Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

Unless they have Lucas in them. Then point A to the garage.

When I bought it, from a doctor in '76 (10 yrs old) it needed engine work. I had a guy out in the sticks do an engine overhaul (not 'cheap', but affordable) and after that it ran like a top - like brand new for many years. Salt and long winters outside did it in.

 

[GonePlaid]

As at 4:39am on Thursday 1st Feb 2024 my wife and became grandparents for the first time.
A Grandson - Edward.
It was a bit of an ordeal, but I’ll recover eventually.

I’m as Proud as Punch.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Thunderbirds, HO Scale Electric trains, women's clothing ( I dabble in alcohol occasionally as well) , repeat after me

Combining all three would cause me to explode...

Chuck looks like he sees someone about to explode! First and third photos are totally bomb!

 

[Bent77]

I like my Element because I can count on it to get me where I need to go. It's a good design and all, but it's just a means of transportation to me. I thought about how many vehicles (all used) I've owned over the years recently...

1st car (shared with my brother) - 1959 Chevy Impala convertible - (HS car) Dad bought it from his boss (his daughters car) in 1969 for $250 - in VGC.
2nd car (truck) - 1952 International 3/4 ton pu truck (farm vehicle) Had to install turn signals. A "real" truck with a granny gear for... pulling stumps out of the ground!
3rd car (truck) - 1968 Chevy pu truck - (decent vehicle - bought it from the original owner who only used Kendall oil in it. (I continued doing so until I sold it)
4th car - 1966 Volvo 122S Estate Wagon (favorite car - great design, felt 'sporty', huge cargo space for its size, died a hard winter death in Chicago)
5th car - 1985 Ford Fiesta front-wheel drive Hatchback (transitional transportation need - a generic "car") Speedo went to 80...
6th car (truck) - 1986 Toyota SR extended cab pick-up truck (a good, well designed and dependable vehicle)
7th car (SUV) - 1988 Isuzu Trooper - (big mistake - a total money suck) "everyone's getting SUV's so I need one..."
8th car (van) - 1993 Chevy Astro Van/shorty - (ex HILTI truck)
9th car (van) - 1992 Chevy Astro Van/shorty - (work vehicle)
10th car (SUV) - 2005 Honda Element (current vehicle - no plans for anything different) Runs great, front-wheel drive, good cargo space decent milage (CA is still over $5 a gallon) More like a car than a truck.

A few cars I would 'like' to own/have owned - nothing I can justify cost-wise and I don't want to fuss over a car. The Element needs a new windscreen - a functional priority.

Oh my. I have 10 on my property as we speak…

 

[GBassNorth]

Oh my. I have 10 on my property as we speak…

But how many are up on cement blocks? (It’s a Kentucky thing).

 

[Miles_ONeal]

But how many are up on cement blocks? (It’s a Kentucky thing).

Hardly just.
But you know what you almost never see on concrete blocks?

Thunderbirds. Of any variety.

 

[Bent77]

But how many are up on cement blocks? (It’s a Kentucky thing).

Only the riding mower, which I didn’t count

Hardly just.
But you know what you almost never see on concrete blocks?

Thunderbirds. Of any variety.

I do see the ford flavors on blocks

but no blocks on the necks?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Only the riding mower, which I didn’t count

I do see the ford flavors on blocks

but no blocks on the necks?

I see a Forn bird now and then on blocks, but very seldom.

Blocks on birds != birds on blocks!

 

[JIO]

Oh my. I have 10 on my property as we speak…

Only ever had two cars at a time when the new (used) one was bought and before the old one was sold. I have had two motorcycles at the same time, (currently one) and have had 5 bicycles at the same time in my racing days (currently 3 - one being a stationary bike)

As always - to each their own. (I do own 'more than one' bass and a few amps...)

 

[Bent77]

Only ever had two cars at a time when the new (used) one was bought and before the old one was sold. I have had two motorcycles at the same time, (currently one) and have had 5 bicycles at the same time in my racing days (currently 3 - one being a stationary bike)

As always - to each their own. (I do own 'more than one' bass...)

No bicycles and only 4 basses



I do partake of Trap and skeet, so I’m overqualified in those regions heavily also


Holy Trinity!

 

[GonePlaid]

No bicycles and only 4 basses



I do partake of Trap and skeet, so I’m overqualified in those regions heavily also


Holy Trinity!

