Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

Agreed and is why I try to obtain attractive and/or exotic looking instruments as well-

Just another reason to play Thunderbirds! The bursts are sweet, but the red, the white, and the purple sparkle rule.

 

[ectoflanger]

I personally prefer a band to look good on stage regardless of the style/tact/theme. The general disregard of personal appearance in public unfortunately has seeped into on-stage appearance. I've always felt performers have an obligation to give their audience a certain amount of style, but maybe I'm just old fashioned.

Yet again a post triggers a memory- in a good way, I'm thankful-- I'm sure you all remember this song, that spoke of a rock star who wore "electric boots and a mohair suit" and I'd like to pose a question -- Could this have been about David Bowie, or Marc Bolan? Myself am leaning toward Ziggy-



Or perhaps it was about the Rocketman himself?

 

[ectoflanger]

Now that's what I call "electric boots"- in this video of a song that Bowie wrote about an acquaintance of Lou Reed's, about whom Lou later wrote "Caroline Says", if I remember correctly-

Love this song, by the way-

 

[dagrev]

Hmmm …. never heard of that tuning …

It's kind of a Jazz tuning. Makes playing Jazz not sound like Jazz.

 

[TBird1958]

There was a time when I would only wear boots onstage, I was a lot younger then, they really make your feet sweat. I don't miss them.

 

[BklynKen]

This is pretty cool. I'll bet this is where the Indonesian Epiphones are built.

 

[dagrev]

This is pretty cool. I'll bet this is where the Indonesian Epiphones are built.

I watched the other night and meant to post it. It was interesting.
I suspect Lakland Skyline and G&L Tributes are built there. Both are exceptionally well made.

 

[MCF]

Yet again a post triggers a memory- in a good way, I'm thankful-- I'm sure you all remember this song, that spoke of a rock star who wore "electric boots and a mohair suit" and I'd like to pose a question -- Could this have been about David Bowie, or Marc Bolan? Myself am leaning toward Ziggy-



Or perhaps it was about the Rocketman himself?

Bolan certainly influenced the character. And Bowie lived as Ziggy for a time it seemed. I think Lady Stardust was an homage to Bolan and their close friendship. I think “Rock and Roll Suicide” was a realization that they needed to both embrace and be wary of the avant garde culture they were a part of in the late sixties, early seventies.

One of the greatest albums of all time.

 

[MCF]

I watched the other night and meant to post it. It was interesting.
I suspect Lakland Skyline and G&L Tributes are built there. Both are exceptionally well made.

When G&L closed, I did some research and found that is where the Tributes were made.

 

[MCF]

Now that's what I call "electric boots"- in this video of a song that Bowie wrote about an acquaintance of Lou Reed's, about whom Lou later wrote "Caroline Says", if I remember correctly-

Love this song, by the way-

One of the greatest bands of all time. So sad that only Woody is still with us. I miss David so much. Mick and Trevor too.

 

[MCF]

There was a time when I would only wear boots onstage, I was a lot younger then, they really make your feet sweat. I don't miss them.

Those heels. Playing in them must have been like running a marathon.

 

[GonePlaid]

I run a gamut of fully original to as you say, an improved version of existing styles. Ergonomics, weight and proper balance are primary on the functional list, and then there's how it sounds which covers every part of the bass. On this bass, called the "Ubersonic", the 1-1/4" deep body is made of single slab flamed-maple & mahogany, highly chambered within. (little over 7lbs) The maple/rosewood neck has 6 machine bolts into steel mollies and the body has a 1/8" carbon fiber neck-pocket platform for rigidity. The bridge has an internally imbedded brass anchor & machine bolts for dynamic coupling. This all lead to it being highly resonate. The pu's are the sought after Fender PV63 model and they are positioned like my '68 Dano made Coral Deluxe Bass. (neck pu closer to the neck) The passive harness is from a '93 Fender American Standard with a TBX stacked tone-pot & Black Beauty .047uf cap. Strings are D'Addario nickel round-wound EXL160BT 50-67-90-120 and it has Gotoh tuners, brass nut and a Sandberg bridge. It has imbedded Dunlop Strap-Lok's and it's designed to stand on its own with a strap attached (against an amp or wall). It is definitely a "one-off".

And aesthetically it has to look as good as it sounds. I did the aqua staining on the maple, and Pat Wilkins did the awesome finishing on the body & neck. I made it to sell but I've fallen in love with it so for now it's mine.

There's yer mistake. Ya need to build sumpin' you don't particularly like then ya'd have no regrets selling it.

 

[GonePlaid]

That's why you need to take extra basses -- tuned Ab, Bb, Cb, etc.
Pack that gigmobile to the ceiling! Or drag out the old semi!

Ain't gonna work when I gots to read charts.. I tried de-tuning. Once. Then I got handed a lead sheet. On a gig, not a rehearsal where I'd've had time to figure it out. No more de-tuning.

 

[JIO]

Style is cultural, and there's a culture for every style on stage. It's a question of whether your style matches the audience's culture.

I get that, what I'm talking about is not caring how one looks on stage. As in, "Grunge" as dressed-down as it appeared was a look that evolved out of consciously dressing a certain way. (that in turn created a cultural style) In like manor, "Punk" quickly became a costume/uniform with all the trappings - especially on stage.

 

[JIO]

There's yer mistake. Ya need to build sumpin' you don't particularly like then ya'd have no regrets selling it.

Hah! It ain't in my DNA!

Ain't gonna work when I gots to read charts.. I tried de-tuning. Once. Then I got handed a lead sheet. On a gig, not a rehearsal where I'd've had time to figure it out. No more de-tuning.

I only de-tune E to D and only on the intro to Heroes-Bowie.

 

[GonePlaid]

I personally prefer a band to look good on stage regardless of the style/tact/theme. The general disregard of personal appearance in public unfortunately has seeped into on-stage appearance. I've always felt performers have an obligation to give their audience a certain amount of style, but maybe I'm just old fashioned.

Yeah. I prefer at least a theme of some sort. But then I'm old. Fashioned too.

 

[GonePlaid]

Playing upright, I realized Bb and Eb are much easier in first position and the major thirds + leading tones to the roots are opens. That little break for your left hand makes it way easier than playing further up on the fingerboard.

I can 'see' that on a UB, but since I don't even attempt one of those, I play Bb on the E, D and F on the A or Eb on the A with G and Bb on the D, etc.

 

[GonePlaid]

No Schnitzel on my menu tonight.

View attachment 7356570

Aww. That's a shame.

 

[JIO]

Happy B-Day Chucky!

 

[GonePlaid]

Ab, Eb, and Db were my least favorite keys on upright to start with. I don’t much care any more.

Love Db-on my 'Bird anyway. Db-on the A-just seems to ROAR.