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Thunderbird Club

#2,785
BamaBird said:
I have my much loved Epi Thunderbird, so I am "IN" :)
Click to expand...


Welcome here!
I've added you to our club - the roster is one page back (p139) it's geeting to be so big I choose not to forward it to this page.
You're #477, please feel free to post pics from shows our just at home pics , vidoes, etc, all are most welcome. :thumbsup:
 
#2,786
A couple of distant cousins you might enjoy.

81 Victory Standard- this one has the best neck! This sounds like a real nice passive P Bass.

2z74fae.jpg


81 Victory Artist- like an active P Bass on steroids.

5mqea.jpg


And not even distantly related. My old Ibanez Vee. I bought her second hand in 1977/78, gigged her solid for a decade, still have her and she still kicks.
Full scale length. Those pickups might look like EB pickups but are much more powerful and articulate.

2ithkkj.jpg
 
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#2,787
Simply Gorgeous!
Thank you for sharing them, post as many as you like :)
Gibson basses are so overlooked by the masses, definitely the cure for the common Fender!

Back in 1977 I had the use of one of those Ibanez V's for about two months, wish I could've found a way to buy it - but it's owner wasn't having that, very nice one that you have.
 
#2,791
wow.....

Amazing basses^^

Went into my local store and played the walnut bird they ordered in for me. WOW! sounded great. It is in desperate need of a set-up but I could feel the potential within that bass. I usually use sunbeams (on my ricks) but i think due to the darker nature of the gibson ill get it set up with some DR stainless Lo-Riders for some fat low end grind and growl.
Found this video which really impressed me with what the TB plus pickups can do....not too sure if I will change them, but we will wait and see. I will definitely need to crank it through my SVT-VR and band setting first.



Oh and pics...its still at the store...got a buyer for my rick but its taking a while..
IMG_24771.jpg
 
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#2,792
Thanks for the kind words and enjoy the Bird when you get her. She looks great.
Love the clip- makes me want to dust off my pick skills.

Interesting the start of the clip shows the bass not neck diving despite not being held. The player later is using the forearm of his right arm to steady the bass the way I do with mine.
Fair bit of neck dive hysteria being propagated in other threads on the forum at present.
 
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#2,793
In my experience:
Fenders: bridge saddles fall down, pickups dont hold their position, don't respond well to all styles of playing (shock horror, may talkbass bigot's strike me down). The tone you've heard a million times
Musicmans: Finish cracks like plastic, overly tightened neck joints. Modern sounding, sometimes harsh, sometimes pokey (single H)
Rickenbackers: binding can give your skin a workout, bridge pickup surround can cut your sh*t up if you aren't careful. That bridge. Just sits differently in the mix, not much low mids.
Gibson: Fragile neck (in comparison), possible neck dive (a better strap will do). Dark, fat with not as much high end response


All basses have their quirks. I have all of the above, I don't dislike a single bass for them. I just accept them for what they are and love them for what they are good at. I would compare a thunderbird to an old muscle car, when everything is working its big, loud, mean and not compromising in some ways (petrol costs, maintenance). But the engine's can be quite fragile in the sense they dont run as smooth as say a toyota year in year out.

But what would you rather have...a prius or a 71' Charger?


People will slag players who use other basses because they themselves can't use it the way it's design calls for it to be used. I don't like uber modern high end 38 band EQ 6 string 30 fret single cut basses, but I'm not gonna go into a forum and have a dig at the people who do, cus I know they can use that stuff in a way I cannot. I'll enjoy my fat rock groove, they can enjoy their classical fusion jazz jam.

Or as we would say in Australia, have a bloody rippa!
 
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#2,794
Mikaelbass said:
In my experience:
Fenders: bridge saddles fall down, pickups dont hold their position, don't respond well to all styles of playing (shock horror, may talkbass bigot's strike me down). The tone you've heard a million times
Musicmans: Finish cracks like plastic, overly tightened neck joints. Modern sounding, sometimes harsh, sometimes pokey (single H)
Rickenbackers: binding can give your skin a workout, bridge pickup surround can cut your sh*t up if you aren't careful. That bridge. Just sits differently in the mix, not much low mids.
Gibson: Fragile neck (in comparison), possible neck dive (a better strap will do). Dark, fat with not as much high end response


All basses have their quirks. I have all of the above, I don't dislike a single bass for them. I just accept them for what they are and love them for what they are good at. I would compare a thunderbird to an old muscle car, when everything is working its big, loud, mean and not compromising in some ways (petrol costs, maintenance). But the engine's can be quite fragile in the sense they dont run as smooth as say a toyota year in year out.

But what would you rather have...a prius or a 71' Charger?


People will slag players who use other basses because they themselves can't use it the way it's design calls for it to be used. I don't like uber modern high end 38 band EQ 6 string 30 fret single cut basses, but I'm not gonna go into a forum and have a dig at the people who do, cus I know they can use that stuff in a way I cannot. I'll enjoy my fat rock groove, they can enjoy their classical fusion jazz jam.

Or as we would say in Australia, have a bloody rippa!
Click to expand...
Well said, Sir! :)
 
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#2,795
Mikaelbass said:
wow.....

Amazing basses^^

Went into my local store and played the walnut bird they ordered in for me. WOW! sounded great. It is in desperate need of a set-up but I could feel the potential within that bass. I usually use sunbeams (on my ricks) but i think due to the darker nature of the gibson ill get it set up with some DR stainless Lo-Riders for some fat low end grind and growl.
Found this video which really impressed me with what the TB plus pickups can do....not too sure if I will change them, but we will wait and see. I will definitely need to crank it through my SVT-VR and band setting first.



