Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

Ah. But can it do the other intonation trifecta? Open, fretted 12th, and harmonics 12th?

Yep it does the trifecta and effortlessly walks through the 7/5 harmonic tuning across all four strings as well.
It’s an interesting bass, with the stainless rounds it’s very different in sound and feel than my other thunderbirds, probably closer to my Dano Longhorn in sound (which I love). I intend to rotate it through a series of different strings to see what direction it feels most comfortable in, La Bella Tapes, Cobalt Flats and XL Nickel Rounds should give me a pretty good idea what direction to take it.

 

[MCF]

Yep it does the trifecta and effortlessly walks through the 7/5 harmonic tuning across all four strings as well.
It’s an interesting bass, with the stainless rounds it’s very different in sound and feel than my other thunderbirds, probably closer to my Dano Longhorn in sound (which I love). I intend to rotate it through a series of different strings to see what direction it feels most comfortable in, La Bella Tapes, Cobalt Flats and XL Nickel Rounds should give me a pretty good idea what direction to take it.

I need to get by and play it.

 

[dagrev]

IIRC the first run of VP basses used a synthetic composite wood for the fretboard, it was nearly black (ebonol?) the later models switched to actual wood which was not rosewood (laurel?). Going by a fastly fading memory, so take that with a grain of salt.

Makes sense. My Burst (dark FB) is older ('17) than the white ('18).

 

[GBassNorth]

I apparently got lost in the thread and thought Dave was talking about that abused VP not your bass. My apologies! No hammer needed for that nice bass. The trauma of seeing that VP must have really left it's impression.

LOL - it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve used a hammer to intonate a bass, my Spector Euro LX has what appears to be a normal looking bridge but upon closer inspection you’ll see a complete lack of intonation screws. To set the intonation you slightly loosen the string and gently tap the saddle forwards or backwards with a small hammer and wood dowel.

 

[GBassNorth]

I need to get by and play it.

Come on down! Leave space in your car to take a new bass home with you, that seems to happen just about every time you visit (your wife probably hates me).

 

[Ringhammer]

my Oly Wht early '66 dot & bound J for me fit the bill. It just looks pro.., show biz, and needless to say - it walks the walk.

My version of your ‘66. 1983 MIJ ‘62 re-issue. “JV” serial number. One of my very favorites atm.

Got it for a fantastic price, didn’t have the original pickups, and had to send it to Pat for a re-fin. Someone tried to relic it I think, here’s the “before” pic:

…fine by me, I’m not necessarily a fan of sunbursts, and my ‘70 Jazz is the perfect ’burst for me, so I was more than happy to go Olympic White. Put a Schaller Bridge on it and loaded it with a pair of older SD 1/4 lb pickups and it’s just perfect!

 

[GBassNorth]

Makes sense. My Burst (dark FB) is older ('17) than the white ('18).

Now that I think about it, I think the original fretboard wood was called Techwood, although Google says Eppis never used it on the VP. They claim the original VP had an Indian Rosewood fret board.

 

[BuddhaFingas]

They need a show where someone dressed in gold, playing a gold bass, rushes on stage and takes the bass line in an ominous direction. Dueling basses until the villain is musically chased off stage and Geo’s bass takes the song triumphantly to its end.

And the cameraman would still only be filming the guitarist and the singer...

 

[Stealth57]

IIRC the first run of VP basses used a synthetic composite wood for the fretboard, it was nearly black (ebonol?) the later models switched to actual wood which was not rosewood (laurel?). Going by a fastly fading memory, so take that with a grain of salt.

2017 vs 2021

 

[Stealth57]

Winters needs to be more selective about who they allow in the place.

Dive bar where all the divey people wear North Face.

 

[Engle]

I recently met a sound man who was Russian. And a Czech one too. Czech one too.

Is this thing on?

