Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

Rich is set to play there coming up. I want to go. Very sad it’s closing and no one stepped up (yet) to take it over. SF is losing yet another vital venue.

You and I both know why. I'll leave it at that in this current framework.

 

[JIO]

Huh. I could have sworn you were the bass player.

... our Germany-born bass-player friend Zoe ...

 

[Ringhammer]

Rich is set to play there coming up.

Very happy to be able to play (with Bad Lemon) at the Bottom of the Hill once more before it closes. Trying to get Red Sun Ruins in there before the end but it’s not looking likely.

But before that, this Friday:

This will be my second Friday the 13th show in as many months. Bad Lemon did a show in Livermore last month on Friday the 13th.

 

[JIO]

Rich is set to play there coming up. I want to go. Very sad it’s closing and no one stepped up (yet) to take it over. SF is losing yet another vital venue.

And it's a cool venue. One of my favorites having seen/heard many bands/artists play there since 1990 when I moved to CA. Playing there with Bond Girl was/is a memorable night. Here's another great pic from that show of Cherie by my good (photographer) friend Angela.

 

[MCF]

Very happy to be able to play (with Bad Lemon) at the Bottom of the Hill once more before it closes. Trying to get Red Sun Ruins in there before the end but it’s not looking likely.

But before that, this Friday:

View attachment 7449082

This will be my second Friday the 13th show in as many months. Bad Lemon did a show in Livermore last month on Friday the 13th.

Ugh. I have a late dentist appointment that afternoon.

 

[MCF]

You and I both know why. I'll leave it at that in this current framework.

Yep. I went there a couple times when I had an office in Sac. It’s a cool place. I saw the then version of the Beat.

 

[dagrev]

and it remains that value regardless of freq....granted the Z may vary but not the R and because they are quadratically summed (real + im), Z never really goes under R....

I was just going to mention that.





I understood the words "value" and "frequency" but that was it. No need to explain it as the explanation is likely over my head as well. I'm just glad you and Miles understand.

 

[dagrev]

Upon further reflection:

I should not have engraved the headstock serial nearly so deep. Probably a half-mm would have been enough.

I was concerned about it vanishing under the sealer and color coat.

No risk of that.

But now I'm concerned it won't fill at all, even under the clear, to the point it traps crud or promotes cracking.

Narrow and deep enough paint wont hit bottom.

Might need to color fill it or clear fill it some, after the gold but before the clear.

Slightly indented was the goal. But I dont want bottomless crevasses.

Will test a few approaches on samples.

Yay improvisation!

Crazy thought, but what about filling it with the color of choice then sanding to remove any on the elevated flat headstock, then whatever clear(ish) finish you were thinking. I don't know what your color options are but it would make the engraved stand out. Of course it would possibly end up looking something like a decal I suppose. No claims this is remotely a good idea.

 

[dagrev]

While I'm happy with the sound of the '66 NR, if I ever get the chance to get it closer to original I might consider doing so. That said, if anyone ever runs across some '60s pickup let me know. I know they are rare and insanely expensive--thus unlikely to happen. I would have to replace all the gold, but I do have chrome hardware. The downside is while it would be more original and valuable, it would not look better. That it sounds great and looks great would make me hesitate. I always thought I would do that if given the opportunity, but even as I type I'm having some internal push back on doing that.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

While I'm happy with the sound of the '66 NR, if I ever get the chance to get it closer to original I might consider doing so. That said, if anyone ever runs across some '60s pickup let me know. I know they are rare and insanely expensive--thus unlikely to happen. I would have to replace all the gold, but I do have chrome hardware. The downside is while it would be more original and valuable, it would not look better. That it sounds great and looks great would make me hesitate. I always thought I would do that if given the opportunity, but even as I type I'm having some internal push back on doing that.

If I could get the parts affordably I’d probably get them to help with resale value bu that’s it.
Probably.
Maybe.
But it look very cool this way, and if it sounds half as cool as it looks, it’s quite the unicorn!

 

[dagrev]

If I could get the parts affordably I’d probably get them to help with resale value bu that’s it.
Probably.
Maybe.
But it look very cool this way, and if it sounds half as cool as it looks, it’s quite the unicorn!

Thanks for confirming my potential future indecision.
You're right, price would be key.
The whole idea may be stupid given what I have in it for a great looking/sounding "somewhat '66" NR.
At some point it will be sold, but only when I can't play. It looks so good I would consider it for wall art before selling it. Heck, when it gets to that point I could give it to J.T.

 

[Ringhammer]

While I'm happy with the sound of the '66 NR, if I ever get the chance to get it closer to original I might consider doing so. That said, if anyone ever runs across some '60s pickup let me know. I know they are rare and insanely expensive--thus unlikely to happen. I would have to replace all the gold, but I do have chrome hardware. The downside is while it would be more original and valuable, it would not look better. That it sounds great and looks great would make me hesitate. I always thought I would do that if given the opportunity, but even as I type I'm having some internal push back on doing that.

Is it really going to have much more value? Original parts maybe, but not an all original bass. If you like it and are keeping it, it seems the value is in it being the instrument you love to see, play and hear.

