I'll be there in 2... 3 days, tops! You gotta couch?
Last edited:
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
-
- Tags
- club thunderbird
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,237
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Complete disclosure... I've always loved the "T"bird. LLLOOOOONNNNGGG before I became a bass player, I was a Gibson lover and admirer of the 'bird. That
I'll be there in 2... 3 days, tops! You gotta couch?
Well then!
As a matter of fact I do have a couch - you'll have to share it with the Cat occasionally tho.
T-bird players generally play with their plucking hand's wrist fairly straight. That's correct technique. A bent wrist is not as good.
Complete disclosure... I've always loved the "T"bird. LLLOOOOONNNNGGG before I became a bass player, I was a Gibson lover and admirer of the 'bird. Selecting the "right" bass is a really big deal for me right now.
(fast forward if ya don't give a crap about the personal s#!t)
Within a span of about a year & a half... my mother lost her 20 year battle with cancer... the dead, rotting, soulless shell of what used to be my wife of 22 years, finally put her cellphone down long enough to tell me, "YOU gotta GO" (verbatim), thus forcing me out of my home, fatherhood (I have 3 beautiful daughters I would eagerly sacrifice my life for), and every element of life as I knew it (BTW... this happened about 2 months after I lost my job). I landed flat on my ass at my father's house. THAT particular part of the tail was actually GOOD news, because I was able to spend about 4 months with my father before he was diagnosed with leukemia, & died 6 weeks later. To say I was "in a slump", would be the understatement of the 21st century. I have a far better friend than anyone deserves, who gave me this, in an effort to boost my drooping soul.
It was given to me with only one condition. I can't sell it. "It dies with you" he said. I hadn't been active in music for like, 15 years at that point. I humbly and graciously accepted his gift, but had no drive to play. This gorgeous specimen sat in it's case, untouched for about a year. A friend of mine called me up & invited me to hang out at practice with his new band. Turns out... the singer/bass player really wanted to just be a singer. We all got along well... so I jumped at the chance. I immediately spent half of that months child support payment on an Ibanez TMB-100. Within about 2 weeks... I was hooked! I was ALIVE again! I spoke to my friend that gave me the Les Paul. He was thrilled to hear about my rebirth, and granted me permission to sell/trade it for a bass... but the same rule applies to whatever bass I get. It dies with me. I have a crushed vertebrae that keeps me from working... so opportunities to get a really nice piece, don't come along often. All of this, is why I'm being so cautious, tentative, and thorough about researching basses before pulling the trigger.
(fast forward if ya don't give a crap about the personal s#!t)
Within a span of about a year & a half... my mother lost her 20 year battle with cancer... the dead, rotting, soulless shell of what used to be my wife of 22 years, finally put her cellphone down long enough to tell me, "YOU gotta GO" (verbatim), thus forcing me out of my home, fatherhood (I have 3 beautiful daughters I would eagerly sacrifice my life for), and every element of life as I knew it (BTW... this happened about 2 months after I lost my job). I landed flat on my ass at my father's house. THAT particular part of the tail was actually GOOD news, because I was able to spend about 4 months with my father before he was diagnosed with leukemia, & died 6 weeks later. To say I was "in a slump", would be the understatement of the 21st century. I have a far better friend than anyone deserves, who gave me this, in an effort to boost my drooping soul.
It was given to me with only one condition. I can't sell it. "It dies with you" he said. I hadn't been active in music for like, 15 years at that point. I humbly and graciously accepted his gift, but had no drive to play. This gorgeous specimen sat in it's case, untouched for about a year. A friend of mine called me up & invited me to hang out at practice with his new band. Turns out... the singer/bass player really wanted to just be a singer. We all got along well... so I jumped at the chance. I immediately spent half of that months child support payment on an Ibanez TMB-100. Within about 2 weeks... I was hooked! I was ALIVE again! I spoke to my friend that gave me the Les Paul. He was thrilled to hear about my rebirth, and granted me permission to sell/trade it for a bass... but the same rule applies to whatever bass I get. It dies with me. I have a crushed vertebrae that keeps me from working... so opportunities to get a really nice piece, don't come along often. All of this, is why I'm being so cautious, tentative, and thorough about researching basses before pulling the trigger.
Last edited:
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
I don't think the depicted T-bird in the link is a2014 model, despite the add saying so...
The 2014 models had a special "120th Anniversary" inlay at the 12th fret, which kinda makes them a limited run in a way - Just like the Limited Edition Bullion Gold 50th Anniversary models of 2013.
The depicted T-bird could be just about any bird from the 80's and up until 2013.
