Thunderbird Club

[Count Bassie]

Embarrassingly, it's FIVE now!
I never used flats in the past, but about a year ago, right around the time I was playing with the country western group, I sat in with The Supersuckers for a song when they were in Austin. Their bassist when they do their country/acoustic set (their singer/bassist, Eddie Spaghetti, plays a Hummingbiord for those gigs) has a sweet old Precision with flats on it. It was such an eye-opening moment for me. When I got back to NY, I bought two sets and loved 'em.

Supersuckers! Great band, good story.

 

[Korladis]

Embarrassingly, it's FIVE now!
I never used flats in the past, but about a year ago, right around the time I was playing with the country western group, I sat in with The Supersuckers for a song when they were in Austin. Their bassist when they do their country/acoustic set (their singer/bassist, Eddie Spaghetti, plays a Hummingbiord for those gigs) has a sweet old Precision with flats on it. It was such an eye-opening moment for me. When I got back to NY, I bought two sets and loved 'em.

Tried flats on any of your Birds? I bet they'd have a good sound for country/western/acoustic.

 

[KingFace]

Supersuckers! Great band, good story.

Such a great band! And excellent dudes all around

 

[KingFace]

Tried flats on any of your Birds? I bet they'd have a good sound for country/western/acoustic.

You read my mind, my man!

 

[Count Bassie]

Not to be ponderous in light of that beautiful bevy of bodacious birds there above... Just thought I'd drop this in, so I can say "it happened" with full assurance:

 

[wolfkeller]

I am not averse to admitting how ridiculous this is getting.

That said, they're pretty frickin' cool-looking....View attachment 1128603View attachment 1128604

Beyond awsome there! Question, are those original, stock knobs? I've seen them with both reflector and speed style knobs. We're there different factory knobs?

I am not averse to admitting how ridiculous this is getting.

That said, they're pretty frickin' cool-looking....View attachment 1128603View attachment 1128604

 

[PillO]

Tried flats on any of your Birds? I bet they'd have a good sound for country/western/acoustic.

When I picked up my white `bird, it had Roto 77s on it. It was different and interesting, but not what I wanted so off they came and on went the NYXLs. Still liking the chromes on the Midtown though.

 

[KingFace]

Beyond awsome there! Question, are those original, stock knobs? I've seen them with both reflector and speed style knobs. We're there different factory knobs?

That's a great question. I've seen pictures with both gold reflector, or black with silver reflector knobs, and gold or black barrel knobs. The weirder thing...and if someone has a copy of one, I'd love to see it...that the Gibson catalogues of that period didn't even have much mention at all of the '76-'79 Thunderbirds.

Found this old thread from the site here, with this quote from Fly Guitars:
"I personally feel the Bicenntenial birds are in this category because they were supposed to be a limited run. They missed the 1975 bass catalogue (which was reprinted in '76 with an extra page for the Gibson G3). The 1978 Gibson catalogue has no mention - presumably the run was considered over, or finishing by then."

Questions about the 1976 Bicentennial Gibson promo campaign for Fbirds and Tbirds

 

[PillO]

That's a great question. I've seen pictures with both gold reflector, or black with silver reflector knobs, and gold or black barrel knobs. The weirder thing...and if someone has a copy of one, I'd love to see it...that the Gibson catalogues of that period didn't even have much mention at all of the '76-'79 Thunderbirds.

Found this old thread from the site here, with this quote from Fly Guitars:
"I personally feel the Bicenntenial birds are in this category because they were supposed to be a limited run. They missed the 1975 bass catalogue (which was reprinted in '76 with an extra page for the Gibson G3). The 1978 Gibson catalogue has no mention - presumably the run was considered over, or finishing by then."

Questions about the 1976 Bicentennial Gibson promo campaign for Fbirds and Tbirds

All the knobs should be replaced by these. Because they go up to 11.
0-11 Knobs | Allparts.com

 

[Korladis]

How different are the pickups in the 76 T-birds from the 60s ones?

 

[rodv66]

It ain't all it's cracked up to be. Very expensive to live here. Both income taxes and sales taxes are ridiculously high. There is lots of crime in our major cities. But there are places where it is breathtakingly beautiful. And we are the home of Fender, GK, Mesa, G&L, Rickenbacker, Carvin/Kiesel, Musicman, Ernie Ball, and of course, Bassstringsonline. I was born and raised here, so I'm not going anywhere. But if I had a choice, I'd be living in Edinburgh, Scotland or Sydney, Australia. Just sayin'.

I would live in Finland or Sweden. Nice cold climate, long dark nights, and almost atheistic society.

 

[PillO]

I would live in Finland or Sweden. Nice cold climate, long dark nights, and almost atheistic society.

Except in summer. I was in Stockholm July a couple of years ago. It didn't get dark until about 23:30. For those doing the math, that meant sun-up was about 00:30. Around Xmas, you need to go out at lunch or you won't see the sun. But it is a really cool place. I found a death metal shop amoungst the tourist attractions in the old city. And there is an Abba museum.

 

[Nocturnal]

I am not averse to admitting how ridiculous this is getting.

That said, they're pretty frickin' cool-looking....View attachment 1128603View attachment 1128604

By "ridiculous" you mean ridiculously awesome, right??

 

[JIO]

How different are the pickups in the 76 T-birds from the 60s ones?

Those 70's T-bird pu's are sidewinders, so physically different 'under the hood'. Sound wise? ... must be an A/B test somewhere on the web.

 

[JIO]

When I picked up my white `bird, it had Roto 77s on it. It was different and interesting, but not what I wanted so off they came and on went the NYXLs. Still liking the chromes on the Midtown though.

I like these strings

 

[kat888]

I would live in Finland or Sweden. Nice cold climate, long dark nights, and almost atheistic society.

Cold is nice for a visit (anything under 20C is cold btw), tropical is for living.

 

[jamersonburton]

Does anyone have links to the history of the thunderbird bass? I've always been a fender guy so I want to learn as much as possible about Tbirds. Also trying to figure out what parts the epiphone classic pro come from. I think I read somewhere that the body is based on gibson tbirds from 1988 or something but what does that mean relative to the original design?

 

[Korladis]

Cold is nice for a visit (anything under 20C is cold btw), tropical is for living.

Anything over 20C is hot.

I hate heat. I can do something about cold; I can put on more layers. But if I'm in a t-shirt and shorts, and I'm still sweating just sitting still, I'm SOL.

 

[BurnOut]

Another "Member" posted this Saturday night.
Link Removed
I ordered the gigbag immediately, $26 with delivery. Just got it this morning, nice heavy well padded bag, very happy.
Now I can take out my shiny new Bird with confidence. Gonna get a proper hard case, but I'm safe to leave the house with it till then. Can also use it for my Big Hair Dean Hollywood Z in zebra too. Cause it's also a huge be needin a odd case big ole bass. (see for yerself)

 

[Son of Wobble]

View attachment 1128759

Rad!