How do you cook those?

 

[JIO]

No bicycles and only 4 basses



I do partake of Trap and skeet, so I’m overqualified in those regions heavily also


Holy Trinity!

If I were so inclined, trap & skeet could be enjoyed. (as a skill-related activity) In that way I'm attracted to the bow & arrow, but I have enough expensive "hobbies" already. Luckily for both (basses & bicycles) I've been involved long enough to get some incredible deals affording me to indulge w/o going broke. Case in point - my (stollen) '63 II (a bit 'used' condition) bought in 1974 from a loan-shop in Omaha Nebraska for $150 w/OHSC. Even its replacement '64 II bought in '78 was $750 w/OHSC in VGC - nearly a "closet classic". My two bicycles (road & cyclo-cross) were also bought for very affordable prices. In that case it's because those who can afford expensive "toys" (I never considered my bicycles "toys) are always buying the latest and greatest and discarding their perfectly good high-end ("oh, but they are sooo dated") bike for a song. In fact - this syndrome is much more prevelant with bicycles than basses and it's never ending. (always a lighter, better this & that)

 

[Stealth57]

No bicycles and only 4 basses



I do partake of Trap and skeet, so I’m overqualified in those regions heavily also


Holy Trinity!

If it stops raining, I have a date for sporting clays.

 

[dagrev]

Electric trains or women's clothes for you?

Well....Let's just say I can appreciate women's clothes, but not on me.

 

[Bent77]

How do you cook those?

Carefully!

 

[dagrev]

I rarely incorporate the neck pu, (never live) and always use the middle & bridge together. Unlike a J, only one V control for both, so the tone knob is where one emphasizes more treble or bass. At home I'll fool around with other combinations and the neck pu does sounds good, I just personally gravitate to a mid-centric tone. As I've pointed out before, the 'secret sauce' pu switch is the lowest one which bypasses the V/T pots directly to the jack for whatever combination you have chosen. What that gives you is a clean boost (neither V or T knobs do anything in this mode) at the flip of a switch. Very handy for a few songs we play, including this one. - switched in while stomping on my MXR d.i.+ distortion at 0:33 & 3:30

View attachment 5336243

I just measured this bass against my '66 J. The Bass IV bridge pu is 1/2" closer to the bridge saddles at 2-1/4", and the middle pu is 1" closer to the bridge saddles at 5.5". The J is 2-3/4" B-pu to bridge saddles, and 6.5" N-pu to bridge saddles. So only like a J as they both have single-coil pu's otherwise their positioning gives them each a particular/different sound.

The N-pu on the Bass IV is 8.5" to the bridge saddles.

The other way it is different than a standard J (VVT) is that both pu's together doesn't favor one over the other (N-B) as on a J. Either works for me although on a J I dial the N-pu back a bit using both.

Very interesting. Thanks!

 

[Bent77]

If it stops raining, I have a date for sporting clays.

PM me if you go. I’m already leading us way off path here!

 

[JIO]

Well....Let's just say I can appreciate women's clothes, but not on me.

 

[dagrev]

Speaking of which, Torted!
There’s a rule I have that states;
Thou shall have at least one bass with tort.

View attachment 5336309

 

[Bent77]

If I were so inclined, trap & skeet could be enjoyed. (as a skill-related activity) In that way I'm attracted to the bow & arrow, but I have enough expensive "hobbies" already. Luckily for both (basses & bicycles) I've been involved long enough to get some incredible deals affording me to indulge w/o going broke. Case in point - my (stollen) '63 II (a bit 'used' condition) bought in 1974 from a loan-shop in Omaha Nebraska for $150 w/OHSC. Even its replacement '64 II bought in '78 was $750 w/OHSC in VGC - nearly a "closet classic". My two bicycles (road & cyclo-cross) were also bought for very affordable prices. In that case it's because those who can afford expensive "toys" (I never considered my bicycles "toys) are always buying the latest and greatest and discarding their perfectly good high-end ("oh, but they are sooo dated") bike for a song. In fact - this syndrome is much more prevelant with bicycles than basses and it's never ending. (always a lighter, better this & that)

A friend of mine use to ride before his back surgery, and that’s how he picked up good bikes that were gently used. He typically resold them for similar value when he decided he needed a shinier one