• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#313,481
Count Bassie said:
Which Walkabout do you have? I'm doing homework.
I just got the Peavey Alpha, partly because a friend had held into it for me, and it was important to follow through. I had been gassing for it, but I'm not sure it's what I actually need. After hearing my sound at that gig the other night I'm really ready to get rid of everything and make a smart purchase...
Click to expand...
It’s this one…
legacy.mesaboogie.com

Walkabout Bass Amp Rackmount Head | MESA/Boogie®

The MESA/Boogie M-Pulse Walkabout Bass Head delivers 300 watts of great tone here in the Rackmount format.
legacy.mesaboogie.com legacy.mesaboogie.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: Count Bassie, dagrev, MCF and 2 others
#313,482
Count Bassie said:
Thunderbird Last Friday... Here's an example of the need for a proper Doom-able bass rig.
But check out the guitar solo, this dude can play. Three of us are ex-Plan 9 folk, so we're pretty acclimated as an ensemble.
But the bass is largely buried. 🤨

This one's called "Burning Couch", vid by The Earthmen bandmate Lori... Fun to have friends! 😁
Click to expand...

Good stuff!! Thanks for sharing!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Count Bassie, dagrev, Chucky Stiletti and 3 others
#313,483
Stealth57 said:
Didn’t know a Hipshot would fit with the craw. I have one sitting on the self with no place to go…would it buy me anything on my VP?
Click to expand...
It's a 2 point replacement and doesn't really fit.
I'm not sure if it's the same guy, but somebody asked a few years ago and I remember taking the Hipshot 2 point off my Mann Armstrong to test fit it on my VP. The string slots don't line up.
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Reactions: dagrev, Miles_ONeal, Nocturnal and 2 others
#313,484
Bighouse said:
Although I’m playing an Epiphone VP IV, when I close my eyes, in my mind, I’m playing this:

View attachment 7171352
Do any Thunderbird Club members own this strikingly beautiful bird???
Click to expand...
I’ve always been a sucker for fancy wood tops, but you just don’t see many of those zebrano birds around here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dagrev, Miles_ONeal, MCF and 2 others
#313,485
Bighouse said:
Update: I tightened every screw I could see on the body, including tuners, mounts, pick guards, tailpiece, PUPs to body, strap buttons, etc…there were four screws that mount the saddle-adjacent PUP to the body that were not capable for being tightened, they are pretty much loose and I’ll have to remove them and plug the existing holes with wood/glue to get them to tighten properly, but that’s not where the buzzing does seem to be coming from. When I play a string, I can hear some buzzing coming from inside the headstock, and perhaps from the truss rod cover area. I removed it to look inside, and there was some paint/junk material I carefully cut away to expose the end of the truss rod. I cleaned it with a small bottle brush and removed any dust, but the rattle sound continues, as does the resonator sound from my Mesa Boogie only on the “D” string.

I’m including a photo of the body and I’ve circled the four screws on the PUP that won’t tighten.

I’m going to hope that when I put new strings on it, the resonator goes away.

I’m hoping that everything is fixable…but now I’m wondering if I found maybe the reason why whomever owned it for a short amount of time got rid of it! This bass WANTS me though, I can tell. So I’m not giving up on it yet.View attachment 7171006
Click to expand...
Just take the ring and spacer off to test it. Then stick a little sliver of tooth pick with white or yellow wood glue in the holes before you put it back.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dagrev, Chucky Stiletti, Miles_ONeal and 3 others
#313,486
MCF said:
Hi Gang!

Wow pretty much says it all.

The ‘77 Bicentennial arrived almost exactly four days after leaving Edmonton and arriving at the Bakersfield house. I pulled it off the FedEx truck, signed for it, and loaded it in the Subie to take it up to the mountain to unpack it and take it through its first play through the SVT VR and Berg NV610. Talk about angry piano. Anyone who says Sidewinders wired in series was a mistake needs to reconsider their opinion. This Thunderbird is wonderful.

This came courtesy of @Bulltrout. A great club member. I can’t believe my fortune in connecting with him and being able to acquire a bucket list Thunderbird. The transaction and the bass exceeds every expectation. This was his listing:
1977 Bicentennial Gibson Thunderbird

For sale 1977 Bicentennial Gibson Thunderbird

1977 Bicentennial Thunderbird. Second owner. In great condition for its age, but does show some signs of use, commensurate with age,. Knobs are replacement otherwise all original, including original hardshell case. Strap pin was moved to the neck heel. A great sounding and playing 1977...
$3,850.00
2 watching

It arrived expertly packed.
View attachment 7171039View attachment 7171040

The 48 year old case is in good condition:
View attachment 7171041View attachment 7171042
View attachment 7171060View attachment 7171061

I’ll post more later.
Click to expand...
Awesome Marshall! I hope I to see it in person some day!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Count Bassie, dagrev, Chucky Stiletti and 5 others
#313,487
Bighouse said:
Well, looks like I’ll keep it! The temporarily donated D string from my Fender P-Bass plays in the TBird without any of that weird freaky-@ss resonating sound!!! So today the EBCFs will arrive at a nearby Amazon locker, and I’ll go fetch them to restring this lovely instrument. I’m so happy I can keep it!

And I’m so glad my P-Bass was willing to step up and donate a string to help the family’s newest member!

Can’t wait to get it restrung and see what those EBCFs feel and sound like.
Click to expand...
Good news! Heads up on the Cobalt flats: they creak a lot when you're tuning them up to pitch. Freaked me out the first time!
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Count Bassie, dagrev, Chucky Stiletti and 10 others
#313,488
Engle said:
Good news! Heads up on the Cobalt flats: they creak a lot when you're tuning them up to pitch. Freaked me out the first time!
Click to expand...
Oh thank you for that warning. The LAST thing I want to hear is weird unexpected noises coming from my bass strings on this Bird.

Have you Canadians always been so helpful???
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Count Bassie, dagrev, Chucky Stiletti and 8 others
#313,491
  • Like
Reactions: dagrev, Miles_ONeal, Engle and 2 others
#313,492
Bighouse said:
Although I’m playing an Epiphone VP IV, when I close my eyes, in my mind, I’m playing this:

View attachment 7171352
Do any Thunderbird Club members own this strikingly beautiful bird???
Click to expand...

It's a one of 400 Guitar of the week, one member of the club has one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dagrev, Chucky Stiletti, Gaolee and 6 others
#313,493
This guy!

HdY0yER.jpg
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Butcherboy, dagrev, Chucky Stiletti and 9 others
#313,495
  • Like
Reactions: Butcherboy, dagrev, Chucky Stiletti and 10 others
#313,497
  • Like
Reactions: dagrev, Chucky Stiletti, Nocturnal and 6 others
#313,498
Bighouse said:
Actually, I have hearing loss in the 4K range. But, I’m particularly sensitive to fan/motor sounds. I also have relentless tinnitus, which I think somehow makes me more sensitive to some frequencies. I don’t notice it during band rehearsal or practice if there’s other instrumentation along with what I’m playing.
Click to expand...
Fans and 60 cycle hum from electric motors, hear that crap in my sleep
 
  • Like
  • Sad
Reactions: dagrev, Chucky Stiletti, Gaolee and 6 others
#313,500
  • Like
Reactions: BuddhaFingas, dagrev, GBassNorth and 5 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back