Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

I would use the Gibson or the Ric, Fender would be a close 3rd. Just incase the band does have the "made in China" stigma. That's my opinion not having heard your basses

Take 'me all. Tell them what you posted above. If you end up using the Epi, they'll know anyway that you're the real deal and will do whatever it takes to fit in.

 

[MCF]

Thanks. I'll find out Tuesday but am pretty certain there was no metastasis.

The stats are certainly in your favor. And grtting the hernia repair done is a major bonus. You'll feel like a millennial in no time. And you and I may be having some serious conversations in twelve to twentyfour months about a bass I want you to build. Your work is incredible.

 

[rodv66]

Take 'me all. Tell them what you posted above. If you end up using the Epi, they'll know anyway that you're the real deal and will do whatever it takes to fit in.[/QUOTE

I asked the lead guitarist if he liked a particular kind of bass. He said he doesn't even remember what brand the old bassist used. All he said was it sounded ok. I looked at one of the vids and it was a Schecter

 

[rodv66]

I would use the Gibson or the Ric, Fender would be a close 3rd. Just incase the band does have the "made in China" stigma. That's my opinion not having heard your basses

The Epiphone had a Gibson truss rod cover plate. I took it off and painted it black. Think it looks really cool with the entire head stock black

 

[bizzybass]

Take 'me all. Tell them what you posted above. If you end up using the Epi, they'll know anyway that you're the real deal and will do whatever it takes to fit in.

Its the player, not the bass.

 

[Korladis]

I don't get it, I love bridge pickups. But a good old angry p bass grind is good too.

But my birds aren't "real", just the epi+ bolt on pickups. I actually like the bridge more if I am going to use just one, it is a tad " ray" ish. Sometimes I use the neck only, but most of the time it is either bridge full neck 8, vice versa, or both up for the scoop.

I could see just using the neck, but not for the band I use them in.

I should add that my main #1 for many years was a jazz, and it applies to the foundation I got last year big time, gotta have that bridge pickup in the mix.

Last night at my show with Dustern, I used just the bridge pickup by itself, just the neck pickup by itself, and both pickups together in series.

All in one song.

Hey guys, Sweetwater posted some pics of the Epiphone Vintage Pros!

Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage PRO Bass - Tobacco Sunburst

I'm going to pull the trigger on a burst... Looking forward to joining the club.

Oh my.

Did someone mention these? The link still works for me. Is that nickel?

View attachment 1155284View attachment 1155285

drool

No she won't. that's why ya gotta bring it home when she's gone, & just slip it into the collection. When she eventually sez sup'm... ya just say, "What... naw... I've had that for YEARS"...

That's the kind of thing that will seriously reduce my respect for someone.

Both lying to one's partner and also assuming that one's partner is stupid. If someone's relationship has that degree of dishonesty and lack of trust, they should just break up.

I dont have to explain unless Im questioned but Im kind of running out of excuses. Truth is I dont really "need" but GAS is a son of a gun.

The only answer you need is "Because I wanted it, music is my passion." That's what someone signs up for when they date a musician.

Could be worse, anyway. Your passion could be restoring old Rolls Royces.

View attachment 1155728

Yes or no?

No. On some bursts, black works, and on some it doesn't.

After years of regret of selling my '63 Gibson Thunderbird II to buy a Neumann U47 mic for my studio, I finally have replaced it with a 2009 Thunderbird IV which I modified to be a '63. I replaced all the black hardware with nickel. I replaced the bridge with a chrome Babicz FCH3PT4CHP bridge, chrome Grover tuners, all screws with nickel, Got Seymour to have MJ build me some custom shop '63 vintage alnico V pickups (nickel) and added nickel pu rings and changed
the knobs to gold.
View attachment 1156535 View attachment 1156536 View attachment 1156538

Very nice mods.

Well, if you want to pick nits, the instrument is played with the strings parallel to the ground, so it would be a greater than bass or a less than bass.

I don't think I've met anyone who plays with the strings parallel to the ground. Usually it's a 30-45 degree angle.

