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Thunderbird Club

#300,803
Just got back from a stellar concert - 10CC... their last show of a 18 day US tour - their first (in the US) since 1978! Bond Girl's drummer Phil treated me - he saw them on that last tour in '78 here! I knew very little about the UK band - they had a couple of hits on the radio then, which of course they played. But I was blown away by their talent as musicians, singers, and performers - totally off-the-charts. Chucky - on stage bass rig was Ashdown... one very similar to yours and an 18" speaker cab. A baby blue Jazz bass (w/matching hs) and a black Ric were played, and both sounded great. (of course they did) A 5 piece (lead guitar, bass, rhythm guitar, keys, drums) Original/long standing members were the bass-player, lead player and drummer. The keyboardist also played guitar & bass, and the rhythm guitarist also played mandolin, percussion, bass, and they all sang except the drummer.
One of their biggest hits -

And one they played tonight that was very fun!
 
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#300,806
Chucky Stiletti said:
gotta love car week….. :drool:
View attachment 7007986View attachment 7007987
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Speaking of cars, I put a new Empi carb in my Ghia and it came with a stuck-closed float valve… good thing I had a spare valve. Nothing like troubleshooting new parts!
IMG_3028.jpeg
It’s sorted now - idles nicely and can even produce a tire chirp on launch.
 
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#300,807
Engle said:
Speaking of cars, I put a new Empi carb in my Ghia and it came with a stuck-closed float valve… good thing I had a spare valve. Nothing like troubleshooting new parts!
View attachment 7008227It’s sorted now - idles nicely and can even produce a tire chirp on launch.
Click to expand...
Love that car!
And a rarely seen one in that shape.
 
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#300,809
MCF said:
If I can get organized and decide on what the best iPad interface is and get it, I can come down and we could record a shootout. As it is, I’m way overdue for visit. And there is something I can finally pick up from you. I’m beginning to feel like Will.
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Let’s do it! August is a good month for me, Sept starts to get a bit sketchy. You’re always welcome here Marshall.
Engle said:
Speaking of cars, I put a new Empi carb in my Ghia and it came with a stuck-closed float valve… good thing I had a spare valve. Nothing like troubleshooting new parts!
View attachment 7008227It’s sorted now - idles nicely and can even produce a tire chirp on launch.
Click to expand...
Always one of my favorite vintage imports, and still relatively affordable.
 
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#300,812
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#300,814
Tommygun_ted said:
Honestly, for the price difference, I don't know that a gibson thunderbird is good enough to justify one over an epiphone. Especially now that Gibson isn't making a true neck through reverse thunderbird. I haven't played a bass better than my classic pro, and I've owned 3 fenders, a gibson, and a dingwall since getting it. I do feel like the newer epiphones feel cheaper than the classic pro though. It's unfortunate that line didn't continue for longer. I haven't tried a vintage pro but my thunderbird 64 just feels cheaper than the classic pro. That being said, those newer epiphone pickups definitely sound better than the modern gibson pups in the classic (in my opinion)
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Point well taken.

The Epiphone Thunderbirds I own are a Goth, a Blackbird, Four Limited Edition Custom Shop IV’s, and a ‘17 VP. They are great Thunderbirds. But they are not all the same with the three different pickup types. I love them for what they are.

I have a ‘15 Reverse with the tapped DeCola humbuckers (best bass I own), an ‘11 shortie with TBird + pickups, a ‘13NR with TBird+ pickups, a ‘07 Studio with TBird+ pickups, and a ‘21 NR with the Gibson vintage reissue pickups. I play the Gibsons the most. They are better basses overall IMO. And well worth what I paid for each.

It comes down to the tone you’re after. And it’s subjective. I love the TBird plusses with stainless rounds. And I prefer the Gibson reissues to the Epi 760 Probuckers, I find them fuller and rounder overall, at least through my Mesas and my SVT.

I proudly play Epiphones. But at the end of the day I prefer my Gibsons. I could part with the Epis and be fine. But I won’t.
 
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#300,815
Nocturnal said:
I don't know if you have Ace Hardware in your area, but they sell small screws, washers, etc and might have just what you need.
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Ace is the place! I love the Ace in Frazier Park. An old fashioned hardware store with employees who actually know what they’re talking about. They did a wonderful job repairing some of the screens for the mountain place.
 
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#300,818
JIO said:
Just got back from a stellar concert - 10CC... their last show of a 18 day US tour - their first (in the US) since 1978! Bond Girl's drummer Phil treated me - he saw them on that last tour in '78 here! I knew very little about the UK band - they had a couple of hits on the radio then, which of course they played. But I was blown away by their talent as musicians, singers, and performers - totally off-the-charts. Chucky - on stage bass rig was Ashdown... one very similar to yours and an 18" speaker cab. A baby blue Jazz bass (w/matching hs) and a black Ric were played, and both sounded great. (of course they did) A 5 piece (lead guitar, bass, rhythm guitar, keys, drums) Original/long standing members were the bass-player, lead player and drummer. The keyboardist also played guitar & bass, and the rhythm guitarist also played mandolin, percussion, bass, and they all sang except the drummer.
One of their biggest hits -

And one they played tonight that was very fun!
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great time! One of the ones I missed seeing back in the day. Cool vid Geo.
 
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#300,819
JJR58 said:
You’re Geddy Lee.
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That's funny - I played a TSC gig at Winters' last year when my hair was longer and a guy came up afterwards and said I looked like GL. I said, yah? I wish I could play like him too! :laugh:
 
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#300,820
Engle said:
Speaking of cars, I put a new Empi carb in my Ghia and it came with a stuck-closed float valve… good thing I had a spare valve. Nothing like troubleshooting new parts!
View attachment 7008227It’s sorted now - idles nicely and can even produce a tire chirp on launch.
Click to expand...
That's a sweet ride!
 
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