• 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

#327,241
Having lived on a sailboat for 20 years I ddn't have a lot of room for different basses and now I have the luxury of trying my different instruments back to back for comparison-

Regarding the basses my general favorites overall sound-wise are my Candy Cola 07 Jazz, 1950's Original Blonde Precision. and my two MJS pickups-equipped 1985 Aria Pro II. And I mean plugging straight into the amp without any music accompaniment. Ergonomically the Fenders are somewhat easier to play. I attribute this to neck profiles, radii and slightly lower actions. But the Aria Pro II's are still pleasant to play with their 33 inch scales.

The black Aria Pro II has what Mike Smythe of MJS calls double-barred single coils that sound similar to a Fender Jazz but also can emulate a Rickenbacker.

tempImage671rrg.png


The white one- equipped with a split-single coil at the neck and a dual coil hum bucker configuration in the bridge sounds like a Precision but with a less boomy more focused tone- On a side note the Ibanez GSR 200W has a nice PJ growl and is a good little bass for 200 USD- my only bass with a PJ setup. Btw, that's my closet with more instruments than clothes- priorities, priorities...

tempImageYqQeoM.png


Then there's my G2 Thunderbird which deserves it's own separate post!
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Count Bassie, RedVee and 6 others
#327,243
Regarding my G2 Thunderbird, having had it for a year and a half, it may not be my impromptu pick up bass but will say that it's the closest thing action-wise and elegance to playing a Les Paul Black Beauty Custom.

Sound-wise there is is this unique, cool ambient, latent growl behind the clean when played with both pickups but with the bridge higher in the mix. I love it and plan to use this one quite a bit for recording and live playing. It's just a bit long and unwieldy when I'm parked at my workstation-

I definitely don't have any buyer's remorse regarding this one-

tempImageUsoYPR.png
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Count Bassie, RedVee and 6 others
#327,246
ectoflanger said:
Thank you for your kind words and condolences-

So, the Jazz color is what Fender called Candy Cola which is a pretty shade of a deeper red than Fiesta or Candy Apple. No longer offered- but I managed to snag a 2011 60th Anniversary Precision in the same color but with the stock white pick guard.

The 07 Jazz came with the aftermarket tortoise shell pick guard (along with the stock white one) and I believe that's what makes the Candy Cola pop-

View attachment 7329059

View attachment 7329060View attachment 7329061

Thought about getting one for the Precision but Fender originals are pricey (around 65 USD and up). Aftermarket ones are cheaper but they don't have the relief notches allowing trussrod adjustments without having to remove the neck. But then again I could get my luthier friend to groove out the notch for a nominal fee such as a lunch at the local taqueria -

Do you think it's worth the trouble to make a pick guard swap?
Click to expand...
I'll post some pics of my 67 TBird; one w/original PG; two w/ custom.
(Only pic I still have w/ original)
0424181005-00.jpg
Custom PG from "Pickguardian"-close-up in avatar.
IMG_0248.jpg 0702180916-00.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Albert Ross, Count Bassie, RedVee and 10 others
#327,247
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, dagrev, ectoflanger and 3 others
#327,253
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: /\/\3phist0, Count Bassie, dagrev and 6 others
#327,254
At this time, I can't see committing to a band until we fly back to my parents' home in Florida and bring back a second vehicle for mom to drive when I'm away-

You know how being in a band is like being married-

So I'm working on some covers that I could play and sing solo at the local coffee shop- btw singing and playing at the same time is difficult for me and nigh impossible depending on the song- but I have a few that I may be able to pull off-

For guitar, my fist choice is Dave Mason's version of All Along the Watchtower. Makes me long for a Firebird V or VII equipped with a vibrato- too pricey for me at this time.



Another one would be Jobim's Wave. a bit more complex but no vocals-

And I have an original instrumental composition though not quite completed -

At Christmas time I would add an instrumental version of Greensleeves

For bass and vocals I would do For Someone Special by the Doobie Brothers. Originally written and sung by bassist TIran Porter (and it shows!)



Eventually I might be able to coax a keyboardist friend to do the Fender Rhodes part-

Stone Cold Sober by Crawler - so souful and for me, relatable -


Btw, it was rejected by my drummer buddy as a cover song because he didn't think we could find a guitarist up to the task-

David Gilmour's version of Unicorn's No Way Out of Here with Rick Wills on bass-



Often rejected by musician friends as being too somber for a club gig- but it has such a cool bass line!
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Gaolee, MCF, Count Bassie and 5 others
#327,255
TBird1958 said:
I was definitely full of the **** that night, we were opening for another band and while I'm not competitive when it comes to music, but in this situation I get pretty wound up and really wanted to play a good show, I had their set list before hand and deliberately choose stuff that was a little off from what '80s cover bands usually do.

20tth Century Boy
You really got me
Tie your mother down
Red Skies
Words
I will follow
ACDC
Goody Two Shoes
Lets go Crazy
Just like Heaven
Major Tom
7 Nation Army
Should I stay or should I go
Blister
London Calling
Strength
Sanctuary
Rain
Dancing with tears
Personal Jesus
Rebel yell
Ballroom Blitz
Crazy Train
Click to expand...
That's a cool set list... See, I was right. 🙂
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, GBassNorth, RedVee and 1 other person

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back