Thunderbird Club

[Engle]

This version is a ukulele.

Cool. I have seen those around, but not in black.

 

[Gaolee]

You catch on quick.

The Force is strong with this one.

Well, of course. A 'Bird chose him. They know.

 

[Gaolee]

Not sure but I think proper uke tuning is G, C, E, and A. It is tuned like a bass at the moment tho. That sparkle gold would have been a real score!!

I have a friend who loves sparkly gold everything. If one of those popped up, it would be hard not to buy it and give it to her. She wouldn't play it, which is a shame, but she would love it anyway.

 

[Gaolee]

One of these years I’ll be retired and get to go. This year looks pretty strong. Friday night looks killer with The 1975, Biffy Clyro, and Alanis headlining. Neil is Saturday. As are Fogerty, Lucy Dacus, Weezer, and Nick Lowe. Sunday has Future Islands , St Vincent, the Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Selector. Just to name a few of who I’d like to see.
View attachment 7168622

“Live music is better. Bumper stickers should be issued.”

That's a wildly divergent bunch of musicians. I'm not seeing anything that ties them all together except that they play and have done pretty well, most of them. Neil Young and Charlie XCX? That's a combination I wouldn't have come up with on my own, for example.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

TBird TDay......

 

[AllieCat]

That's a wildly divergent bunch of musicians. I'm not seeing anything that ties them all together except that they play and have done pretty well, most of them. Neil Young and Charlie XCX? That's a combination I wouldn't have come up with on my own, for example.

Glastonbury is among, if not the biggest music festival out there, so it kind of makes sense. It's like the UK's Coachella, or a Woodstock that doesn't descend into mud flinging chaos.

 

[Thumper]

Here’s a quick clip of the Greco with boomers, 2012 CP with NYXLs and the ‘66 Tribute NR with Fender 7520’s in that order…
View attachment 7168212
After I played back the recording I realized I had the bridge tone knob rolled way back on the ‘66. It would normally be brighter in the recording. The other two basses on board knobs were set at neck vol 7, bridge vol 5 and tone at 5. Played finger style over the top of the neck pickup and recorded direct from bass to iPad going through a SSL12 interface.

Later today I’ll put some labella black tapes on the CP so folks can hear what difference they make.

Dang George, you're not helping (or are you?)That Greco sounds great, I can hear that 3 D thing ravers are talking about. BUT, the CP sounds great with the XLs. AND, the '66 NR Tribute was a favorite in your origional recording.

So we hear alnico Greco PUPs in their sweet spot, ceramic Gibson PUPs in a sweet spot, and alnico Chinabuckers (in a sweet spot?). What the common denominator here appears to be is the sweet spot? They are all wearing nickels. I would gladly rock any of them.

As a result, I'm going to bring my Fenderbird P home from practice tonight to compare to my prized '17 VP (Fenderbird wearing Chinabuckers). Any PUP changes to the Fenderbird depend on that.

Regarding strings, is there any chance VPs came from the factory wearing Slinkys? My first Embassy came wearing them, my second came wearing stock strings, and like my VP, they sound great.

Thanks again for doing this, it may end up saving me a lot of $.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Well, of course. A 'Bird chose him. They know.

her

 

[D.M.N.]

So while looking through some websites about old Hiwatts, I stumbled across a post from a guy stating he used to own Martin Barre's (Jethro Tull) old Hiwatt. Said it distorted more, sounded different than later DR103s, had an embossed metal name plate, and featured a Chrysalis Records butterfly logo on the back of the amp. And in old photos of Jethro Tull, you can clearly see a metal badge Hiwatt with 'Hiwatt 100' on the faceplate instead of the more common 'Custom Hiwatt 100' as seen on DR103s, with 'Custom Built' written above the master volume. They showup behind both Martin Barre and Glenn Cornick on stage.


Here you can see one matching that description on the left behind Glenn and possibly another metal face one at the top of the stack, both showing the 'Hiwatt 100' nameplate instead of the 'Custom Hiwatt 100'.

No headshell on this one, but clearly 'Hiwatt 100'

And again here:

Another, this one with a strip of tolex missing above the nameplate:

In this video you can see two 'Hiwatt 100' behind Glenn (one with the strip of missing tolex, the other intact) and another behind Martin (as well as a 200).


