Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

Needless to say, I didn’t spend much time outside
Home is a little better. It will only be -14 tonight

Two hours North is a whole, whole lot colder. We might get down to about -7 C this evening, but that's it. And I doubt it will get that cold. If it isn't snowing, I'll probably still ride the motorcycle to work.

 

[Gaolee]

I’ve never tried rockmasters before… I’ll keep an eye out for them.

If I go with the Gibson I would get a second hand 1995 onwards, it’s really the only time period Gibson that goes for a price I’m willing to pay on reverb… so on that topic is the three point bridge as bad as people say it is? And if it is are there good mods for it?

The three-point works just fine so long as you don't take off all the strings and then turn the bass over. If you do that, everything falls out. The saddles are marked, so that's not really an issue, but it is a PITA. I replaced the 3-points on mine with Babicz bridges because I like the way they look and adjust. They aren't really any better functionally once you get them set up. Hipshot makes a replacement bridge, too. Same thing about those.

When you say 1995 onwards, do you mean older or newer? There's something subtly magical about my 2001, so if you have a choice between a 2001 and something else, if the price and condition are the same, then the 2001 is the way to go in my opinion. Or maybe it is just that specific bass guitar.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Mine was on the 9th, and a just unboxed my first Thunderbird today!

Happy belated birthday and happy Thunderbird unboxing day!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

… so on that topic is the three point bridge as bad as people say it is? And if it is are there good mods for it?

The three point is a reasonable bridge. I might never have looked for something else except that I hate silks on saddles, which was an issue on two of my Birds. I went with a Hipshot Supertone because it does everything I need and cost less than the Babicz. If you need anything, their support is top notch as well. I personally prefer the looks of the Supertone over the Babicz, but tastes vary.
It's rare to break a bass string while playing, but if you do - especially on stage - there's no telling where (or even if) you'll find the saddle.

 

[JJR58]

Cool concept. I'd be all on board for one of these.....mm
Bass of the Week: Brooks EB-TB-IV

Oh, if only I could afford a single pup version with one of my Lollars in the sweet spot…….

 

[dagrev]

My area Craig’s list keeps on giving.
Too bad I am out of room.
View attachment 5313618

I think I would buy it, room or not. Can double as a coffee table, Vase pedestal, carpet holder-downer...the list is endless.

 

[dagrev]

Just unboxed this beauty, my first Thunderbird two days after my birthday-

Rather gonsmacked as it was listed B-stock (40 % off) with pictures of some paint missing from spots on the upper and lower edges of the headstock and a tear in the case near the handle -

However the bass was flawless- the only flaw was the tear in the case cover-

View attachment 5313694

View attachment 5313696

View attachment 5313699

The case has that tear but that’s what a case is for- I will say that it’s quite heavy to lug around though the bass itself is light.

View attachment 5313700

Well done!

Now, how this works is...tomorrow you casually begin looking for a second Thunderbird.

Repeat as necessary.

 

[GonePlaid]

I think I would buy it, room or not. Can double as a coffee table, Vase pedestal, carpet holder-downer...the list is endless.

Starting an artificial reef...

 

[Engle]

Two hours North is a whole, whole lot colder. We might get down to about -7 C this evening, but that's it. And I doubt it will get that cold. If it isn't snowing, I'll probably still ride the motorcycle to work.

-14 doesn’t happen very often in Vancouver and when it does it’s not for long. My colleague is flying back to Edmonton which will be -41 tonight! That’s if his flight stops being delayed.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

-14 doesn’t happen very often in Vancouver and when it does it’s not for long. My colleague is flying back to Edmonton which will be -41 tonight! That’s if his flight stops being delayed.

Sharon had a flight from Seattle home at 12:46. It's currently showing a 15:30 departure, but that's nearly upon her and AFAIK, they haven't started boarding yet. It's supposed to get down to 6C overnight, which isn't horrid, but is expected to be -11C Tuesday AM, get back up to 0, then down to 9, with more overnights the rest of the week of 0 or a bit below. -11C for us is the comfort equivalent of y'all having a 45C day.
Praying the stupid grid doesn't melt down again. We're not expecting appreciable moisture so that helps a little.

 

[JJR58]

Sharon had a flight from Seattle home at 12:46. It's currently showing a 15:30 departure, but that's nearly upon her and AFAIK, they haven't started boarding yet. It's supposed to get down to 6C overnight, which isn't horrid, but is expected to be -11C Tuesday AM, get back up to 0, then down to 9, with more overnights the rest of the week of 0 or a bit below. -11C for us is the comfort equivalent of y'all having a 45C day.
Praying the stupid grid doesn't melt down again. We're not expecting appreciable moisture so that helps a little.

