Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

no waste....

 

[dagrev]

I know the new mark morton signature Les Paul took 2 years to hit the market after prototypes were being built, so who knows. Bass definitely takes a back seat at Gibson, which is unfortunate. They are missing a good revenue opportunity if they do it right.

Yes, and Epiphone (VP, 64 or whatever it's called this quarter), is getting all the business for those who want a very close to vintage sounding Thunderbird at a fraction of the cost. There may be some rationale, but it's Gibson so that may be a bit generous.

 

[dagrev]

no waste....
View attachment 7436206
View attachment 7436207

And can double as a toilet... bonus!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Good thought, and one that would work well. But I don't think I want a third pedal. But something to think about.

I don't use my volume pedal as much as I thought I would, but I do use it. Swells or tremolo occasionally, more often for setting a quieter level, occasionally so I can boost signal for specific parts. I mute with my tuner or the Rumble's "mute" switch when I'll be off stage.
Plus, it glows in the dark.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Well Sir, you seem to be somewhat implying my technique is wanting....if so you have addressed several problems I have at once!
I at times palm mute when playing with a pick but virtually never do with fingers. Might just need to rethink how I'm playing at those times and think more when playing.

Story of my bass life!

I also use right hand fingers for muting strings at times. Let's say index is plucking a string, middle might be damping one. I'm slowly getting better at that -- something I never thought I'd be coordinated enough to do.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Yeah, I’d find a way to buy a new “re-issue” ‘64 IV, in white (required).

CAR, please. Or metal flake red. Either works for me.

 

[Gaolee]

They sort of have some of us by the you know whats. I won’t spend what it’ll take for a real one.

Well, yes, there's that. I also won't buy a burst finished one. That's a personal problem, though.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Someone at work asked on our bulletin board if anyone had an entry level P or J they wante dto sell. No one responded so I asked if he'd be interested in a Thunderbird (my pre-E1 E1). He liked it enough to take it home for a week and try it. I was mainly keeping it as a potential mod platform and for sentimental reasons but would rather someone play it. I'll miss the case with all its stickers from fun bands and things than I will the bass itself. I still have 6 basses that don't get enough play time!
Either the VP or the purple sparkle will become a mod platform.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Well, yes, there's that. I also won't buy a burst finished one. That's a personal problem, though.

Yeah, the bursts are cool, but not as cool as the others (OK, maybe better than black). But the bursts are ubiquitous. I have 4 bursts out of 7 birds. The 64G is the one I don't begrudge the burst at all!

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah, the bursts are cool, but not as cool as the others (OK, maybe better than black). But the bursts are ubiquitous. I have 4 bursts out of 7 birds. The 64G is the one I don't begrudge the burst at all!

I am down to two burst Thunderbirds. The 2001 and the 2015. Those won't get refinished. The Precision is also burst. Other than that, I don't have burst bass guitars. Even the upright is just brown, not burst. I suppose you could argue that the Rickenfaker is a form of burst, but it's really pretty convincing Fireglo.

 

[ectoflanger]

Caleb's having girl trouble AGAIN- he just had a fight with Lenore, the ship's sentient computer, so he headed for the gym to decompress with a holotheme ride on an elliptical machine, choosing a Northern European latitude- except there was more there than evergreen trees and Northern Lights-

View attachment 7435899

Du er søt! Vil du ikke bli natten? ​

A bit more context:
Initially he went down a vague trail through the woods that began to gradually widen and become more distinct, until he arrived at a village with Nordic folk dressed in the style of the mid-first millennium AD and engaged in various activities associated with the period. One that caught his eye was a tall, lissome redhead dressed in leather and pelts of various animals. She was honing arrowheads by a fire over which hung a black iron pot of stew. He dismounted, hoping that the images would yet remain, and amazingly they did. Captivated, he watched her work. Wanting to stay, he crept a bit closer and sat down by the fire. She continued to work, apparently oblivious of him. He lay back, basking in the warmth and crackle of the fire, and the rhythmic scurring of the arrowheads on the sharpening stone.

“Vil du ha noe å spise?” a female voice asked.

“Wha …?” Caleb asked, startled.

She repeated herself, smiled, and indicated the firepot.

Though inclined to refuse out of caution, he didn’t wish to insult his hostess, and he was quite hungry. He smiled and nodded gratefully.

She went into the hut behind the fire and returned with two wooden bowls and utensils. She filled one and passed it to him, then served herself.

The stew was not only real but quite tasty to his mild surprise, given the circumstances.

