• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#30,041
Gaolee said:
Eh, tuning the cab? Hmmm... I would get it reconed if you can find somebody to do it. Those cabs work as a unit. Failing that, the usual replacement was a Peavey Black Widow, but I'm not sure those are even available any more. The reason that's the loudest 100 watts you ever heard, aside from the fact that there's watts and then there's Acoustic watts, is the efficiency of the cabinet. The speaker has a lot to do with it. It's an old Eminence, if I remember right, and it's got a magnet that will lift a Ford. It doesn't have a huge excursion, which means it can be driven with less power.

All of that means recone if you can.
Click to expand...
Re-coning, yes. Just was also considering a neo... Which I've dismissed, and even just a spare. According to (edit) your insight here on that speaker, meh on that.

We have a good recone guy here in RI...
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: JJR58, Dadagoboi and Gaolee
#30,044
Nocturnal said:
I think there was a custom Gibson Thunderbird made for Twiggy in Marilyn Manson that was red, had the Antichrist Superstar symbol as the only fretboard inlay, and no route where a pickguard would have been. I can't find any images but it was for sale at GC for a while several years ago for I think $2500. Never saw it turn up anywhere after it sold. I think Gibson (or some of their employees) can do whatever they want with basses for special orders or friends, but they aren't going to do it for us.
Click to expand...

I remember said MM bass and haven't been able to find the same picture either, since then...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nocturnal
#30,045
QUOTE="Gaolee, post: 20024772, member: 162114"]Thank you. That's the low key version of my playing. I was playing bluegrass and trying very hard to keep the jazz/funk thing in check on Saturday night. No pictures, though, so it never happened. The band I enjoy playing in the most is more of a rockabilly band, and I can jump around and waltz around the stage with the doghouse. It's a really awkward dance partner, and it breaks if you drop it. Go figure.[/QUOTE]

Like this?

IMG_4805.PNG
IMG_4808.PNG
[
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4806.PNG
    IMG_4806.PNG
    1.1 MB · Views: 23
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Klondike, Mike.C., hillerup and 1 other person
#30,047
RedVee said:
I love these, they look great to me, and I've been impressed via YouTube reviews.

Colours: white; black; silver burst ; gold top; blue; now wine red. What have I missed?
Click to expand...

In the fall, I tried one of the gold ones. It almost came home with me, but I went with the Gibson Midtown instead. I still think about getting a JC, the sound is great. I think the red one pushes me over the edge.

Perhaps it is something about me; unlike the general population, I do not want to have something that sounds like a P or J. Guess that is why I don't have one of those...
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, Gaolee, RedVee and 1 other person
#30,049
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Klondike, RedVee, hillerup and 1 other person
#30,054
BklynKen said:
Wow, I have no experience with this, but Rudy shows a Thunderbird fitting in it. My Gator ProGo is awesome.

ChromaCast
Click to expand...

While I have no problem using a good quality gig bag for any of my P-Basses, I 'm just way too nervous going the gig bag route for these old T-Birds I have. Between the massive headstocks, the headstock angles, and the super narrow nut width (not to mention the dozens up dozens of T-Birds I've seen w headstock fractures) I'd just be worrying about it all the time.
Of course, the original 70s Thunderbird cases from Gibson aren't exactly the most secure things on earth!
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, Nocturnal, hillerup and 2 others
#30,055
KingFace said:
While I have no problem using a good quality gig bag for any of my P-Basses, I 'm just way too nervous going the gig bag route for these old T-Birds I have. Between the massive headstocks, the headstock angles, and the super narrow nut width (not to mention the dozens up dozens of T-Birds I've seen w headstock fractures) I'd just be worrying about it all the time.
Of course, the original 70s Thunderbird cases from Gibson aren't exactly the most secure things on earth!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I completely understand that concern.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kat888, PillO and KingFace
#30,057
D.M.N. said:
Does anyone with an old (60s/70s) Bird know what the width of the middle section is? I'm looking at getting pickup covers for the Greco and want to know if ones that'd fit the old Gibsons would fit the Greco as well.
Click to expand...

I've got a few 70's T-Birds, and they're all 4" wide.
I got one pair of covers (bridge and pickup) from Steve at Link Removed
They're excellent pieces, and well-priced, BUT they're nickel plated, not chrome.
 
  • Like
Reactions: D.M.N.
#30,058
KingFace said:
I've got a few 70's T-Birds, and they're all 4" wide.
I got one pair of covers (bridge and pickup) from Steve at Link Removed
They're excellent pieces, and well-priced, BUT they're nickel plated, not chrome.
Click to expand...

Perfect! I think the Grecos are about 4 1/4" wide, so I wonder if those or the ones Scott makes will fit. Nickel is fine by me, that's sort of my preference and it matches the pickup cover on the Greco too.
 
#30,059
D.M.N. said:
Perfect! I think the Grecos are about 4 1/4" wide, so I wonder if those or the ones Scott makes will fit. Nickel is fine by me, that's sort of my preference and it matches the pickup cover on the Greco too.
Click to expand...

Perfect! I actually much prefer nickel, but, sadly, Gibson opted for chrome hardware in the 70s. Which sucks a LOT when they begin to get pitted and corrode and look awful.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Larry V, kat888 and D.M.N.
#30,060
KingFace said:
While I have no problem using a good quality gig bag for any of my P-Basses, I 'm just way too nervous going the gig bag route for these old T-Birds I have. Between the massive headstocks, the headstock angles, and the super narrow nut width (not to mention the dozens up dozens of T-Birds I've seen w headstock fractures) I'd just be worrying about it all the time.
Of course, the original 70s Thunderbird cases from Gibson aren't exactly the most secure things on earth!
Click to expand...

I have an intellectual understanding of the protection afforded by gig bags as well as the sturdiness of modern basses, but I keep everything in a hard case. I just couldn't see me actually using a gig bag. Besides, you can't put one of these stickers on a gig bag.
bassist_sticker_oval.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Klondike, Larry V, Mike.C. and 5 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back