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Thunderbird Club

#2,801
Nocturnal said:
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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I agree, people shouldn't rag on other peoples gear I love all my basses if I didn't I would move them. I just bought that Gator gig bag so I can start gigging my Tbird easier to carry that then the case. My father always tells me let your bass do the talking not you lips. I once had a grown man come to me at gig and ask "why are you playing that cheap bass you should get a Squire jazz" I was playing my Sadowsky NYC. Nothing wrong with Squires, I didn't waste my time to school him. I notice that the Bass community is mostly supportive of one and other willing to share and help,this club is one of the best on TB!
 
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#2,803
^^^ Yes, mate.
I am pretty much the same- in fact I have more Fenders than Gibsons and I love my Fenders too.
One of my favourite gigging basses is actually a G & L Asat. Ha! another one that some people say neck dive.
I have had Stingrays and still have one. I just don't like the sound of them very much but I don't feel the need to rag them endlessly.
I understand they meet lots of players needs, just not mine.
My problem is I can't shut up, when people make uninformed pronouncements.
 
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#2,804
That's the thing about MM basses, much like it is with the TBirds: they don't sound like anything else. For me, I need that. Some others can get away without it. However, the world we live in these days looks to take a dump on everybody and everything, as well as making us all walk on eggshells. I'm quite sick of that, and I endeavor to keep it out of my life, online and offline, as much as I possibly can.
 
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#2,805
Haji said:
ptleftybass, I think I would have been hard pressed not to laugh.


It was hard not laugh later, I think I was taken back by how shallow he was.

I see what you did there. :laugh:
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veebass said:
^^^ Yes, mate.
I am pretty much the same- in fact I have more Fenders than Gibsons and I love my Fenders too.
One of my favourite gigging basses is actually a G & L Asat. Ha! another one that some people say neck dive.
I have had Stingrays and still have one. I just don't like the sound of them very much but I don't feel the need to rag them endlessly.
I understand they meet lots of players needs, just not mine.
My problem is I can't shut up, when people make uninformed pronouncements.
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I love my ASAT I have heard the neck dive comments as well I use a Mono Betty strap on all my basses have not experienced neck dive. Do to the location of strap lock buttons on T-bird and SG Standard basses I have strap were I reversed the dunlop strap locks so it's not twisted.

Some of the tools. My band does Dream On and back in the day Tom Hamilton played a Tbird so I'm working on dialing it in and using it on that song.


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#2,807
JIO said:
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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I guess the walnut T-bird sounds exactly like all the other t-birds...

According to Gibson it still has the 9-ply mahogany/walnut neck-through and mahogany wings - just like the other models.
It's only the finish, which is different: it's been dyed to "look" like walnut...
 
#2,808
Anyone seen the Gibson webpage lately?

They have announced the 2015 model lineup:

Link Removed

If you scroll all the way to the right, there's a new Thunderbird with full contact bridge (whatever that means) and updated electronics (soapbars with exposed magnets like on a StingRay)

Also they raised the price to $ 2.599... :(

The best picture I could find:

http://www.google.dk/url?sa=i&sourc...vRy7c4Klmi5PhSAr1YBMIzhg&ust=1411729294152926
 
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#2,811
I agree with Nocturnal , Why rag anyone about their choice of anything. I don't care what you play , drive, ride, or wear . Live and let live as long as its not coming out of my pocket. I like variety , that's why I have different basses , I get tired of playing the same bass every gig. On the MM subject , I have a stingray , I love the punch but it is a little harsh sounding . This is a good club here , not a pissing contest . Think I found a home .
 
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#2,812
wolfkeller said:
Its strange that they don't offer vintage or reissues like the ton of less Paul's. I would think that a '76 or even earlier reissue would gain a lot of attention and sell really well
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I doubt I'd need the updated version that Michael posted, a faithful retro one on the hand, would do fantastic.
 
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#2,814
hillerup said:
Anyone seen the Gibson webpage lately?

They have announced the 2015 model lineup:

Link Removed

If you scroll all the way to the right, there's a new Thunderbird with full contact bridge (whatever that means) and updated electronics (soapbars with exposed magnets like on a StingRay)

Also they raised the price to $ 2.599... :(
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Those do look like the same pickups from the EB basses and it looks like the new Babicz 3-point replacement bridge. Maybe they got a really good deal on those bridges since they had already used a Babicz on the EB basses. At least they have done something to update the line a little.
 
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#2,815
Nocturnal said:
Those do look like the same pickups from the EB basses and it looks like the new Babicz 3-point replacement bridge. Maybe they got a really good deal on those bridges since they had already used a Babicz on the EB basses. At least they have done something to update the line a little.
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Your right bro. Nice reply. I cant this bridge anywhere online. I tried call Babicz for a price but no answer.
2014-08-28 14.52.45.jpg
 
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#2,817
Actually, the babicz bridges are pretty light. They are mostly aluminum. The design is about getting as much string contact as possible and keeping that contact going, all the way to the body. Design over adding mass, I suppose. Whereas many bridge saddle designs raise up on a couple of screws and then just lug a bunch of mass into the bass plate (*or not, in the case of vintage style fender bridges.).
 
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#2,819
I think that's a good looking bridge, it certainly suits the idea of a modern Thunderbird very well. Personally I won't be retro fitting any of my basses with it, my three points all work great, when they're set up by a pro there's no issues.
 
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#2,820
Hey There T-Bird experts!

I'm currently in the middle of a fairly stretched out :) 12 string Tbird conversion, using an Epiphone Pro 5 bass as the "bones" of my project. The epiphone came with active circuitry, separate bass/treble controls etc... I'm going replace that with the standard set up with just 3 knobs and passive pickups. As I've spent most of my bass live in the fender camp, I'm just wondering what the ideal pot/capacitor set up is for this? Vol, Vol, Tone? What type of Pot is best 250k? 500K? Capacitor? Is it basically a Jazz bass wiring set up?

Thanks so much!

The Bass is currently being painted olympic white by Len at Axe Haven here in Denver... should be a couple more weeks to get it back and get the final assembly set up done!
 
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