Thunderbird Club

[Ringhammer]

I tip my hat to anyone who can sing and play drums.

I have lead singing drummers in both my bands. In the other band (Red Sun Ruins) the drummer is a strong, excellent vocalist, and luckily he gets a break from lead vocal duties for about 1/2 the songs, but is always doing some backup on others.

In Bad Lemon, it’s 100% drummer doing lead vocal. He’s pretty good at doing both, but I think it keeps him from being a solid drummer. We’ve often considered finding a drummer, and putting Mike just on vox. But then we have a “front man”, and neither I nor the guitar player are sure about what that would look like. I personally am not a fan of a front man, when you are at our level (bars and small clubs), it can be… corny…

 

[Gaolee]

I currently use Eargasm's. They look exactly the same as the Eargrace in that article. I've used ear protection since the '80s. I still have a set that I bought then with a big honkin' metal baffle. I still use them if I forget the Eargasm's. The 'losing one' part is an issue and at this point I have three - so a back-up. They are clear and really hard to find if dropped. I glued rhinestones on the pull-tabs to make them easier to spot in the dark. My idea would be to install tiny LED's on each one so when they drop they'd start blinking. Don't know if that technology exists - but I'd buy them.

I use Earasers. They fit your description of Eargasms pretty well, and I dread dropping one. I need to get a couple more sets for exactly that reason.

 

[Count Bassie]

I have lead singing drummers in both my bands. In the other band (Red Sun Ruins) the drummer is a strong, excellent vocalist, and luckily he gets a break from lead vocal duties for about 1/2 the songs, but is always doing some backup on others.

In Bad Lemon, it’s 100% drummer doing lead vocal. He’s pretty good at doing both, but I think it keeps him from being a solid drummer. We’ve often considered finding a drummer, and putting Mike just on vox. But then we have a “front man”, and neither I nor the guitar player are sure about what that would look like. I personally am not a fan of a front man, when you are at our level (bars and small clubs), it can be… corny…

Reverie's drummer is our lead singer also. He's managing pretty well, add he's got the voice and chops for it. Lucky...

In the cover band, The Earthmen, our drummer took a fall and broke a couple bones. He'll be out another six weeks, but lucky there too, we got a temp that worked out ok. Quick study, competent. Not Jimmy, but he'll keep us alive for long enough to get Jimmy back.
But our guitar player took a gig playing bass, and somehow we don't have him for the next gig, coming Saturday. The sub we got is a show-band rockabilly guy, and I can't stand him. I'm actually bummed... He's only doing one show, or front girl got him and she's the one saying no more of that- I got annoyed and told her so, and she put any fears to rest about wanting him to sub twice. It was out of desperation.
I hate desperation, I have no place for it... Stresses my deal and I can't have that. Maybe you can tell I'm a little angst ridden, lol...
Relax is my new 24/7 job... No strokes or heart attacks for Rog...
I hate subbing...

 

[Thumper]

I spent some real time with it before the game today and walked away smiling. Besides being feather light, the neck feels good, and I turned off the deep switch and turned on the hi switch on my SushiBox Slampegg and there it was, full spectrum tone with subtle growl to let you know you're playing a Thunderbird. The DiColas are deep and full, lots of mids, and some nice, smooth highs, with a touch of growl. There are so many tones in this thing, I'm sure I can always find a tone to fit the room, and knob twiddlers would be in heaven. They are also very responsive to plucking location in a very pleasing, solid way. I may need to brush up on picking just for this bass, it would take the tone to another to another level for stuff like Cult, Grand Funk, etc.

Photos still not good, I need natural light, light snow/rain here today. But you can see how it compares to a VP, fits nicely in my GigBlade. I'm so glad I jumped on the DiColas.

 

[JJR58]

No.., it's in its own league. The one at the shop in Santa Cruz was pretty nice also.

I'm playing it in this pic, which was during our "Bass Jam".
View attachment 5325311

That was Dave’s P, right?
Loved that bass.

 

[JIO]

I use Earasers. They fit your description of Eargasms pretty well, and I dread dropping one. I need to get a couple more sets for exactly that reason.

 

[GBassNorth]

This is Bitch!

Naw, this is…

heads up - NSFW

 

[dagrev]

Love Keaggy! I have glass Harp’s 3rd album, a gift from an ex-gf (and still friend) who was from Ohio and used to go hear them play. I’ve met Phil - cool dude.

I never cared for his singing, but his playing was or could be out of this world. I think through marriage he's related to some old bass player from England named Paul something or other.

 

[dagrev]

This is how you do a comparison!

I enjoyed this. How helpful it is remains an open question, but fun to watch.

 

[dagrev]

There may be more truth written on this shirt then I’d like to admit!

View attachment 5324470

I got this from another thread.

 

[JIO]

Naw, this is…

heads up - NSFW

... there was a Thunderbird.., but otherwise...

 

[dagrev]

A couple things different... my '64 II (I added the middle V pot - excuse my messy soldering from 1986 ) has a front mounted jack (which I replaced), which I thought they all did. Your has a side mounted jack (?) Yours has Gibson branded pots. (mine has standard 500k pots) And mine has aluminum shielding paint (and traces of black?) - yours has carbon (or at least that's what it looks like) on the cavity floor. And mine has two caps to yours having one. Same brown & yellow coated wiring & braided ground wire. Different routing also. (yours has flattened peaks) Interesting how different they are coming from the same year.

View attachment 5324988

Ha! That's the '06 not the '64! Duh..... I just saw it wasn't white and copied the pic.

 

[JJR58]

I enjoyed this. How helpful it is remains an open question, but fun to watch.

Ha!!! I remember watching this years ago when I had a major Ampeg crush.

 

[GonePlaid]

I know. I know.
It’s a Precision.
But that Delano!
And a little blending in of the HawkBucker.
Use headphones to really hear those pick ups.

That'll certainly cut through.

 

[JJR58]

That'll certainly cut through.

I thought so too.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Ha!!! I remember watching this years ago when I had a major Ampeg crush.

lol....that got cured right?....

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I know you asked about hearing a difference Geo.
I absolutely love the tone.
Much stronger and more present then a standard type P pick up.

dig the '62 reissue on this......

 

[dagrev]

I tip my hat to anyone who can sing and play drums.

Mine gets tipped to anyone who can play anything and sing.

 

[JIO]

I enjoyed this. How helpful it is remains an open question, but fun to watch.

Yes, I agree. As thorough as a comparison a this (and others like it) is, it gives you a certain amount of information - but playing 'a' bass through 'an' amp in real time (oneself) is always the ultimate way we assess how each sounds.

As an example many years ago, I bought an inexpensive Guild Jet-star guitar during a lunch break at work hoping I could learn to play it. I liked the way it looked and the price was right - but what sold it was the music store employee playing it. He was a young metal guitarist and made it sound awesome ripping on it. After his demo, I handed him my CC. I never was able to make it sound like that, and later turned it into a bass.

 

[JIO]

dig the '62 reissue on this......

A P-bass is a P-bass is a P-bass...