Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

@Miles_ONeal @TBird1958
Here’s the correct wiring for the Bicentennial Tbirds. Note the 3 pot values should all be 100K ohm.
View attachment 7514563

Thanks! I’ll try to get these in the wiki this weekend.

 

[Stealth57]

Welcome to multi-cultural Friday. It started with a tribute to Fred Hammond with a Dark Star.


Followed by some gnocchi.


Then the Pacific Mambo Orchestra.


Funny thing, this guy showed up and made me think of someone if he only had on a Hawaiian shirt....just can't recall who

 

[JIO]

Ok. *Sigh*
It's an '83 Hamer Cruisebass. I got it around 2012, and ended up chopping it to look like what you see here.
The artwork, another mistake really, followed.
I've had the strap buttons configured so that there has been zero neck dive, in fact it's been a brilliant player.
It was originally set up with DiMarzio PJ p'ups, sounded great. I eventually put a set of Ric 4003 p'ups in it that Jeff gave me.
Now it's getting all the routs and most of the knob holes blocked in, and will receive a Gibson re-issue TB p'up.

View attachment 7514307View attachment 7514308View attachment 7514309

This is a mission of redemption.

Hummm, I liked the artwork.., but when you gotta' change it up, you change it up.

 

[ectoflanger]

I never really followed Uli Roth, given that my interest and awareness of the Scorpions did not began until the album "Lovedrive" and stopped thereafter, but I would occasionally see references to him in music magazines of various stripes over the decades. Not really into the avant-garde custom seven string guitar thing, but in a very recent interview uploaded just a few days ago, it was nice to see that he was a very kind-spirited, highly intelligent and humble guy who still plays in decent venues and has some following.

But this clip from 1991 of him performing "All Along the Watchtower" with John Wetton as guest bassist and vocalist, of all people, was enthralling for me.

 

[godofthunder59]

@MCF

View attachment 7514755

I have one, buy it you won't regret it, we'll maybe you will at load in.

 

[godofthunder59]

I took my Epiphone Jack Casady to my hippie band's rehearsal and all I can say is wow! First time I used it in a band situation ( I did have a early one bought it in '99 foolishly sold it) big, thick warm singing tone, just amazing. I liked it so much I'm going to take it tonight's gig.

 

[dagrev]

Hamer made some cool basses.

Yes they did.

 

[dagrev]

I tried some GHS pressurewounds on my NR tonight, and I really liked them! My fingers hurt, but I did like the little extra bite. I may go back to the EB flats, but will try the GHS for another gig in a couple weeks and then decide.

They are better than ground wounds of any make in my opinion. But the EBCFs are likely king of flats with bite and good mids and lows.

 

[GonePlaid]

That's what it is

Or was.

 

[Thumper]

Leon also played at least one reverse.

Cool, I'd like to see a few photos of that

 

[Stealth57]

I took my Epiphone Jack Casady to my hippie band's rehearsal and all I can say is wow! First time I used it in a band situation ( I did have a early one bought it in '99 foolishly sold it) big, thick warm singing tone, just amazing. I liked it so much I'm going to take it tonight's gig.View attachment 7514802

Love mine and go back and forth on Dark Stars vs Electar...ah, to have choices. Only issue is the sharp edge on the body. Bought 6" sweet bands and that helps.

 

[Count Bassie]

Or was.

It's still got the same neck/body joint and construction, same woods. I think of it has still having the same soul, if it were to have one. Of course that also makes me a monster...

 

[Count Bassie]

Played in Pawtucket last night to start off a World Cup outdoor watch party. Brought the Sterling, tonight it's the Thunderbird at Hill's Tavern, the worst sounding room in the state.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Cool, I'd like to see a few photos of that

Here’s a brief video. Tone completely unlike what he used in Skynyrd.

https://www.google.com/search?q=leon+wilkeson+thunderbird+bass&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS755US755&oq=leon+wilkeson+thunderbird+bass&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCTE3MTgyajBqN6gCFLACAeIDBBgBIF8&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#ebo=0&sv=CAMSZBoyKhBlLTZhUXJRcWV1RktOdzZNMg42YVFyUXFldUZLTnc2TToOV3A0SkZFdFFTVjlRaE0gBCokCg4zN2Q0R3JfUTFvM1A4TRIQZS02YVFyUXFldUZLTnc2TRgAMAFKBAgBEAIYByCXkqn-CkoIEAIYASACKAE

There are more if you just search his name with thunderbird bass

 

[JIO]

I took my Epiphone Jack Casady to my hippie band's rehearsal and all I can say is wow! First time I used it in a band situation ( I did have a early one bought it in '99 foolishly sold it) big, thick warm singing tone, just amazing. I liked it so much I'm going to take it tonight's gig.View attachment 7514802

One of the bands' bass player (from LA) who Bond Girl shared the stage with last night at the Hotel Utah/SF played a Cassidy and I agree - it sounded just as you are describing it.

 

[dagrev]

Interesting bass head a guy built. No info, just a pic from BassChat.

 

[dagrev]

Here’s a brief video. Tone completely unlike what he used in Skynyrd.

https://www.google.com/search?q=leon+wilkeson+thunderbird+bass&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS755US755&oq=leon+wilkeson+thunderbird+bass&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCTE3MTgyajBqN6gCFLACAeIDBBgBIF8&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#ebo=0&sv=CAMSZBoyKhBlLTZhUXJRcWV1RktOdzZNMg42YVFyUXFldUZLTnc2TToOV3A0SkZFdFFTVjlRaE0gBCokCg4zN2Q0R3JfUTFvM1A4TRIQZS02YVFyUXFldUZLTnc2TRgAMAFKBAgBEAIYByCXkqn-CkoIEAIYASACKAE

There are more if you just search his name with thunderbird bass

As I recall he played some kind of white reverse both times I saw him in the RCB days. Age is not the only reason I may not remember as well as I like.

 

[JIO]

Love mine and go back and forth on Dark Stars vs Electar...ah, to have choices. Only issue is the sharp edge on the body. Bought 6" sweet bands and that helps.

View attachment 7514874

An awesome bass Not that I'm suggesting modding yours, but on my recent Musima hb restoration project, I at least addressed the body-interface part of 'softening' contact - it worked out great!

I ride my basses toward the hs so the upper bout hits my ribs - no more...

 

[JIO]

Interesting bass head a guy built. No info, just a pic from BassChat.
View attachment 7514959

Yes, he's on tb regularly seen in the Luthiers Corner.

 

[Engle]

@Miles_ONeal
You mentioned adding the wiring schematics I used for the BlingBird to the Wiki page - the same wiring will work with any bass where you want to have dedicated stacked volume/tone controls and specific tone caps for each pickup.
View attachment 7513878

Nice diagram!