Also the 2015 models with the split-coil pickups and Babicz bridge is also a limited run for only that year.
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
I'll snag the serial number off it when I'm there next & post it. I can tell you that the finish is absolutely flawless!
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
Sad to hear about the family matters, but great story about your friend and the band!
For your information Firebirds/Thunderbirds are pretty comfortable players in a sitting position.
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
Okay....Hang on here!
First the Thunderbird.
It'll be rare because it was only made with that bridge, switching and pickup set for a short time (and likely not in great numbers) and Gibson isn't making any Thunderbirds at all any more. It's not really recognized as rare yet but I have a feeling that one it will be.
Yes, that's me in my avatar.
I see that you've been a member for a short time here and since this is your first visit with us here, I'll explain that I am a Drag Queen, I enjoy being dressed somewhat outrageously, and have found that it's a great thrill to go out and make music with my band. We've been doing it for more than 12 years now, it's one of my life's great joys. The folks that frequent this part of the forum are kind enough to let me be their Queen, says a lot about them, they' re all just the finest in my book.
I'm certain that I'd enjoy meeting you (as I would any and all of the fine folks here) but I'll understand if I'm not quite what you thought at first.
Here's me large size
If you click on the links in my sig there's some nice YouTube stuff.
I don't think you looked properly at the link: It said a 2014 T-bird (not the 2015), but didn't have the "120th Anniversary" inlay typical of 2014 models - So not so rare...
Pretty much every Firebird player I've seen, is in rock. I've never know if that was cuzza the looks, the tone, or what. My life revolves around blues & blues based rock & roll, so there's no issue there. I find that the bass players that I'm into the most are more towards the jazz side of life (yer Victor Wootens & yer Oteill Burbridges). How do you think a 'bird would sound in a clean, jazzy scenario? Do you know of any links you could send me of jazz playin' "T"birders?Sad to hear about the family matters, but great story about your friend and the band!
For your information Firebirds/Thunderbirds are pretty comfortable players in a sitting position.
Last edited:
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
Firebirds are also pretty common in blues, due to their tone (think Johnny Winther)...
I haven't seen Thunderbird players in jazz myself, but I'm pretty sure somebody else in the club will point you in that direction, as we have quite a diverse bunch of players in the club.
Oh yeah... anybody that sez a Gibson emmer effin' Thunderbird don't belong in the blues, get's 10 pounds of mahogany in the face!
They are just fine for the blues / blues rock style stuff. Most people can't hear any difference between different basses when played in a band setting anyway.
People? Who cares about THEM? At the end o' the day... aren't we each doing this for ourselves?
It HAS to sound good to ME. I HOPE it sounds good to YOU. That's how I roll
Last edited:
Naturally... I can't find a reasonably thorough spec sheet on a T-bird anywhere. I know the nut width is a surprisingly narrow 1.5". Does anybody know the width at the 12th fret, as well as the thickness at the nut and 12th?
Last edited:
I finally bought some Imperial Allen keys. Seeing that today is the Queens Birthday Holiday I thought it appropriate to break them out for the first time.
Anyway, I found one the fits the Goth Birds trussrod, yay. I found that the rod was at full (as close as anyway) right. I was able to easily loosen it off and things seem good.
I retightened the strings and tuned. Open and 12 both in tune the same, plus just a touch on the strings at the 12 fret (no right hand pluck) also brings the correct note up on the tuner.
For action, a finger at 1 and last, brings the strings down closer at 12.
So feeling happier, but will recheck in a couple of days.
Anyway, I found one the fits the Goth Birds trussrod, yay. I found that the rod was at full (as close as anyway) right. I was able to easily loosen it off and things seem good.
I retightened the strings and tuned. Open and 12 both in tune the same, plus just a touch on the strings at the 12 fret (no right hand pluck) also brings the correct note up on the tuner.
For action, a finger at 1 and last, brings the strings down closer at 12.
So feeling happier, but will recheck in a couple of days.
Sorry to hear about your family and hope you're bouncing back
As for the neck on Tbirds, according to Gibson they're all hand finished so each one will be a bit different.
4mm or 5/32 will work. Same as post 95 peaveys and international series peaveys from that era, as well as ibanez soundgear etc... It is pretty common. And a bad design, easy to strip.
I just adjusted my goth because the action started creeping higher than I like, and possibly because it got some heat in the car for a few hours earlier that day. I got it to where it started to rattle on low frets then gave it about a 1/4 turn less and that should be good. Working on the goth neck is much nicer than working on the 2015 Chinabird neck.
