• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#28,762
I played one of those Explorers in Vegas when I was on tour 4-5 years ago. Man.....sounded great but the neck was SO thick that it was unplayable for me. It was easily 1.75" wide at the nut (seriously) and baseball bat thick. Not comfortable for me at all. The neck felt twice as big (width / depth) as a Thunderbird.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rickwebb
#28,763
bazzanderson said:
I played one of those Explorers in Vegas when I was on tour 4-5 years ago. Man.....sounded great but the neck was SO thick that it was unplayable for me. It was easily 1.75" wide at the nut (seriously) and baseball bat thick. Not comfortable for me at all. The neck felt twice as big (width / depth) as a Thunderbird.
Click to expand...
That sounds like an interesting bass guitar. I generally like bigger, rather than smaller necks, even after having got as used to Thunderbird necks as I have.

[edit] I just looked at those on Reverb. I'm intrigued and wonder what they are like as far as balance. Similar to a Thunderbird, I assume. You sure would never put one on any stand that isn't a neck hangar.
 
Last edited:
#28,764
They actually balanced better....the one I tried had no neck dive at all
Gaolee said:
That sounds like an interesting bass guitar. I generally like bigger, rather than smaller necks, even after having got as used to Thunderbird necks as I have.

[edit] I just looked at those on Reverb. I'm intrigued and wonder what they are like as far as balance. Similar to a Thunderbird, I assume. You sure would never put one on any stand that isn't a neck hangar.
Click to expand...
 
#28,766
bylar13 said:
Anyone here ever play one of the T-Bird pick up equipped Explorer Gibson was offering a couple of years back? Thoughts/impressions?
Click to expand...


I played a couple of the original issue ones probably around 5 years ago - The neck made it a non starter for me.

The new ones are out, they're not the same as the original issue, I haven't gone looking for one yet, but I am intrigued.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rickwebb
#28,768
And has anybody had experience with this SGZ bass, have only seen one once, in the wild, but didn't play it.
Have heard good and bad things about it.

2000-SG-Z-1.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stevis, Count Bassie and GBassNorth
#28,769
BklynKen said:
Not the black and white train engineer overalls? :)
Click to expand...

Errrmmmm, no. Wigs, makeup and all manner of girl clothes for stage, great way to spend money. My guy wardrobe is a little neglected.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, Stevis, kat888 and 6 others
#28,771
Gaolee said:
That sounds like an interesting bass guitar. I generally like bigger, rather than smaller necks, even after having got as used to Thunderbird necks as I have.

[edit] I just looked at those on Reverb. I'm intrigued and wonder what they are like as far as balance. Similar to a Thunderbird, I assume. You sure would never put one on any stand that isn't a neck hangar.
Click to expand...

My Hamer Blitz (Explorer body) balances great and is actually quite comfortable to play standing up. Never saw one of the newer Gibson Explorers in person but would like to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, Larry V, Stevis and 4 others
#28,772
Gaolee said:
That sounds like an interesting bass guitar. I generally like bigger, rather than smaller necks, even after having got as used to Thunderbird necks as I have.

[edit] I just looked at those on Reverb. I'm intrigued and wonder what they are like as far as balance. Similar to a Thunderbird, I assume. You sure would never put one on any stand that isn't a neck hangar.
Click to expand...

My son has a Gibson Explorer guitar and you are right about the stand requirement.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PillO
#28,773
TBird1958 said:
Errrmmmm, no. Wigs, makeup and all manner of girl clothes for stage, great way to spend money. My guy wardrobe is a little neglected.
Click to expand...

I hadn't really thought about it, but I guess you spend twice as much on clothes and need double the closet space. No wonder one side ends up neglected; it is twice the work and expense. Having odd socks would be really odd in some circumstances. And you have twice as many VPLs to worry about (I learned something from Thunderbird club and applied it!).
 
  • Like
Reactions: kat888, Count Bassie and marko57
#28,774
JJR58 said:
And has anybody had experience with this SGZ bass, have only seen one once, in the wild, but didn't play it.
Have heard good and bad things about it.

View attachment 1110990
Click to expand...
Never played one but I'm sure it would sound great. Might be similar to the 2015 Thunderbird in sound since it has the same scale length, similar pickups and spacing and coil tap switches and the same body and neck woods. I'm a huge fan of the smaller scale SG bass, which balances good but I'd assume the 34.5" scale of the SGZ would make it neck heavy.

Here's a link with more info...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
  • Like
Reactions: JJR58
#28,777
PillO said:
I hadn't really thought about it, but I guess you spend twice as much on clothes and need double the closet space. No wonder one side ends up neglected; it is twice the work and expense. Having odd socks would be really odd in some circumstances. And you have twice as many VPLs to worry about (I learned something from Thunderbird club and applied it!).
Click to expand...
I borrow my wife's socks sometimes. Stephen Wright reference not intended, but it's often a specific thickness I need, colors be damned
 
  • Like
Reactions: kat888
#28,778
TBird1958 said:
I dibs on wearing the little black dress to the Seattle GTG :roflmao:
Click to expand...
:roflmao:
It would be awful if two turned up wearing the same outfit!

My wife lets me borrow my sweatshirts back from her every now and again. Does that count? (probably a question for Kat more than anybody else, assuming she does the same with him inside.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, kat888, Mike.C. and 1 other person
#28,779
GBassNorth said:
Never played one but I'm sure it would sound great. Might be similar to the 2015 Thunderbird in sound since it has the same scale length, similar pickups and spacing and coil tap switches and the same body and neck woods. I'm a huge fan of the smaller scale SG bass, which balances good but I'd assume the 34.5" scale of the SGZ would make it neck heavy.

Here's a link with more info...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link GBass.
Yeah, it's got the coil tapping like the 2015.
This bass never really took off from what I can gather.
Have to read up on it a bit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back