Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

I just saw where @Blazer and his band, along with other bands, lost a bunch of equipment when a venue burned down. He’s in the Netherlands, so most of us can’t easily loan him anything. Because of abuse, TB won’t allow gofundme posts (or so I hear). How can we support our brother?

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/my-band-just-lost-all-our-gear-in-a-fire-total-disaster.1664974/

 

[Nocturnal]

If you find an '01, buy it. I am coming to the conclusion that the pixie dust really is in the pickups. So now I can refinish it to some outrageous color and demolish any resale value it might have. Without wrecking its magic.

I agree with the 2001 Birds being magical. That's the bass I am least likely to sell if I ever liquidate the collection. The feel, resonance, and sound are just perfect to me.

 

[Bent77]

Buddy Guy, a composer, and Ghengis Khan. The perfect trio, but once again, greedy leeches destroy a beautiful thing.

“I think that the whole band was kind of misunderstood by everybody, and it gave us a sort of an edge, you know": The story of Cream's Disraeli Gears

Best of 2024: How Baker, Bruce and Clapton transcended their (and their management's) very different ambitions for Cream to track a '60s masterpiece

www.musicradar.com

One of the best things I ever did was type “cream bootlegs” into you tube

Their released live material is great. But some of their unreleased live shows have that mind numbing feel and timing that’s unreal.
Tempos pushed and pulled way beyond the studio versions, improv, and creativity galore

 

[MCF]

I agree with the 2001 Birds being magical. That's the bass I am least likely to sell if I ever liquidate the collection. The feel, resonance, and sound are just perfect to me.

@Thumper. This is the one I came across the other day. Classic “modern” ‘01. If I didn’t have other more pressing wants, I’d be giving this one a good look. Right at 8 pounds.

 

[Ringhammer]

Are T-Birds heavy? Neck heavy they may occasionally be but I've never really thought them as weighty basses whatever the version was. My '76 was pretty light and the custom made non-reverse I have is very light. The Epiphone VP doesn't seem particularly heavy either.
Just wondering because of the thread on the page...

All of my ‘birds (6 Gibsons from ‘95-‘03, 1 Short Scale Gibson and a 2017 Epi) are on the lighter side of all the basses I own. Neck dive is mitigated by putting a strap pin on the lower edge somewhat at an equal distance from the center strap pin as the jack is, on the opposite side. As a lifelong ‘70’s Fender guy, my ‘birds are now my favorite.

Yes I was just there reading how heavy and muddy they are. Neck diving and for one bloke irredeemable due to have Gibson written on it.

I did like the TB+ pickups that came in all of the ‘birds I own, but none of those pickups are in any of them now, I much prefer the tone I get from the various different vintage style pickups I have replaced them with (Lollar, Novak, Gibson RI, Gemini and Thunderbucker 66’s). And I prefer the look with the nickel or chrome covers and rings.

Any suggestions on upgrading tuners on my 2018 IV? The bass sounds good with black nylons but the tuners are very sloppy. Since it’s a base model, I don’t want to spend a lot. Thoughts?

I’ll guess you are referring to a 2018 Epi? I used Hipshot nickel HB-1’s (I think). I did have to fill I think just 2 of the original holes (could have been all 4) with the smallest dowel I could find, probably 1/8” because they didn’t line up exactly. But the old holes do not show and the tuners are a smidge light and just feel better. Unfortunately I wouldn’t say they were cheap, but for me it was worth it.

 

[godofthunder59]

So I've been waiting for a Cherry NR to come in at the HOG now it's been pushed out till June so I said screw it I'm buying myself a '68 Gibson EB0 that came in at the House of Guitars over the summer. I have quite a few EBs in the collection and I am happy to add another . It plays great and sounds massive as you'd expect, definitely feeling the Mountain vibe.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you lot.

 

[Bent77]

It looks excellent in this thread too!

 

[MCF]

Sad news. The passing of an institution. If I had the dough, I’d buy it for his Mosrite collection.

