Thunderbird Club

[Matt Kustom]

So apart from Greco and O by G, does anyone know of any other MIJ Thunderbird productions?

Looking into this last night , not much real info found on the TB pickups. Greco and Ibanez seemed to get their pickups from a company called Maxon that was acquired by another Japanese company Fujigen in 1981. No telling what they used to build the TB pickups as the Japanese back then were not afraid to spend on Alnico.

 

[Gaolee]

Mine does have ladder bars and subframe connectors

Interesting. Maybe it will come in under 3500. It will have an aluminum block, heads, and radiator. That should cut 150 or more. The frame will add weight, but the stock front subframe will be completely replaced by the frame. That part of it is lighter and stiffer than stock. Everything is a compromise in one way or another.

 

[dagrev]

Hood over the engine specifically or is the boot cover also a hood?

Is this heading into "Who's on first?" territory?

EDIT: @SubHuman Poor minds must think alike!

 

[Engle]

www.talkbass.com/threads/burny-thunderbird-review.859719/

They look the goods


A Burny reviewed by TB1958 https://https://www.talkbass.com/threads/75-ibanez-lawsuit-thunderbird.795936/
A poster makes the mistake of thinking FG in the serial refers to Fujigen gakki. But it's really a factory code for somewhere in China. So I don't think there are MIJ Burneys ( Burney being the Gibson Shaped Objects side of Fernandes). Shame Burny didn't didn't stay Bunny, as was the original proposed name. A Bunny Thunderbird has a nice ring to it

The Orvilles and MIJ Epiphones are pretty close copies of Gen 1 Reverse Tbirds in their dimensions, and they are made of mahogany, but they used set neck construction.

 

[Engle]

crazy……
https://youtube.com/shorts/lQtZXbWtuMc?si=bzM2AiZ-bs-0x4s_

But Hirochan plays a Thunderbird

 

[Stealth57]

Crocodile Dundee : "that's not a trunk... this is a trunk" (but I guess an Aussie would say "boot"...)

View attachment 5315807

https://youtube.com/shorts/bjqiM3P1zto?si=sbvB2BVRw6l74Z0g

 

[GBassNorth]

boot = trunk
bonnet = hood

Frunk = front trunk (typical of mid and rear engine cars)

 

[GIBrat51]

awesome post…..
didn’t know about the Thuds….that routine must have been sooo loud…

.
Well, it's hard to say, really. After a certain point, it's hard to differentiate between degrees of LOUD. But, if I had to judge? I think the F-4's were just a smidge louder. But, it would take a decibel meter to be sure...

 

[Miles_ONeal]

24-25°F at load-in tomorrow and 28-29°F at load-out. Taking the bare minimum - no pedalboard, one Rumble 100, one bass, case with stands, etc. And a cajon for someone. Minimum trips in the cold.

 

[D.M.N.]

So apart from Greco and O by G, does anyone know of any other MIJ Thunderbird productions?

Of the top of my head, I've seen Burny (Fernandes), ESP in a t-bird style, Kaminari, and I want to say there were some Ibanez ones too, early to mid 70s?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

my neighbor just grabbed this (with a blackstar headphone amp) for 600 bucks……excellent build quality…
View attachment 5315290 View attachment 5315289

Sweet. Love the knobs.

 

[GonePlaid]

.
Well, it's hard to say, really. After a certain point, it's hard to differentiate between degrees of LOUD. But, if I had to judge? I think the F-4's were just a smidge louder. But, it would take a decibel meter to be sure...

There were 2 squadrons of F-4s on the Enterprise(and a small(2?)detachment of RA-5Cs). None were quiet. In addition, 2 squadrons of A-4s, 1 group of A-6s, and 2 or 3 A-1s. IIRC.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I owned a gold metallic ‘71 350. I loved that car but got laid off from my job and had to sell it.
Crazy thing is I ran the he!! out of some nice cars that would be worth $$$ today. Boy I was young and dumb!

They weren’t meant to be collectible. They were meant to be driven. Don’t regret enjoying life!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

One of three - sounds familiar... speaking of which, I recently revisited a Guitar Player (?) article about Overend Watts's white T-bird II and they said it was a '63. If so, one of only 3 from what I've read. His, my stollen one, and one other. I am aware that that 'one other' is owned by someone on the T-bird Facebook page. So if all that is true - mine is the only one not accounted for. It either is out there somewhere or suffered a broken hs and parted out. I'll probably never know.

A Thunderbird chop shop. Ugh.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Young generally and to some extent equals dumb, if nothing else simply from a lack of experience. We've all been there and have many things we would do differently.* The problem is when young (30s and under), it seems grasping just how much life experience, let alone knowledge, you don't have is really a tough concept to grasp.


*And a number we would do again anyway!

Some I’d do again, but better!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

It’s an acoustic guitar material with an adhesive backing from Luthier Mercantile, now out of business I think.
But when I got it, it looked completely different with the backing still on.
Was a totally different looking color.
But when all was said and done.
That’s what it actually looks like.
I’m not disappointed.
I had my tech do the shape from the PG that was in there.
The logo on there was commissioned and made by @Engle

The one and only @Engle . The Engle. Le Engle. L’Engle. Any relation to Madelaine?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

No. The engine is under the bonnet

The head is under the bonnet!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

see why this club rules?…..
@Miles_ONeal
Thank you for making my day Sir!!
View attachment 5316170

Surprise! You’re welcome, Chuck. It just grabbed me as I walked past, and said in a no-nonsense voice, “I’m Chuck’s!”

 

[SubHuman]

View attachment 5316217

Amazing what The Beatles did to that Bus!

Who knew they were Mechanics too!

 

[RedVee]

Different bonnet @Miles_ONeal