• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#275,821
Nocturnal said:
I picked up my '77 Bird a few years ago because the prices started climbing again and I didn't want to get priced out of the market. She's a player with a solid headstock repair and I am happy to have her. I need to take some better pics.

En0Z4as.jpg
Click to expand...
Would you consider a trade for a Vox Bass Amplug and cash from me?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Instagator, Nocturnal, dagrev and 2 others
#275,822
TBird1958 said:
Fossen worked at Bass Northwest part time, very nice guy. When I traded off my '73 4001 to help defray the cost of another Thunderbird, he said "I can sell this in a New York minute". He did, too. Now I miss that old Rick.
Click to expand...

I owned an '85 4003 in Fire-glo for a couple years. It was a very nice bass in every way. I restored it from being DIY hacked and sold it for a nice profit. As much as I liked it - it was more valuable to me to sell than to keep. All pics of it were lost on an old computer crash.

Looked exactly like this (mine had nicer flamed maple) - this is considered the "transitional" model. The tr's exited at the heel (why there is a 2-piece pg) and it has two wood-screws (!) through the bridge plate. That was because it would curl up with higher tension strings prior to that year. The Ric bridge, like a '60s T-bird bridge was not a good design (or at least not installed correctly for intonation). At least Gibson addressed it with the 3-point whereas Ric (until recently) never addressed it for the sake of "vintage" appearance.

upload_2024-1-22_17-15-16.jpeg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Bent77, TBird1958, Nocturnal and 8 others
#275,825
JIO said:
I owned an '85 4003 in Fire-glo for a couple years. It was a very nice bass in every way. I restored it from being DIY hacked and sold it for a nice profit. As much as I liked it - it was more valuable to me to sell than to keep. All pics of it were lost on an old computer crash.

Looked exactly like this - this is considered the "transitional" model. The tr's exited at the heel (why there is a 2-piece pg) and it has two wood-screws (!) through the bridge plate. That was because it would curl up with higher tension strings prior to that year. The Ric bridge, like a '60s T-bird bridge was not a good design (or at least not installed correctly for intonation). At least Gibson addressed it with the 3-point whereas Ric (until recently) never addressed it for the sake of "vintage" appearance.

View attachment 5326571
Click to expand...
dunno how or why it happened but I outgrew Ricks (or they outgrew me) in HS…:(
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bent77, TBird1958, Nocturnal and 6 others
#275,828
MCF said:
YES!!!!! I love the Thunderbirds! I grew up at Vandenberg. And when they appeared, it was magic!
Click to expand...

I raced my bicycle at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in the late '90s. It was a two day, 3 race stage-race. (individual time-trial/crit on Sat - RR on Sunday) I won the criterium on Saturday. The road-race on Sunday was on the coast into a stiff wind. I didn't do as well then. :)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, Miles_ONeal, Bent77 and 2 others
#275,829
JIO said:
I wanted to like it - just never bonded with it.
Click to expand...
wanted one soooo bad, Chis Squire played one, Geddy Lee played one, Paul Goddard played one and so on…..there was too much going on for me…that weird bridge, that stereo wiring, anemic neck pup, weird neck, no real thumb rest, no offense to any fan but they felt kinda “cheap”….(purely subjective of course)…
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, Miles_ONeal, ectoflanger and 6 others
#275,830
Chucky Stiletti said:
wanted one soooo bad, Chis Squire played one, Geddy Lee played one, Paul Goddard played one and so on…..there was too much going on for me…that weird bridge, that stereo wiring, anemic neck pup, weird neck, no real thumb rest, no offense to any fan but they felt kinda “cheap”….(to me of course)…
Click to expand...

I feel Ric owners/players are a lot like T-bird owners/players. Basses that have a lot of built-in character/quirks that one either loves or... doesn't love. If I still had it - I'd keep it for its unique sound recording.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, ectoflanger, Nocturnal and 5 others
#275,833
JIO said:
I feel Ric owners/players are a lot like T-bird owners/players. Basses that have a lot of built-in character/quirks that one either loves or... doesn't love. If I still had it - I'd keep it for its unique sound recording.
Click to expand...
totally agree and in all fairness, it worked beautifully (for me) when played with a pick……didn’t like them for fingerstyle….
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, Nocturnal, dagrev and 2 others
#275,836
SubHuman said:
Ha! I see similar things at Car shows all the time.
Car owner: This perfect condition mintified car is for sale for only $40k... with all original body.
Me: Why won't a magnet stick to any of the metal fenders, what's all of this paint overspray and why does the engine smoke?
Car owner: What? It's old and you expect to get a perfect, classic show car for less than $40k? Sheesh!
Me: OK can you help me lift this car into my cart?
Click to expand...
:laugh:
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth
#275,839
RedVee said:
My group has gone into an extended break. We lost another mbr, the lead female singer. The few left agreed to stop unless we can build up the numbers. Being volunteers you can’t blame people coming and going I guess.
Anyway, as we all had to become associate members of Vinnies, I have reached out to their recruitment people hoping they’ll put an ad on Seek. Promising reply, we will be having a Teams meeting next Monday.
:thumbsup:

As I told ‘the stayers’ I just want to play the bass. It’s been years now.

I have also volunteered (begged?) to step down as BL if we can find a skilled replacement - I may still be the offical rep and go to the meetings and stuff, but if we can find someone to arrange us and improve us, I’ll step away in an instant.
Click to expand...
Sorry. Good luck finding replacements-and 'graduating' to being the bass player.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, RedVee, dagrev and 2 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back