Sending a musician out the door of an audition over branding is as sad as an ad that reads "must have long hair". So very very very sad and low. I have a Squier P that sounded fantastic out of the store and then I upgraded the pickups(not necessary), the tone and volume pots (not necessary), lowered the action and added heavy gauge nickle wound strings and it sounds angry as hell with a very deep bottom end. So unfair to lump a musician by brand name.

Yeah, if someone rejects you from an audition on the basis of the name the headstock bears, it's probably douchebags who you wouldn't really want to play with anyway.

I have Rickenbackers, an Epiphone (my T-bird), and a Peavey. I play all of them regularly and like all of them a lot.

I wish I could buy a 5er, If my guitarist would buy a 7 string I would buy a 5er at a moments notice. I havent bought a 5er because Im sure I will get spoiled on the top string and my guitarist wouldnt be able to achieve the same lows. Come to think of it me and her almost never play the same.......wait a minute!. Damn!, tell me how this 5 string works. We are a three piece band and the drummer and I create most of our sound while my guitarist paints in the colors, Wouldnt this be the ideal circumstance for a 5er?. Ive been playing bass since 87/88 and Ive honestly never thought about it.

The 5th string of a 5-string is usually a low B.

Also who cares what the guitarist is playing? One of my guitarists in Catapult plays a 7 (the other has as well, for the first album), but I've played 4s the entire time.

WHOA!!!
Found this in my local Craigslistings...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Very nice. Had I the money, an RD Artist would be in my bass arsenal.

Our electrician where I work gave me some flat-black gaffer's tape but I haven't used it yet. I'm concerned the edges will "leak" a little of the tape's adhesive, and stick me up when playing. It is cloth, after all...

The contact paper is interesting. Don't get too sweaty, no...

I have flat black gaffer's tap on the back of my Peavey's neck, at all the same fret positions as the fretboard dots.

So, I have major audition for an original band here in Jersey that has their stuff together and really great music, following, and high quality gigs.
My current band is on standby because the singer has gone almost completely deaf in one ear. Luckily, not cancer or a tumor, but has no idea when or if he can ever sing again. So, I'm looking at options. I was trying to decide what bass to bring and choices are

Gibson 2007 thunderbird
Epiphone thunderbird, with EMGs. No idea of year, got in an estate sale
Rickenbacker 4001, 1971
2016 Fender Steve Harris P bass.

I asked my wife to listen to each, because she is very practical and has an incredible ability to see little details that I often miss.

She watched two of their vids on youtube first to get their sound and then I played each for her.
Results
Fender had too much treble, even though she said it was the loudest, she really hates it.
Gibson, thought had too much growl.
Rickenbacker, she really liked.
Epiphone was her favorite. She said it had a deep punch and clear tone. Also said it fit the mix for their songs best. She also said birds really looked like what a rock band should have.
The funniest thing is that the Epiphone was by far the cheapest. It was the only one stringed with Dunlop strings designed for drop D tuning and these guys play drop D. The Gibson had them, but repair shop changed the nut and put on regular strings. My set of drop downs for that are in the mail, and not sure if the regular strings give off some distortion due to being rubbery. No matter, I was surprised. Thought the Gibson or Fender would get picked.

Personally I would take the Rickenbacker, maybe with the Gibson or Epi as backup.

 

[TBird1958]

Jeez you guys, I go away to have dinner and buy a new headlight for the Subie and there's like 7 new pages??!!?

Carlo, best to you for a healthy, safe recovery.

 

[Nocturnal]

Actually I have my eye on a goth right now but it would be a mail order purchase so no opportunity to try before I buy. With that in mind, how would a Goth compare to my Gold Anniversary Gibson Bird?
Are they voiced the same?
I know the Goth is bolt on, does it weigh a lot more than my golden bird? Neck dive?
It's made in China, is that an issue?
Any particular watch outs with the Goth?

FWIW - I played one in a GC about 5 years ago and that was what turned me on to the TBird world. I remember loving the sound and feel but I don't actually recall many of the specifics, so any comparative info would be of great help.

I don't have any problem with the Epi bolt-neck models. I do not think they sound like their Gibson relatives tho. The Epi's have their own sound and to me its less focused than the Gibson. Not a bad thing, just my take on how they sound different.

