Thunderbird Club

[Nocturnal]

I probably should have said something a few weeks ago, but please all - look after your health as we all get older.

I found out a few weeks ago that the son of one of my Canadian cousins died suddenly and unexpectedly.

From what I understand it was about a week after they celebrated his 50th birthday. He had been to hockey - practice I think - got home and just dropped dead with a massive heart attack.

As the Australian medical authorities say - often the first sign of cardiac issues is sudden death.

Please take care of yourselves everyone.

Sorry to hear that Geoff.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Well, dammit it only made it to New Mexico yesterday.
Hate FedEx they are ALWAYS later than estimates.

 

[Stealth57]

All the recent talk and appreciation of the bi-centennial, if I really had a stash of money I would swoop this up:

https://reverb.com/item/89450576-gi...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=89450576

There are some things about the photos that would have me asking some questions. 1) looks like a potential crack or fix on the headstock, 2) why the photo of the controls out of the body, and 3) why the screw next to the knobs...

 

[/\/\3phist0]

There are some things about the photos that would have me asking some questions. 1) looks like a potential crack or fix on the headstock, 2) why the photo of the controls out of the body, and 3) why the screw next to the knobs...

The “extra” screw holes are from the bridge and pickup covers.
Definate headstock break repair, without a refinish:

The controls are the originals, they “upgraded” the controls that are installed

 

[Engle]

Please sell that to me....

Sorry! I built that many years ago, basically copying my EBO, but using maple and adding a J pickup.

The good: I got the body shape dead on
The bad: The neck ended up too narrow at the heel and the truss rod doesn't work.

I got it playable, but it was never great. I stripped the parts and was going to throw it out. Then I saw a Gibson Kalamazoo with the SG body and thought why not replace the neck?
It looks like a 32" scale neck might just work using the 3 point mounting holes for a 2 point.

 

[Engle]

The Regenerate got the SIT Power Flats. (Not in the pic below.)
First impression: Bright. Stiff. Not as smooth as LaBellas. None of this is a problem. But did need to adjust the TR to make it less work to play. This bass has 2 band pre so it's easy to +/- highs or lows. The bass is well thought out and will do passive and the regular tone knob functions as normal. That said it does like some strings and not others. Might use it Sunday.

View attachment 7211310

Nice!

 

[TBird1958]

I probably should have said something a few weeks ago, but please all - look after your health as we all get older.

I found out a few weeks ago that the son of one of my Canadian cousins died suddenly and unexpectedly.

From what I understand it was about a week after they celebrated his 50th birthday. He had been to hockey - practice I think - got home and just dropped dead with a massive heart attack.

As the Australian medical authorities say - often the first sign of cardiac issues is sudden death.

Please take care of yourselves everyone.

Geoff, sorry to read this, my condolences to you.

 

[MCF]

The “extra” screw holes are from the bridge and pickup covers.
Definate headstock break repair, without a refinish:
View attachment 7211737
The controls are the originals, they “upgraded” the controls that are installed

It’s offered at $3950 in the FB Thunderbird Group. Still too high with the repair IMO. Not sure why someone felt the need to change pots. They’re terrific Thunderbirds. I’m glad I was finally able to get a nice one while they’re still available for under 4k.

 

[MCF]

Plan was to head up and spend today and tomorrow morning getting some more fire remediation done. Mother nature had other plans. This should finally be it for the season. I hope. Guess I’ll play Thunderbirds today instead.

 

[GBassNorth]

That was good of him. I will visit if I’m ever in the neighbourhood.
I know he toured here and even recorded versions of a couple of Aussie favourites but I wasn’t into anything called country at the time. Folk / Australiana yes maybe but I would have ignored anything labelled Country. More open minded now.

I’m in a Uke pick up group atm - run to give retirees something to do - and we do all sorts of stuff. Badly, but it’s fun, and I get to bellow out the lyrics along with strumming along. (We all sing along). In some songs someone will call out “banjo’s” and about half a dozen of them pull out their banjoleles, other songs have a kazoo section.
I’m looking to get a (tenor) resonator Uke to use where they use their banjos. Just to be different. I’m finding the Kala a bit expensive (and out of stock mostly) so I might keep looking for a cheaper brand to come onto my radar.
Anyone used a Bondi Uke?

We are visiting a retirement place in a couple of weeks. I’m told to be on time as they put on a good morning tea for us.
Golf club is across the road and we can get lunch there.

I have one of these bass Ukes and love it! Very rare, but there’s one for sale at a steal right now here in the states…
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Paid a lot more than that for mine.

 

[Ringhammer]

Someone please tell me about nylon tapewound strings, ala LaBella “Deep Talkin’ Bass” black nylon tapewound.

I have 4 medium scale basses and can’t find medium scale rounds in anything heavier than 50-105. I know there are flats that will work good on these, adding that little bit of tension the shorter than 34” scale needs, but I also want to tune one to D-Standard/drop C, and all of the medium scale basses I have, set up as well as I can, with a little bit of relief and low action are a bit buzzy for my taste with 50-105, rounds. With same gauge flats I can get them playing great, even in Eb.