It was a silent repast, interspersed with the occasional shy glance from Caleb, each of which were requited with an intense appraisal by the ginger’s striking greens.

Upon finishing, he rose and thanked her, then offered to clean their dishes.

“Nei,” she said with a dismissive wave of the hand, then regarded him with an intense stare.

Caleb shakily set his bowl down, desperately trying to think of a gracious way to excuse himself.

“Du er søt!” she said, stepping close to him and running her fingers through his hair. She indicated the entrance of the hut behind them. “Vil du ikke bli natten?”

“Nei!,” he responded then bolted.

He arrived back at the trail only to find that the elliptical machine was no longer there. “Hei! Hvor, skal du?” he heard, followed by footsteps close behind as he desperately searched for his former mount.

Branches lashed his face and shrubs tripped him as he blindly ran through the forest for what seemed like an eternity. He finally came to the entrance of his quarters where he paused for a moment to catch his breath and regain his bearings. That is, until he heard leather clad footsteps coming from the direction of the gym. He swiped his hand across the ID pad several times before the door finally allowed him entry. Shaken, he leaned against the door, only to feel the vibrations as a fist pounded it, accompanied by the demand “Åpne døren!”

Unable to move and afraid of the unknown, he remained at the door until the pounding ceased. He lay down on his bunk and buried his mind in the past as he buried himself in the covers. Sleep came slowly as he adjusted to the past day’s events.

Lenore leaned against the bulkhead outside Caleb’s quarters and slid to the deck, laughing as her long red tresses segued into her usual platinum bob. “That’ll teach you,” she said and laughed again before a complimentary, “My, aren’t you the innocent one!”

Here is the original pencil of Lenore which rendered a softer, warmer expression, though imbued with a hint of mischief, as she reflected on her recent pranking of Caleb- this I had originally planned to pair with the caption, "That'll teach you. ... though aren't you the innocent one!"

But by the time Garrett got her inked, she took on the harder, more seductive look of the Viking character she had role played- hence the more enticing words I used for the final caption-

 

[RomantheBass]

Joining the club w/ my brand new Tbird style Bass -ESP Phoenix

 

[ectoflanger]

I am down to two burst Thunderbirds. The 2001 and the 2015. Those won't get refinished. The Precision is also burst. Other than that, I don't have burst bass guitars. Even the upright is just brown, not burst. I suppose you could argue that the Rickenfaker is a form of burst, but it's really pretty convincing Fireglo.

None of my Jazz basses or Precisions have the traditional two-tone sunbursts ubiquitous amongst famous players of the 60's and 70's. The only bass I have with a degree of burst is my Rick 4003 in Fireglo (the only Rick for me). I do have a Precision with the translucent white finish over the ash body of which I am fond.

 

[ectoflanger]

no waste....
View attachment 7436206
View attachment 7436207

I really love the warm, mom and pop vibe of the place ...

 

[RedVee]

Dear Shakespeare, AHEM.

Falstaff?

 

[dagrev]

Story of my bass life!

I also use right hand fingers for muting strings at times. Let's say index is plucking a string, middle might be damping one. I'm slowly getting better at that -- something I never thought I'd be coordinated enough to do.

This part is true of me: "something I never thought I'd be coordinated enough to do."

 

[dagrev]

Someone at work asked on our bulletin board if anyone had an entry level P or J they wante dto sell. No one responded so I asked if he'd be interested in a Thunderbird (my pre-E1 E1). He liked it enough to take it home for a week and try it. I was mainly keeping it as a potential mod platform and for sentimental reasons but would rather someone play it. I'll miss the case with all its stickers from fun bands and things than I will the bass itself. I still have 6 basses that don't get enough play time!
Either the VP or the purple sparkle will become a mod platform.

Nice. Hopefully it can find a new, but not better home.

 

[ectoflanger]

Dear Shakespeare, AHEM.

That's terrible- took a bit before that sank in -

Must give Redvee credit for the hint in his later post ..

 

[ectoflanger]

Good thought, and one that would work well. But I don't think I want a third pedal. But something to think about.

That's awesome! Having often felt the need for them with guitar, what I love about playing the bass is no pedals! Except perhaps these on occasion-

As opposed to the guitar- though mind you this is covering a gamut of sounds from clean jazz to full on hard rock/metal in one setting-

But love playing bass with little to nothing between the instrument and amp-

 

[Gaolee]

Joining the club w/ my brand new Tbird style Bass -ESP Phoenix View attachment 7436255

It looks the part and probably sounds like a Thunderbird with soapbar pickups. What is your take on it so far?