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Thunderbird Club

#278,601
Attended last night - "Outer Space Jazz" ... :thumbsup: :bassist:

upload_2024-2-8_9-8-59.jpeg
 
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#278,602
Bent77 said:
Ah, you’re doing it all wrong

Take the original bass price, add list price for all the unnecessary subjective things you’ve foisted upon the poor thing, add 10%, the ram the headstock into the door and call it mojo
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Well, I do bash the headstock on a microphone fairly regularly, so there's that.
 
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#278,607
Ringhammer said:
Seems like a good price one of these 2015 models.

2015 Gibson Thunderbird | Reverb
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That's a really good price these days, and the mahogany grain looks great on that one. It looks like they matched the wings well and the neck contrasts. There's lots going on visually, and it really works. If I didn't already have one, that would be really compelling.
 
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#278,608
Chucky Stiletti said:
to restomod…..
View attachment 5344809
to not restomod….hmmm..
View attachment 5344810
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The car next to yours looks like it is probably a restomod. Doing the restomod thing is tough to get right, in my opinion. If you go full modern in the old shell, it will be out of date soon enough that it becomes its own period piece. It's a little like a 1950s hotrod built out of a Model A. Go too far and it is a cartoon character that just happens to look like whatever it started as. If it is an update that at least pays homage to the original, then there are going to be compromises to keep it from becoming a bit of a cartoon character.

The AMX carcass that was posted would be a restomod candidate since it doesn't look like there's much besides a shell to work with. It also kinda depends on what the car was to start with. My Camaro had not much to recommend it besides a convertible top and a V8. Other than that, it was a grocery getter with minimal power, lousy handling and brakes, and a mindless drivetrain. An AMX or some other more interesting car is a better candidate for faithful restoration than an uninspired run-of the mill unit.

I have opinions about everything.
 
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#278,609
Chucky Stiletti said:
to restomod…..
View attachment 5344809
to not restomod….hmmm..
View attachment 5344810
Click to expand...

I like the idea of somewhere in between.
Modern under the original skin, 4 wheel disc brakes, efficient/clean burning FI engine, only slightly larger diameter wheels (16” - 17”), if at all, and wheels that would still be vintage/period correct, either factory rally style, slightly wider than available from the factory, or aftermarket mags that would have been available around the time of the model year.
 
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#278,612
Ringhammer said:
I like the idea of somewhere in between.
Modern under the original skin, 4 wheel disc brakes, efficient/clean burning FI engine, only slightly larger diameter wheels (16” - 17”), if at all, and wheels that would still be vintage/period correct, either factory rally style, slightly wider than available from the factory, or aftermarket mags that would have been available around the time of the model year.
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That's what I'm trying to do with my car. It's going to be a while before it can be judged as a success or failure that way.
 
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#278,615
MCF said:
Thanks Andy. That is a great price. Can you tell me how the pickups sound in your Epi PJ Thunderbirds? I’m not a huge PJ fan. I have a Fender that is terrible and a Fender Mustang that is ok, but not great.
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You can try my Eppi PJ 4 NR thunderbird while you’re here, see how you like it (not for sale though). My take on mine…

Pros - nice sweet PJ sound, lots of PJ aftermarket options if you want to change the sound (Geezer Butler EMGs would sound great in this bass), relatively thin neck for a PJ, comfortable body vs a FSO, prices starting to go up on the 4 string units, no three point bridge.

Cons - heavy, extreme neck dive, kind of a goofy looking pickguard, odd looking red Tbird logo, no mahogany in the neck (or body IIRC), Fender style bent plate bridge.

Suggestion - if you like the look and feel, buy the 4 string variant (less neck dive, lighter bass, more after market pickup options). Don’t focus too heavily on the sound of the bass (beyond basic functionality) there are scores of pickup options that will get you exactly where you want if a PJ is desired and a couple dozen more options if you decide to reroute the bass for humbuckers. I’d place the inherent value of this bass at between $500 and $800 depending upon how much you intend to modify it after getting it (keep it stock for $800 or spend less on the bass if you intend to buy after market pickups).
 
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#278,616
GBassNorth said:
You can try my Eppi PJ 4 NR thunderbird while you’re here, see how you like it (not for sale though). My take on mine…

Pros - nice sweet PJ sound, lots of PJ aftermarket options if you want to change the sound (Geezer Butler EMGs would sound great in this bass), relatively thin neck for a PJ, comfortable body vs a FSO, prices starting to go up on the 4 string units, no three point bridge.

Cons - heavy, extreme neck dive, kind of a goofy looking pickguard, odd looking red Tbird logo, no mahogany in the neck (or body IIRC), Fender style bent plate bridge.

Suggestion - if you like the look and feel, buy the 4 string variant (less neck dive, lighter bass, more after market pickup options). Don’t focus too heavily on the sound of the bass (beyond basic functionality) there are scores of pickup options that will get you exactly where you want if a PJ is desired and a couple dozen more options if you decide to reroute the bass for humbuckers. I’d place the inherent value of this bass at between $500 and $800 depending upon how much you intend to modify it after getting it (keep it stock for $800 or spend less on the bass if you intend to buy after market pickups).
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was seriously considering one of those to add chrome cased buckers and two point bridge until I learned about BaCHs..
 
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#278,618
Bent77 said:
Baby seals?

the $600 basses that should be $2-300 because someone added baby seals
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I thought this was a Club for Thunderbirds… when did it become a Club for Baby Seals?:roflmao:

ok, I admit, it’s a morbid totally tasteless joke, but somebody had to say it. Along the same line as…
I believe in clubs for men as well as clubs for women, but only after kindness fails. :D
 
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