated for 73mph most of the way, which takes about 22 minutes, no stress, and I don't turn into a "type A" jerk dealing with idiots in cars.

 

[dagrev]

Downtown Seattle is about 12 miles from my domicile, I work Sat-Wed, the drive in on the weekends is easy and I have gated free parking, which is kinda plush. But, the 12 mile each way commute is intolerable during the work week so I rarely drive in on those days, my ride of choice:
'98 EMD F59PHI, 3,200hp 12 cylinders, track is rated for 73mph most of the way, which takes about 22 minutes, no stress, and I don't turn into a "type A" jerk dealing with idiots in cars.

Sweet ride! It's been years since I've had the opportunity to ride a train. Last trip was from Lou to Cinci decades ago when I was still a kid. Not even an option now.

 

[ectoflanger]

Which Thunderbird did you get?

The Gene Simmons G2- should arrive today- posted pics earlier

 

[ectoflanger]

Which Thunderbird did you get?

It’s in the thread specific to that bass-


Trogly unboxes a 2022 Gene Simmons Thunderbird (Gibson content)

 

[Ringhammer]

Downtown Seattle is about 12 miles from my domicile, I work Sat-Wed, the drive in on the weekends is easy and I have gated free parking, which is kinda plush. But, the 12 mile each way commute is intolerable during the work week so I rarely drive in on those days, my ride of choice:
'98 EMD F59PHI, 3,200hp 12 cylinders, track is rated for 73mph most of the way, which takes about 22 minutes, no stress, and I don't turn into a "type A" jerk dealing with idiots in cars.

Sat-Wed is an interesting workweek.

My normal goal is to only have to go out “in the field” to work jobs on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, leaving Monday and Friday for office work and, if I go out, just quick, small service/maintenance calls. As a one man show, it doesn’t take much to get overwhelmed. Currently I’m juggling 3 jobs, so I’m out all 5 days, and with three nights of rehearsals, it’s exhausting (as lucky as I am to be in 2 bands!). By the end of the month, I may have no jobs….thats when I get caught up on bookkeeping, and the less urgent service and maintenance stuff.

 

[TBird1958]

Sweet ride! It's been years since I've had the opportunity to ride a train. Last trip was from Lou to Cinci decades ago when I was still a kid. Not even an option now.

While it's dark out going in and coming home during the Winter, the rest of the year when the sun is up makes the ride very interesting for a train dork like me. The railroad is always busy with lots of trains to see, running meets an overtakes of slower trains are common, plus the track parallels historic Boeing Field and you'll often see very cool aircraft over by The Museum of Flight, AWACS, B-29, B-17, Mustang, FA-18, etc. The train lets me off 1/2 block from my job, it's like a 1:1 scale model railroad that works just for me

Sat-Wed is an interesting workweek.

My normal goal is to only have to go out “in the field” to work jobs on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, leaving Monday and Friday for office work and, if I go out, just quick, small service/maintenance calls. As a one man show, it doesn’t take much to get overwhelmed. Currently I’m juggling 3 jobs, so I’m out all 5 days, and with three nights of rehearsals, it’s exhausting (as lucky as I am to be in 2 bands!). By the end of the month, I may have no jobs….thats when I get caught up on bookkeeping, and the less urgent service and maintenance stuff.

Love having Thur and Fri off, I can get things done much easier, I'm used to the weekends and because I'm a salaried employee, get paid the same even though I work less hours on those two days. It's a pretty good gig.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Pretty cool - I now see why you're drawn to your AMX!

make no mistake, 330HP, 430ft/lbs and a curb weight of just 3000lbs is why I’m drawn….nothing like (the privilege of) driving a late 60’s, OHV V-8, manual American 2 seater….…Italian styling is just icing on the cake…​

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

It's definitely in the sweet spot Donnie.
I'd be perfectly happy if the Sidewinder was the only pick up in this bass.

you and me both…..love the “elastic” headroom and big bottom end of those pups especially in the neck position …..it’s brother in a live setting….can’t beat live settings to see how stuff’ll pan imho….that said, pls ignore the singer’s range ….

 

[Gaolee]

Ok cool, thanks for the reply, I've got a mate with a Gibson which I'll ask to try out, I tend to go for a more scooped mids sound running through my little ampless pedalboard with an always on xotic bb bass preamp, so I'll try both with my normal sound and see which I prefer. Thanks for all the tips everyone they've been very helpful

I tend to like a slightly scooped sound with a lot of low mids. Too much bottom end turns everything to mud. I don't like a nasal, whiney, murky green scoop sound like some people get from a Jazz. Given the choice of that or a wooly, brown mid heavy sound like a Precision, I'll go with the Precision sound. Thunderbirds improve on that sound by turning the brown black and adding other colors like teal and electric blue around the edges. That either makes sense or it doesn't. Strings change the color, meaning that if you want a VP to sound more like a Gibson, you can go that direction with strings, and if you want a brighter, thinner sound out of a Gibson, you can go toward that sound with string choice.

 

[JJR58]

you and me both love the “elastic” headroom and big bottom end of those pups especially in the neck position …..it’s brother in a live setting….can’t beat live settings to see how stuff’ll pan imho….that said, pls ignore the singer’s range ….

You are pumpin that NR my brother.

 

[Gaolee]

I do 52kms each way, which is 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours in the traffic. 2 hrs if things go wrong. About 50 mins outside commute times.

Plenty here also do biggish commutes, like Wollongong to Sydney, Blue Mountains (Katoomba) to Sydney, Sthn Highlands (Bowral) to Sydney, Central Coast (Gosford) to Sydney, some from Newcastle. But it is a grind. Those going to the Sydney CBD will use the trains, but if the office is in suburb's, or mini CBDs, driving may be the only convenient way.

Commutes are nuts. I commuted about two hours to two and a half hours to a jobsite about 25 years ago. I did that for a couple years, but haven't had a commute like that since. With one exception, and that was a project in Portland, Oregon that I had to be at three days a week. I went down on Tuesday mornings and came back Thursday evening. The first commute was by car, and I put 100K on my car in those two years. The rest of my commuting has been by motorcycle. I still do that most days.

 

[dagrev]

you and me both…..love the “elastic” headroom and big bottom end of those pups especially in the neck position …..it’s brother in a live setting….can’t beat live settings to see how stuff’ll pan imho….that said, pls ignore the singer’s range ….

 

[Gaolee]

A little TT Rawr.
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Irv looks thoroughly dangerous.

 

[dagrev]

I tend to like a slightly scooped sound with a lot of low mids. Too much bottom end turns everything to mud. I don't like a nasal, whiney, murky green scoop sound like some people get from a Jazz. Given the choice of that or a wooly, brown mid heavy sound like a Precision, I'll go with the Precision sound. Thunderbirds improve on that sound by turning the brown black and adding other colors like teal and electric blue around the edges. That either makes sense or it doesn't. Strings change the color, meaning that if you want a VP to sound more like a Gibson, you can go that direction with strings, and if you want a brighter, thinner sound out of a Gibson, you can go toward that sound with string choice.

I've clearly spent too much time here. This makes perfect sense.