Which piqued my interest, because my Hiwatt just so happens to be a 1968/1969 'Hiwatt 100' with a different preamp that distorts earlier, has a metal badge, and a Chrysalis Records butterfly painted on the back. Don't know how I'm going to go about researching more, as the amp is missing its serial plate, but I'm going to try to dig more information up. On the surface, it certainly appears mine was at one point associated with Chrysalis Records at least, and given its age and when Chrysalis was founded in order to promote Jethro Tull, it very well might be part of their early backline. Could be one of Glenn's, as the original post mentioned having Martin written on the back of the amp, and mine doesn't appear to have that. I'll snap a pic of the Chrysalis logo when I have the chance.

 

[Count Bassie]

You might not be far from our beloved @GonePlaid. If you get a chance, tip a beer with Mike for all of us. And for heavens sake post a pic.

You bet. If I drive down I'll give him a shout... A pic will say it happened

 

[MCF]

That's a wildly divergent bunch of musicians. I'm not seeing anything that ties them all together except that they play and have done pretty well, most of them. Neil Young and Charlie XCX? That's a combination I wouldn't have come up with on my own, for example.

Yep. It’s an eclectic event that puts artists who are 18 to 80 (sometimes even a little older) from almost all genres on stage to honor the music. It’s an event that brings people together for the love of music. Like I say, I hope to be able to go one day.

 

[MCF]

Dang George, you're not helping (or are you?)That Greco sounds great, I can hear that 3 D thing ravers are talking about. BUT, the CP sounds great with the XLs. AND, the '66 NR Tribute was a favorite in your origional recording.

So we hear alnico Greco PUPs in their sweet spot, ceramic Gibson PUPs in a sweet spot, and alnico Chinabuckers (in a sweet spot?). What the common denominator here appears to be is the sweet spot? They are all wearing nickels. I would gladly rock any of them.

As a result, I'm going to bring my Fenderbird P home from practice tonight to compare to my prized '17 VP (Fenderbird wearing Chinabuckers). Any PUP changes to the Fenderbird depend on that.

Regarding strings, is there any chance VPs came from the factory wearing Slinkys? My first Embassy came wearing them, my second came wearing stock strings, and like my VP, they sound great.

Thanks again for doing this, it may end up saving me a lot of $.

In the recesses of my memory, I recall it being said that VP stock strings were some generic flavor of nickels supplied by DA. But don’t quote me on that. My understanding is that the current Gibson branded strings are made by DA to Gibson specs.

 

[TBird1958]

Really 1964 action here..................

Ain't no Epi.

 

[MCF]

So while looking through some websites about old Hiwatts, I stumbled across a post from a guy stating he used to own Martin Barre's (Jethro Tull) old Hiwatt. Said it distorted more, sounded different than later DR103s, had an embossed metal name plate, and featured a Chrysalis Records butterfly logo on the back of the amp. And in old photos of Jethro Tull, you can clearly see a metal badge Hiwatt with 'Hiwatt 100' on the faceplate instead of the more common 'Custom Hiwatt 100' as seen on DR103s, with 'Custom Built' written above the master volume. They showup behind both Martin Barre and Glenn Cornick on stage.


Here you can see one matching that description on the left behind Glenn and possibly another metal face one at the top of the stack, both showing the 'Hiwatt 100' nameplate instead of the 'Custom Hiwatt 100'.

No headshell on this one, but clearly 'Hiwatt 100'

And again here:

Another, this one with a strip of tolex missing above the nameplate:

In this video you can see two 'Hiwatt 100' behind Glenn (one with the strip of missing tolex, the other intact) and another behind Martin (as well as a 200).


Which piqued my interest, because my Hiwatt just so happens to be a 1968/1969 'Hiwatt 100' with a different preamp that distorts earlier, has a metal badge, and a Chrysalis Records butterfly painted on the back. Don't know how I'm going to go about researching more, as the amp is missing its serial plate, but I'm going to try to dig more information up. On the surface, it certainly appears mine was at one point associated with Chrysalis Records at least, and given its age and when Chrysalis was founded in order to promote Jethro Tull, it very well might be part of their early backline. Could be one of Glenn's, as the original post mentioned having Martin written on the back of the amp, and mine doesn't appear to have that. I'll snap a pic of the Chrysalis logo when I have the chance.

That is very cool. I’d think given all that, you very likely own a piece of Tull history. Congrats!

 

[dagrev]

Dang George, you're not helping (or are you?)That Greco sounds great, I can hear that 3 D thing ravers are talking about. BUT, the CP sounds great with the XLs. AND, the '66 NR Tribute was a favorite in your origional recording.