Oh and pics...its still at the store...got a buyer for my rick but its taking a while..
IMG_24771.jpg
Click to expand...


Cool - I'm really curious as to how a walnut T-bird will sound - it looks awesome! And the pink-lined case is back! Doesn't have the pink satin over-sheet but regardless they are really well made cases for T-birds. And cool vid - the classic T-bird pick-tone. I agree about all basses having their own quirks and just accepting that nothing is perfect. The whole neck-diving T-bird dead-horse needs to be buried already.
 
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#2,796
Mikaelbass said:
In my experience:
Fenders: bridge saddles fall down, pickups dont hold their position, don't respond well to all styles of playing (shock horror, may talkbass bigot's strike me down). The tone you've heard a million times
Musicmans: Finish cracks like plastic, overly tightened neck joints. Modern sounding, sometimes harsh, sometimes pokey (single H)
Rickenbackers: binding can give your skin a workout, bridge pickup surround can cut your sh*t up if you aren't careful. That bridge. Just sits differently in the mix, not much low mids.
Gibson: Fragile neck (in comparison), possible neck dive (a better strap will do). Dark, fat with not as much high end response


All basses have their quirks. I have all of the above, I don't dislike a single bass for them. I just accept them for what they are and love them for what they are good at. I would compare a thunderbird to an old muscle car, when everything is working its big, loud, mean and not compromising in some ways (petrol costs, maintenance). But the engine's can be quite fragile in the sense they dont run as smooth as say a toyota year in year out.

But what would you rather have...a prius or a 71' Charger?


People will slag players who use other basses because they themselves can't use it the way it's design calls for it to be used. I don't like uber modern high end 38 band EQ 6 string 30 fret single cut basses, but I'm not gonna go into a forum and have a dig at the people who do, cus I know they can use that stuff in a way I cannot. I'll enjoy my fat rock groove, they can enjoy their classical fusion jazz jam.

Or as we would say in Australia, have a bloody rippa!
Click to expand...

Spot on MB!
 
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#2,797
HI all , just got my white epi classic replacement for the one that was broken in shipment . I was able to play it for a few minutes on my lunch break . It came very well set up , nice medium low action , didn't get to mess with it very long but it sounded very deep and smooth , almost too smooth . I think a new set of rounds should give it some clank . And I agree with what MB said , I have 8 basses , sometimes I'll set my amp up flat and go though my entire arsenal one at a time just to hear and feel the differences in each bass. I don't dislike any of them, they all have their good and bad points. I will say as a new bird player that it is cool as hell swinging the bird on stage !!! I've bought two in the past month !!
 
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#2,798
Mikaelbass said:
In my experience:
Fenders: bridge saddles fall down, pickups dont hold their position, don't respond well to all styles of playing (shock horror, may talkbass bigot's strike me down). The tone you've heard a million times
Musicmans: Finish cracks like plastic, overly tightened neck joints. Modern sounding, sometimes harsh, sometimes pokey (single H)
Rickenbackers: binding can give your skin a workout, bridge pickup surround can cut your sh*t up if you aren't careful. That bridge. Just sits differently in the mix, not much low mids.
Gibson: Fragile neck (in comparison), possible neck dive (a better strap will do). Dark, fat with not as much high end response


All basses have their quirks. I have all of the above, I don't dislike a single bass for them. I just accept them for what they are and love them for what they are good at. I would compare a thunderbird to an old muscle car, when everything is working its big, loud, mean and not compromising in some ways (petrol costs, maintenance). But the engine's can be quite fragile in the sense they dont run as smooth as say a toyota year in year out.

But what would you rather have...a prius or a 71' Charger?


People will slag players who use other basses because they themselves can't use it the way it's design calls for it to be used. I don't like uber modern high end 38 band EQ 6 string 30 fret single cut basses, but I'm not gonna go into a forum and have a dig at the people who do, cus I know they can use that stuff in a way I cannot. I'll enjoy my fat rock groove, they can enjoy their classical fusion jazz jam.

Or as we would say in Australia, have a bloody rippa!
Click to expand...




Nicely said,


What I don't get:
- Why people buy a Gibson and wonder why it doesn't look or sound like a Fender, esp if that's the "tone" in your head.
- The notion that somehow a bass isn't a bass just because there's a guitar shaped like it - Seriously, a P bass is nothing more than a squished Strat with a half finish toilet seat for a PG, no thanks!
- "Leo got it right" For some sure, for me no. Proof is that there are many basses out there, what was a good choice 6 decades ago isn't true in 2014, plenty of better, more interesting options out there.
- Fender apologists/defenders, they come out of the woodwork here, enough to gag ya. Geez, one more clown with his J bass that thinks Jaco........ :vomit:

I could go on............ :roflmao:
 
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#2,800
I personally don't care what basses other people play and don't rag on them for their choices. I don't understand the mindset of the person that jumps in a thread just to $#!+ on another players choice in gear. I ignore most posts on TB that don't interest me and never feel the need to "enlighten" the members of those threads as to what is the "best" bass to play or why this player sucks. Maybe that's why I especially enjoy this club on TB. Everyone is pretty calm and lets the rest of us fly our freak flag :p You guys are a great bunch to hang with!

I only own one Fender and that is a mid-80's Jazz Bass Special like Duff used. That is the only Fender I want or need. I have 6 other basses with a P-J setup so I think I am covered on that sound. Maybe it's my age but I just don't have the time or interest in arguing with people on forums or FB. I will keep playing my flock of Birds and whichever other oddballs make up my collection and everyone else can enjoy theirs.
 
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