Thunderbird Club

[GonePlaid]

No, but it's not that far. Maybe in the summer

Say 'hi' to Brent and Lacey.

 

[TBird1958]

ply

This place already feels like home. The nerdiest home, which is the best kind of home.

So please do feel free to hang out here, we do like questions a lot and I have the feeling you'll get a couple more replies to your question. There are many different Thunderbirds out there, this is the latest version of the Epiphone neck thru, the call it a '64 Thunderbird", it's been labeled as a "60s Thunderbird and "Vintage Pro" in the past. 9 ply laminated neck thru, 2 nice pickups, a 2 point bridge.

 

[SubHuman]

It's hard not to recommend an Epiphone '64 or Vintage Pro Thunderbird, they are neck through, have a warm growly pickup and are neck through. They do "play" a bit differently if you're accustomed to Fenders, they are comfortable when you're seated.
Thunderbird '64 Bass Guitar - Ember Red - Sweetwater

Oh man that Ember Red is so sweet looking. I would swap out to a black pick guard with black knobs but then again I like it the way it is too! Temptation!

 

[_Tay_]

Oh man that Ember Red is so sweet looking. I would swap out to a black pick guard with black knobs but then again I like it the way it is too! Temptation!
View attachment 5373282

That is a sweet looking red T bird for sure!

 

[Engle]

Oh man that Ember Red is so sweet looking. I would swap out to a black pick guard with black knobs but then again I like it the way it is too! Temptation!
View attachment 5373282

Yep just waiting for someone to ask for a black pg for one. The screw pattern looks different. Won’t know about the shape until I see a tracing.

 

[Haji]

Oh man that Ember Red is so sweet looking. I would swap out to a black pick guard with black knobs but then again I like it the way it is too! Temptation!
View attachment 5373282

Cave in to temptation. You want it, everybody here wants you to have it.

 

[Stealth57]

Hmmm, 1960s Japanese basses at $200 each asking. Funky placement on the covers.

 

[SubHuman]

Hmmm, 1960s Japanese basses at $200 each asking. Funky placement on the covers.

View attachment 5373519 View attachment 5373520

Those must've been stored in a closet for 50+ years because those orange case liners look way too clean for those basses to be that old. Even the basses look pretty clean in the small photos.

I have a '71 Gibson HSC with a similar orange lining and even as careful as I am with my basses my case lining looks very worn. I will add it was played and hauled around a lot.

 

[WillyW]

Hmmm, 1960s Japanese basses at $200 each asking. Funky placement on the covers.

View attachment 5373519 View attachment 5373520

Those must've been stored in a closet for 50+ years because those orange case liners look way too clean for those basses to be that old. Even the basses look pretty clean in the small photos.

I have a '71 Gibson HSC with a similar orange lining and even as careful as I am with my basses my case lining looks very worn. I will add it was played and hauled around a lot.

my 75 iban-ez, with the set of strings on the invoice…

 

[Bent77]

my 75 iban-ez, with the set of strings on the invoice…

That thing was neglected

 

[WillyW]

That thing was neglected

Poor thing… It will survive as one of my very few fretted basses. Possibly my only 4 string fretted…

 

[Stealth57]

Those must've been stored in a closet for 50+ years because those orange case liners look way too clean for those basses to be that old. Even the basses look pretty clean in the small photos.

I have a '71 Gibson HSC with a similar orange lining and even as careful as I am with my basses my case lining looks very worn. I will add it was played and hauled around a lot.

My 68 National has its original case and Marshall can testify it looks like it was stored under a bed for 50+ years.

 

[MCF]

I typically buy strings from my local GC.

My local GC has EB and assorted DA’s. Itnhasvbecome a horrible store.

 

[BklynKen]

My local GC has EB and assorted DA’s. Itnhasvbecome a horrible store.

The bodega around the corner from our practice space sells EBCF.

 

[ectoflanger]

I just got the 5 string SIT power flats for $36 and change shipped from strings by mail. they sent me a $5 coupon.

they seem to have the best prices on SIT strings I have found.

Strings and beyond is who I usually use for Pyramid strings

who do y’all use for strings?

I had gotten the only other set of SIT strings I ever bought from Amazon.

Amazon still has the TI flats sold as “accordion accessories” for cheap. I didn’t care for the strings but lots do like them.

Have heard of SIT, but the only strings I have used outside of company brands (Fenders on my Fenders, Rickenbackers on my 4003, and Warwicks on my Warwicks , particularly the five string sets which offer the only 135 low B’s that I know of) are D’Addario ESXL’s on my headless Steinbergers and DR Neon White coated strings on my 1985 Aria Pro II’s.

 

[Rickplaysbass]

Have heard of SIT, but the only strings I have used outside of company brands (Fenders on my Fenders, Rickenbackers on my 4003, and Warwicks on my Warwicks , particularly the five string sets which offer the only 135 low B’s that I know of) are D’Addario ESXL’s on my headless Steinbergers and DR Neon White coated strings on my 1985 Aria Pro II’s.

You're definitely missing out. TI, La Bella, Rotos, DRs, Dean Markley Blue Steel are some of my favorites for different things and none have factory basses except for La Bella kind of now.

 

[MCF]

Playing with your daughter is wonderful. I do that every chance I get! My daughter is a bassist (orchestral), so I have recruited her for bg vocals and percussion in my cover band.

And bassoon?

 

[Gaolee]

I’m not sure that I have the stomach to go through 14,000+ pages, but as I’m considering a Thunderbird, are there any post or posts that the club can point to when debating the merits of the through-neck versions versus the bolt on?

I’m coming from the world of bolt on neck, fenders, if that context is useful.

You cannot go wrong with either one. The bolt-on version is far less expensive. Those don't have quite as clear sounding pickups as the others. When you get to considering neck-through Thunderbirds, it is another batch of different models. Gibsons, post 1989, are very similar. Some are a little better in one way or another from normal production tolerances. The differences are small as a practical matter. Epiphone models come in several flavors. Classic Pros are essentially Gibsons with a thick poly finish instead of nitro. They are discontinued but pop up used. Vintage Pros, aka 60s, aka something else now, have big headstocks and brighter pickups. Then there are the discontinued active models called Pro IV and Pro V. They feel like a normal Thunderbird but the electronic stuff is not universally beloved.

Then there are other brands of Thunderbird and vintage, meaning earlier than 1989 Gibsons. That is a whole 'nother ball of wax to think about.

 

[Gaolee]

Great deal on an Epiphone MIJ set neck. These are basically the same as an Orville - all mahogany:
Epiphone TB-90 / Electric Bass Guitar / made in Japan | eBay

That looks like a great deal if the pickups are good and Greco-like.

 

[Gaolee]

Absolutely wonderful to be a part of. But if you're digging the thread looking for TBird knowledge there's no telling what particular avenue we were running down on any given day/page. Lol

That's why digging around isn't encouraged. Ask a question and we happily answer, even if the same question has been asked and answered many times before. It gives us an excuse to talk about Thunderbirds. You will know when you find the right one. It will choose you. Then you will know.