Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

About last night:
The other day I was approached by Jimi Crutchley (Quireboys) regarding the Brooks Fenderbird I had built.
He is on a world tour as tour manager with Glenn Hughes. And yesterday the caravan visited De Boerderij in Zoetermeer for Glenn's Deep Purple show. Which is only an hours drive from where I live.
Jimi invited me to the soundcheck to put the Brooks Fenderbird through its paces, over Glenn's bass system.

Jimi turns out to be a huge John Entwistle fanatic. And for years he had been looking for a good Fenderbird like the one Peter Cook built for John Entwistle. He had previously bought one from another builder, but that one was very disappointing.
Jimi is very happy that he has finally found a good Fenderbird!

That’s awesome! Congratulations!!!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Too cool! Needs a sign: "Glenn Hughes endorses..."

I think it’s Jimi Crutchley who’d be endorsing.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Now I wasn't there, but all in the pics I recall seeing Marshall had something else in his hand. Not a bad thing. Just an observation.

Ahem.

 

[PillO]

Just strapped it on, and you’re absolutely right. This one stays nailed to wherever you leave it - noon, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 no problem. Again, it’s a keeper.

Oh sure; in the early afternoon. But what about mid to late evening - 9:00, 10:00, 11:00?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Gigs have been sparse lately but I got a call to sub a show with my old band JOHNNY SMOKE. Now I haven't played with them in over 3 years but the show went great and I had a lot of fun. Doing a bit of Zeppelin here using my beat to snot 1966 Thunderbird and my Orange Terror Bass rig. I'm not my usual animated self as I'm trying my hardest not to train wreck the song!

Very cool! And a Firebird and a lefty in the band, to boot!

 

[PillO]

Couldn't help myself and ordered a stupidly named but fabulously looking (both my opinions) and sounding Squier Paranormal Rascal Houdi Bass. I added the "Houdi", Max Webster fans understand.
Anyway, I can't wait for it to arrive and I already started to envision a project with those pickups in those same positions (a bit closer to the neck than on a Jazz or T-Bird, more like in a Sabre perhaps). Another Telecaster perhaps? Or a non-reverse style bass.
Dangerous thoughts. Luckily those pickups are not available separately.

Max Webster? That sounds like a made up name, like Kim Mitchell...

 

[PillO]

When i see that bass, it just wreaks of magic.

What does magic smell like? I guessing brimstone and ozone.

 

[PillO]

No, you already have the blue one. Hold your powder for a used red one or something else special to hit the new or used market.

That doesn't sound like Thunderbird advice. I would suggest buy two more then you can be sure that one will be great.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

New Bird Day!!!
Got the Eppi ‘64 Purple Sparkle Reverse delivery this morning. Both surprised and pleased with the gaudy new VP.

First, let me echo @WillyW on the color front - this bass is absolutely NOT purple, it’s Lavender with Purple metal flakes. So if you’re looking for something similar to Mopar Plum Crazy, pass on this one. Also, I’m aware of the difference but there may be others that aren’t, so - if you’re looking for a Glitter bass this isn’t it. On a glitter bass the glitter nearly completely covers the bass coat. This is as advertised, a sparkle bass, where the flake used is small and dispersed to allow the paint base coat color to show through, and this paint base coat is much closer to Lavender than Purple. I personally love the look, an “Easter Egg on Steroids”.

Second - fit and finish was top notch except for a few frets that I decided to level better for a lower action. The action on this bass is now incredibly low, possibly the lowest of any bird I own. The neck is fast and the hardware and electronics are all rock solid. As @TBird1958 noted, there is a significant ramp or slope or rake to the neck that forces the bridge up high along with the pickups (both of which require spacers under the rings). Doesn’t bother me visually or functionally in any way but might be considered a plus for someone who slaps a lot, more room under the strings for your fingers if needed. Note: the strings pass over the roughly horizontal pickups at such a sharp angle that they are much closer to the leading edge of the pickup than the back edge of the pickup. I’ll be installing foam pads to alleviate that situation and bring the top surface of the pups parallel with the strings, not the bass body (might possibly change the voicing, if so I might revert back to stock).

Third - what a lovely sound! Actually quite a bit different than my first year run Eppi VP. The VP was edgy, growling and aggressive. This one seems to be a bit more bottom end focused, still has that growl but it’s a deeper voice. If the VP was a Doberman growl, this one would be a Rottweiler growl. Excellent sounding bridge and neck solo, and very responsive tone knob. Hate that darn bright tone shift you get when you approach 10 on the volume knobs, but that seems to be par for course on Tbird wiring.

And here she is…
View attachment 5450000
The sparkle is hard to properly capture on camera in the frontal shot, so here’s a side shot with some contour to bring out the glitter color…View attachment 5450001

As I said, the paint color is closer to a dark Lavender than Purple…
View attachment 5450002

Quite a bit darker than Periwinkle, but in the same color family…
View attachment 5450003

Congratulations! Since you and Willie agree on the color, it makes it easy for me to ignore it. But it’s still gorgeous.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I keep thinking about how great it is you got that.

I keep kicking myself for not! But I’m stoked for Chuck.

 

[GBassNorth]

Oh sure; in the early afternoon. But what about mid to late evening - 9:00, 10:00, 11:00?

God we missed you!

 

[godofthunder59]

Very cool! And a Firebird and a lefty in the band, to boot!

We are the land of misfit toys.

 

[MCF]

Couldn't help myself and ordered a stupidly named but fabulously looking (both my opinions) and sounding Squier Paranormal Rascal Houdi Bass. I added the "Houdi", Max Webster fans understand.
Anyway, I can't wait for it to arrive and I already started to envision a project with those pickups in those same positions (a bit closer to the neck than on a Jazz or T-Bird, more like in a Sabre perhaps). Another Telecaster perhaps? Or a non-reverse style bass.
Dangerous thoughts. Luckily those pickups are not available separately.

Congratulations!

Couldn't help myself and ordered a stupidly named but fabulously looking (both my opinions) and sounding Squier Paranormal Rascal Houdi Bass. I added the "Houdi", Max Webster fans understand.
Anyway, I can't wait for it to arrive and I already started to envision a project with those pickups in those same positions (a bit closer to the neck than on a Jazz or T-Bird, more like in a Sabre perhaps). Another Telecaster perhaps? Or a non-reverse style bass.
Dangerous thoughts. Luckily those pickups are not available separately.

I had GAS big time for the original Rascal with the Lipstick pickups. Never got to try one or even saw one anywhere in a shop before they were discontinued.

 

[WillyW]

Congratulations! Since you and Willie agree on the color, it makes it easy for me to ignore it. But it’s still gorgeous.

yeah but you need the blue one

 

[Gaolee]

What does magic smell like? I guessing brimstone and ozone.

Magic usually smells like bacon.

 

[Gaolee]

God we missed you!

Imagine PillO and WillyW in a Rambler station wagon, crossing the continent. It would be an epic movie. They would stop off and play two Thunderbird shows at every rest area.

 

[TBird1958]

Sitting in a bar in a seaside town

 

[MCF]

I received a Sweetwater email today that all Fender and related brands are 10% off. I’m not in the market for anything, but thought someone here might be.

 

[MCF]

Sitting in a bar in a seaside town View attachment 5450258

Let’s turn that into a song and Jam it at the GTG.

 

[TBird1958]

Let’s turn that into a song and Jam it at the GTG.

I’m not so original, Marshall. It’s a line from “Kick It Out” by Heart.