Front Porch Music has closed after 46 years, owner says it's for sale

It was never the perfectly polished corporate music store, where everything shined bright. Indeed, it was never intended to be that kind of music store. Front Porch Music in downtown Bakersfield was, for more than four decades, the place local and touring musicians alike went to put their finger...

www.yahoo.com

 

[Thumper]

@Thumper. This is the one I came across the other day. Classic “modern” ‘01. If I didn’t have other more pressing wants, I’d be giving this one a good look. Right at 8 pounds.

Did you send a link? If so, I missed it...

 

[MCF]

Did you send a link? If so, I missed it...

Sorry. It didn’t paste. Here it is:
https://reverb.com/item/83458925-gibson-thunderbird-2001-sunburst

It comes up at $1795 when viewing through my Reverb app.

 

[Engle]

Of course they are. And they dive like the Titanic. And you can only play metal with them except when you can't. And they sound like mush bucket one trick ponies. Plus the detachable, exploding headstock.

Did I miss anything? Gotta keep the legends alive.

Right? I was going to chime in with some Mythbusting, but amplifying the misinformation is the smarter move.

 

[Engle]

So I've been waiting for a Cherry NR to come in at the HOG now it's been pushed out till June so I said screw it I'm buying myself a '68 Gibson EB0 that came in at the House of Guitars over the summer. I have quite a few EBs in the collection and I am happy to add another . It plays great and sounds massive as you'd expect, definitely feeling the Mountain vibe.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you lot.

Sweet! I have a 68 that I bought as a teenager.

 

[Stealth57]

Sweet! I have a 68 that I bought as a teenager.

The bass or you?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

So I've been waiting for a Cherry NR to come in at the HOG now it's been pushed out till June so I said screw it I'm buying myself a '68 Gibson EB0 that came in at the House of Guitars over the summer. I have quite a few EBs in the collection and I am happy to add another . It plays great and sounds massive as you'd expect, definitely feeling the Mountain vibe.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you lot.

Merry Christmas, happy new year, and congratufreakinglations, Felix! I mean, Scott!

 

[TBird1958]

So I've been waiting for a Cherry NR to come in at the HOG now it's been pushed out till June so I said screw it I'm buying myself a '68 Gibson EB0 that came in at the House of Guitars over the summer. I have quite a few EBs in the collection and I am happy to add another . It plays great and sounds massive as you'd expect, definitely feeling the Mountain vibe.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you lot.

Congratulations, Scott!

I find myself reaching for my EB-3 quite a bit lately, the mudbucker is fun, really rattles the house! The big surprise is the mini bucker at the bridge, dial the amp a little and WoW!

 

[dagrev]

Are T-Birds heavy? Neck heavy they may occasionally be but I've never really thought them as weighty basses whatever the version was. My '76 was pretty light and the custom made non-reverse I have is very light. The Epiphone VP doesn't seem particularly heavy either.
Just wondering because of the thread on the page...

My '64 and '06 are light, the '76 is a boat anchor (others are in the middle). I don't notice being a problem, but I don't use it for 45+ minutes sets, nor would I as I would definitely notice. Well not if getting $5k a show before several thousands. Not at first anyway!

 

[dagrev]

nice basses, Ned Steinberger patented a bunch of stuff on those including a fold out to accommodate playing while sitting......a joy to transport, great sounding, unfortunately (for me) they feel sterile (clinical?) like one can't really sink their teeth...

That's right, there was some king of bracket you could use (attach?). I forgot about that. They are cool, but would take some getting used to in terms of playing.

 

[dagrev]

My ‘21 in Faded Pelham Blue has no problems. I don’t recall any widespread finish issues…

My Burgundy has a couple rough spots on the bottom and end edges. Not really visible, but you can feel it. Other than that, seems nearly perfect.

 

[dagrev]

Any suggestions on upgrading tuners on my 2018 IV? The bass sounds good with black nylons but the tuners are very sloppy. Since it’s a base model, I don’t want to spend a lot. Thoughts?

I can live with a little slop as long as it's not a pain to get tuned and/or won't stay in tune. I'm used to some old basses not always having perfect tuners as can be found today.

 

[dagrev]

Congratulations, Scott!

I find myself reaching for my EB-3 quite a bit lately, the mudbucker is fun, really rattles the house! The big surprise is the mini bucker at the bridge, dial the amp a little and WoW!

No...they sound awful and I don't need one....