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Thunderbird Club

Did something different tonight at rehearsal. First few songs normal setting via the ABM 300. Last few I engaged the shape and rolled the bass back to about 10:00. Thought it would sound muddy and boomy but it sounded really good. Not as punchy but big and smooth, but not completely lacking in punch at all. I thought it would be a one song thing and but I left it like that the rest of the night. Worked great using the '17 Epi "doner" Embassy. Honestly shocked how much I liked it.

That Epi is a joy to play. Best $200 may have ever spent.

View attachment 7451023
Those Embassies are super tempting.
 
Widebottom Wednesday FTW.

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Hello there!

Today I am wondering something that you might be able to clarify:

I found a Gibson Thunderbird 120 anniversary edition in a natural walnut finish. I feel tempted to do some mods such as changing the pickups for the vintage reissues 60s, replacing the bridge for a silver Babicz one and the tuners for some Hipshot in silver as well.

Would that diminish its value in case I wanted to sell it in the future or would it be better leaving that one as it came originally and use that hardware for another project?
 
would love to give to hear that setup...stunning looking bass.
Thanks... I agree.

2024 Guild Starfire I.

I fell in love with the color and shape of it.
Slowing coming to be able to play it without a lot of string noise. It's by far my brightest sounding bass, even with d'Addario chrome flats instead of the original rounds. Can be pretty sparkly.

IMO it plays way above its price point. LEL did this one:



I dont really have a way set up to post any audio clips; I'll see what I can come up with. Complete recording novice & no hosting accounts.

There are decent reviews of it online.

It likes some of the vintage emulations on the Studio 40 best.
 
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Hello there!

Today I am wondering something that you might be able to clarify:

I found a Gibson Thunderbird 120 anniversary edition in a natural walnut finish. I feel tempted to do some mods such as changing the pickups for the vintage reissues 60s, replacing the bridge for a silver Babicz one and the tuners for some Hipshot in silver as well.

Would that diminish its value in case I wanted to sell it in the future or would it be better leaving that one as it came originally and use that hardware for another project?
Those are beautiful basses and a collector year as well. The mods you’ve noted are all considered upgrades on any normal Thunderbird, but because this one is a collector (as is the 2015 model) I personally would be hesitant to modify it. I’d use the hardware for another project, maybe use those parts to mod an Epiphone Classic Pro bass instead.
 
Hello there!

Today I am wondering something that you might be able to clarify:

I found a Gibson Thunderbird 120 anniversary edition in a natural walnut finish. I feel tempted to do some mods such as changing the pickups for the vintage reissues 60s, replacing the bridge for a silver Babicz one and the tuners for some Hipshot in silver as well.

Would that diminish its value in case I wanted to sell it in the future or would it be better leaving that one as it came originally and use that hardware for another project?
Personally, I’d leave it stock.

If you want a modded Reverse, including Reissues, @Ringhammer has already done that and is offering this at a very fair price. He’s up in the Bay Area so you would probably need to do a little road trip to get it. You’re in L.A. IIRC?
 
Hello there!

Today I am wondering something that you might be able to clarify:

I found a Gibson Thunderbird 120 anniversary edition in a natural walnut finish. I feel tempted to do some mods such as changing the pickups for the vintage reissues 60s, replacing the bridge for a silver Babicz one and the tuners for some Hipshot in silver as well.

Would that diminish its value in case I wanted to sell it in the future or would it be better leaving that one as it came originally and use that hardware for another project?
Who cares what it does to the resale value! Probably nothing in either direction. But chrome is always an improvement.
 
Hello there!

Today I am wondering something that you might be able to clarify:

I found a Gibson Thunderbird 120 anniversary edition in a natural walnut finish. I feel tempted to do some mods such as changing the pickups for the vintage reissues 60s, replacing the bridge for a silver Babicz one and the tuners for some Hipshot in silver as well.

Would that diminish its value in case I wanted to sell it in the future or would it be better leaving that one as it came originally and use that hardware for another project?
I have a Heritage Cherry 120 Anniversary that I did that exact thing to:

IMG_6765.jpeg


The tuners hadn’t been changed for this pic, but otherwise it’s the cherry version of what you described you was to do to yours. I have all the stock parts, and the pickup rings are attached with double sided tape, so no holes have been drilled. If I was worried about resale, I could put all the stock parts back in and list it as original.

Like @MCF said, I’m selling this 1997 Ebony/black with all those same mods:


… the only exception here is I never had the stock pickups for this and the pickup trim rings are actually screwed in. It’s a great bass, but I currently have two ebony/black ones. Also, the ‘97 has an ebony fretboard where the anniversary ones have rosewood.
 
Those Embassies are super tempting.
I'm really happy with it. Extremely light and super comfortable to play. Almost feels like a short scale. They are deeper sounding than VPs of that time, due to the pup spacing and the blend configuration (which I understand can have that effect). So if I VP sounded shy in the lows--this won't have that. If you can find an early one from Indonesia where the early VPs were made, and the bridge location is correct (an issue with a few it seems), buy it. Like my VPs, it's very well made and "feels" like a much more expensive instrument.
 
What, this is not known? Thought it was common knowledge--and why guitarist have to "act out" while playing or look like they're constipated, while the bass player calmly stand there and owns everything the rest of the band stands on.
Except for some younger bass players who try to get attention-but are still ignored by cameramen/women/?.
 
Did something different tonight at rehearsal. First few songs normal setting via the ABM 300. Last few I engaged the shape and rolled the bass back to about 10:00. Thought it would sound muddy and boomy but it sounded really good. Not as punchy but big and smooth, but not completely lacking in punch at all. I thought it would be a one song thing and but I left it like that the rest of the night. Worked great using the '17 Epi "doner" Embassy. Honestly shocked how much I liked it.

That Epi is a joy to play. Best $200 may have ever spent.

View attachment 7451023
I like mine (2021). I've been using it for what few gigs I've been getting lately as the 67 NR needs work.
IMG_0275.jpg


IMG_0290.jpg IMG_0159.jpg
 
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