Thunderbird Club

[kat888]

I would love to have an original 1960s reverse 'Bird, but most seem to have been repaired, and for the asking prices, I don't want anything that's been repaired. So, I'll probably never have one even if I could justify spending vast sums of money on a bass I probably wouldn't play much.

That's why I have the three bass plan.

1. The NR custom build because the vintage NRs are way out of my budget.

2. The Vintage Pro for that close-as-I'm-going-to-get to a 60s Thunderbird IV vibe.

3. The one with the cracked headstock which captured me after I popped out at lunchtime to buy a bass lead ... and led me here to you nutters, an out of control shiny metal addiction, the impulse to put abalone inlaid speed knobs on everything in sight, and frequent use of the phrase 'big angry piano'.

 

[JIO]

Yes, and I suppose that some of the earliest ones may have had some neck dive, too. They had heavy tuners and the strap button was on the vestigial upper horn. Both problems seem to have been long since solved. I would love to have an original 1960s reverse 'Bird, but most seem to have been repaired, and for the asking prices, I don't want anything that's been repaired. So, I'll probably never have one even if I could justify spending vast sums of money on a bass I probably wouldn't play much.

The neck repairs done on the T-birds if done correctly are plenty strong and safe - but it should bring the price down from one that has never been broken. Luckily my '64 has stayed in-tact over the years. And unless you were to use a slippery (vinyl) strap - it does not neck dive regardless of the full-sized Kluson tuners and huge hs. I've never had this much repeated issue.

I know every knick and ding (as in, I owned it when that ding happened) on it as it was a 'closet classic' when I got it in '78.

 

[JJR58]

That's why I have the three bass plan.

1. The NR custom build because the vintage NRs are way out of my budget.

2. The Vintage Pro for that close-as-I'm-going-to-get to a 60s Thunderbird IV vibe.

3. The one with the cracked headstock which captured me after I popped out at lunchtime to buy a bass lead ... and led me here to you nutters, an out of control shiny metal addiction, the impulse to put abalone inlaid speed knobs on everything in sight, and frequent use of the phrase 'big angry piano'.

If I can make your #2 Kat, and it was right, it might be a beautiful thing.

 

[TBird1958]

Careful what you say about queens around here!

It's only ok if it's queens, ny.

Hey! Sometimes it's really fun to be a Queen - Today was new hair day (for you non-FB folks!)

 

[JJR58]

The neck repairs done on the T-birds if done correctly are plenty strong and safe - but it should bring the price down from one that has never been broken. Luckily my '64 has stayed in-tact over the years. And unless you use were to use a slippery (vinyl) strap - it does not neck dive regardless of the full-sized Kluson tuners and huge hs. I've never had this much repeated issue.

I know every knick and ding (as in, I owned it when that ding happened) on it as it was a 'closet classic' when I got it in '78.
View attachment 1106908

Oh but this!!!!!

Good repair, good to go!!!!!

 

[JJR58]

Hey! Sometimes it's really fun to be a Queen - Today was new hair day (for you non-FB folks!)

Whoa,

What a knock out!!!!!!

 

[JJR58]

Somethin tells me you're gonna tear it up tonight.

 

[Gaolee]

I'd happily be a French speaking cat. Rather than a Gibson or other musical sponsorship, I'd much rather one of the funkier French clothiers, to keep me clad à la mode Parisienne.

You and Veronica will have to compete for the honors. Hair at 20 paces!

 

[RedVee]

FWIW - I've heard of guitar players removing one of their pickups to change the sound of the guitar. They claim the magnets of the unused Humbucker draw on the strings, dampening movement to a degree and negatively effecting the harmonics and sustain. Removing the unneeded pup is said to increase the growl of the remaining pup.

I don't know if any of that's true or if anyone besides the player can actually hear a difference but it at least sounds plausible in theory. Maybe I'll have to abandon my NR hunt and buy that darn Greco on FB - nah, then I'd have to deal with a FB interaction.

I don't know for why.... But Malcolm Young took a pickup out of his Gretsch, leaving the hole.
Actually, more accurately, he took it out, put it back in a different spot, took it out again etc etc.

Anyway, Mal was plenty gnarly.

 

[JIO]

Oh but this!!!!!

Good repair, good to go!!!!!

Oh, sorry if I wasn't clear - mine has never been broken (stayed in-tact... all original - no breaks) Most of the time the way you know one has been broken/repaired is they spray a black fade from the hs back stretching past the break.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Yes, ...the strap button was on the vestigial upper horn.

Not true. This is the original strap button location on both of mine (which was the location for ALL Gibson basses of the period).

Also unlike Bicentennials with horn mounted buttons, they don't dive...but what do I know about '60s Gibsons?

 

[kat888]

You and Veronica will have to compete for the honors. Hair at 20 paces!

Given I'm getting on for a foot shorter than Roni and my non-elevated hair, there's absolutely no contest.

 

[TBird1958]

Somethin tells me you're gonna tear it up tonight.

That's a nice thought, but I'm just about the house (with the cat) tonight.
Which means a bit of bass playing, dinner and Netflix.

 

[JIO]

Not true. This is the original strap button location on both of mine (which was the location for ALL Gibson basses of the period).

Also unlike Bicentennials with horn mounted buttons, they don't dive...but what do I know about '60s Gibsons?

My '64 had both strap peg locations when I bought it in '78. It's possible the original owner put the upper stump-horn one on after seeing the Bicentennials? Who knows? - who cares? Needless to say, I took the upper stump-horn one off early on deeming it totally useless.

 

[Drestakil]

That's a nice thought, but I'm just about the house (with the cat) tonight.
Which means a bit of bass playing, dinner and Netflix.

Netflix is so addictive!! Especially that stupid Mystery Science Theater 3000.

 

[Count Bassie]

Netflix is so addictive!! Especially that stupid Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Just watched the first episode of One Punch Man. Pretty good.

 

[Drestakil]

Just watched the first episode of One Punch Man. Pretty good.

The next episode of MST 3000 for me is ... get this ... "Hercules Against the Moon Men".

 

[Count Bassie]

The next episode of MST 3000 for me is ... get this ... "Hercules Against the Moon Men".

Mystery Science 3000 is the only real expo of B-Culture out there. A real institutuin. Funny writing too.

 

[rodv66]

I saw lots of Grecos on Reverb.

Most coming from Europe and the Russian Federation.

 

[rodv66]

I tend to find that people that think that way of Gibson basses are usually predisposed to think that way. Frequently when they try them (if they're honest about it) they actually feel quite differently after the fact. Sure not everyone will like the look or feel or sound or ergonomics or cost of a TBird but that can be said for any bass. I just find a large percentage of people change their mind in a positive direction after actually trying a TBird. It's like everyone has been preprogrammed to hate this beast but once given a fair shake many actually like it.

Just played my Gibby standing up for 3 hours straight. No pain or discomfort, felt no different than standing up for three hours with any other bass I ever owned. People hear that birds are too heavy and uncomfortable and assume that is the truth. Maybe it's better that that trype of person doesn't play them. I tend to consider Thunderbird players to be generally non conformists.