Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

I'll add, it would seem there were some IVs made in batch Series II, exemplified a few (a bunch?) of pages back on that eBay listing for the baby blue IV with a stomach cut.

Maybe it'd be better to note series I and II as 1 and 1.5? Since they seem the same, but with different body construction? Hard to pin all the information down well

@Basvarken ?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I only read about a cease and desist somewhere, I don’t recall where. But I think it was the same place I got the 90 figure from. So maybe edit it to put a disclaimer of some type. I don’t want to be credited with something that sounds like a fact based on hearsay.

And Tokai made a fair number of Thunderbirds….

I recall something that sounded definitive about the C&D. But I also can't recall where.

 

[JIO]

 

[kyral210]

Depends, if you’re going for that upright organic sound use wood rings. For rock and metal use metal rings (chrome is brighter sounding than nickel which is brighter sounding than black, but gold has the richest sound). For disco just use plastic rings.

Jokes

 

[kyral210]

Nonsense. Tubes can make a huge difference, from frequency response to distortion to dynamics.

Nice, where can u see the spectrum analysis?

 

[Rickplaysbass]

SO. MANY. THUNDERBIRDS.

If I come steal one of your current basses, will you come to the GTG?

Shoot, you're close enough to me that I might send you with mine so that I'm there in spirit.

 

[Instagator]

Someone looking for a Ripper?

View attachment 5367609

It wasn’t too long ago that these could be had in my area for around $500 max. They sure have gone up. I guess I’ll need a Grabber and a Ripper someday.

 

[Instagator]

If there is an opportunity I would like to pre order a tee shirt for this years GTG. That's if you all are making them.
I won't be able to make it there in person..but it might be like buying a vintage Aerosmith tee shirt in a thrift shop. Years later I could say "Hell yeah I was there"

 

[JJR58]

ONLY. ONE.
ALL. I. NEED.

Same here.

 

[dagrev]

I suppose they could always do some Epi NR IIs. Save cost on cheaper set-neck construction than the neck-thru VP, and save on some parts. It'd be a good way for them offer a II, argue for the economics of it.

That makes sense. Being related to Gibson...that means it won't happen.

 

[dagrev]

All this talk about pu covers & rings and just happened to look at some posts from 10yrs ago and found this from Carlo -

↑
60s TBird pickups have very little in common with modern Thunderbird Plus pickups. Alnico vs Ceramic magnets, more copper wire in 60s pickups and nickel silver vs plastic covers make a big difference.

Modern pickups are much harsher sounding than vintage ones for those reasons. You can compare the differences with test equipment as well as hear it with your ears. TB+ pickups are a lot cheaper to make than vintage ones.
(on rings & covers)

That made me wonder if that might be at lease one factor in Gibson moving the neck pickup north to compensate for some of the sonic differences Carlo mentioned. Doing so could certainly soften and help if it were to be "harsher" in the original position. Just a thought, not necessarily a good one. More a stab in the dark I suppose. Being "a lot" cheaper to make also helps explain a little as well.

 

[MCF]

I recall something that sounded definitive about the C&D. But I also can't recall where.

Here is Rob’s @Basvarken ‘s post from ten years ago that speaks to the history and a cease and desist.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/thunderbird-club.1056205/page-11384#post-26963869

I am usually not a fan of copies like Chibsons and the like. But the BaCH project was different. Gibson hadn’t made a NR for forty years and was showing no interest in doing so. The BaCH project was well executed and had the support of Thunderbird enthusiasts. And BaCH wasn’t trying to pass them off as Gibsons. I think Gibson was wrong in pushing to stop it.

 

[dagrev]

Cool idea, I haven’t tried that yet.
I think I found the article about the impact of screws on a trim ring, here’s a quote…

“Adding flux from an auxiliary screw will break the symmetry of the magnetisation cycle within the string so the results will depend on the local recoil permeability of the string at the various magnetisations produced by the magnet. I am sure that there would be a flattening of the measured peak but it wouldn't really represent the true flux density.
Surely the best result would come from simply increasing the magnitude of the alternating flux. Getting enough Ampere-turns shouldn't be a problem but the trim ring screw would probably have to be replaced by something with a higher saturation flux density. Losses in the core probably wouldn't matter as long as a reasonably sinusoidal flux could be produced. Mechanical vibration of the string might need to be suppressed.”

My head hurts.

So it all comes down to the screws affecting negatively/positively the correct sympathetic vibration transfer for proper tone. And this suggests the color of the screw inconsequential? I don't buy it one bit.

 

[dagrev]

It would appear to be. 4ml or .135256 ounces. All for only $14.95.

You know, we haven’t seen @PillO for awhile. And wasn’t he starting a new business?

Yes, possibly two ventures.

 

[dagrev]

I will make it a point to have some on hand, I more than owe you my friend! Do you mix it with anything or straight up?

A dash of Peanut Butter schnapps maybe? ...In case Mike shows up.


Sorry, that really was inexcusable. Especially in the morning.

 

[dagrev]

Boozin’

Oh great. A bunch of smart people getting plastered. What could go wrong....

 

[dagrev]

Currently having a "Night Swim" porter.

Too much and it could turn into "Naked Night Swim" porter. Watch out for the gators.

 

[dagrev]

If I come steal one of your current basses, will you come to the GTG?

Well not this year. Between working and seeing after my mother who lives with us even that won't help.

 

[dagrev]

Nice! What bass were you playing?

 

[godofthunder59]

Wait'n on the big brown truck. I'm really looking forward to this bass.