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Thunderbird Club

Well... I'M an idiot!:bag:
for anyone who's been following the story... The Ric 4003SW that I'd told you about at my local store, had not been sold. In fact... I'd forgotten that I never saw it listed online! Rainbow only shows their USED equipment on their website. That pic is brand new! I saw it in the store when I went to look at that Thunderbird and that Les Paul bass that WERE online!:wacky:
 
I had a "distressed" metal guard on one of my bolt neck Epi's. Looked good with the burst IMO. Picked it up for like $20 shipped from the classifieds. Don't have the bass now but it was a China made version with a wide, thicker neck.

bird%20with%20guard_zpsrvgumvqi.jpg
 
I had a "distressed" metal guard on one of my bolt neck Epi's. Looked good with the burst IMO. Picked it up for like $20 shipped from the classifieds. Don't have the bass now but it was a China made version with a wide, thicker neck.

bird%20with%20guard_zpsrvgumvqi.jpg
YEAH MAN!!! That's COOOOOOOL!!!:cool::thumbsup:

AS I was "listening for 'bird calls" today at GC... I picked up a Chinese model. It was still only a buck & a half at the nut, but it was the most "plump" feeling neck I can recall on a T-bird! I'm encouraged!

I think the sudden onslaught of heat and humidity in our area musta been rough on their necks or sup'm. About 3/4 of the necks in the bass dep't. had horrible forward bows & ski lift action! NEARLY unplayable... DEFINITELY unenjoyable! You'd better believe that, if I were a music store owner... I would have at least one person dedicated to making sure all of the necks were in decent playable condition whenever the store wasn't slammed with customers! I know I'm not the only person who's walked out of a music store empty handed because of guitars with crap action...:sour::vomit:
 
Well... I'M an idiot!:bag:
for anyone who's been following the story... The Ric 4003SW that I'd told you about at my local store, had not been sold. In fact... I'd forgotten that I never saw it listed online! Rainbow only shows their USED equipment on their website. That pic is brand new! I saw it in the store when I went to look at that Thunderbird and that Les Paul bass that WERE online!:wacky:
Just what kind of smoke is that you are exhaling in your profile pic?. ;)
 
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Torched basses, well, art is art. For my money I'd prefer to see something actually novel created. I'm "good" with dystopian affects, as much as I get the notion.
You are correct my friend. The tool with which you create your art, can be art itself! It's kinda like it is with classic cars. Ya got some guys that love to completely "hot mod" them. Ya got other guys who want it COMPLETELY STOCK, and any variation from OEM, is straight from the bowels of hell, and destined to return there! I guess I kinda come from the 3rd option, which is this: You must first acquire an original piece, then alter only that which can easily, and without consequence, be undone so it can be returned to original. Bestobothwhirlds!
 
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So... I DID something today. I went to literally every guitar shop in town (so like...3) & grabbed every bass neck I could lay my hands on. I just wanted to compare 'em & stuff (Fender changes neck profiles like most people change their clothes!). The KSD Burner has actually been causing me pain in my left hand from playing. Though it's 1 5/8" at the nut... it was really quite slender all the way up. That was the only real dark spot. It was a really nice bass otherwise. My quest for a more functional neck, led me somewhere I never expected...

IMG_1532.JPG


It's a brand new, bottom of the barrel, piece of crap... but... it had a better feeling neck than everything else I picked up (and I picked up some nice stuff!). I have pretty much no idea what to do with that 5th string. I suppose it could come in handy if I need to tow a car or something... but right now, it's just in the way! The thing is... I was able to come home & play for nearly an hour before my hand bothered me at all! Hopefully I have somethin' here that'll keep me playin' & smilin' for a little while longer, 'till I can get my "real" bass. I'm just not sure what to do 'bout that LOOOOWWW BEEEE. I don't know whether to take it off & LOOK stupid, or leave it on & FEEL stupid!:thumbsdown:
 
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What do we mean by "older"... 70's, 80's, 90's? Over the years, Epiphone has been kinda like a cat on a beach... they've made s#!t everywhere!
The mid 2000s. I'm not sure when they moved production to China. There may be some baseball bat necks from China, but the Korean bolt on necks are reliably wide and chunky in my experience.
 
YEAH MAN!!! That's COOOOOOOL!!!:cool::thumbsup:

AS I was "listening for 'bird calls" today at GC... I picked up a Chinese model. It was still only a buck & a half at the nut, but it was the most "plump" feeling neck I can recall on a T-bird! I'm encouraged!

I think the sudden onslaught of heat and humidity in our area musta been rough on their necks or sup'm. About 3/4 of the necks in the bass dep't. had horrible forward bows & ski lift action! NEARLY unplayable... DEFINITELY unenjoyable! You'd better believe that, if I were a music store owner... I would have at least one person dedicated to making sure all of the necks were in decent playable condition whenever the store wasn't slammed with customers! I know I'm not the only person who's walked out of a music store empty handed because of guitars with crap action...:sour::vomit:

Neck profile sounds like the one I am selling, it's a 2015, and the current ones still have that chunky profile w/1.5

I am a 1.5 "preferer", but can get on on a wider nut, but too chunky is not so good for me, I don't have overly large hands or long fingers. My 2006 goth has a wide nut but slim profile, the slim profile appeals to me, which is why I am digging on peavey necks of late. The next bird I get would likely be the slim and 1.5 that seems to be the norm on the neck through Gibsons and the custom shop limited edition color epiphone bolt ons and blackbirds.

After the last relief adjustment I made on the goth, it was a joy last rehearsal.
 
So... I DID something today. I went to literally every guitar shop in town (so like...3) & grabbed every bass neck I could lay my hands on. I just wanted to compare 'em & stuff (Fender changes neck profiles like most people change their clothes!). The KSD Burner has actually been causing me pain in my left hand from playing. Though it's 1 5/8" at the nut... it was really quite slender all the way up. That was the only real dark spot. It was a really nice bass otherwise. My quest for a more functional neck, led me somewhere I never expected...

View attachment 1156101

It's a brand new, bottom of the barrel, piece of crap... but... it had a better feeling neck than everything else I picked up (and I picked up some nice stuff!). I have pretty much no idea what to do with that 5th string. I suppose it could come in handy if I need to tow a car or something... but right now, it's just in the way! The thing is... I was able to come home & play for nearly an hour before my hand bothered me at all! Hopefully I have somethin' here that'll keep me playin' & smilin' for a little while longer, 'till I can get my "real" bass. I'm just not sure what to do 'bout that LOOOOWWW BEEEE. I don't know whether to take it off & LOOK stupid, or leave it on & FEEL stupid!:thumbsdown:
Squiers aren't crap. They're inexpensive but I sure don't consider them crap. One of my favorite basses is the Squier Jaguar SS. I play it more than my MIA 7ender Jazz.