Long as it’s not a 737 Max 900…
But they’re all grounded afaik

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Long as it’s not a 737 Max 900…
But they’re all grounded afaik

AFAIK, yes. It's probably an 899 or 901...
8^)
It's getting to where anything that says 737 Max is cringe.

 

[Bent77]

@taddarietta @ectoflanger

the folks here have been nice enough to compile a Wiki page, that will be of great benefit to you (including a nice setup guide)
https://www.talkbass.com/wiki/thunderbird-club-faqs-n-stuff/


Please don’t assume the wiki is the default to asking questions! Ask away and get every explanation and guidance from everyone here. We want your bass experience to be a success!

 

[MCF]

I know at one point Gibson guitars had a variety of QC issues such as fret ends that would bite and claw like something nasty out of Harry Potter. That's been a while, though.

My oldest Gibson is the ‘11. The frets are fine.

 

[MCF]

It was the binding that got me!

Another cool thing was it was listed as ‘used B-stock’ but actually new with a full Gibson warranty-

Oh and the neck is phenomenal with a low and easy action.

It sounds great with a nice acoustic resonance, and though the neck pickup hearks back to that dark Gibson tone, the bridge pup is quite toppy with good articulation and makes for a good blend with the other one-

The icing on the cake was the case candy including this nifty multi-tool in addition to the requisite Allen key-

View attachment 5313710

What’s the Allen key for? Do they not use the standard crack pipe wrench for the truss rod?

I love the multi-tool. But it needs a 4mm Allen key to work Epi truss rods. The similar Dunlop tool has a 4mm one.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

@taddarietta @ectoflanger

the folks here have been nice enough to compile a Wiki page, that will be of great benefit to you (including a nice setup guide)
https://www.talkbass.com/wiki/thunderbird-club-faqs-n-stuff/


Please don’t assume the wiki is the default to asking questions! Ask away and get every explanation and guidance from everyone here. We want your bass experience to be a success!

I suggest starting with the wiki, then ask away on whatever isn't covered, seems unclear, etc.. That saves people from having to chase things down to re-post, etc. Plus, if the info you want is there, no waiting!

 

[cafewifi]

The three-point works just fine so long as you don't take off all the strings and then turn the bass over. If you do that, everything falls out. The saddles are marked, so that's not really an issue, but it is a PITA. I replaced the 3-points on mine with Babicz bridges because I like the way they look and adjust. They aren't really any better functionally once you get them set up. Hipshot makes a replacement bridge, too. Same thing about those.

When you say 1995 onwards, do you mean older or newer? There's something subtly magical about my 2001, so if you have a choice between a 2001 and something else, if the price and condition are the same, then the 2001 is the way to go in my opinion. Or maybe it is just that specific bass guitar.

I was meaning 1995 or newer, I have heard magical things about the 2001s

The three point is a reasonable bridge. I might never have looked for something else except that I hate silks on saddles, which was an issue on two of my Birds. I went with a Hipshot Supertone because it does everything I need and cost less than the Babicz. If you need anything, their support is top notch as well. I personally prefer the looks of the Supertone over the Babicz, but tastes vary.
It's rare to break a bass string while playing, but if you do - especially on stage - there's no telling where (or even if) you'll find the saddle.

Thanks to everyone who has given answers to my three point question, it seems to me like it’s nowhere near as abhorrent as people hype it up to be, so that’s good. I’m going to my mates place with the Gibson in two days, so I’ll give that a solid go.

 

[MCF]

Well done!

Now, how this works is...tomorrow you casually begin looking for a second Thunderbird.

Repeat as necessary.

Until you have about 30. One for every day of the month. Just ask Scott. Or his roadie Geddy, who seems to have many more than that.

 

[Bent77]

I was meaning 1995 or newer, I have heard magical things about the 2001s

Thanks to everyone who has given answers to my three point question, it seems to me like it’s nowhere near as abhorrent as people hype it up to be, so that’s good. I’m going to my mates place with the Gibson in two days, so I’ll give that a solid go.

It’s really not that big of deal, and once your setup is good, you forget about it really

I love that wiki. When I got my EB-3L a few weeks back, that was my first stop to setup the bass ala @GBassNorth style.

 

[MCF]

It’s really not that big of deal, and once your setup is good, you forget about it really

I love that wiki. When I got my EB-3L a few weeks back, that was my first stop to setup the bass ala @GBassNorth style.

My three point setup is simple. The rear bolts pretty much all the way to the deck. The front raised to a slight angle. It the action needs to be lower, I use a Babicz.