The LaBellas have a set of the black nylon tapewound in 60-115. This seems like a good solution for tuning a medium scale basses to D-Standard and Drop C, but are these strings basically a dead out of the pack set, intended to be fully “thuddy” or is there any brightness at all to these?

 

[Ringhammer]

Plan was to head up and spend today and tomorrow morning getting some more fire remediation done. Mother nature had other plans. This should finally be it for the season. I hope. Guess I’ll play Thunderbirds today instead.
View attachment 7211751

Got rain and a bit of hail here, and today’s the day we leave, hoping the rain break when we’re packing up in a couple hours.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Got rain and a bit of hail here, and today’s the day we leave, hoping the rain break when we’re packing up in a couple hours.

Looks like it will taper off in the next hour

 

[Engle]

Amp stuff...
Last night I played in the house band for an open mic. I had the Classic Pro running through my pedalboard, then the Mesa TT-800 into the Schroeder 1210.
Distortion like you read about. I was devastated. All the pedals were turned off, bypassing everything.
After the first set I took the board out of the path, direct to the amp. Distortion was gone.
I did not expect that from a board with nothing on. It's been a little embarrassing frankly, chasing my tail with this whole speaker distortion thing, lol. I gotta bring my stress level down.
I'll be looking at using the effects loop, as well as trying one pedal at a time this weekend. I wouldn't mind having fewer pedals.
A new system sure enough puts me through it.
View attachment 7210779

I have had trouble chasing down distortion. Thinking a speaker was bad and it turned out to be in the pedalboard? Yup, done that!

 

[GBassNorth]

I do find it odd that they only offer one gauge set. Maybe it's not a big seller for them. Maybe this group here can change that.

I’m doing my part, I just ordered a set. I think Dave mentioned they weren’t as bright as Cobalt Flats, but I think Donnie mentioned they were brighter than Cobalt Flats. I guess I’ll find out. These are potentially going on my ‘66 NR Tribute Fretless Tbird to replace a new set of Cobalts that are a bit too bright for that bass. Looking for more bottom end and preferably less tension than the Cobalts. Dont know if SIT PFs will get there or if there are better options. Any insight is always welcome.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

pillowface....

 

[Engle]

…THIS, is why I have too much.


My inventory (one of my guitar players say I should open a shop):

2 x Orange AD200 (1 for sale)
2 x Orange OBC115 (1 for sale)
1 x Orange OBC210
2 x Orange OBC112
1 x Orange TB500
1 x Orange 4-Stroke
1 x Ampeg V4B-AV
1 x Ampeg V4B
1 x Ampeg V2 (1973)
2 x Ampeg PF50T
1 x Ampeg PF20T
1 x Ampeg PF800
2 x Ampeg PF115HE
1 x Ampeg PF112HLF
1 x Ampeg PF115LF (w/KappaPro 15A)
1 x Ampeg Venture V7
2 x Ampeg SVT212AV (great cabinet)
1 x Ampeg SVT48E (4 x 8”)
1 x Ampeg RB112 combo
Probably a little more I’m forgetting.

And currently 29 basses.

Don’t get me started on pedals.

Almost all of my stuff is “upgraded”, from premium tubes, to better speakers, to boutique pickups, to Hipshot, Schaller, Babicz hardware etc.

Buying new stuff is something that simultaneously gives me happiness and guilt, and in the balance between those two often guilt wins. But, it keeps me working hard. Gotta earn.

Mephisto, are you SF Bay Area? I saw that you waiting for something to land here?

Saving this to show my wife...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I have had trouble chasing down distortion. Thinking a speaker was bad and it turned out to be in the pedalboard? Yup, done that!

or bad power, cord, outta phase weirdness, oneself, anything reallly......the only certainty is that it's different every time but just as much of a bummer....I take 2 of everything....

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Someone please tell me about nylon tapewound strings, ala LaBella “Deep Talkin’ Bass” black nylon tapewound.

I have 4 medium scale basses and can’t find medium scale rounds in anything heavier than 50-105. I know there are flats that will work good on these, adding that little bit of tension the shorter than 34” scale needs, but I also want to tune one to D-Standard/drop C, and all of the medium scale basses I have, set up as well as I can, with a little bit of relief and low action are a bit buzzy for my taste with 50-105, rounds. With same gauge flats I can get them playing great, even in Eb.

The LaBellas have a set of the black nylon tapewound in 60-115. This seems like a good solution for tuning a medium scale basses to D-Standard and Drop C, but are these strings basically a dead out of the pack set, intended to be fully “thuddy” or is there any brightness at all to these?

They are VERY flexible being smaller gauge rounds wrapped in nylon tape, the 115 for example is about a 100 inside.
Thuddy yes, woody. They clunk against frets not clank.
They have a singing upper midrange with higher action.

NOT a good choice for Downtuning IMHO
They will be floppy.

Look at DR DDT strings.

Call Jason at Fretnation he may have some suggestions.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Plan was to head up and spend today and tomorrow morning getting some more fire remediation done. Mother nature had other plans. This should finally be it for the season. I hope. Guess I’ll play Thunderbirds today instead.
View attachment 7211751

yeah, were supposed to go to Carson City for Derby but 88 and all of those are a mess....