Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

Does anyone have a 70s or 80s Greco that also has a 90s Greco and can compare them? Different, the same, (tonewise)?

Hey Thump,
I have a 1977 single pickup Greco Bird and a 1990 two pickup Greco Bird. They both sound fantastic, among the best of my many birds. Build quality and ergonomics are about the same on both. And although the pickups have different manufacturers they sound virtually identical to my ears when soloed. There’s absolutely no way I could spot the difference in the two basses in a mix.

 

[GBassNorth]

Yep!.....
View attachment 7092388View attachment 7092399

Awesome pics! Looks like one of Bruce Canepa’s cars

 

[TBird1958]

Still Wednesday.....

 

[dagrev]

when you're old.... people look up to you.....
well.....not all..

View attachment 7092346

We look up to you, even considering differential aging.

 

[JIO]

Cool stuff, JIO! Dig it!

Thanks! It seem's like a lifetime ago. (2007)

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I have a drawer full of bits and pieces. It was wired like a stack knob before. I just need to find the last pot and the cap. Alumitones are odd animals.

OK. But if you need something, let me know. I have a lot of parts from amp-building days I'm going to re-home. I'm happy to pass along onesy-twosies if people need them.

 

[JIO]

Epiphone Thunderbird '64 Classic Bass In Purple Sparkle | eBay

<p>Epiphone Thunderbird ‘64 classic bass in a very striking purple sparkle finish! This bass had the headstock broken off and a couple of body dings which are noted in the photos… the headstock was properly routed and spliced with 3 strips of hard maple and is a 100% solid repair and is stronger...

www.ebay.com

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Hey Thump,
I have a 1977 single pickup Greco Bird and a 1990 two pickup Greco Bird. They both sound fantastic, among the best of my many birds. Build quality and ergonomics are about the same on both. And although the pickups have different manufacturers they sound virtually identical to my ears when soloed. There’s absolutely no way I could spot the difference in the two basses in a mix.

I've seen other references to this; I'm including the first link I saw today when I searched. Short story: in 1981 FujiGen (Greco parent company) bought the Maxon pickup division. So when they brought pickup building in-house, it was pretty much a forklift[1] move and the pickups should theoretically be identical.

Greco Pickups made by Maxon (Nisshin Onpa) - Vintage Japan Guitars

Last Updated : December 30, 2023 Greco guitars typically feature Gotoh tailpieces, bridges, and tuners. As for pickups, Greco initially used Maxon pickups for their instruments in the ’70s and early ’80s, such as the UD, U-1000, and U-2000 models. The acclaimed Dry Z pickup, closely resembling...

vintagejapanguitars.com

[1] If they used pickups to move things, it would have been a pickup pickup pickup division move.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Epiphone Thunderbird '64 Classic Bass In Purple Sparkle | eBay

<p>Epiphone Thunderbird ‘64 classic bass in a very striking purple sparkle finish! This bass had the headstock broken off and a couple of body dings which are noted in the photos… the headstock was properly routed and spliced with 3 strips of hard maple and is a 100% solid repair and is stronger...

www.ebay.com

I'm not looking.
Not looking.
NOT LOOKING!!!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

We look up to you, even considering differential aging.

not worthy!....

 

[JIO]

Anyone here versed on the Electro Harmonic Micro Synth? I'm considering one and am attempting to educate myself on which era/version is best. If you prefer you can PM me.

View attachment 7092235
The '90s version sounds better... neither are 'bass' micro synths but it sounds like he's using a bass and it sounds great -

After doing more researching of synth pedals, I ended up buying a (used once) EH Synth9 for a very nice price. (and way less than a vintage Micro Synth) Many plus's - same footprint as my POG which is on my pedal train*, and 9v compared to 24v. I already own the EH Mel9 (for keys), and Organ9 (me for a couple BG songs). Both are great sounding pedals, and this Synth9 is sure to join the group. Unlike the Micro Synth, it is simpler and more straight-forward dialing a sound and the pre-sets are well selected/placed. TSC is working on a new Paul song that's a departure from our current style and I have a feeling this pedal will help flesh-out that composition in a cool new direction.

With BG I use the POG for one song, but for TSC I don't use it. The Synth9 will switch places with the POG (same footprint) when playing/rehearsing w/TSC and not necessitate adding 'yet another pedal' in my train.

