Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

I know all about stereo basses - ran a stereo Ric for years, which annoyed pretty much everyone we had anything to do with.

It's the biggest beef my drummer has with our guitarist (lack of simplicity/directness of signal chain) He's somewhat of a purist and considers all that is needed is a great tube amp and a (Fender) connected by a cord. If I showed up and started plugging in a stereo bass - he'd freak-out! But I love my drummer and share his concern - especially when our guitarist has technical issues related, which unfortunately is often. My axiom is use as many pedals etc as you want as long as you can be fully set-up and ready to play on stage (and take down off the stage after) in 5 minutes and everything works as it should during the show. I have 5 pedals in a custom container/stage platform all wired and can be ready to play in 5 minutes.

 

[Korladis]

It's the biggest beef my drummer has with our guitarist (lack of simplicity/directness of signal chain) He's somewhat of a purist and considers all that is needed is a great tube amp and a (Fender) connected by a cord. If I showed up and started plugging in a stereo bass - he'd freak-out! But I love my drummer and share his concern - especially when our guitarist has technical issues related, which unfortunately is often. My axiom is use as many pedals etc as you want as long as you can be fully set-up and ready to play on stage (and take down off the stage after) in 5 minutes and everything works as it should during the show. I have 5 pedals in a custom container/stage platform all wired and can be ready to play in 5 minutes.

Yeah... don't use a complicated setup live until you have all the bugs worked out.

I would love to use a stereo rig, but there just isn't space with Catapult, either physically on stage, or in the mix. Might eventually use one for Dustern, though.

 

[kat888]

Haha!!! I can very well imagine!

A 5U spot-welded sheet steel case with a massive custom toroidal transformer, 2 x 250 MOSfet power amps/massive heat sinks and a stereo valve pre with active EQ/parametric mids going into a pair of over-engineered front ported cabs with Altec 15s. It was the 80s man!

 

[Korladis]

A 5U spot-welded sheet steel case with a massive custom toroidal transformer, 2 x 250 MOSfet power amps/massive heat sinks and a stereo valve pre with active EQ/parametric mids going into a pair of over-engineered front ported cabs with Altec 15s. It was the 80s man!

Compared to that, my setup is simple.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

It has rosewood too. Is THAT a problem??
View attachment 1158247

Only if you think it is but Im looking at it thinking I would have no problem strumming that sweet machine. Very classy

 

[kat888]

It's the biggest beef my drummer has with our guitarist (lack of simplicity/directness of signal chain) He's somewhat of a purist and considers all that is needed is a great tube amp and a (Fender) connected by a cord [...] My axiom is use as many pedals etc as you want as long as you can be fully set-up and ready to play on stage (and take down off the stage after) in 5 minutes and everything works as it should during the show. I have 5 pedals in a custom container/stage platform all wired and can be ready to play in 5 minutes.

I'm a great advocate of an AC30 or Fender Deluxe turned up until it bleeds ... with a nice echo/reverb and an MXR MicroAmp for a bit of an extra push. These guitarist who want to tell the bass player what instrument or amp to use? Bugger that - I'll tell you what to use.

Now I have a head, a cab and a pedal board, which sits in front of the cab (no need to go dancing on pedals mid-song). 2 signal cables, 1 speaker cable, 2 power cables.

 

[KingFace]

I have to assume this has been posted at some point (especially considering the great taste in music that T-Bird players share), but been I've thinking about, and listening to, these guys a lot lately. I had the pleasure of getting to know Sami Yaffa back in the late 80s/early 90s when I lived in LA, and he couldn't have been a sweeter, and more friendly dude.
And a devoted Thunderbird junkie!

(R.I.P. Razzle)

 

[DerekW]

I have to assume this has been posted at some point (especially considering the great taste in music that T-Bird players share), but been I've thinking about, and listening to, these guys a lot lately. I had the pleasure of getting to know Sami Yaffa back in the late 80s/early 90s when I lived in LA, and he couldn't have been a sweeter, and more friendly dude.
And a devoted Thunderbird junkie!

(R.I.P. Razzle)

Eclectic looking bunch. Gotta admit, even as a child of the 80's, I don't think I've ever listened to a single song they did. Wouldn't even know their name if not for the Razzle tragedy.

 

[rodv66]

What I wanted to say was, the pickups in the bolt ons have a pretty good sound, while there is slight variation which can be due to wood and finishing (chunky neck on the more aggressive sounding of the 2 could also have an effect), they both have a sound that works well for what I am doing.

Best way to spread the info that birds are muddy? Go play one at GC with totally dead strings. With fresh strings they are not muddy. They are not like ash/maple instruments, definitely warmer, but not "muddy" by any stretch.

