Thunderbird Club

[BklynKen]

I used in-ears on stage for the first time last night. It was so nice to have the mix I want! And I could hear all of my bass tone.
My hands are often sore after a gig because I play much harder to hear myself. But having enough bass in my mix meant I could just play normally.
The drummer was concerned that it would affect communications between band members, but that wasn't an issue.
The only problem was the wire. I move around too much, so it's wireless for me.

Playing too hard because I can't hear myself is really common for me. In those situations, ideally I just use the Force.

 

[ectoflanger]

Dang, it’s been almost a year since I got my T.Bird.

So far, I’ve had 3 different types of Ernie Ball round wounds on it: Cobalt Super Slinkys, Nickel Super Slinkys and Nickel Extra Slinkys. I also briefly tried a set of Cobalt Flats. I love Cobalt Flats on my P.Bass,, but to my ears my T.Bird sounds best w/ something round wound.

The Extra Slinkys are my favorite so far. I’m on my second set of those, but they need to be changed, and I wanna break out of my Ernie Ball rut and try something new.

This being the Thunderbird Club, I’m ignoring the search function and putting it out there for what is prolly the millionth time…

What kinda rounds are your favorite?

To be honest, being somewhat lazy, I generally keep whatever strings that come on a new bass, exceptions of course if I bought a used one and the strings aren't cutting it for me. With that said, I believe that the factory brand strings I've had are of good quality.

For right now- on the Warwicks it is the Warwick blacks (stainless steel) except the Thumb NT5 fretless that came with the fancier EMP's (coated stainless steel)

I do have a set of D'Addarion ESXL's to go on my Steinberger XL25 whenever the strings wear out-

I also have a set of Ernie Ball slinkies in my Fender Jazz bass case waiting in the works (for about ten years now)
along with a set of Fenders Nickel Plated steels (.105-.045) which might be slated for one of the Precisions (all of which still have the original strings).

I do like the white coated DR stings I have on my white and black Aria Pro II ZZB Deluxe explorer style basses - they look cool and seem to hold up pretty well-

I bought a couple of sets from Richter who had made an offer i couldn't refuse after I bought one of their wide leather straps and have a set of Dunlops thrown in when I purchased the MXR Bass/Chorus- has anyone tried those brands?

Oh my! I almost forgot- whatever strings Gibson put on my Thunderbird G2 at the factory- working out pretty well-

 

[Stealth57]

Anyone know where I can pick up some plutonium? I think this would work well with one of my amps and let me pick up a new Gibson 1963 Thunderbird.

 

[GBassNorth]

saw it in San Francisco today at some old gear shop in North Beach where you can find all kinds of interesting vintage music related stuff...........thought I was seeing things at first (but it has been a long two weeks).....that said...only in SF.....it has a wide chunky neck and sounded HUGE into a late 60's B-15.

He wanted 250 for it
View attachment 3269700

Fast forward five years, and I finally found one for sale…

It’ll be here next week. Replaces my Kala UBass that I gave to Irv at the last GTG. If it’s a keeper I might design a proper NR pickguard for it (Irv I might be calling you soon) and I might even put a dummy Tbird neck pup in it. Should be fun.

 

[Camaro69]

Fast forward five years, and I finally found one for sale…
View attachment 5452920

It’ll be here next week. Replaces my Kala UBass that I gave to Irv at the last GTG. If it’s a keeper I might design a proper NR pickguard for it (Irv inmight be calling you soon) and I might even put a dummy Tbird neck pup in it. Should be fun.

They had one of these in Nederland a few years back

 

[MCF]

Oof.

I’d do it for free.

 

[TBird1958]

Yes I am! I won’t be bringing any basses though. The US Border Service is just too unpredictable.

We'll have a minimum of 16 basses on hand for the GTG and perhaps a couple of local friends dropping by with theirs as well, my buddy Dave Dickerson from Tacoma has a Lull and a super cool "Buck Owens" Fenderbird made from a '76.

Shall there be a GTG3 t-shirt? Too bad there was never a GTG1 shirt.

Perhaps @JIO and I should have a chat regarding shirts and an appropriate design, I like Marshall's Space Needle and Thunderbird idea.

 

[JJR58]

We'll have a minimum of 16 basses on hand for the GTG and perhaps a couple of local friends dropping by with theirs as well, my buddy Dave Dickerson from Tacoma has a Lull and a super cool "Buck Owens" Fenderbird made from a '76.



Perhaps @JIO and I should have a chat regarding shirts and an appropriate design, I like Marshall's Space Needle and Thunderbird idea.

Maybe something simple like the needle against a TBird logo?

 

[Stealth57]

Dang, I hate sanding more than soldering now. And that’s just first pass.

 

[GBassNorth]

Dang, I hate sanding more than soldering now. And that’s just first pass.

View attachment 5452984

Looking more like White Limba.
It’s a pretty wood with interesting grain that sometimes takes on a more yellow hue when stained. If it’s a solid body you might be able to sand down the inside of the control cavity and stain it first to see how you like the color.

More info

 

[Stealth57]

Looking more like White Limba.
It’s a pretty wood with interesting grain that sometimes takes on a more yellow hue when stained. If it’s a solid body you might be able to sand down the inside of the control cavity and stain it first to see how you like the color.

More info

I have no color coordination talent. When my wife asks my opinion on color, she does the opposite of what I choose.

So, I’ll be looking for help on body color to go with the golden-yellow maple neck.

 

[JIO]

Gotta represent the club!

 

[JIO]

Dang, I hate sanding more than soldering now. And that’s just first pass.

View attachment 5452984

lookin' good!

 

[MCF]

Maybe something simple like the needle against a TBird logo?

That could work. Two iconic images.

 

[MCF]

Dang, I hate sanding more than soldering now. And that’s just first pass.

View attachment 5452984

If it were mine, I’d paint it Pelham Blue, Lake Placid Blue, or Daphne Blue.

 

[Stealth57]

If it were mine, I’d paint it Pelham Blue, Lake Placid Blue, or Daphne Blue.

Freakin’ surprise

 

[JJR58]

Freakin’ surprise

There is some nice grain there.
I’d go for a translucent color.

 

[JIO]

Shall there be a GTG3 t-shirt? Too bad there was never a GTG1 shirt.

I have same theme artwork, it just needs copy updating/formatting. (on black T of course)

 

[JIO]

There is some nice grain there.
I’d go for a translucent color.

Yes, front looks better than the back -

 

[MCF]

There is some nice grain there.
I’d go for a translucent color.

When I bought my Foundation, my wife was in Nashville. I gushed about how it was the Buckaroos bassist who I bought it from. She was pissed I spent the money on “another guitar.” When she got home she said that was my only “guitar” she liked the looks of. Oh well. 40 years next month.