Thunderbird Club

[TBird1958]

WoW Glenn, that is fantastic, well done!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Well, I’m finally done with the Lake Placid Blue Vintage Pro Thunderbird.
It started in January.
I’d forgotten what a pain it is to wet sand nitro.
It’s my only one set up with flat wounds.I dig it.
The finish buffed out mirror smooth..Sorta why I kept my clothes on while shooting a few pictures. There are a couple of micro scratches that I may re-buff in the near future.
I’ve been kinda slack posting of late due to grandkids,garden and the boat. Not to mention work.
This may be a little bit picture heavy.
Cheers to all of my Thunderbird brothers and sisters!
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Beauty!

And thanks for wearing clothes for the pics so the club didn’t get shut down.

 

[Stealth57]

Well, I’m finally done with the Lake Placid Blue Vintage Pro Thunderbird.
It started in January.
I’d forgotten what a pain it is to wet sand nitro.
It’s my only one set up with flat wounds.I dig it.
The finish buffed out mirror smooth..Sorta why I kept my clothes on while shooting a few pictures. There are a couple of micro scratches that I may re-buff in the near future.
I’ve been kinda slack posting of late due to grandkids,garden and the boat. Not to mention work.
This may be a little bit picture heavy.
Cheers to all of my Thunderbird brothers and sisters!
View attachment 5474563 View attachment 5474564 View attachment 5474565 View attachment 5474566 View attachment 5474567 View attachment 5474568 View attachment 5474569 View attachment 5474570 View attachment 5474571 View attachment 5474572 View attachment 5474573 View attachment 5474574 View attachment 5474575 View attachment 5474576

Did Marshall just get the vapors?

 

[MCF]

Well, I’m finally done with the Lake Placid Blue Vintage Pro Thunderbird.
It started in January.
I’d forgotten what a pain it is to wet sand nitro.
It’s my only one set up with flat wounds.I dig it.
The finish buffed out mirror smooth..Sorta why I kept my clothes on while shooting a few pictures. There are a couple of micro scratches that I may re-buff in the near future.I was out of time for the weekend and wanted to get it built to plug in.
The truss rod cover is a prototype until I find the right cover.
Dust flakes do show up well in some of the pictures.
I’ve been kinda slack posting of late due to grandkids,garden and the boat. Not to mention work.
This may be a little bit picture heavy.
Cheers to all of my Thunderbird brothers and sisters!
View attachment 5474563 View attachment 5474564 View attachment 5474565 View attachment 5474566 View attachment 5474567 View attachment 5474568 View attachment 5474569 View attachment 5474570 View attachment 5474571 View attachment 5474572 View attachment 5474573 View attachment 5474574 View attachment 5474575 View attachment 5474576

That is beautiful Glenn. You know my love for blue Thunderbirds!

 

[JJR58]

@Instagator
I don’t even want a color.
Just a natural nitro finish.

 

[MCF]

Did Marshall just get the vapors?

Yep. You know it.

 

[Instagator]

@Instagator
I don’t even want a color.
Just a natural nitro finish.

It's interesting. I used to build about two basses a year. With Nitro paint getting harder and more expensive to get, this one may very well be my last refinish.
I'm finally slowing down in my old age.
If that's the case I'm glad I went out in style with a VP Thunderbird.

Cheers!

 

[Rickplaysbass]

It's interesting. I used to build about two basses a year. With Nitro paint getting harder and more expensive to get, this one may very well be my last refinish.
I'm finally slowing down in my old age.
If that's the case I'm glad I went out in style with a VP Thunderbird.

Cheers!

And now, between @JJR58 and myself you can do two more this year.

That looks awesome man!

 

[JJR58]

It's interesting. I used to build about two basses a year. With Nitro paint getting harder and more expensive to get, this one may very well be my last refinish.
I'm finally slowing down in my old age.
If that's the case I'm glad I went out in style with a VP Thunderbird.

Cheers!

Totally understood, and cool you got yours done.
You did a beautiful job of it.

 

[MCF]

It's interesting. I used to build about two basses a year. With Nitro paint getting harder and more expensive to get, this one may very well be my last refinish.
I'm finally slowing down in my old age.
If that's the case I'm glad I went out in style with a VP Thunderbird.

Cheers!

Yeah. Nitro is pretty much verboten here in Cali. And I’m not sure Reranch is coming back. It’s a shame. I really love my nitro Gibsons. Tiny bubbles and all. It’s part of the charm. There is just something magical about how it looks and ages.

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah. Nitro is pretty much verboten here in Cali. And I’m not sure Reranch is coming back. It’s a shame. I really love my nitro Gibsons. Tiny bubbles and all. It’s part of the charm. There is just something magical about how it looks and ages.

