Thunderbird Club

[kat888]

@Dadagoboi - Gainesville? So you know the man who has 'never played an unneccesary' note, and the rest of them too I would expect.

 

[kat888]

@JJR58, I see where you are going with your new avatar pic, but you aren't picking your teeth with a bayonet!

 

[theFixer]

No fecking way. In March '68 (coincidentally during the Tet Offensive} I declined Uncle Sam's 'invitation' to go kill people fighting for their freedom and haven't seen a war since worth fighting. My dad on the OTOH was drafted in July '41 and served in England, N.Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. Almost 40 months overseas getting back to the US in Sept '45. He told me and my brother, "I'LL drive you to Canada if it comes to that."

Luckily it didn't. Like the rest of the musicians in Gainesville, Florida, I was happy to declare myself an 'active homosexual' at my induction physical. Thirty five guys got on the bus to be inducted in Jacksonville that morning. I was the only one who completed the round trip in the afternoon.

So by "active"... you mean like... you jogged, rode a bicycle, and played sports & stuff?

I appreciate the sacrifices your family made... regardless of the circumstances. It's impossible for that to have been an easy time for any of you. It's easy to see where you got your badassery from!

Gainsville? That's Tom Petty country!

 

[godofthunder59]

Then you certainly would not enjoy the weather here in NY right now, just nasty humid........................
I'm like you bro, can't handle anything much over 75dg's myself.

And Hiwatts are in a league of their own Fixer.
Quite awesome they are!

It took me years to get them, I wanted Hiwatts back I the mid 70's the closest I got was a Hiwatt 2150 (2x15) cab and a Marshall 100w bass. Hiwatt gear was nowhere to be found in upstate NY. The Internet changed that. My Hiwatt DR201 is from Slade's back line (thank you Nomis ) my 2150 cabinet shipped in from Texas (thanks Leslie ) onE of my 4x12s from a friend in Canada.

 

[JJR58]

It took me years to get them, I wanted Hiwatts back I the mid 70's the closest I got was a Hiwatt 2150 (2x15) cab and a Marshall 100w bass. Hiwatt gear was nowhere to be found in upstate NY. The Internet changed that. My Hiwatt DR201 is from Slade's back line (thank you Nomis ) my 2150 cabinet shipped in from Texas (thanks Leslie ) onE of my 4x12s from a friend in Canada.

That is very cool!
Always loved the Hiwatt tone, especially with their cabs.

 

[JJR58]

@JJR58, I see where you are going with your new avatar pic, but you aren't picking your teeth with a bayonet!

, @kat888, This is as close as I can get to an accurate representation, for now.
Depends on who I have to lean on in the future.

 

[godofthunder59]

That is very cool!
Always loved the Hiwatt tone, especially with their cabs.

Slade auctioned off their gear in 2006 for charity. 9 Hiwatt DR201s were on the block. My friends in the UK grabbed one for me and held it for a year till I could pay for it.

That is very cool!
Always loved the Hiwatt tone, especially with their cabs.

 

[theFixer]

View attachment 1158585 I bought this off ebay it had no Gibson parts and a failed replaced headstock. The bass was originally a Thunderbird II but someone hacked a Bill Lawrence humbucker into the bridge position. I redid the headstock repair, pulled the BL pickup and put a plate over the chiseled gouge. A good bass friend sold me a original pickup and I bought original parts of ebay and installed my Badbird Bridge. The bass is my main stage bass, takes the heat off my first NR bought in '77 and others in my collection. It's a warhorse for sure!

First... as someone else here said recently, I love seeing new life breathed into an old piece like that!

Second... I certainly don't mean to offend anyone... but I don't have a lot of respect for "relic-ed" or "battle-worn" versions of new instruments. Just look at all the history in that beast of yours! You can't simulate mojo... you gotta earn that s#!t!

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Second... I certainly don't mean to offend anyone... but I don't have a lot of respect for "relic-ed" or "battle-worn" versions of new instruments. Just look at all the history in that beast of yours! You can't simulate mojo... you gotta earn that s#!t!

THIS
I hate "relic'd" guitars and basses. It's stupid to buy a new guitar just to have the old look. There's no character or mojo in it. No life or story. Just buy a new instrument and just PLAY THE HELL OUTA IT.
Not only that I feel it has negatively impacted the buying side of vintage instruments.

 

[godofthunder59]

First... as someone else here said recently, I love seeing new life breathed into an old piece like that!
Some is mine, most came with it. Many think I should restore it. Restoration is my thing. Changes made, nicks, dents are part of a pieces history. I am leaving this one alone, warts and all

Second... I certainly don't mean to offend anyone... but I don't have a lot of respect for "relic-ed" or "battle-worn" versions of new instruments. Just look at all the history in that beast of yours! You can't simulate mojo... you gotta earn that s#!t!

 

[JJR58]

Slade auctioned off their gear in 2006 for charity. 9 Hiwatt DR201s were on the block. My friends in the UK grabbed one for me and held it for a year till I could pay for it.

Lucky man!
Besides, they are in general, hard to find.
And expensive.

 

[theFixer]

At least you can program a drum machine, sometimes I sure wish I could program my drummer.

