Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

It’s called Pine Mountain Club for a reason. Every six to eight weeks from May to October I have to rake the driveway. But it’s a heck of a lot easier than shoveling snow in the winter.

 

[Gaolee]

It really is. Our daughter and fam were there a few years.. We loved visiting, they loved living there. Just watch out in the fog.

I have driven through a thule fog. At night. I didn't realize at the time how stupid and dangerous that was.

 

[Gaolee]

Coming soon

View attachment 7302926

Outstanding! Keep us posted.

 

[MCF]

Coming soon

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Excellent! Let me know how to buy!

 

[MCF]

I have driven through a thule fog. At night. I didn't realize at the time how stupid and dangerous that was.

I commuted to Fresno a couple days a week in the nineties. The rule was if the Tule is bad, don’t come. It was tough in those days of physical files. But we managed. It was a kinder, gentler time.

 

[MCF]

I try not to spend *too* much time on tone chasing but sometimes it happens. Far better to work on chops. Still, for some things, you really need to at least get close. And some tones just haunt you until you find them. At least they do me.

I used to think 50% was gear. That number keeps dropping, and for more than I ever expected, that percentage approaches zero -- assuming you have reasonable gear, the fingers, and/or magic.

Which is why I pooh pooh the idea that you gotta have a P bass. Nothing wrong with them[1], but you don't have to have one.

[1] Other than them not being Thunderbirds, of course.

I can make any of my Thunderbirds sound like me playing a Pbass. Funny thing is, I don’t sound like Dunn or Simonon when I play a P.

 

[MCF]

The boy and the girl are in the process of moving to Monterey. Car week looks like fun to me, but they have been tangled up in it all week and are not thrilled with it. As he says, the whole point is making traffic worse. I hope they settle in there so I can visit them during car week, dive in Monterey Bay, visit the aquarium, and all that. That whole areas is beautiful.

Please let us know when you are there.

 

[MCF]

This is interesting, kinda Gibson vibe.

https://reverb.com/item/68901688-wa...&utm_id=445192&cto_pld=2FDkGC5jAACkclUpwwdq0w

Huh. But at that price, I’ll never know.

 

[BklynKen]

Outstanding! Keep us posted.

Excellent! Let me know how to buy!

Thanks! Should be ready by November. Test pressings just came in last week while I was in Texas. Damn this vinyl stuff takes a long time. But soooooo satisfying.

 

[TBird1958]

Bass faces are always fun to see, just shows how deep you’re getting into the song and how much of your self awareness is put on the back shelf to focus on what’s truly important at the moment.

Totally unrelated - well, maybe kinda related to bass faces - I’m in the middle of a bass project and racking up more upgrade dollars than I wanted to on this bass. Soooo, was thinking, instead of a refin (which I don’t have the space, patience or skill to do on my own) what about a wrap? Your Betty bomber is a wrap IIRC, and looks great in the club pics here. Is there a wrap company you went through to get yours (assuming they have other wraps besides Betty since this will be for a worship band) and how hard was it with that raised front and back center section?

George, my apologies, I meant to answer you sooner. The Betty Paige was done thru a sign shop local to me, I like the art quite a bit though the original that a buddy sent me was far better, I can't post it here because she's topless. The wrap itself is "okay" not great, but good for a stage bass, it gets kludgey as it wraps around the edges of the body and it's just never going to look great - certainly not up to your standards. I also would question what effect it might have on a finish other than the indestructible poly that Epi uses.

TLDR;

It looks good from a distance, like some cars with an Earl Schieb paint job!

 

[GBassNorth]

This is interesting, kinda Gibson vibe.

https://reverb.com/item/68901688-wa...&utm_id=445192&cto_pld=2FDkGC5jAACkclUpwwdq0w

If you’re looking for Warwicks shot over Gibsons brow, look no further than this…
https://reverb.com/item/799560-warw...tring-electric-bass-guitar-burgundy-red-stain
Well worth the money! Plays better than any of my SG basses.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

George, my apologies, I meant to answer you sooner. The Betty Paige was done thru a sign shop local to me, I like the art quite a bit though the original that a buddy sent me was far better, I can't post it here because she's topless. The wrap itself is "okay" not great, but good for a stage bass, it gets kludgey as it wraps around the edges of the body and it's just never going to look great - certainly not up to your standards. I also would question what effect it might have on a finish other than the indestructible poly that Epi uses.

