Thunderbird Club

[BklynKen]

I DR Stainless 45-105, lots of clank when you play with a pick, they last a long time. Similar but a bit less clank are Ken Smith Rockmasters.

High or Low Beams?

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

I read once that the Thunderbird is Gibson's Jazz Bass. That threw me a bit. Why? Two pickups?

I like the look of Jazzes, but there is just something about them that I don't quite gel with. Dunno.

Mind you when I watch YouTube 'n basses compared' videos, I tend to like all the Gibson basses, and P basses and occasionally a Ric if one is included. But really not the Js. Or Js last anyway.

I really haven't put my finger on it as yet, but it doesn't worry me either. I just know now which pond(s) to fish in.


Why sand it to bare? Couldn't they just rub it back a bit, put undercoat on it and then the fancy colour?
Use the Matt black as a base and move on from there?

I know exactly why I dont like them. There is a sick gnarl to them when you really get digging otherwise they are kind of clicky and they dont provide enough bottom end. Ive read people proclaim that a Jazz can infact equal a P's bottom end depth with the right settings but Ive never experienced, witnessed a sound or visual bit of evidence on this........still waiting

 

[willsellout]

Ive read people proclaim that a Jazz can infact equal a P's bottom end depth with the right settings but Ive never experienced, witnessed a sound or visual bit of evidence on this........still waiting

Those people are wrong. I love J basses. They, by their very nature, can not sound like a P bass.

 

[GBassNorth]

IS there a consensus on which strings people prefer on Tbirds? I'm thinking GHS Progressives or some DR Sunbeams.

Sunbeams would be good. Haven't tried it yet but I suspect DR Black Beauties would be perfect if you're a finger player or possibly Optima Golds.

 

[willsellout]

Sunbeams would be good. Haven't tried it yet but I suspect DR Black Beauties would be perfect if you're a finger player or possibly Optima Golds.

I"ve honestly never considered black beauties. But I am a finger style player. I think I need to research this a bit more. Thanks!

 

[PillO]

I"ve honestly never considered black beauties. But I am a finger style player. I think I need to research this a bit more. Thanks!

I asked the same question a few weeks ago and got similar replies. In the end, I went with NYXLs. I really like those strings and have them on everything except the midtown.

 

[Larry V]

God dammit I love this stupid Thunderbird. It's really perfect but I'm seriously considering dropping some aftermarket pickups in it. My initial thought are Lull's. I've heard them in person. Huge, ballsy, and pure rock and roll sex. Of course they are also 5 bills...what are some other good options?

My advice is to not screw around and try to save a few bucks. If you get anything less than the Lulls at this point you'll always have the thought in the back of your head wondering whether you made the right choice and wishing you'd have spent the extra few bucks to have gotten exactly what you wanted in the first place. I've only made that mistake in my youth... buy what you want, life is short.

I hit some kind of large bird on my street, on the way to work at 5:30 am yesterday. I think it's ok...

This is what really happened. Fess up, Roger.

For real Count?
You wouldn't joke about something like that.

I hope it's ok too.

See video above.

 

[EdO.]

I read once that the Thunderbird is Gibson's Jazz Bass. That threw me a bit. Why? Two pickups?

I like the look of Jazzes, but there is just something about them that I don't quite gel with. Dunno.

From the time I first started playing I just never understood to attraction to a Jazz. To me the body shape looks weird (like it was designed the morning after coming down off an all night acid trip), I hate the sound, just don't get them at all. Love the necks though. I'd have a Jazz neck on a P body, otherwise..no.

 

[Count Bassie]

I know exactly why I dont like them. There is a sick gnarl to them when you really get digging otherwise they are kind of clicky and they dont provide enough bottom end. Ive read people proclaim that a Jazz can infact equal a P's bottom end depth with the right settings but Ive never experienced, witnessed a sound or visual bit of evidence on this........still waiting

Family Man Barrett, of The Wailers... though what he considers bottom end for reggae might not be what you're after..

 

[Count Bassie]

My advice is to not screw around and try to save a few bucks. If you get anything less than the Lulls at this point you'll always have the thought in the back of your head wondering whether you made the right choice and wishing you'd have spent the extra few bucks to have gotten exactly what you wanted in the first place. I've only made that mistake in my youth... buy what you want, life is short.



This is what really happened. Fess up, Roger.





See video above.

Whoa. I went through some daďk periods as a kid, but now I see this as seriously sick.

Dayum.

 

[Larry V]

Whoa. I went through some daďk periods as a kid, but now I see this as seriously sick.

Dayum.

Are you vegan? Killed by mistake, killed for food... still killed but I understand your point. As for the video, I believe they were sincere in believing that the flock would fly off... the laughter was IMO, a reaction to the absurdity, in their minds, that what they believed would happen hadn't happened at all. I don't think they took any joy in killing all those birds.

 

[Count Bassie]

Tonight my old band Plan 9 gets inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame. They started in '79, had a good run with Bomp Records, and later with Enigma... I met them after moving to RI in '94, we did a couple records- the latest is going to be available if anyone is interested.

My history with them was interrupted with raising kiddies, etc, but hey, I got to be there. For them it's a local honor well deserved, I got to ride along for a few miles.

