Thunderbird Club

[ectoflanger]

Isn't that the truth. I played a Flying V guitar once. Could not get it off fast enough. Weird like a Steinberger, but worse.

I love them! Oddly I bought one, a Flying V, perhaps six months after I told a friend that's one guitar I've never had the desire to own. I like them because they not only sound good, but are lightweight compared to other guitars, Now I did reconcile myself to the fact that you need to wear a strap when sitting down with one- never found a comfortable way to sit with one without a strap to support it-

I like Explorers but feel a little awkward compared to a V- but they sound good too and have a real rocking look-

Meet Helga and Freyja - the twin sisters of chaos- (but they got on well with the vibrophone)

Steinbergers? I hated them because I thought they were ugly, and everyone famous and his brother were playing them as a fad in the early-mid 80's. But I eventually got one of them due to a YouTube video that showcased how good they sounded, at least to me-

But in order to thwart this GAS I told my luthier friend that the only way I would ever own an L-series would be if it were an unlined frestess 5. Who would've thought that within the next two years, one popped up on eBay?

So there you have it. Gotta tell you that the action is amazing and the high output pickups with the HAZ electronics will make it shriek just by casually swiping my hand across the strings or deliver harmonics, which I once did accidentally while working on a song, and decided to incorporate the effect.

Guess that goes for never say never-

 

[ectoflanger]

Played a 5 string fretted Thumb Bass on loan for a few weeks some years ago, what a serious instrument....yours is breathtaking, congrats.

Thank you! I waited six years to get mine after the initial "GAS" pains.

 

[dagrev]

I love them! Oddly I bought one, a Flying V, perhaps six months after I told a friend that's one guitar I've never had the desire to own. I like them because they not only sound good, but are lightweight compared to other guitars, Now I did reconcile myself to the fact that you need to wear a strap when sitting down with one- never found a comfortable way to sit with one without a strap to support it-

I like Explorers but feel a little awkward compared to a V- but they sound good too and have a real rocking look-

Meet Helga and Freyja - the twin sisters of chaos- (but they got on well with the vibrophone)

View attachment 7343481

Steinbergers? I hated them because I thought they were ugly, and everyone famous and his brother were playing them as a fad in the early-mid 80's. But I eventually got one of them due to a YouTube video that showcased how good they sounded, at least to me-

But in order to thwart this GAS I told my luthier friend that the only way I would ever own an L-series would be if it were an unlined frestess 5. Who would've thought that within the next two years, one popped up on eBay?

View attachment 7343491

So there you have it. Gotta tell you that the action is amazing and the high output pickups with the HAZ electronics will make it shriek just by casually swiping my hand across the strings or deliver harmonics, which I once did accidentally while working on a song, and decided to incorporate the effect.

Guess that goes for never say never-

The V and the Explorer create drool. Mostly the Explorer. I might be tempted to break the law for that one. I never seriously contemplated moving to guitar over the years, but if I did I would rock one of those and a Firebird. I have a Strat but only "play" it these days when I want a serious dose of humility.

 

[Engle]

Chuck gave me this tailpiece a few years ago. I’m thinking of adding it to the Swanky Spider to allow for fitting long scale strings. What do ya’ll think about the look?

 

[ectoflanger]

Have to post this little thing here because I am still pretty blown away by how unbelievably light this Markbass 58R102P is. The head and cab together feel like somebody's papiér maché project, or maybe an empty cardboard box. It's hilarious, I still chuckle when I have to "move it".
And it sounds very good- it's got a Markbass sig to it, but I didn't mind it. I got dialed in in short order.
Thunderbird goes through it tomorrow, playing an afternoon gig out in Foster/the sticks. Biker bar, fun place.
View attachment 7343095

Definitely for me to consider for the future- my TC Electronics RS210 weighs 45 lbs. the Genz-Benz 6,0T is light though-

There is this I company from Italy (forgot their name) that makes lightweight cabs in various configurations, along with amps but they’re very expensive-

 

[ectoflanger]

The V and the Explorer create drool. Mostly the Explorer. I might be tempted to break the law for that one. I never seriously contemplated moving to guitar over the years, but if I did I would rock one of those and a Firebird. I have a Strat but only "play" it these days when I want a serious dose of humility.