TLDR;

It looks good from a distance, like some cars with an Earl Schieb paint job!

what gave you the idea for the pattern? so up Pete Way's alley...

 

[TBird1958]

what gave you the idea for the pattern? so up Pete Way's alley...

It's similar to something a friend had sent me, tho his was better, a bit more vibrant as Betty was in color and topless. The guy I worked with at the sign shop was into it as it was certainly more interesting than what he typically worked on. I gave him some guidelines and told him what I wanted, the image of Betty was public domain so no issues there.
I do really like that bass, it has Gibson re-issues in it and I just put a set of Rock Masters on it for a show in two weeks - We're opening for another band, which I actually prefer to do, as we'll be all full of piss and vinegar to play a great show.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

The boy and the girl are in the process of moving to Monterey. Car week looks like fun to me, but they have been tangled up in it all week and are not thrilled with it. As he says, the whole point is making traffic worse. I hope they settle in there so I can visit them during car week, dive in Monterey Bay, visit the aquarium, and all that. That whole areas is beautiful.

Truly a special place, that I have loved visiting since childhood.

 

[KPJ]

Nice playing there!

Thanks!

 

[dagrev]

It’s called Pine Mountain Club for a reason. Every six to eight weeks from May to October I have to rake the driveway. But it’s a heck of a lot easier than shoveling snow in the winter.
View attachment 7302962

Looks great! Very relaxing. When not raking.

 

[GBassNorth]

George, my apologies, I meant to answer you sooner. The Betty Paige was done thru a sign shop local to me, I like the art quite a bit though the original that a buddy sent me was far better, I can't post it here because she's topless. The wrap itself is "okay" not great, but good for a stage bass, it gets kludgey as it wraps around the edges of the body and it's just never going to look great - certainly not up to your standards. I also would question what effect it might have on a finish other than the indestructible poly that Epi uses.

TLDR;

It looks good from a distance, like some cars with an Earl Schieb paint job!

Thanks for the reply V. I was afraid that folds and cut lines and other unwanted stuff would happen on a full body wrap. If the Tbird had a flat face and binding it would be easy to reface the bass with a wrap without going over the binding. But unfortunately not the case. There’s hydro dip options but I haven’t priced them yet. I know a pro level body repaint will run north of $400. I suppose there’s always the relic option (just leave the paint as is and rough up the body a bit around the edges). But this darn poly finish would probably be pretty hard to relic with any reasonably good outcome.

 

[Gaolee]

Thanks for the reply V. I was afraid that folds and cut lines and other unwanted stuff would happen on a full body wrap. If the Tbird had a flat face and binding it would be easy to reface the bass with a wrap without going over the binding. But unfortunately not the case. There’s hydro dip options but I haven’t priced them yet. I know a pro level body repaint will run north of $400. I suppose there’s always the relic option (just leave the paint as is and rough up the body a bit around the edges). But this darn poly finish would probably be pretty hard to relic with any reasonably good outcome.

An MJT refinish in nitro is more than that, especially if he has to peel off the poly. It is worth it because nitro feels so much better and gets a softer, faster feel very quickly. Maybe it is a body chemistry thing.

 

[TBird1958]

It's Tuesday, I need a II fix!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

George, my apologies, I meant to answer you sooner. The Betty Paige was done thru a sign shop local to me, I like the art quite a bit though the original that a buddy sent me was far better, I can't post it here because she's topless. The wrap itself is "okay" not great, but good for a stage bass, it gets kludgey as it wraps around the edges of the body and it's just never going to look great - certainly not up to your standards. I also would question what effect it might have on a finish other than the indestructible poly that Epi uses.

TLDR;

It looks good from a distance, like some cars with an Earl Schieb paint job!

So this was produced from the original but there was some loss in quality?