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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- club thunderbird
I’m talking real tour. On a bus, occasionally planes. Roadie and everything. Kick off around DC, finale on the west coast[0], then one back home. We get to see your smiling face on the cover of the Rolling Stone![1] That’s what managers are for.
0. Time it right and you play Coachella!
1. Or at least on the cover of Moss Ain’t So Bad!
can't believe a studio version of this tune never happened...
If anyone runs across a used/blem purple sparkle Epi for sale and you aren’t buying, please let me know. Kicking myself for dithering over the last one. I’m going to immediately mod it so warranty is no reason to buy new. OTOH, I expect prices to jump or production to stop with the tariffs in play, so I am now considering a new buy very soon if no used or second show.
No political discussions! Under TB rules those aren't allowed here and would be beside the point.
Thanks!
No political discussions! Under TB rules those aren't allowed here and would be beside the point.
Thanks!
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,211
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
This is a bit late, last 4 days doing annual spring yard work. Received the 2014 Heritage Cherry Thunderbird Monday, and spent 45 minutes with it. Initial impressions, well crafted, light, 9.5/10 condition, no dings, dents, etc. Some slight imperfections, primarily several on the side of the fretboard under the clear finish, reminding me of tiny, invisible bbs. Beautiful mahogany grain very visible under the finish.
The tone was pretty much what I expected, somewhat deep, chocolate with nice definition, it may growl, but doubt it's capable of snarl. Surprisingly, at least 4 useable tones available. This is one of my few basses where I really like the neck pickup soloed, very nice Pbass but with character thing. But I'm glad it has 2 pickups because I like the bridge pickup dialed in as well. Slightly backing off the neck really gets a melted fudge gooey chocolate, very useful.
The headstock is small, and my fingers bump into other tuners while tuning.
It's a very cool bass with more cojones than my VPs. In fact it may replace them, as I think it's ballsier, and I can see where it would also be useful for a few pick songs.
Is it better than my Chinabucker loaded Fenderbird J? Time will tell, they're both dead sexy. I'll most likely use both, 1 set each.
Buyer's remorse? Absolutely not, it may be in my top 3 (Fenderbird J, Dingwall SJ4XXX, Dingwall SJ5XXX, 2014 Gibson Thunderbird the frontrunners). It's going to get gigged for sure! 2 thumbs up.
The tone was pretty much what I expected, somewhat deep, chocolate with nice definition, it may growl, but doubt it's capable of snarl. Surprisingly, at least 4 useable tones available. This is one of my few basses where I really like the neck pickup soloed, very nice Pbass but with character thing. But I'm glad it has 2 pickups because I like the bridge pickup dialed in as well. Slightly backing off the neck really gets a melted fudge gooey chocolate, very useful.
The headstock is small, and my fingers bump into other tuners while tuning.
It's a very cool bass with more cojones than my VPs. In fact it may replace them, as I think it's ballsier, and I can see where it would also be useful for a few pick songs.
Is it better than my Chinabucker loaded Fenderbird J? Time will tell, they're both dead sexy. I'll most likely use both, 1 set each.
Buyer's remorse? Absolutely not, it may be in my top 3 (Fenderbird J, Dingwall SJ4XXX, Dingwall SJ5XXX, 2014 Gibson Thunderbird the frontrunners). It's going to get gigged for sure! 2 thumbs up.
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They could hit the Condor Room at Pine Mountain Club!
There is a possibility they may be exempt as of this AM. It depends on how they are classified. iPhone apparently will be.You know you want it..........
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Since the day it dropped!You know you want it..........
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Like socks and roosters: both useful, but not interchangeable.
FWIW, I replaced the stock pickups on mine with a set of Lollar's and felt the bass retained its heft but got a good bit more clarity. I also put a Babicz bridge on and felt it helped with sustain in the upper register. The individual string adjustability is nice as well.
The neck on mine is the standard by which I judge all other Thunderbirds I have played. Its the reason I will probably not own a NR. Too much neck for me.
I would love a bowling ball blue one. But I don’t need it at all. I spend most of my time on the ‘15, the ‘21 NR, the ‘05 Studio, the BaCHs, and now the ‘77. Each are distinctly different. All play great. The Epi ‘64 would likely just be a very pretty piece of wall art for me.
Have I lost my senses?
I quite like the sound/tone. I may experiment with steels (I think it has DR nickels, but do have new Fat-Beams and Hi-Beams on hand) but am unlikely to change the PUPs.
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Predictable, but try a set of SIT Power Steels on it.
I love the Tbird plus pickups. All Stainless all the time with them. SIT Powersteels, Lo Riders, Hi Beams, Rotos, etc, should bring a bit more roundness yet retain that nice bottom.
I don’t have Lollars in any Thunderbird. Jeff offered me a set, but the timing didn’t match my discretionary spending at the time. I will get a set at some point for one of the Epi LE Custom Shops.
These first. Definitely.