So we hear alnico Greco PUPs in their sweet spot, ceramic Gibson PUPs in a sweet spot, and alnico Chinabuckers (in a sweet spot?). What the common denominator here appears to be is the sweet spot? They are all wearing nickels. I would gladly rock any of them.

As a result, I'm going to bring my Fenderbird P home from practice tonight to compare to my prized '17 VP (Fenderbird wearing Chinabuckers). Any PUP changes to the Fenderbird depend on that.

Regarding strings, is there any chance VPs came from the factory wearing Slinkys? My first Embassy came wearing them, my second came wearing stock strings, and like my VP, they sound great.

Thanks again for doing this, it may end up saving me a lot of $.

I don't think VPs had Slinky's. I have the set I took off, but never thought they might be EBs, which I tend to not like. Felt more rough than EBs from what I remember. Not as smooth is a better way of saying that. But it's been a while. They may be Gibson strings. I've never bought any to know or compare, however.

 

[dagrev]

So while looking through some websites about old Hiwatts, I stumbled across a post from a guy stating he used to own Martin Barre's (Jethro Tull) old Hiwatt. Said it distorted more, sounded different than later DR103s, had an embossed metal name plate, and featured a Chrysalis Records butterfly logo on the back of the amp. And in old photos of Jethro Tull, you can clearly see a metal badge Hiwatt with 'Hiwatt 100' on the faceplate instead of the more common 'Custom Hiwatt 100' as seen on DR103s, with 'Custom Built' written above the master volume. They showup behind both Martin Barre and Glenn Cornick on stage.


Here you can see one matching that description on the left behind Glenn and possibly another metal face one at the top of the stack, both showing the 'Hiwatt 100' nameplate instead of the 'Custom Hiwatt 100'.

No headshell on this one, but clearly 'Hiwatt 100'

And again here:

Another, this one with a strip of tolex missing above the nameplate:

In this video you can see two 'Hiwatt 100' behind Glenn (one with the strip of missing tolex, the other intact) and another behind Martin (as well as a 200).


Which piqued my interest, because my Hiwatt just so happens to be a 1968/1969 'Hiwatt 100' with a different preamp that distorts earlier, has a metal badge, and a Chrysalis Records butterfly painted on the back. Don't know how I'm going to go about researching more, as the amp is missing its serial plate, but I'm going to try to dig more information up. On the surface, it certainly appears mine was at one point associated with Chrysalis Records at least, and given its age and when Chrysalis was founded in order to promote Jethro Tull, it very well might be part of their early backline. Could be one of Glenn's, as the original post mentioned having Martin written on the back of the amp, and mine doesn't appear to have that. I'll snap a pic of the Chrysalis logo when I have the chance.

Pretty cool! And congrats on owning some history!

 

[Thumper]

I don't think VPs had Slinky's. I have the set I took off, but never thought they might be EBs, which I tend to not like. Felt more rough than EBs from what I remember. Not as smooth is a better way of saying that. But it's been a while. They may be Gibson strings. I've never bought any to know or compare, however.

I'm sure your right. I never had the stock Embassy and the one with slinkys in the same place to truly compare. My memory said they sounded very similar, but my memory is also very suspect

 

[dagrev]

I'm sure your right. I never had the stock Embassy and the one with slinkys in the same place to truly compare. My memory said they sounded very similar, but my memory is also very suspect

Well, don't get crazy with "I'm sure you're right" business! I'm going from memory as well and it's been a while since I've used either.

 

[GBassNorth]

I think George asked about recordings for the Thunderbird II. Here are some samples of the muted 64, Willbird, VP, CP, and 2015. The 2015 had a lot of string noise when tone was dimed. If I can get the mutes out of the way, I'll add that to the recording.

Dave,
They all sounded great (but really wanna hear the 64 sans the mutes). Of the bunch as recorded, my fav is the CP. It’s just exactly what I expect to hear when someone says bass guitar. Not boomy, yet plenty of balls, great note definition without losing that creamy bottom I like. Thanks for posting!

 

[Stealth57]

Dave,
They all sounded great (but really wanna hear the 64 sans the mutes). Of the bunch as recorded, my fav is the CP. It’s just exactly what I expect to hear when someone says bass guitar. Not boomy, yet plenty of balls, great note definition without losing that creamy bottom I like. Thanks for posting!

CP, TB+, with EBCF does seem to be the ideal match for that bass.