I could say that the purchases were partly to entice a guitarist to join our band as I would be the ptimary bassist with only one original song, a hard rock/metal one that I might play guitar on. I Have already been working on that with the V formulating power chord progressions and trying to hash out a lead guitar break-

It sounds great going into my Vox AC4TV 4 watt combo and sounded great going into a guitarist friend’s 50 watt Marshall 1987X with a 4 x12 cab with Greenbacks

Anyhow it’s a dream to play with the set of 9’s- not sure if they’re extra lites or hybrids with bigger low strings-

But I much prefer playing bass in an ensemble

 

[ectoflanger]

The V and the Explorer create drool. Mostly the Explorer. I might be tempted to break the law for that one. I never seriously contemplated moving to guitar over the years, but if I did I would rock one of those and a Firebird. I have a Strat but only "play" it these days when I want a serious dose of humility.

On a humorous note, Freyja was named after the Norse goddess of war, death and marriage- makes one wonder what kind of domestic life theat old bard from the dark ages had!

Helga on the hand, means blessed or holy one in Old Norse-

 

[dagrev]

On a humorous note, Freyja was named after the Norse goddess of war, death and marriage- makes one wonder what kind of domestic life theat old bard from the dark ages had!

Helga on the hand, means blessed or holy one in Old Norse-

Well, when my grandfather remarried after my grmother passed away, he got marriage, war and death with that one. Thing was he was mean as a snake at times and a hard RR dude from the depression, but he met his match in her. We're pretty sure she did-in a previous husband or two before him. No one had a clue as to what he saw in her. But she was nice--before they got married. Her name was LIz, but Freyja would fit just fine.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

hmmm.....aren't you the one taking this very TBird related pic?....
View attachment 7343063

I just realized that there are seven Thunderbirds visible in this photo - one for each of us shown.

And how fitting that the young Thunderbirds are drawn to me!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I just ordered another one of these Levy's bass straps in Extra Long - 4.5 inches wide x 63 inches long - for the place in Florida having left the black one in Texas because I didn't feel like checking luggage on the Southwest flight to Pensacola- now they're charging 80 dollars for one bag!

View attachment 7343437

in order to tame this beast with its heavy bubinga body and ovangkol neck-

View attachment 7343442

I already had a black one which I previously purchased to tame this beast- whose bubinga body and neck thru wenge is also quite heavy -

View attachment 7343449

It also worked quite well with my G2 Thunderbird- I'm about 6 foot tall and got plenty of length with mine- but you may indeed want to go with something that extends to 65 inches. However I don't have a brand to recommend that is that long-

I've been really happy with the Dunlop / I LOVE DUST straps. Of course, they're only 2" wide. I chose colorful and eye-catching modern art or tasteful leather. At least for now.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I love them! Oddly I bought one, a Flying V, perhaps six months after I told a friend that's one guitar I've never had the desire to own. I like them because they not only sound good, but are lightweight compared to other guitars, Now I did reconcile myself to the fact that you need to wear a strap when sitting down with one- never found a comfortable way to sit with one without a strap to support it-

I like Explorers but feel a little awkward compared to a V- but they sound good too and have a real rocking look-

Meet Helga and Freyja - the twin sisters of chaos- (but they got on well with the vibrophone)

View attachment 7343481

Steinbergers? I hated them because I thought they were ugly, and everyone famous and his brother were playing them as a fad in the early-mid 80's. But I eventually got one of them due to a YouTube video that showcased how good they sounded, at least to me-

But in order to thwart this GAS I told my luthier friend that the only way I would ever own an L-series would be if it were an unlined frestess 5. Who would've thought that within the next two years, one popped up on eBay?