 

[ectoflanger]

Let's hear it for the age advantaged! Robin Trower was pushing 80 during this tour and will be touring this year as well-

Love the bass cam in a world it is so often visually ignored -

 

[MCF]

Now that I think about it, I think the original fretboard wood was called Techwood, although Google says Eppis never used it on the VP. They claim the original VP had an Indian Rosewood fret board.

I played an Epi Les Paul bass, IIRC it was a short scale, with a fretboard made from that stuff. It was really nice.

 

[JIO]

Ah. But can it do the other intonation trifecta? Open, fretted 12th, and harmonics 12th?

I've found most of the time the 12th fret harmonic will align if the open string is in tune. It's getting the depressed 12th fret aligned where minuet saddle adjustments need to happen.

 

[Count Bassie]

The Fender Rascal bass did that. They only made a few of them.
View attachment 7524438

There is a current Squire version available now.
View attachment 7524439

I kinda like these.

 

[Count Bassie]

It looks like the bridge posts would prevent the rotation of the base.

Finally got back to this, and yeah that looks like it doesn't want to be set on a slant.

 

[Count Bassie]

They need a show where someone dressed in gold, playing a gold bass, rushes on stage and takes the bass line in an ominous direction. Dueling basses until the villain is musically chased off stage and Geo’s bass takes the song triumphantly to its end.

And walks away with the girl...

 

[JIO]

Yep it does the trifecta and effortlessly walks through the 7/5 harmonic tuning across all four strings as well.
It’s an interesting bass, with the stainless rounds it’s very different in sound and feel than my other thunderbirds, probably closer to my Dano Longhorn in sound (which I love). I intend to rotate it through a series of different strings to see what direction it feels most comfortable in, La Bella Tapes, Cobalt Flats and XL Nickel Rounds should give me a pretty good idea what direction to take it.

Strings define the sound of any bass. I took my Musima hollow-body to a jam-session last night through my TC Electronics 250w 112. It's strung with LaBella flats and it brought a whole different vibe to my playing. I've used it twice at a small dinner-club low volume gig here in the Mission SF with BG but this was its first use in a full on jam-session. I usually live in a mid-range area but this bass was dwelling in a warm pillowy space. The two guitarists play outside/sonic stuff and it sometimes it gets loud. (but also quiet and sparse too) That pillowy sound surprisingly found a cosy space in the sometimes sonic mayhem. Because it's improv, not being sharply defined works well when things move around in an unexpected fashion. More of a 'feel' the bass like playing an upright in a Jazz ensemble. (close enough for Jazz) And it did bring some of that woody upright vibe also. No effects - and the TC Electronics rig always rewards me by how good it sounds in the mix. I bought it used (on eBay) years ago for (wait for it...) $68 shipped! Crazy good deal considering how good it sounds. We (TSC) use it for Kirstin's keys live, and I use it for a smaller spaces being smaller & portable. It's still pretty beefy for its size, which is probably why it sounds so good.

When the drummer saw my bass he said something about a pin-ball machine. ~?~ About half way through the night I realized he was referring to the wonky pu positions that look a bit like pin-ball flippers.

 

[JIO]

And walks away with the girl...

 

[JIO]

That’s a pretty sketchy Looking character there! I bet he goes by some generic name like Dave or Bob, I wouldn’t let him out of sight with that bass.

I do love that ‘66, it’s retained a lot of its whiteness, my ‘68 Oly has faded to more of a French Vanilla look. And you’re right, when I think of Bond for some reason I think of the 1960’s around the Goldfinger era, so a white P Bass (along with a black suit, white shirt and black bow tie) would absolutely be the definition of professional sophistication you’d expect to see on stage at a ritzy casino or resort in that era. The Gretch Thunderbird on the other hand would fit better in an Our Man Flint setting where Flint was a little less polished and sophisticated than Bond and a bit more of an edgy and trendy hipster of that time.

As is the case with many, the hs face is amber'd because they started shooting nitro clear to seal the decals.