Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

@MCF
Happy Birthday bud!

God I love Neil.

 

[MCF]

Hi all, I'm getting back into playing bass after a 20ish-year hiatus and a couple of years realizing I don't like the guitar. I picked up an Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbird in the burst color, but I need a case. I really like the looks of the Gibson Thunderbird hard case, brown with a red interior, but I have received conflicting reports on whether the bodies are the same or close enough that it would work. I teach special education and will keep the bass at school to enrich classes for these students, so I need a hard case to try and protect it as long as possible.

Go with the Epi case. Maybe not as durable, but it will fit better. Call and talk to your Sweetwater rep and make sure you get the right case.

 

[MCF]

I don't think it's worth fixing. I think I would be happy with it as is....since it's not really optimal and all....

I love that bass.

Jeremy is the real deal and he will remove the correct amount. I do not trust myself do do it without a F’up. The bass is way too rare. And I need the pickup to go down because my setups are with what some tell me is ridiculously low action. I’m picky that way and like to have a light touch with my amps doing the heavy lifting. But that’s just me. Everyone is different.

 

[MCF]

Anyone need a new, matched quartet of Svetlana 6L6s for $150? Someone at work has a set.

PM me if you are interested. If they get sold I'll note that here and in a followup.

That is a great price.

 

[Freekmagnet]

I still need to have Jeremy @Freekmagnet in Fillmore extend the pickup route a tad so the pickup can be lowered a bit.

Easy peasy! Careful of the mud slides on your way down the hill!

 

[MCF]

I love that NR bass too.... Can y'all stop with the great looking NR basses?

The J looks great as well.

No.

 

[MCF]

Easy peasy! Careful of the mud slides on your way down the hill!

Thanks Jeremy. I’m actually heading past your shop late tomorrow, but I won’t have time to stop because I have to work all day. I’m going to see my Thunderbird goddess Nikki Monninger with Silversun Pickups at the Ventura Theater. And I have to work Friday. I’ll be in touch to set something up soon.

 

[MCF]

Marshall - Happy Birthday bud!
Looking forward to tomorrow, we’ll have a little something to drink at the house afterwards as we toast another great year for you and one day closer to your retirement!

Thank you George. I truly value our friendship. Which would have never happened without this amazing club.

 

[dagrev]

God I love Neil.

OK, it's your BD. You can get carried away with the NY stuff.

Have one on me.

 

[dagrev]

Jeremy is the real deal and he will remove the correct amount. I do not trust myself do do it without a F’up. The bass is way too rare. And I need the pickup to go down because my setups are with what some tell me is ridiculously low action. I’m picky that way and like to have a light touch with my amps doing the heavy lifting. But that’s just me. Everyone is different.

I'm not heavy handed either, and appreciate nice low action.

 

[MCF]

I don't think it's worth fixing. I think I would be happy with it as is....since it's not really optimal and all....

I love that bass.

So when you hear of my demise, you’ll be on the list of potential buyers. You’ll have to deal with my wife, or worse, my daughter. They’re tough. It ain’t going anywhere before then.

BaCH Thunderbirds are great basses. The Artec pickup they came with was a way to save on cost as the backers of the project realized those who got them would be seeking different tones and would mod accordingly with Thunderbuckers, Lollars, etc. Sadly, there are only 90 of them. Three runs of thirty each. The first run had a more slab-like body (think Epi IV). The second and third runs had a wonderfully contoured body with belly cuts. Some don’t care for the heavy handed looking claw and have changed them. I actually like the “industrial” look of the stock claw.

Bottom line. If anyone here ever sees one come up for sale, buy it. Or at least tell the rest of us if you’re not interested. That are very special.

 

[MCF]

Doing some quick sound checks through the board before I go- she sounds great!

Haven’t done much tweaking that’s what knobs are sitting at for now-

View attachment 5344029
Triads made easy with the Xtender I added-

View attachment 5344027

View attachment 5344028

Need to write down the model Hercules single stand- quite a bit taller than mine-

View attachment 5344030

As you can see, there’s plenty of room at the bottom, and I believe it still has a way to go up-

View attachment 5344031

Damn. That bird looks fabulous.

 

[Stealth57]

So when you hear of my demise, you’ll be on the list of potential buyers. You’ll have to deal with my wife, or worse, my daughter. They’re tough. It ain’t going anywhere before then.

BaCH Thunderbirds are great basses. The Artec pickup they came with was a way to save on cost as the backers of the project realized those who got them would be seeking different tones and would mod accordingly with Thunderbuckers, Lollars, etc. Sadly, there are only 90 of them. Three runs of thirty each. The first run had a more slab-like body (think Epi IV). The second and third runs had a wonderfully contoured body with belly cuts. Some don’t care for the heavy handed looking claw and have changed them. I actually like the “industrial” look of the stock claw.

Bottom line. If anyone here ever sees one come up for sale, buy it. Or at least tell the rest of us if you’re not interested. That are very special.

At least your 15 is safe from me now

 

[JIO]

No.

yes

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

anyone remember this joint?……

 

[JIO]

anyone remember this joint?……
View attachment 5344167

...and how does one actually/physically drink something like that?

 

[MCF]

OK, it's your BD. You can get carried away with the NY stuff.

Have one on me.

Thank you! So even Neil haters have to admit that is classic.

I have lost count how many times I’ve seen him. Memorable highlights include back back to night shows at the Forum in October of ‘78. The early eighties at the recently enclosed Universal Studios Amphitheater for the Trans tour. The Shocking Pinks Show at the Irvine Amphitheater at the Lion Country Safari park (long gone) 79 - 80 ish? The Harvest Gold show, all solo, at the OC Fairgrounds in the early nineties; James was the opener and they totally blew me away. The funnest was the Bakersfield show in ‘18 at the Fox Theatre with Crazy Horse. It was Epic.

 

[ectoflanger]

hopefully no lead in them screws..

Only just snapped to your reference- only just noticed the juxtaposition- lol!!

 

[Gaolee]

I have a beautiful 2013EB 5 string that plays wonderfully. It has the same general vibe as the 2015 Tbird. Alas, it’s a 5 string which is becoming more difficult for me to play due to my arthritis. Love the sound of it though.

If I was ever going to play a fiver, it would probably be one of those. I already have a 2013 four string, and it's just a little brighter than a 2015 Thunderbird. Surprise. It's maple and ash, not mahogany. Given the same strings, I doubt anybody but the bass player would notice the difference in sound.

 

[ectoflanger]

Wait. You’re a landlubber now? The only other person I know who lived on a boat was my brother during his first two year stint living in Gothenburg. He bought a 28 footer when he got there and stayed on it a lot of the time, although he also had a tiny company issued studio apartment where he stayed when it got too cold.

Still living on the boat- just moving some of my longer instruments on land for practice, recording, and rehearsal-