Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

Which brings me to wanting to swap out the Ultra J’s

Not for EMG’s, just something without the low mid bump.
I sure do like Fenders Pure Vintage ‘66’s.
But that aren’t hum cancelling.
I’m tempted though.

And as you know, I had one that was similar to that. I might buy another one if it popped up, but probably not. Mine looked like this one only black and really ratty. I never figured out what all the switches did.

Yes, a most excellent ss bass, the late '60s Coral Wasp.

I based my med-scale Calabrone on it. I'd be interested in what the switches on it do.

I have a 4-slider switch cluster (ala early '60s Fender VI) on my Bass IV which has 3 pu's and only has two knobs; V&T. The switches on it are 1-top: N-pu / 2-middle pu / 3-B pu / and 4- wired direct-to-jack, bypassing V&T. A very useful set-up as all switched off is like a 'kill switch'. The direct to-jack-switch acts as a boost and boosts whichever pu combination chosen at the flick of a switch. Shown: middle & B pu's on.

 

[MCF]

Anyone here ever see or play a Burny Thunderbird? I saw one for sale and it looked to be in great shape.

Per this old vid, which I’ve watched a few times when I’ve considered getting one, early ones were Fujigen from Japan. Later ones were from Korea. The through body stringing is different. I’ve never played one. But I would guess the Japanese ones were pretty well made.



If you get it, ask @Engle to make you a Tbird pickguard logo. And let us know what you think.

 

[Engle]

Per this old vid, which I’ve watched a few times when I’ve considered getting one, early ones were Fujigen from Japan. Later ones were from Korea. The through body stringing is different. I’ve never played one. But I would guess the Japanese ones were pretty well made.



If you get it, ask @Engle to make you a Tbird pickguard logo. And let us know what you think.

Through body stringing works well with a 3 point. The wings look a little thick.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Done doing this!!

 

[Kindness]

This one left Portland today via FedEx to find me in Chicago this coming Thursday. 1990 US Gibson Thunderbird. It was refinished by The 12th Fret in nitro vintage Gibson cherry lacquer in July 2009. The 12th Fret also installed Mike Lull Thunderbird pickups with nickel covers and pickup rings, nickel Hipshot Kluson-style tuners, and a nickel vintage three-point bridge from Allparts.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Me "looking" for anything is more a matter of just noticing if it ever turns up. At this point, it just means I won't automatically dismiss an ad if it says Bach. I'm a minority around here, but I just flat don't like the NR shape much. It's not the only heresy.

I’m on record as not caring much about NRs but Chucky and Mike each have an NR I love. If I were to buy an NR it would likely be a low priced Bach.

 

[MCF]

This one left Portland today via FedEx to find me in Chicago this coming Thursday. 1990 US Gibson Thunderbird. It was refinished by The 12th Fret in nitro vintage Gibson cherry lacquer in July 2009. The 12th Fret also installed Mike Lull Thunderbird pickups with nickel covers and pickup rings, nickel Hipshot Kluson-style tuners, and a nickel vintage three-point bridge from Allparts.

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Congratulations! That is beautiful. With a set of Lulls. It doesn’t get any better than that. Enjoy!

 

[MCF]

I’m on record as not caring much about NRs but Chucky and Mike each have an NR I love. If I were to buy an NR it would likely be a low priced Bach.

I was that way until I got the ‘13. Mainly because it’s blue. After time I got used to the shape and the look. Now I have two Gibsons and two BaCHs. And I am very happy with them.

 

[dagrev]

This one left Portland today via FedEx to find me in Chicago this coming Thursday. 1990 US Gibson Thunderbird. It was refinished by The 12th Fret in nitro vintage Gibson cherry lacquer in July 2009. The 12th Fret also installed Mike Lull Thunderbird pickups with nickel covers and pickup rings, nickel Hipshot Kluson-style tuners, and a nickel vintage three-point bridge from Allparts.

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Very nice! Should sound great.

 

[Thumper]

I’m on record as not caring much about NRs but Chucky and Mike each have an NR I love. If I were to buy an NR it would likely be a low priced Bach.

I've been biting my lip on this for quite a while, but didn't want to offend my NR loving brothers and sisters, but I actually despise the looks of the NR, I think they're FUGLY. Not the first time I've been on the wrong side of an issue, and I realize my opinion means nothing. Glad to get it off of my chest though.....

 

[MCF]

I've been biting my lip on this for quite a while, but didn't want to offend my NR loving brothers and sisters, but I actually despise the looks of the NR, I think they're FUGLY. Not the first time I've been on the wrong side of an issue, and I realize my opinion means nothing. Glad to get it off of my chest though.....

That’s ok Thump. I love mine now. But it took some time for me to warm up to the aesthetic.

