Thunderbird Club

[Stealth57]

Just for the record, I was doing some general maintenance on a number of my birds today (oiling fretboards, wiping down hardware, cleaning bodies, tuning and adjusting setups as needed) and ended up playing eleven birds back to back with a Kenny Wayne Shepherd Blue on Black recording. Some interesting observations - namely that price has a lot less to do with how nice a bass sounds than most people would think, string selections can make or break a great bass, and feel is every bit as important as sound.

First place
Lull Petersson bass is an absolute monster - low mids to die for, super light weight, fast neck. Definitely in the top tier I played today.
North ThunderCaster - my god, this thing will tear buildings down. Right there with the Lull on sound, body is heavy though.
Purple Sparkle ‘64 Eppi - right out of the box this thing has a massive bang for the buck, sounds every bit as good as the Lull as well.
Capped Goth - just as good as the three above but with a $300 all in price

Second place
North ‘66 Tribute NR - equipped with first run 760ProBuckers, sounds great but not the girth or depth of the ‘64 Eppi
Eppi VP first run - sweet but not as sweet as the Purple sparkle in sound
Gibson 21 NR Reissue - a wonderful player, love the neck profile on this thing, creamy lows, solid all around bass

Third place (and still damn good basses)
FrankenGoth - the Aggie preamp and BART humbuckers really shine, lots of tonal options
Pink Sparkle Acasia - similar to the bass above, the East preamp and Nordstrand combo is a tone monster, but a bit more sterile
White BaCH - dual ChinaBuckers sound great, punch and grind, heavy bass, nice neck
Blue BaCH - dual Artec pickups sound nearly as good, lighter weight bass, super thin fast neck

Our band does Blue on Black and love the sound of the Dark Stars on the JC. I really need to figure out a way to use two basses. JC for the blues and the Willbird for rock.

 

[Stealth57]

I’ll take thick sliced brioche French Toast with a pat of butter, hot pure maple syrup and a sprinkle of powdered sugar, some fried eggs and a couple hot sausage patties for the win.

Just make a Montecristo for the win.

 

[GBassNorth]

Just make a Montecristo for the win.

I’ve never actually had one of those. They do sound yummy though.

 

[GBassNorth]

I need to get down there.

Open door for you my man! Come on down, I have a bass with your name all over it.

 

[MCF]

Just for the record, I was doing some general maintenance on a number of my birds today (oiling fretboards, wiping down hardware, cleaning bodies, tuning and adjusting setups as needed) and ended up playing eleven birds back to back with a Kenny Wayne Shepherd Blue on Black recording. Some interesting observations - namely that price has a lot less to do with how nice a bass sounds than most people would think, string selections can make or break a great bass, and feel is every bit as important as sound.

First place
Lull Petersson bass is an absolute monster - low mids to die for, super light weight, fast neck. Definitely in the top tier I played today.
North ThunderCaster - my god, this thing will tear buildings down. Right there with the Lull on sound, body is heavy though.
Purple Sparkle ‘64 Eppi - right out of the box this thing has a massive bang for the buck, sounds every bit as good as the Lull as well.
Capped Goth - just as good as the three above but with a $300 all in price

Second place
North ‘66 Tribute NR - equipped with first run 760ProBuckers, sounds great but not the girth or depth of the ‘64 Eppi
Eppi VP first run - sweet but not as sweet as the Purple sparkle in sound
Gibson 21 NR Reissue - a wonderful player, love the neck profile on this thing, creamy lows, solid all around bass

Third place (and still damn good basses)
FrankenGoth - the Aggie preamp and BART humbuckers really shine, lots of tonal options
Pink Sparkle Acasia - similar to the bass above, the East preamp and Nordstrand combo is a tone monster, but a bit more sterile
White BaCH - dual ChinaBuckers sound great, punch and grind, heavy bass, nice neck
Blue BaCH - dual Artec pickups sound nearly as good, lighter weight bass, super thin fast neck

Huh. You have the blue BaCH at the bottom. I’ll take it off your hands in a heartbeat.

 

[MCF]

Our band does Blue on Black and love the sound of the Dark Stars on the JC. I really need to figure out a way to use two basses. JC for the blues and the Willbird for rock.

Two channel Mesa TT800.

 

[GBassNorth]

Huh. You have the blue BaCH at the bottom. I’ll take it off your hands in a heartbeat.

Don’t confuse being at the bottom of the list with being a bad bass. It’s just less stellar than most of the ones above it. Besides, I have a set of Gibby pups to install in it that may bump it up in the listing. The real surprise for me was the purple sparkle ‘64. It’s a beast!

