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Thunderbird Club

#285,141
GBassNorth said:
Thats about 10 trips a year.

If it were me, I’d just buy a cheap airline ticket vs the first class seat I usually buy, then take the ticket savings and buy a cheap but good working no issues new or used bass at a Guitar Center nearest the destination. I’d gig it while there and if I liked it, I’d just ship it back home when done, or if I didn’t like it, I’d return it to Guitar Center for a full refund.

Completely eliminates the hassle of traveling with a bass. Provides a unique opportunity to try new basses at zero financial risk. And if it’s a keeper I’ll have a neat bass as a souvenir of the trip. Beats buying a tourist tee shirt. And I usually buy between 5 and 10 basses a year anyway.
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No GCs in India :crying:
 
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#285,142
GBassNorth said:
Thats about 10 trips a year.

If it were me, I’d just buy a cheap airline ticket vs the first class seat I usually buy, then take the ticket savings and buy a cheap but good working no issues new or used bass at a Guitar Center nearest the destination. I’d gig it while there and if I liked it, I’d just ship it back home when done, or if I didn’t like it, I’d return it to Guitar Center for a full refund.

Completely eliminates the hassle of traveling with a bass. Provides a unique opportunity to try new basses at zero financial risk. And if it’s a keeper I’ll have a neat bass as a souvenir of the trip. Beats buying a tourist tee shirt. And I usually buy between 5 and 10 basses a year anyway.
Click to expand...
If you could only keep five of them, which would they be and why?
 
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#285,145
dagrev said:
Serious question: What are good airlines to fly?

I want the ones where men dress in suits and ladies in dresses and people act like adults not overage spring breakers. SW is big here and seems to have a lot of options. From what I can tell we have a lot of budget flights. I think I'd rather get in a box and let UPS fly me someplace.
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Singapore Air, KLM and Emirates were always my favorites for international travel.
American Airlines and any of the budget Airlines like Jet Blue and Southwest were my least favorite for domestic travel. Delta for Domestic has always worked very good for me. Buy your ticket as early as you can and get the most upgraded seat you can afford for best results.
 
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#285,146
Stealth57 said:
Just would have loved not being there a month without playing something. That long and you lose calluses. Then when I get home I have to suck up the pain to rebuild.
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I rarely practice-get my calluses on the gig. Lately I've been practicing on my alto sax. It's comforting to know that nothing's changed: my tone isn't very good, but my technique sucks.
 
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#285,147
GBassNorth said:
Thats about 10 trips a year.

If it were me, I’d just buy a cheap airline ticket vs the first class seat I usually buy, then take the ticket savings and buy a cheap but good working no issues new or used bass at a Guitar Center nearest the destination. I’d gig it while there and if I liked it, I’d just ship it back home when done, or if I didn’t like it, I’d return it to Guitar Center for a full refund.

Completely eliminates the hassle of traveling with a bass. Provides a unique opportunity to try new basses at zero financial risk. And if it’s a keeper I’ll have a neat bass as a souvenir of the trip. Beats buying a tourist tee shirt. And I usually buy between 5 and 10 basses a year anyway.
Click to expand...
I could do the old guitar center rental for a couple of the trips. But most of the time I'm catching an Uber straight to the venue from the airport.
 
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#285,150
Gaolee said:
I'm not surprised. I don't understand at all why Gibson gave up on those after two lousy years. I was playing mine last night at a rehearsal, and it sounded great. I hate to admit that it sounded as good as a Thunderbird, except a little different of course. The ergos aren't quite as good a Thunderbird, at least for me. But it's a keeper for sure. I let mine go for what I paid for it, but then I was able to get it back again. I won't be letting it go again. Refinishing it a different color is pretty likely in time. Mine is burst.
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I might get banned for saying this, but I think my 2013EB 5 string sounds better than my 2015 Tbird.:thumbsup:
And that’s in spite of the tone being sucked out by the tort pickguard. ;)
 
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#285,151
Stealth57 said:
No GCs in India :crying:
Click to expand...

glad i could help


download.png
 
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#285,153
Rickplaysbass said:
Just had a thought... Y'all ever thought of tying in a giveaway to the GTG?

The seller seems like a great person as far as sellers go. But Bas told me Bach has never produced anything like that. That makes the bass a Frankenstein parts bass, which I have no problem with. My favorite P is exactly that. But I wouldn't buy a parts bass without being able to check it out first for that price tag. Especially not internationally. Just me
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Last year I gave away well over $1000 of gear as door prizes. If I can make it again this year I’ll do the same.
 
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#285,155
BklynKen said:
If you could only keep five of them, which would they be and why?
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Warrior 5 string - first bass I ever bought myself
MIM Jazz - my wife bought it for me
Squier affinity jazz (burgundy mist) - it was used for my 1st daughter's gender reveal
Serek Lincoln - build date in the cavity is my brother's first birthday after his passing
#5 is tough. Torn between my Lull 5er or my DarkRay 5. The Lull is just flipping cool. The DarkRay is ridiculously versatile in ways none of the others are. I'd probably give the lull the edge.

If I had no sentimental attachment

Warrior - seriously sounds incredible
Lull w/ rounds - you know why
Lull w/ flats - cuz the other one has rounds
DarkRay - seriously versatile tool
P w/ flats - most of my gigs are country and that's the sound
 
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#285,157
JJR58 said:
No way am I going to take apart a bass to travel with.
And in a checked bag.
Hard pass.
I worked for 2 major U.S. carriers.
I know how they handle checked bags.
Click to expand...

I only flew w/a bass a few times. The first time (in the mid-'70s) with my '63 II in its OHSC. (which is shït) I screwed a leather strap across the neck-yoke to stabilize it and when I got to my destination (KCMO to Albany NY) - the strap was ripped out of the yoke. Amazingly the bass was ok, but it would have taken real rough handling to rip the leather. The second time was with a very short-scale National hollow-body in a gig-bag. The flight wasn't full and it fit into the overhead. The last time (years ago) was with a Kubicki Ex-Factor which I did remove the (headless) neck. I had the body in my carry-on bag and had the neck in a sheath I made for it in my hand. They let me do it but checked it to make sure it wasn't a firearm. Today, there's no way I fly with a bass - period. Even if I had a good paying gig on the other side - I'd borrow or rent a bass before I'd risk transporting it or pay the high fee for bringing a bass.
 
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#285,159
Rickplaysbass said:
Warrior 5 string - first bass I ever bought myself
MIM Jazz - my wife bought it for me
Squier affinity jazz (burgundy mist) - it was used for my 1st daughter's gender reveal
Serek Lincoln - build date in the cavity is my brother's first birthday after his passing
#5 is tough. Torn between my Lull 5er or my DarkRay 5. The Lull is just flipping cool. The DarkRay is ridiculously versatile in ways none of the others are. I'd probably give the lull the edge.

If I had no sentimental attachment

Warrior - seriously sounds incredible
Lull w/ rounds - you know why
Lull w/ flats - cuz the other one has rounds
DarkRay - seriously versatile tool
P w/ flats - most of my gigs are country and that's the sound
Click to expand...
I'm fascinated by the Serek Lincolns. They seem like modern Rippers.
 
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#285,160
BklynKen said:
I'm fascinated by the Serek Lincolns. They seem like modern Rippers.
Click to expand...
Honestly, I didn't know if it's just mine or what but it doesn't sound at all like what I was expecting it to and I can't get that sound out of it. Lol. But it does sound very nicely and has an old school character to it. If you're on IG you can go see a video of it I just posted. (@Rickplaysbass)
 
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