Yeah, in 23 years you may be lucky enough to have a total prostatectomy like I did Monday along with double hernia surgery. Life just gets better and better!

Holy Crap Carlo!! I hope you have a swift recovery!

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

So, I have major audition for an original band here in Jersey that has their stuff together and really great music, following, and high quality gigs.
My current band is on standby because the singer has gone almost completely deaf in one ear. Luckily, not cancer or a tumor, but has no idea when or if he can ever sing again. So, I'm looking at options. I was trying to decide what bass to bring and choices are

Gibson 2007 thunderbird
Epiphone thunderbird, with EMGs. No idea of year, got in an estate sale
Rickenbacker 4001, 1971
2016 Fender Steve Harris P bass.

I asked my wife to listen to each, because she is very practical and has an incredible ability to see little details that I often miss.

She watched two of their vids on youtube first to get their sound and then I played each for her.
Results
Fender had too much treble, even though she said it was the loudest, she really hates it.
Gibson, thought had too much growl.
Rickenbacker, she really liked.
Epiphone was her favorite. She said it had a deep punch and clear tone. Also said it fit the mix for their songs best. She also said birds really looked like what a rock band should have.
The funniest thing is that the Epiphone was by far the cheapest. It was the only one stringed with Dunlop strings designed for drop D tuning and these guys play drop D. The Gibson had them, but repair shop changed the nut and put on regular strings. My set of drop downs for that are in the mail, and not sure if the regular strings give off some distortion due to being rubbery. No matter, I was surprised. Thought the Gibson or Fender would get picked.

The clarity of the Epi Bird's pickups are brilliant, specifically on the bottom 2 strings. Crystal clear and sharp high notes

 

[Count Bassie]

Yeah, in 23 years you may be lucky enough to have a total prostatectomy like I did Monday along with double hernia surgery. Life just gets better and better!

I felt funny liking it too, but I can appreciate the attitude.

Good vibes your way Carlo, I'm watching that prostate thing too. Sounds hopeful, your on the "Good words going upward" list...

 

[GBassNorth]

So, I have major audition for an original band here in Jersey that has their stuff together and really great music, following, and high quality gigs.
My current band is on standby because the singer has gone almost completely deaf in one ear. Luckily, not cancer or a tumor, but has no idea when or if he can ever sing again. So, I'm looking at options. I was trying to decide what bass to bring and choices are

Gibson 2007 thunderbird
Epiphone thunderbird, with EMGs. No idea of year, got in an estate sale
Rickenbacker 4001, 1971
2016 Fender Steve Harris P bass.

I asked my wife to listen to each, because she is very practical and has an incredible ability to see little details that I often miss.

She watched two of their vids on youtube first to get their sound and then I played each for her.
Results
Fender had too much treble, even though she said it was the loudest, she really hates it.
Gibson, thought had too much growl.
Rickenbacker, she really liked.
Epiphone was her favorite. She said it had a deep punch and clear tone. Also said it fit the mix for their songs best. She also said birds really looked like what a rock band should have.
The funniest thing is that the Epiphone was by far the cheapest. It was the only one stringed with Dunlop strings designed for drop D tuning and these guys play drop D. The Gibson had them, but repair shop changed the nut and put on regular strings. My set of drop downs for that are in the mail, and not sure if the regular strings give off some distortion due to being rubbery. No matter, I was surprised. Thought the Gibson or Fender would get picked.

If it were me, I'd take the P bass as my main bass and the Epi as a backup. That'll get you in the door and off to a good start with the sound guy. Then at some point when you think its right, start favoring the Epi and see if the rest of the band agrees with the direction.

Like it or not, bands are made up of individuals with personalities and there are few individuals out there with personalities more rigid than performers personalities. Showing up with a Fender should get you in the door. Blowing them away with an even better sounding Epi should seal the deal.

Starting with the Epi may mean that you're auditioning or playing for some band members that might have a closed mind and equally closed ears making acceptance a real uphill battle regardless of how good you think you sound. It's a shame but it's real. Of course you could always refuse to play with cats like that, but I find its much easier to coax a cat than force it.

