Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

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I've got some crap, I mean some "vintage" goods I'm going to get rid of.

Maybe I'll make enough scrilla to get into a few things.

The great news is that there are many used killer Tbirds out there in the sub $500 bracket. You just have to know how and where to find them. Available funds will always be an issue, but when you think you have the scratch, be sure to ping the club here, this group of enablers will gladly help you find the right bird at any price.

 

[Stealth57]

Hey Canucks, want to trade a Bird for your old King?

 

[TBird1958]

I think I remember sparks and smokin hot. But to be honest, I can't recall if that was the amp or Veronica.

Doin' what I do........................

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I think I remember sparks and smokin hot. But to be honest, I can't recall if that was the amp or Veronica.

It's always Veronica, but sometimes it's the amp, too.

 

[dagrev]

Photo or it didn't happen

Actually, just want to live vicariously through the master.

I find the whole thing irritating. People with talent really bug me.

 

[Gaolee]

Someday, someday I'll be on the list.

Every other instrument wants to grow up to be a bass. Every bass wants to grow up to be a Thunderbird.

You will be on the list when one chooses you. Never fear. When one chooses you, you will know.

 

[SubHuman]

Doin' what I do........................

Is that drink half full or ready to become fully empty? Ha!

 

[GBassNorth]

A friend of mine trains a 14-year-old girl who plays guitar and bass, and really wants a Thunderbird. I was looking around, and they're all pretty expensive now, even the Classic Pros.

Thunderbirds aren't getting any cheaper...

The deals are still out there but you have to look a lot harder than you used to.

There's currently 9 nice used Tbirds to choose from at Guitar Center in the $300 to $400ish bracket, and a nice white CP (very similar to a much more expensive Gibson) for only $600.

Then there are about 7 sub $400 birds at Musicgoround along with a very nicely priced VP and a Custom Limited Edition Bird for under $500.

Craigslist always has deals if you're willing to put up with person to person sales. Here's a virtually mint one listed for $275 that you could probably snatch for $250 without much dickering.

Bottom line - if you want a 2+1 screw soap bar bolt on Eppi bird there's plenty to choose from in the $200 to $400 bracket. If you want to step up to a bolt on Limited Edition Eppi with the LP pups you can expect to pay north of $300. If you desire a set or neck through then you'll be looking at CP or VP birds which can still be had in the $400 and up bracket.

Edit: adding @DJ Bebop to the reply since he may be in the hunt sometime soon.

 

[TBird1958]

Is that drink half full or ready to become fully empty? Ha!

Fully empty!
That was such a wonderful day and evening, Santa Cruz, good friends, basses, Hollister, basses, good friends and good food and drink.
We need ya to join us for a GTG

 

[GBassNorth]

I've noticed my Greco Thunderbirds[0] respond differently to my fingers[1] than my others - and for that matter than any other guitar or bass I can recall playing[2]. On most guitars/basses, as you move your plucking fingers from the bridge to the pickup regions to the lower end of the fretboard, the tone gets mellower and is most mellow near the 12th fret. On my Grecos, I can easily get more aggressive sounds playing over the fretboard. Has anyone noticed anything similar?

[0] Both sporting EBCFs, but so do my IV (whether strung EADG or BEAD), my CP, and my VP, and so did my PRO V. All but the BEAD IV are DGCF. FWIW. YMMV. IANAL.[1]
[1] Ahem?
[2] I didn't pay attention to that at the GTG or at Veronica's, which is where I Played most of the other Thunderbirds, but I have experienced this on a few 7SOs, and numerous guitars.

Interesting observation on the Greco Miles. I'll check both of mine later today to see if they respond similarly. I just took the completely dead flats off the 77 Greco II (moved them to my fretless Eastwood EUB for a more upright sound) and installed some leftover rounds on it, my 1990 Greco IV has GHS Bass Boomers on it, both are tuned EADG. So if nothing else it might reveal how much impact the strings have on right hand placement.

 

[GBassNorth]

I might cheat and not go full Bird and go Embassy…

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Or go short scale and go Newport…

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We'll see as I get close.

The Embassy basses are actually pretty good sounding and playing. To my ears a bit darker and mellower than the Tbirds. Most of them are priced about the same as a thunderbird (Epiphone bolt on Tbird) so there might not be as much savings there as you think.

As a heads up, be sure to pay very close attention to the year of manufacture on used Embassy basses. Some of the early ones had an improperly placed bridge that made it nearly impossible to intonate the bass - I purposely bought one of those models at rock bottom pricing (IIRC $200) because I intended to strip it of its pickups and bridge for a Tbird build I was making.

 

[Stealth57]

Fully empty!
That was such a wonderful day and evening, Santa Cruz, good friends, basses, Hollister, basses, good friends and good food and drink.
We need ya to join us for a GTG

Is that, by chance, Chick Magnet's girlfriend and her blond bodyguard?

 

[dagrev]

Fully empty!

Just how did that happen?
Somebody there knows and isn't talking.

 

[dagrev]

The Embassy basses are actually pretty good sounding and playing. To my ears a bit darker and mellower than the Tbirds.

Even true of my '64 Embassy, hence the Rotos on it. Same electronics and wood. Could it be that tone is really in the shape?

 

[Stealth57]

Just how did that happen? Somebody there knows what happened.

What happens in Hollister....

 

[JIO]

A heads-up for anyone interested in a cool Jack Cassidy Epi -I was in Real Guitars here in SF last week and they had a black JC on consgnment owned by Bay Area guitar-whiz Henry Kaiser for around $1200. He had it professionally modified adding two vintage Fred Hammond Darkstar pu's* above & below the central original pu. A second jack was added to the side & a mini-toggle added for pu selection. The vintage Darkstars alone are valuable - I played it briefly and it sounded sweet. The original front mounted jack was just for the factory pu & rotary switch. I don't think it came with a gig-bag or case.

I just checked and one FH Darkstar sold on Reverb 7 years ago for $275, but I'm certain they are worth triple that now because Curtis Novak sells his RI for that price today. If I were wanting another hollow-body bass (I have two) I would be all over it. I didn't have my camera or I would have taken a pic. If anyone is interested I could shoot a few as the shop is very close to where I live.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Is that, by chance, Chick Magnet's girlfriend and her blond bodyguard?
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You're the one obsessed with her; you tell us!

 

[Stealth57]

You're the one obsessed with her; you tell us!

Unfortunately, she had her back to me. You were hogging the face time. Maybe Andy can recall?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Unfortunately, she had her back to me. You were hogging the face time. Maybe Andy can recall?

Ha! Being the magnet doesn't mean I'm interested. It's just my natural charisma and humility that attracts them.

 

[Count Bassie]

Ha! Being the magnet doesn't mean I'm interested. It's just my natural charisma and humility that attracts them.

Wow.