 

[Ringhammer]

I’m letting go of one of my ‘birds. Very nice 1997 Ebony, all chrome hardware (Hipshot and Babicz) and a set of Gibson Vintage re-issue pickups. The original tuners, bridge and pickguard are included, but the TB+ were gone before I got it.

Gibson Thunderbird Bass 1997 - musical instruments - by owner - sale - craigslist

This is a 1997 Gibson Thunderbird. The tuners have been upgraded to HipShot USA ultra-lites. The bridge has been upgraded to a Chrome Babicz, and the pick ups are genuine Gibson vintage reissues....

sfbay.craigslist.org

 

[TBird1958]

My new employer is moving, I should be putting in some time there starting in May the space will get bigger and The Bass Shop will grow accordingly.
Below is a statement from Frank Gross, from Thunder Road.


I am thrilled to announce Thunder Road and our roommates The Bass Shop will be moving to the historic Ashcroft Building located at 2611 California Ave SW in the Admiral District here in West Seattle early this spring.
This move nearly triples our current square footage and sets the stage for what I believe will be the very best version of what we do. The building has great bones and our goal is to create an inspiring and visually captivating environment for everyone who walks through our doors.
2026 marks our 15th year in business, and I can’t help but feel extremely grateful to this community, and the community of guitar enthusiasts worldwide that we consider customers, colleagues, friends and family. None of this would be possible without the incredible support from West Seattle and the greater Pacific Northwest. Your loyalty, passion for guitars, and your belief in what we do has put gas in our tank and guitars on our walls and we are forever in debt to you.
Fun West Seattle 1990s era knowledge bomb: When I was a kid this very building we are moving into was the original Alki Bike and Board. Stu the owner of this establishment was nice enough to let me put a K2 Shovel BMX on layaway for an entire summer. Come August I must have mowed every single lawn in West Seattle and made enough to pay off the bike. Stu's kindness and compassion for a young kid who wanted a proper bike was never lost on me and inspires me to this day of how to treat people and run a business.
As for our existing storefront, our new friends at NW Fitness Project will be taking over that location this spring. Here is some info from them about their new location: NW Fitness Project, a celebrated Fremont-based boutique fitness studio specializing in personal training, strength based small-group training, and running coaching, is beyond amped to be moving in for their second location. Known for their "person over program" philosophy and commitment to sustainable, long-term fitness, NW Fitness Project has built a loyal community over eight years through adaptive training that meets each person exactly where they are.
We're thrilled to pass the torch to fellow small business owners who share our commitment to community investment and are excited to see them serve West Seattle’s active, health-focused residents.
Follow our journey as we restore this 100 year old building and make it our own, one guitar at a time. Look out for moving announcements early this spring.
With love & gratitude,
Frank Gross
Owner & Founder, Thunder Road Guitars

 

[GonePlaid]

I was able to dial the house Rumble 500 (Dave clued me on how to set it neutral 10-2-2-10 and for once really liked my tone on stage - I hope it sounded as good in the house. I had the L2K active switch engaged (middle of passive/active/active boost) and both pu's. Fat bass with mid/treble definition. The new G- string was a bit zingy... can I hear an ahem for a zingy G-string?

No, I'm not miming John Travolta! I was trying to get the sound-person's attention to cut the canned music so we could start our set, which started with this spy instrumental -

Won't play on my PC.

 

[GonePlaid]

Thanks - that great Adele song and Sheryl Crow's "Tomorrow Never Dies" are two of our best delivered Bond songs. Cherie does have a great set of pipes...

Same.
OK, that's more like it

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Thanks for confirming my potential future indecision.
You're right, price would be key.
The whole idea may be stupid given what I have in it for a great looking/sounding "somewhat '66" NR.
At some point it will be sold, but only when I can't play. It looks so good I would consider it for wall art before selling it. Heck, when it gets to that point I could give it to J.T.

Or me if he has too many!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Sometimes the birds are fur lined. I'm not sure what makes the coiled cord pattern here. Burrowing bird mites? Feather movement? (It's more distinct in person.)

 

[MCF]

I was just going to mention that.





I understood the words "value" and "frequency" but that was it. No need to explain it as the explanation is likely over my head as well. I'm just glad you and Miles understand.

That’s about the extent of my understanding.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I was just going to mention that.





I understood the words "value" and "frequency" but that was it. No need to explain it as the explanation is likely over my head as well. I'm just glad you and Miles understand.

Resistance (R) can be a DC or AC term. With AC, it's correct regardless of frequency. Reality is a bit more complex[1], especially at radio frequencies and higher, but for audio frequencies is effectively true.

Impedance (represented by Z because why not?) is similar to resistance but applies only to AC. It includes resistance but also has a capacitive and or inductive (coil) component and varies with frequency.

Both R and Z may be found by the equation R = E / I where E is voltage and I is amperage. Via algebra, that also means E = I * R and I = E / R. You have to measure or otherwise know two of the three to get the third.

[1] Blame physics. One can always blame physics.