Thunderbird Club

[GonePlaid]

I know one (later professional) player of around my age who played one as his 'first bass' and he is very nostalgic about it. To this day he only plays (32") medium-scale basses. That bass looks similar to the Fender Mustang and Musicmaster short-scale basses from that same time, and was targeted to the same audience. (novice teen players) Wasn't aware they were heavy having never held one - but I dig how they look.

If funds allowed, I'd love to have a custom made 32" scale Thunderbird II NR; Honduran Mahogany body + neck(yes, it's still available-$$$); Probucker 760 pup; 1 1/2" nut in super glossy Emberglow finish.
IF!

 

[RedVee]

Finally! A clear explanation of metric!

of course the secret with going metric is: don’t convert it to the old measurement, just roll in the new


and don’t do what I do, do what I say

 

[GonePlaid]

of course the secret with going metric is: don’t convert it to the old measurement, just roll in the new


and don’t do what I do, do what I say

The only time I care about metric is that I'm aware 300 c.i.=~4.9L and 100 kilometers/hour=~60 mph.

 

[WillyW]

The only problem with the KB-1 series of basses is the bodies are pressed wood or a particle board material. That is indeed a rare find because most of them literally fell apart if the body was subjected to any damage. I bought an SG bass KB-1 and could only salvage the neck and Gibson Mudbucker with the wiring harness. The body was literally falling apart.

I was wondering what kind of tonewoods were used on the bodies.

 

[JIO]

The only problem with the KB-1 series of basses is the bodies are pressed wood or a particle board material. That is indeed a rare find because most of them literally fell apart if the body was subjected to any damage. I bought an SG bass KB-1 and could only salvage the neck and Gibson Mudbucker with the wiring harness. The body was literally falling apart.

I am not aware of this. Economy amp cabinets yes - my '67 Heathkit bass amp cab was made of heavy press-board similar to modern Ikea furniture. But although it was heavy - it didn't spontaneously fall apart. I'll trust that you had direct experience, so until proven otherwise I'll take your word of it.

 

[GonePlaid]

I was wondering what kind of tonewoods were used on the bodies.

Formica?

 

[GonePlaid]

I am not aware of this. Economy amp cabinets yes - my '67 Heathkit bass amp cab was made of heavy press-board similar to modern Ikea furniture. But although it was heavy - it didn't spontaneously fall apart. I'll trust that you had direct experience, so until proven otherwise I'll take your word of it.

Don't get it wet!

 

[Rickplaysbass]

The only time I care about metric is that I'm aware 300 c.i.=~4.9L and 100 kilometers/hour=~60 mph.

I know a 5.3L is basically a 350.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I know a 5.3L is basically a 350.

327…

 

[GonePlaid]

I know a 5.3L is basically a 350.

Yup. Whenever I see newer cars listed as having a ___liter engine, I'm, like, Jeez! That's 1/2 the c.i. of my 69 Ford van(302 in that case=5.0).

 

[GonePlaid]

327…

Great engine(remember them being called "mill"?)

 

[JIO]

The only time I care about metric is that I'm aware 300 c.i.=~4.9L and 100 kilometers/hour=~60 mph.

I only actively use metric as a road-cyclist to conform to Euro norms. I've done it for years. 40k is approx 25m, 60k is approx 40m, 100k is apex 64.5m, 200k is approx 120m... etc. When I watch UCI Pro bike races I understand what they are re talking about. And I have "American Standard" (a joke - get with the program already!!!) and metric tools also...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

White Wed….

 

[SubHuman]

I am not aware of this. Economy amp cabinets yes - my '67 Heathkit bass amp cab was made of heavy press-board similar to modern Ikea furniture. But although it was heavy - it didn't spontaneously fall apart. I'll trust that you had direct experience, so until proven otherwise I'll take your word of it.

Kalamazoo KB Bass Guitar >> Vintage Guitar and Bass
The body material is not specified in Kalamazoo literature, but is supposedly a wood-laminate of one or more unspecified species, produced by a composite-wood manufacturer in Wisconsin.

I read in another online account they used a manufacturer that made bathroom wood seats!

The Unique Guitar Blog: The Gibson Toilet Seat Guitar - Kalamazoo Electric Guitars

The competition from imports forced Gibson management to look into developing a low cost guitar. To do this they turned to Bemis Manufacturing to compression mold a guitar body. Yep, the same company that was best known for manufacturing toilet seats.

The body I bought from EBAY was indeed crumbling and much like OSB or particle board. Of course seller did not accurately describe the body condition.
A perfect KB-1 would be a real find!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

1964 Glen Buxton, John Speer on drums, Alice Cooper, John Tatum on guitar and Dennis Dunaway on bass. Their 1st band The Earwigs.
View attachment 5385081

Alice is recognizable! What bass is that?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Oh I started all that in roughly 1978 (middle school), and it didn’t end until 2004. This past Tuesday was the 20 year anniversary of my “bottom”. The day I got arrested. Luckily I beat my case and learned my lesson, the hard way but the first time, and started the process of getting my together.

I’m just happy that I didn’t die, get mangled, or end up clawing the air and talking to invisible beings on the streets - all likely outcomes had I stayed on that path much longer.

 

[Stealth57]

Awesome! Here's my 'less famous' version from 1966 -

View attachment 5385083

Nice bowl cut.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I am not aware of this. Economy amp cabinets yes - my '67 Heathkit bass amp cab was made of heavy press-board similar to modern Ikea furniture. But although it was heavy - it didn't spontaneously fall apart. I'll trust that you had direct experience, so until proven otherwise I'll take your word of it.

I’ve heard the same thing from several former owners.

 

[Stealth57]

Formica?

I think Dano was close to that...or was that Masonite?

 

[JIO]

I think Dano was close to that...or was that Masonite?

Danelectro basses/guitars had semi-hollow bodies made of masonite (top & back) over a poplar core. My '68 Coral Deluxe Bass (Dano made) was entirely made of solid poplar - both body & neck. It is not an especially attractive wood so it was most commonly painted.