Personally, I find the Epiphone pickups muddier than the Gibsons. I have one with EMGs that sound much crisper. My goth is much darker and bottom heavy, even with new strings. Doesn't mean it sounds bad, just

Eclectic looking bunch. Gotta admit, even as a child of the 80's, I don't think I've ever listened to a single song they did. Wouldn't even know their name if not for the Razzle tragedy.

 

[rodv66]

You're doing yourself a disservice putting so much credence in what anybody on TB has to say. If you want a P, get a P. Find one you like and rock it. I've had my 71 P since 79. I'll be damned if what, for all intents and purposes, a complete stranger has to say effects me. That goes for my new Epi Classic IV, my Squier Jazz, or my Schecter Ultra.

I love my Birds, P bass and Ric. Sometimes, play the same song on each on after another

 

[KingFace]

Eclectic looking bunch. Gotta admit, even as a child of the 80's, I don't think I've ever listened to a single song they did. Wouldn't even know their name if not for the Razzle tragedy.

Eclectic looking AND from Finland!
The album they did right before Razzle was killed, "Two Steps from the Move", (where this song is taken from) was produced by Bob Ezrin, and is, to me at least, an absolutely amazing album.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Oh wow I never seen anything like it before, the Fender conversations have been running wildly around here and Im afraid if we keep it up TBird1958 is gonna give us and rightfully so. This will be my contribution the the non Thunderbird topic and Im done. Look at this! drooldrooldrooldrooldrool

 

[RedVee]

You're doing yourself a disservice putting so much credence in what anybody on TB has to say. If you want a P, get a P. Find one you like and rock it. I've had my 71 P since 79. I'll be damned if what, for all intents and purposes, a complete stranger has to say effects me. That goes for my new Epi Classic IV, my Squier Jazz, or my Schecter Ultra.

Nah, if I want one I'll get one. It's just my desire wanes as their propaganda waxes.

 

[Nocturnal]

I have to assume this has been posted at some point (especially considering the great taste in music that T-Bird players share), but been I've thinking about, and listening to, these guys a lot lately. I had the pleasure of getting to know Sami Yaffa back in the late 80s/early 90s when I lived in LA, and he couldn't have been a sweeter, and more friendly dude.
And a devoted Thunderbird junkie!

(R.I.P. Razzle)

Eclectic looking AND from Finland!
The album they did right before Razzle was killed, "Two Steps from the Move", (where this song is taken from) was produced by Bob Ezrin, and is, to me at least, an absolutely amazing album.

HUGE Hanoi Rocks fan. Discovered them when 'Back to Mystery City' was released and have been hooked ever since. I had a ticket to their show that was scheduled for the Weds after Razzle was killed. I still have the ticket. And Sami used Birds for quite a while back in the 80's so clearly he is a cool mofo.

 

[TBird1958]

Oh wow I never seen anything like it before, the Fender conversations have been running wildly around here and Im afraid if we keep it up TBird1958 is gonna give us and rightfully so. This will be my contribution the the non Thunderbird topic and Im done. Look at this! drooldrooldrooldrooldroolView attachment 1158315

All good, we don't always have to talk Thunderbirds here, only a few of us have actually met in person so conversation needs to run it's course - We're not Jackals, respect everyone and we're fine.

My post regarding 7enders is just my own experience with them, I certainly don't expect everyone to agree. "Play what you love, love what you play" Wish I'd said that first.

 

[theFixer]

HUGE Hanoi Rocks fan. Discovered them when 'Back to Mystery City' was released and have been hooked ever since. I had a ticket to their show that was scheduled for the Weds after Razzle was killed. I still have the ticket. And Sami used Birds for quite a while back in the 80's so clearly he is a cool mofo.

I don't care what the purists say... their version "Up Around the Bend" was ballzdeep!

 

[theFixer]

Eclectic looking bunch. Gotta admit, even as a child of the 80's, I don't think I've ever listened to a single song they did. Wouldn't even know their name if not for the Razzle tragedy.

If you have an ounce of Rock & Roll in your soul... you owe it to yourself to give 'em a thorough examination. The deeper you dig, the more you find out just how big of an impact they had on what would be the future of Rock & Roll. I would say that they're among the most influential unsung heros in Rock & Roll history.

 

[Haji]

Oh wow I never seen anything like it before, the Fender conversations have been running wildly around here and Im afraid if we keep it up TBird1958 is gonna give us and rightfully so. This will be my contribution the the non Thunderbird topic and Im done. Look at this! drooldrooldrooldrooldroolView attachment 1158315

The ESP version is pretty amazing. The LTD version is very good and a great value. I still want one.

 

[Haji]

If you've got a spotify (or prolly any other streaming platform) account, check out more of The Clover Club's stuff. Here's a little sample:

 

[theFixer]

Here's an odd-ball for ya...

Tonika Bass Guitar USSR Soviet Vintage