Speaking as a veteran drummer... I have these 3 pieces of advice:

1) Make him/her sit down with Charlie Watts until you KNOW he/she can count to 4, and finish a song at the same tempo at which it was started.

2) NEVER let a drummer play when they're drunk or high (ok... maybe at a party with friends or sup'm... but you know what I'm sayin').

3) Bring an entire truck load of boots with you to all rehearsals and performances. You will likely need those to shove up his/her a$$ until numbers 1 & 2 from above are deeply entrenched into said drummer's subconscious! (I haven't played in 15 years, & I'm STILL crappin' boots!)

If those 3 steps fail... I'm afraid you have found a non-drummer. If you should encounter one of these dangerous creatures, it will be important for you and your band mates to work together to hastily remove him/her from the premises (flogging optional). It is unknown if these creatures are contagious... but it is simply not a risk worth taking! Proceed with caution.

 

[theFixer]

I left the added volume knob, bit of a joke, the first Explorer Bass had three knobs, one volume was just filling a hole , now when sound guys ask me to turn down I fiddle with the nonfunctional volume, gets a thumbs up every time.

Hold on... I gotta write that down...

 

[theFixer]

It took me years to get them, I wanted Hiwatts back I the mid 70's the closest I got was a Hiwatt 2150 (2x15) cab and a Marshall 100w bass. Hiwatt gear was nowhere to be found in upstate NY. The Internet changed that. My Hiwatt DR201 is from Slade's back line (thank you Nomis ) my 2150 cabinet shipped in from Texas (thanks Leslie ) onE of my 4x12s from a friend in Canada.

Well... I'll keep my eyes peeled. If I come across any Hiwatt bass equipment, I'll let you know!

I'm envisioning a sound similar to an Acoustic 360 rig. Am I close?

 

[JIO]

No fecking way. In March '68 (coincidentally during the Tet Offensive} I declined Uncle Sam's 'invitation' to go kill people fighting for their freedom and haven't seen a war since worth fighting. My dad on the OTOH was drafted in July '41 and served in England, N.Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. Almost 40 months overseas getting back to the US in Sept '45. He told me and my brother, "I'LL drive you to Canada if it comes to that."

Luckily it didn't. Like the rest of the musicians in Gainesville, Florida, I was happy to declare myself an 'active homosexual' at my induction physical. Thirty five guys got on the bus to be inducted in Jacksonville that morning. I was the only one who completed the round trip in the afternoon.

I sat in my art school dorm hall with fellow potential draftees listening to (the radio? - I can't actually recall now how we received this info) - when they announced the last draft #'s before ending it. Friends/fellow students had low #'s (draft notice) - mine was safely high/above the cut-off #. There was a few ways they dodged that bullet - starvation (to be critically under weight at the physical), underwear full of and a few other 'creative' tacts... which all worked. I just heard a whole program about the Tet Offensive - it was a massacre for both sides as initially the US troops were ill prepared for the secret massing of Vietnamise troops/armament which the generals failed to see. They sent US troops into situations where they were mowed down and the generals wouldn't accept it was happening and keep sending more men to die. War is not ever the answer.

 

[theFixer]

THIS
I hate "relic'd" guitars and basses. It's stupid to buy a new guitar just to have the old look. There's no character or mojo in it. No life or story. Just buy a new instrument and just PLAY THE HELL OUTA IT.
Not only that I feel it has negatively impacted the buying side of vintage instruments.

I feel the exact same way. The only reason I have an interest in wrapping my hands around one right now, is because someone here mentioned that the Road-worn P-bass has a beefier neck than the standard.

 

[theFixer]

I sat in my art school dorm hall with fellow potential draftees listening to (the radio? - I can't actually recall now how we received this info) - when they announced the last draft #'s before ending it. Friends/fellow students had low #'s (draft notice) - mine was safely high/above the cut-off #. There was a few ways they dodged that bullet - starvation (to be critically under weight at the physical), underwear full of and a few other 'creative' tacts... which all worked. I just heard a whole program about the Tet Offensive - it was a massacre for both sides as initially the US troops were ill prepared for the secret massing of Vietnamise troops/armament which the generals failed to see. They sent US troops into situations where they were mowed down and the generals wouldn't accept it was happening and keep sending more men to die. War is not ever the answer.

Maybe you guys have already heard the story... but, when Greg Allman's time came to "answer the call", big brother Dwayne threw a foot-shootin' party for him!

 

[Stevis]

Flatbed truck, over 100, Gainesville, FL, July '74...'55 Precision.

I hope you still own that '55 P!

 

[JIO]

I was surprised when he busted out the NR on the r40 tour. Usually Alex changes guitars almost every song and geddy has just a handful of jazz basses. The R40 tour was like he went on a bass binge and had to justify to his wife that he actually plays all of them I had video of almost the whole tour closer but that phone got stolen

Hah! ... "honey, is that another '64 Thunderbird bass you just bought? You never play the other 6 you already have - why in the world do you need another one?"

 

[theFixer]

Flatbed truck, over 100, Gainesville, FL, July '74...'55 Precision.

MAN!!! What a cool old pic!