View attachment 7343491

So there you have it. Gotta tell you that the action is amazing and the high output pickups with the HAZ electronics will make it shriek just by casually swiping my hand across the strings or deliver harmonics, which I once did accidentally while working on a song, and decided to incorporate the effect.

Guess that goes for never say never-

I had an Epiphone Goth Flying V guitar for several years. It was a beast to play. Great for metal, punk, etc., but not the sweet spot (by a long shot) for blues-based rock, or anything sweet or soulful.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Chuck gave me this tailpiece a few years ago. I’m thinking of adding it to the Swanky Spider to allow for fitting long scale strings. What do ya’ll think about the look?

View attachment 7343540

Very cool.

 

[ectoflanger]

I had an Epiphone Goth Flying V guitar for several years. It was a beast to play. Great for metal, punk, etc., but not the sweet spot (by a long shot) for blues-based rock, or anything sweet or soulful.

I was going to say that despite the hotter pickups (490Rand 498T) in my Flyinfg V and Explorer, one could easily play jazz as well as blues, hard rock and metal-

Now the Burstbuckers I and II in the Snow Falcon Flying V are a different story altogether!

 

[MCF]

Definitely for me to consider for the future- my TC Electronics RS210 weighs 45 lbs. the Genz-Benz 6,0T is light though-

There is this I company from Italy (forgot their name) that makes lightweight cabs in various configurations, along with amps but they’re very expensive-

GR.

 

[ectoflanger]

Thank you for the refreshing of my memory- did I say expensive?

A carbon fiber 2 x 12 for 2179.00 on ebay-

 

[Gaolee]

Thank you for the refreshing of my memory- did I say expensive?

A carbon fiber 2 x 12 for 2179.00 on ebay-

View attachment 7343766

But you do get a five year warranty. So there's that. My ACC 360 stack is now 57 years old. I wonder if the lifetime warranty they offered is still good.

 

[GBassNorth]

Played a 5 string fretted Thumb Bass on loan for a few weeks some years ago, what a serious instrument....yours is breathtaking, congrats.

I should have my Warwick Thumb based Thunderbird put together in the next couple of weeks. Was hoping to bring it up to Monterey in early November so you could try it out. Should be a slap demon and will hopefully have all the grit and grind my Thumb bass has. If your plans change and you’re available would love to hook up with you for some bass abuse on it’s trial run.

Here’s the layout…

MEC Jazz pups (including exact locations) and MEC preamp all to Thumb BO5 spec, Warwick bridge and hard tail, and Wenge/Wenge neck. We’ll find out how much impact the different fret material on this build makes vs the Warwick brass frets. And for the tone wood folks, there’s always the potential impact of a mahogany body vs bubinga or okanvol. Then there’s the headstock and body shape camp that would also be concerned about the impact on tone, not to mention the finish camp that would be concerned with poly vs nitro vs oil and wax (I haven’t decided on the finish yet so there’s still hope for that camp).
My gut feel is I’ll be at least 90% there, which is close enough for me.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Thank you for the refreshing of my memory- did I say expensive?

A carbon fiber 2 x 12 for 2179.00 on ebay-

View attachment 7343766

wow, have you tried?

 

[ectoflanger]

wow, have you tried?

I believe the closest dealer to where I live is in Austin, and they did not have a complete inventory. But back in Dec 2023 I was tempted to buy the carbon fiber 2 x 10 which I believe was around 1700-1800. But then I decided on a Trace Elliot ELF and 2 x 8 companion cab instead-

YouTube user The Bass Whisperer and professional bassist Ed Friedland did a glowing review of the GR Bass version of that-

 

[bylar13]

Thanks Irv.
I may, or may not wire it in series.
The idea is to put it in the bridge position of my Precision.

And swap out the SD HawkBucker into my TBird.

Neck pick up in the Bird goes to the Fender.

Bridge pick up in the Fender goes to the Bird.

View attachment 7343087

Are you in South Carolina?

Wired in series:

Epiphone 60s Thunderbird (reissue - 2024)