 

[Nocturnal]

I’ll take thick sliced brioche French Toast with a pat of butter, hot pure maple syrup and a sprinkle of powdered sugar, some fried eggs and a couple hot sausage patties for the win.

This is one of my go-to breakfasts, but sometimes I will do poached eggs or scrambled just to change things up. No (or very light) powdered sugar for me tho.

 

[Stealth57]

Two channel Mesa TT800.

More concerned about toting more gear.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

@JIO kinda bass....

 

[TBird1958]

@JIO kinda bass....

Jeez, I didn't even think about us visiting KEXP during the GTG - Maybe next time!

 

[Thumper]

As per the thread of a few days ago, I got a Proline TB-20 gigbag from Music Warehouse, taxed and delivered for $80.38, and it does fit my VPs. It has decent padding for my use (transport to band practice and gigs in my vehicles). I would use my hard case in a van or trailer, though.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Just for the record, I was doing some general maintenance on a number of my birds today (oiling fretboards, wiping down hardware, cleaning bodies, tuning and adjusting setups as needed) and ended up playing eleven birds back to back with a Kenny Wayne Shepherd Blue on Black recording. Some interesting observations - namely that price has a lot less to do with how nice a bass sounds than most people would think, string selections can make or break a great bass, and feel is every bit as important as sound.

First place
Lull Petersson bass is an absolute monster - low mids to die for, super light weight, fast neck. Definitely in the top tier I played today.
North ThunderCaster - my god, this thing will tear buildings down. Right there with the Lull on sound, body is heavy though.
Purple Sparkle ‘64 Eppi - right out of the box this thing has a massive bang for the buck, sounds every bit as good as the Lull as well.
Capped Goth - just as good as the three above but with a $300 all in price

Second place
North ‘66 Tribute NR - equipped with first run 760ProBuckers, sounds great but not the girth or depth of the ‘64 Eppi
Eppi VP first run - sweet but not as sweet as the Purple sparkle in sound
Gibson 21 NR Reissue - a wonderful player, love the neck profile on this thing, creamy lows, solid all around bass

Third place (and still damn good basses)
FrankenGoth - the Aggie preamp and BART humbuckers really shine, lots of tonal options
Pink Sparkle Acasia - similar to the bass above, the East preamp and Nordstrand combo is a tone monster, but a bit more sterile
White BaCH - dual ChinaBuckers sound great, punch and grind, heavy bass, nice neck
Blue BaCH - dual Artec pickups sound nearly as good, lighter weight bass, super thin fast neck

How do you rate the VP vs Purple sparkle on feel and playability?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Our band does Blue on Black and love the sound of the Dark Stars on the JC. I really need to figure out a way to use two basses. JC for the blues and the Willbird for rock.

Changing basses doesn’t take long, especially if each has a strap and plugs into a 2:1 switch. But I’ve done it without those and it still doesn’t have to take long.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Jeez, I didn't even think about us visiting KEXP during the GTG - Maybe next time!

I didn’t know that’s where it was!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

@JIO kinda bass....

Very cool band! Dig those basses, but this one’s kinda buried. I like the sound of the overdriven Ric against the Tele!

 

[RedVee]

Bacon and eggs, poached recently but fried previously, on toasted sourdough and a fried tomato (2x 1/2 tomato please!) is my winner. With a cappuccino or flat white coffee. I’ll have already had my green tea “constitutional”.

But I did get to like a “Continental Breakfast” like I was overseas. Especially in France, the pastries really are better. I love a croissant for breakfast.
(And a ham baguette for lunch, with a choccy eclair).

 

[D.M.N.]

The only ketchup we use. No other brand comes close.

Heinz or get out. What, like I’d be caught dead with Hunt’s?!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Bacon and eggs, poached recently but fried previously, on toasted sourdough and a fried tomato (2x 1/2 tomato please!) is my winner. With a cappuccino or flat white coffee. I’ll have already had my green tea “constitutional”.

But I did get to like a “Continental Breakfast” like I was overseas. Especially in France, the pastries really are better. I love a croissant for breakfast.
(And a ham baguette for lunch, with a choccy eclair).

For breakfast, lunch, or supper on the go - in Paris - nothing beats a sidewalk crepe vendor. Un jambon et fromage, un chocolat.

 

[RedVee]

For breakfast, lunch, or supper on the go - in Paris - nothing beats a sidewalk crepe vendor. Un jambon et fromage, un chocolat.

I had crapes in Paris and in Brittany. I even tried a galette (a Breton savoury buckwheat crepe).