 

[theFixer]

I use Fiebing's leather dye both to 'ebonize' rosewood (top neck)

and with extra application to black out dots (on the white MAX).

Sharpie also works, touch up as necessary.

HEY!!! Where did that non-reverse model come from? That's not on your website!

 

[theFixer]

If it were me, I'd take the P bass as my main bass and the Epi as a backup. That'll get you in the door and off to a good start with the sound guy. Then at some point when you think its right, start favoring the Epi and see if the rest of the band agrees with the direction.

Like it or not, bands are made up of individuals with personalities and there are few individuals out there with personalities more rigid than performers personalities. Showing up with a Fender should get you in the door. Blowing them away with an even better sounding Epi should seal the deal.

Starting with the Epi may mean that you're auditioning or playing for some band members that might have a closed mind and equally closed ears making acceptance a real uphill battle regardless of how good you think you sound. It's a shame but it's real. Of course you could always refuse to play with cats like that, but I find is much easier to coax a cat than force it.

Damn Son! I just got me an ejumucation! Sounds like you've been playing' the game for a while...

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

If it were me, I'd take the P bass as my main bass and the Epi as a backup. That'll get you in the door and off to a good start with the sound guy. Then at some point when you think its right, start favoring the Epi and see if the rest of the band agrees with the direction.

Like it or not, bands are made up of individuals with personalities and there are few individuals out there with personalities more rigid than performers personalities. Showing up with a Fender should get you in the door. Blowing them away with an even better sounding Epi should seal the deal.

Starting with the Epi may mean that you're auditioning or playing for some band members that might have a closed mind and equally closed ears making acceptance a real uphill battle regardless of how good you think you sound. It's a shame but it's real. Of course you could always refuse to play with cats like that, but I find is much easier to coax a cat than force it.

Well said Dude, well said

 

[silky smoove]

By "reflector knobs", I'll make the assumption that you're talking about their Top Hats (a favorite of mine. I put 'em on everything!). Unfortunately... I've only ever seen them with knurled post holes.

Yep. Like these:
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[theFixer]

Well, if you have three kids, then the past 22 years of your life have been blessed more than you think. It is hard to look at what is good in your life when a long term relationship ends. It is painful and does suck, but just have to get through the stages of grief and be stronger than you think you can be.

Maaaaan... you said a mouthful there...

 

[kat888]

HEY!!! Where did that non-reverse model come from? That's not on your website!

There's a secret door.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

There's a secret door.

You have to ask for it, its like Wendy's has the Grand Slam burger but its not on the menu. What the hell right?, you find out about it on the street in some seedy district after hours from one who doesnt even possess enough teeth to bite into one or enough brain to consider what to do with it if it should fall into ones possession.......what the hell?.........right?..........am I driving ok?.......Damn!.

 

[theFixer]

My marriage broke down 6 years ago. If had known then what I know now, I would have dodged that bullet. But, once you are in the path and can't avoid it, you take the hit, deal with it and move on.

So, I got a great daughter out of it. I now have the time and means to take up a number of hobbies that would have been off limits (or at least on the bitch list) before - I kayak regularly during summer, I ski regularly in winter, and last year I decided to start learning music and have acquired a series of basses. All activities I share with my daughter. There is no way I am letting the ex continue to control my life. It is freedom. And the freedom is great as I have seen the alternative.

Within the span of about a year & a half, I lost my Mom & Dad both to cancer, and I lost my home, wife, fatherhood, and job, and I'm sorry to go all "country song" on ya... but I even lost my truck & my dogs. After that, I crawled into the bottom of a vodka bottle & lived alone there for a year. THAT was a BIIIIIIIIIIIG mistake. All that did was take all that loneliness and grief, and amplify it. I'm livin' at a friends place now...I have a bass & an amp now... I have some AWESOME online friends now... there is light at the end of the tunnel NOW!

 

[theFixer]

So, you got children out of it and you're complaining ?! Not all of us get that, even.

I'm crawling' outa the hole man. I reckon ya hafta appreciate the glass, before you can worry about whether it's half full or half empty...