It feels a little different, too. Mostly. An old finish typically feels better to me, especially if it has worn and then gotten polished from use. The 2013 EB's neck started matte. It is now glossy, but with no stickiness. My upright's neck is just use polished wood with no finish. Both the Flamingo and 2001 are like that, although both started glossy.

 

[MCF]

0

It feels a little different, too. Mostly. An old finish typically feels better to me, especially if it has worn and then gotten polished from use. The 2013 EB's neck started matte. It is now glossy, but with no stickiness. My upright's neck is just use polished wood with no finish. Both the Flamingo and 2001 are like that, although both started glossy.

The Studio I have is the perfect example. It was gummy from being locked in the case for who knows how long. A little research, patience, and TLC helped bring it back to a wonderful look and feel. It’s an almost twenty year old bass, beautifully aged, with a hint of light checking, character and charm. It plays and sounds great. My poly sparkling Pelham Blue LE CS EPI of the same year looks brand new. I love it, but it just isn’t quite the same.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Mopar rocks. I’d have one of the new Challengers but for the wife.

your wife doesn’t like Mopar?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Well, I’m finally done with the Lake Placid Blue Vintage Pro Thunderbird.
It started in January.
I’d forgotten what a pain it is to wet sand nitro.
It’s my only one set up with flat wounds.I dig it.
The finish buffed out mirror smooth..Sorta why I kept my clothes on while shooting a few pictures. There are a couple of micro scratches that I may re-buff in the near future.I was out of time for the weekend and wanted to get it built to plug in.
The truss rod cover is a prototype until I find the right cover.
Dust flakes do show up well in some of the pictures.
I’ve been kinda slack posting of late due to grandkids,garden and the boat. Not to mention work.
This may be a little bit picture heavy.
Cheers to all of my Thunderbird brothers and sisters!
View attachment 5474563 View attachment 5474564 View attachment 5474565 View attachment 5474566 View attachment 5474567 View attachment 5474568 View attachment 5474569 View attachment 5474570 View attachment 5474571 View attachment 5474572 View attachment 5474573 View attachment 5474574 View attachment 5474575 View attachment 5474576

awesome!! Congrats….,

 

[MCF]

your wife doesn’t like Mopar?

It’s the impression she (wrongly) thinks I’d try to make. So I’ve been driving Volvos and Subies for the soon to be (this month) forty years we’ve been married. A happy marriage is all about compromises.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

And now, between @JJR58 and myself you can do two more this year.

That looks awesome man!

Three

 

[MCF]

Three

Make that four. I have the to be started later this year or next retro sixties inspired II reverse that will be Pelham Blue. I can have Wilkins do it, but he can only do poly because of our Air Resources Board restrictions here.

 

[RedVee]

My main player since I got it has been the red Greco Willy sold me. It stole that position from the burst Greco I bought from Mark, which I didn’t like quite as much. I decided to use the MarkBass (sic) this week rather than just keeping it for backup. I know there was a sonic or playability reason it was #2, but dang if I know what it is now. Maybe it just needed a rest. I still prefer the Willy bass because RED! but blind taste test? Both equally almost perfect.

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(Fraternal twins born two years apart)

Awkward for Mum

 

[RedVee]

Well, I’m finally done with the Lake Placid Blue Vintage Pro Thunderbird.
It started in January.
I’d forgotten what a pain it is to wet sand nitro.
It’s my only one set up with flat wounds.I dig it.
The finish buffed out mirror smooth..Sorta why I kept my clothes on while shooting a few pictures. There are a couple of micro scratches that I may re-buff in the near future.I was out of time for the weekend and wanted to get it built to plug in.
The truss rod cover is a prototype until I find the right cover.
Dust flakes do show up well in some of the pictures.
I’ve been kinda slack posting of late due to grandkids,garden and the boat. Not to mention work.
This may be a little bit picture heavy.
Cheers to all of my Thunderbird brothers and sisters!
View attachment 5474563 View attachment 5474564 View attachment 5474565 View attachment 5474566 View attachment 5474567 View attachment 5474568 View attachment 5474569 View attachment 5474570 View attachment 5474571 View attachment 5474572 View attachment 5474573 View attachment 5474574 View attachment 5474575 View attachment 5474576

That blue looks great!

 

[Engle]

Gig report! The Ozzy Sabbath tribute I am in just got a new guitar player and he makes all the difference! Frankly we were struggling before. Jim comes in and nails it to the wall with two rehersal. The venue was so impressed they are going to make room in the summer schedule for us, they like many venues are booked well over a year in advance. We went on at 8:30 to a iffy forecast by 9:00 the place was packed. This is the first number of the set. It felt great to be back on stage.

I'm glad you got the guitarist sorted! It makes it so much easier with solid players.