 

[GBassNorth]

Still Wednesday.....

And a wonderful Wednesday it is, just another “Day In The Life”…

 

[Gaolee]

The parts for our own little Nurburgring are en route, scanning ebay for cars.

Must have some 917s

NSR 0417SW Porsche 917k Gulf 1000KM SPA 1970, #25 1/32 Slot Car | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NSR 0417SW Porsche 917k Gulf 1000KM SPA 1970, #25 1/32 Slot Car at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

You might need a Thunderbird.
Vintage 60s Eldon 1/32 Scale Body Ford Thunderbird Slot Car Body Only | eBay

 

[Engle]

The parts for our own little Nurburgring are en route, scanning ebay for cars.

Must have some 917s

NSR 0417SW Porsche 917k Gulf 1000KM SPA 1970, #25 1/32 Slot Car | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NSR 0417SW Porsche 917k Gulf 1000KM SPA 1970, #25 1/32 Slot Car at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

They had a similar (real) car in the lobby of Imperial Oil (Exxon) in Calgary when I visited them last year.

 

[Gaolee]

yeah totally.....1100hp from an all aluminum, 5 liter, quad cam, twin turbo charged, air cooled flat 12.......stuff of dreams (even today)......blood curling sound....

This picture was taken at MidOhio in 1969. I was at that race. The noise was righteous from pretty much everything on the track, and as a 9 year old kid, I was in awe. As I recall, the McLarens walked away with the race. They didn't have wings the next year.

The turbo Porsches didn't show up for a few more years, or maybe they just hadn't dialed in the turbo to get the insane power they had by 1972 or 1973. Aluminum big-block Chevy V8s were the hot setup before then.

 

[Gaolee]

OK. But if you need something, let me know. I have a lot of parts from amp-building days I'm going to re-home. I'm happy to pass along onesy-twosies if people need them.

I'll keep you posted and may take you up on that if I can't find what should be in the parts drawer. It's not unusual for me to make things disappear by putting them in a perfectly logical place at the time.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I'll keep you posted and may take you up on that if I can't find what should be in the parts drawer. It's not unusual for me to make things disappear by putting them in a perfectly logical place at the time.

I know that tune!

 

[Thumper]

I've seen other references to this; I'm including the first link I saw today when I searched. Short story: in 1981 FujiGen (Greco parent company) bought the Maxon pickup division. So when they brought pickup building in-house, it was pretty much a forklift[1] move and the pickups should theoretically be identical.

Greco Pickups made by Maxon (Nisshin Onpa) - Vintage Japan Guitars

Last Updated : December 30, 2023 Greco guitars typically feature Gotoh tailpieces, bridges, and tuners. As for pickups, Greco initially used Maxon pickups for their instruments in the ’70s and early ’80s, such as the UD, U-1000, and U-2000 models. The acclaimed Dry Z pickup, closely resembling...

vintagejapanguitars.com

[1] If they used pickups to move things, it would have been a pickup pickup pickup division move.

Great info. Thx

 

[GBassNorth]

Epiphone Thunderbird '64 Classic Bass In Purple Sparkle | eBay

<p>Epiphone Thunderbird ‘64 classic bass in a very striking purple sparkle finish! This bass had the headstock broken off and a couple of body dings which are noted in the photos… the headstock was properly routed and spliced with 3 strips of hard maple and is a 100% solid repair and is stronger...

www.ebay.com

That isn’t a bad deal at or near that price IF you can refinish it yourself (the painted fixed area isn’t done in metal flake and the color isn’t a great match, would drive my OCD nutz). But if you have to send it out for painting you’re looking at somewhere between $700 and $1000 for that work including the shipping. Considering the current $300 bid price you could probably get a brand new one for the same price or less and it won’t be damaged goods. Just my .02 cents.

 

[JIO]

That isn’t a bad deal at or near that price IF you can refinish it yourself (the painted fixed area isn’t done in metal flake and the color isn’t a great match, would drive my OCD nutz). But if you have to send it out for painting you’re looking at somewhere between $700 and $1000 for that work including the shipping. Considering the current $300 bid price you could probably get a brand new one for the same price or less and it won’t be damaged goods. Just my .02 cents.

Yah, all true - just threw it out there for what it was.