We're all (members from 30+ years of permutations are going to be there) playing a 45 min set tonight at the ceremony in Pawtucket, RI. Should be suitably hectic, changing up drummers, bass players, guitarists and singers as we walk through the set that represents their career... gonna be fun. And my 'Bird will be there.

 

[Count Bassie]

Are you vegan? Killed by mistake, killed for food... still killed but I understand your point. As for the video, I believe they were sincere in believing that the flock would fly off... the laughter was IMO, a reaction to the absurdity, in their minds, that what they believed would happen hadn't happened at all. I don't think they took any joy in killing all those birds.

I get it, and no, killing is part of that big circle, etc. Not vegan...

It's funny how out of touch we people are with the natural world. Not even slowing down to give them opportunity to fly off is how sharks and dolphins feed on shoals of fishes. People who live around animals as part of their life culture treat them differently.

Of course I just hit a large bird... but it was dark, it was early. I wasn't putting the booger to the test on purpose.

Humanity... ahhh.

 

[Count Bassie]

I"ve honestly never considered black beauties. But I am a finger style player. I think I need to research this a bit more. Thanks!

I bought a set just to be cheeky about my black, stealthy bass. They're pretty good actually.

 

[ubernator]

The 3 point seems fine except it doesnt accept the thick 115 guage string very well. Thanks.

I really had to squeeze the GHS Boomer string in place and once it was in it did not look comfortable, since the Epiphone brand is produced in like 100 different countries I wonder if there is a discrepancy in the tooling. Mine was made in China but it is actually a real good quality build witch is why I traded for it.

I use my birds exclusively for SOAD tribute, .115 .090 .070 .050 custom sets tuned to drop c. I just crimp/crush the ends with a big set of pliers and the 115 fits that way. Also, both of my bridges seem the same, 2006 Korea goth and 2015 China IV. I also have older Warwicks with gold hardware I can't bring myself to file, so I use taperwound low b strings, or file down the string not the bridge, as I had to do the first time I restrung one of the 5s with DRs and discovered the b wouldn't fit. Unfortunately on a Gibson bridge the taper wound won't work because you can't raise the saddle to compensate.

The saddle is almost as far back as it can go to properly intonate 115 to c

Also, to the person who posted about drop c tuning making the bridge posts pop out, not so, just make.sure the bridge is angled BACK not forward, which also helps with string tension being less sloppy and kills the bridge rattle as well. .115 seems to be the ideal, at least for me, less nutwork, none needed on the goth, but I had to hack at the 2015 China a bit.

I recently noticed that the saddles on the 2015 were in the wrong spots, so I rearranged them. But now the g buzzes on higher frets, the fretwork is poopy! Maybe it was done intentionally, but I think the previous owner just didn't know what he was doing. Ironically, the #1 saddle worked with the #4 string, but now it is as Gibson intended. Older Korea ones are just built better, truss rod adjuster and fretwork and tolerances in pu routes etc. I feel I overpaid at $200 w/case for the 2015 China. sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

 

[DerekW]

$200 for a bass you like, can gig with, and has a case? That's hardly overpaying, imo.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Those people are wrong. I love J basses. They, by their very nature, can not sound like a P bass.

I understand they are engineered for different tonal options and may or may not work with certain genres but I did not know that I would be unable to manipulate its tones to my needs, that I found out after I acquired one. I should have kept the Jazz and just routered the neck pickup cavity to pop in a Rickenbacker or Thunderbird pickup to fit my needs.

 

[Gaolee]

Just so you know, I particularly enjoyed that bit.

I only speak truth. It's nice to be recognized.

 

[Nocturnal]

My advice is to not screw around and try to save a few bucks. If you get anything less than the Lulls at this point you'll always have the thought in the back of your head wondering whether you made the right choice and wishing you'd have spent the extra few bucks to have gotten exactly what you wanted in the first place. I've only made that mistake in my youth... buy what you want, life is short.

Larry makes a good point. Any time I have my heart set on a particular piece of gear and then settled for something "close enough" I have always had a nagging in the back of my head about it. I tend to be happier with my purchases when I get exactly what I was after, even if the item doesn't live up to my expectations, at least I tried it and found out if it worked for me or not.

From the time I first started playing I just never understood to attraction to a Jazz. To me the body shape looks weird (like it was designed the morning after coming down off an all night acid trip), I hate the sound, just don't get them at all. Love the necks though. I'd have a Jazz neck on a P body, otherwise..no.

Same here. Never understood the appeal of the look of a Jazz at all. I do like the sleek look of the Aerodyne Jazz but not likely to ever buy one. I do love a Jazz neck tho.

 

[Gaolee]

I get it, and no, killing is part of that big circle, etc. Not vegan...

It's funny how out of touch we people are with the natural world. Not even slowing down to give them opportunity to fly off is how sharks and dolphins feed on shoals of dishes. People who live around animals as part of their life culture treat them differently.

Of course I just hit a large bird... but it was dark, it was early. I wasn't putting the booger to the test on purpose.

Humanity... ahhh.

Their laughter was nervous laughter. It was either that or freak out completely. I'm with the Count on this one.