 

[Nocturnal]

I've been biting my lip on this for quite a while, but didn't want to offend my NR loving brothers and sisters, but I actually despise the looks of the NR, I think they're FUGLY. Not the first time I've been on the wrong side of an issue, and I realize my opinion means nothing. Glad to get it off of my chest though.....

I used to hate the look of the NRs, but slowly came around. Now I like it and find them comfortable to play, but the Reverse Bird is my true love and I will take it any day over an NR. I now understand why people like NRs and I love the sound, but if I could only own one bass the NR wouldn't make the cut.

 

[JIO]

This one left Portland today via FedEx to find me in Chicago this coming Thursday. 1990 US Gibson Thunderbird. It was refinished by The 12th Fret in nitro vintage Gibson cherry lacquer in July 2009. The 12th Fret also installed Mike Lull Thunderbird pickups with nickel covers and pickup rings, nickel Hipshot Kluson-style tuners, and a nickel vintage three-point bridge from Allparts.

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Really nice re-fin

 

[JIO]

I've been biting my lip on this for quite a while, but didn't want to offend my NR loving brothers and sisters, but I actually despise the looks of the NR, I think they're FUGLY. Not the first time I've been on the wrong side of an issue, and I realize my opinion means nothing. Glad to get it off of my chest though.....

I like both designs but gravitate to the '63-'65 variety for obvious reasons. I feel they are two different basses with similarities, instead of seeing them as the original morphing into the 2nd generation. I understand needing a way to refer to them (reverse/non-reverse) but I've never bought into that designation because if anything the '66-'68 second generation is reversed from the original design '63-'65 first generation, so the only thing reversed is how they are referred to. I know why it ended up being called 'reversed' - but even that is bogus because it looks nothing like a Fender bass.

 

[Engle]

I've been biting my lip on this for quite a while, but didn't want to offend my NR loving brothers and sisters, but I actually despise the looks of the NR, I think they're FUGLY. Not the first time I've been on the wrong side of an issue, and I realize my opinion means nothing. Glad to get it off of my chest though.....

You like what you like (or not) and that's ok!
My tastes change over the years. I used to think the RD shape was an abomination, but now I like it.
And the Casady with it assymetric horns looked strange to me at first. Now I have two of them.

 

[GBassNorth]

I've been biting my lip on this for quite a while, but didn't want to offend my NR loving brothers and sisters, but I actually despise the looks of the NR, I think they're FUGLY. Not the first time I've been on the wrong side of an issue, and I realize my opinion means nothing. Glad to get it off of my chest though.....

Makes perfect sense to me. It’s always interesting to see what visual impact each bass has on different people.
For instance, I love the look of my Dingwall DBird…

But absolutely detest the look of the newer and arguably better DRoc…

 

[TBird1958]

This one left Portland today via FedEx to find me in Chicago this coming Thursday. 1990 US Gibson Thunderbird. It was refinished by The 12th Fret in nitro vintage Gibson cherry lacquer in July 2009. The 12th Fret also installed Mike Lull Thunderbird pickups with nickel covers and pickup rings, nickel Hipshot Kluson-style tuners, and a nickel vintage three-point bridge from Allparts.

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Fantastic bass, great score!
Let me know if you'd like a club number

I have a Bird with all the same parts as well, though I did manage to get a chrome Gibson 3 point rather than an All Parts, it's a fantastic Thunderbird, Lull pickups are very good.

 

[TBird1958]

Makes perfect sense to me. It’s always interesting to see what visual impact each bass has on different people.
For instance, I love the look of my Dingwall DBird…
View attachment 7029765

But absolutely detest the look of the newer and arguably better DRoc…
View attachment 7029775

Yeah, there's something about the shape of a Reverse - It's my fave and I don't like most of what's out there that somehow messes with the original shape, I even struggle a little with VP's because they're slightly misshapen.
NR's on the other hand, I have come to really like, it's not the same bass as a Reverse, has it's on vibe and I like it!

So I say, why not both!

 

[Kindness]

Fantastic bass, great score!
Let me know if you'd like a club number

I have a Bird with all the same parts as well, though I did manage to get a chrome Gibson 3 point rather than an All Parts, it's a fantastic Thunderbird, Lull pickups are very good.

I'll take my number!

In my eyes, 'm just the caretaker of this bass. It belongs to a friend. He bought it from Action Music of Arlington, VA, in 1998. They shipped it to him in Tuzla, Bosnia, where we had a NATO peacekeeping gig. It was his main gigging bass for many years before it was refinished and had the parts swapped.

He passed several years back and his widow recently decided she was ready to rehome his gear. I'll keep this one loved and played and as a memory of a friend and a reminder of the value of the limited time we have with each other.

 

[JIO]

??? ummm...

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