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Thunderbird Club

Ok. Who's putting EBCFs on their Thunderbird, and what's your take on that?
All my birds wear EBCFs. I love the tone, the feel, and the fact they last almost forever. They work on the Gibson 64, the CP, the VP, the Epi 64, and the Grecos. They worked on the basic bolt-on.
 
All my birds wear EBCFs. I love the tone, the feel, and the fact they last almost forever. They work on the Gibson 64, the CP, the VP, the Epi 64, and the Grecos. They worked on the basic bolt-on.
I ain't gots lotsa TBirds, but all my basses wear EBCFs except the Ibanez(tapes).
 
No reason other than fun curiosity - now that there are a number of Gen1 T-birds in the 'fold' - what are your specs/serial #'s?

GEO - # 217533 - 1964 IV - 9lbs

View attachment 7531733
193601

IMG_5989.jpeg
 
This is what happens when I get depressed and take a day off from writing- though I did work on playing guitar and singing Dave Mason's arrangement of All Along the Watchtower (probably contributed to depression/burn out because I have a way to go before doing an open mic or coffee shop presentation)-

So I went to my Reverb analyst- got on the couch and came up with these- on their way -

A 2024 Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas P/J- previous owner had it Plek'd at Sweetwater, added a Hipshot X-tender, and threw in a hard case. Neither of which comes with a stock model and at a bargain price compared to that of a new one-

Charvel Pro_Mod San Dimas Bass.jpg


Charvel San Dimas Bass Xtender.jpg


Got an original pop/crossover country song in the works- and never liked the idea of dedicating a regular guitar to a high action and open tuning to play slide. Also that a lot of songs that had what sounded like slide guitar was actually a lap or pedal steel. Reference Dark Side of the Moon "Breathe" intro and "There's No Way Out of Here", among other songs David Gilmour used a lap steel on. Another would be "Lunatic Fringe" by Red Ryder.

So here you have it- was on sale at Musican's Friend for 134.99. A Rogue RLS-1 Lap Steel Guitar.

Rogue RLS-1 Lap Steel.jpg


And a nice stainless steel bar by Stevens-

Stevens Lap Steel Bar.jpg


How did I go from Metal to crossover county one might ask- Well it's totally cliché though a sad one. Back in March I had one of those late-morning dreams and it was about my dad who had passed away the previous May, and there was the song in the dream. So I awoke with this inescapable melody and something told me to put a bass line to it. I didn't want to do it, given I was melancholy and not a morning person at any rate, but I relented and grabbed my black Precision and plugged into my little Yamaha THR5 guitar practice amp. Came up with a snappy bass line right off the bat.

But I couldn't come up with a bridge for the melody, keeping it all in my head. Then a day or so later, I was engaged in one of those obligatory sit-downs and it dawned on me that the melody was in fact the bridge. Then I came up with a verse, then promptly forgot the original melody, worse I forgot the bass line. Then forgot the verse-

It wasn't until about a few weeks ago that it came back to me, and I eventually came up.with the verses. But this time I recorded the vocals into Garage Band on my iPhone. Then I started hearing lap steel textures and treatments which will go really well with the song.

In closing, let me share you the Youtube video by session guitarist Robert Cassard that convinced me not only on the lap steel but that the Rogue was a decent instrument for the money- great knowledge, most Importantly the G tuning that includes the relative E minor. At least one of my songs in that key, the metal song in fact- but I will tune according to what the new song calls for-

 
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This is what happens I get depressed and when I take a day off from writing- though I did work on playing guitar and singing Dave Mason's arrangement of All Along the Watchtower (probably contributed to depression/burn out because I have a way to go before doing an open mic or coffee shop presentation)-

So I went to my Reverb analyst- got on the couch and came up with these- on their way -

A 2024 Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas P/J- previous owner had it Plek'd at Sweetwater, added a Hipshot X-tender, and threw in a hard case. Neither of which comes with a stock model and quite a bit cheaper than a new stock model-

View attachment 7531773

View attachment 7531774

Got an original pop/crossover country song in the works- and never liked the idea of dedicating a regular guitar to a high action and open tuning to play slide. Also that a lot of songs that had what sounded like slide guitar was actually a lap or pedal steel. Reference Dark Side of the Moon "Breathe" intro and "There's No Way Out of Here", among other songs David Gilmour used a lap steel on. Another would be "Lunatic Fringe" by Red Ryder.

So here you have it- was on sale at Musican's Friend for 134.99. A Rogue RLS-1 Lap Steel Guitar.

View attachment 7531776

And a nice stainless steel bar by Stevens-

View attachment 7531777

How did I go from Metal to crossover county one might ask- Well it's totally cliché though a sad one. Back in March I had one of those late-morning dreams and it was about my dad who had passed away the previous May, and there was the song in the dream. So I awoke with this inescapable melody and something told me to put a bass line to it. I didn't want to do it, given I was melancholy and not a morning person at any rate, but I relented and grabbed my black Precision and plugged into my little Yamaha THR5 guitar amp. Came up with a snappy bass line right off the bat.

But I couldn't come up with a bridge for the melody, keeping it all in my head. Then a day or so later, I was engaged in one of those obligatory sit-downs and it dawned on me that the melody was in fact the bridge. Then I came up with a verse, then promptly forgot the original melody, worse I forgot the bass line. Then forgot the verse-

It wasn't until about a few weeks ago that it came back to me, and I eventually came up.with the verses. But this time I recorded the vocals into Garage Band on my iPhone. Then I started hearing lap steel textures and treatments which will go really well with the song.

In closing, let me share you the Youtube video by session guitarist Robert Cassard that convinced me not only on the lap steel but that the Rogue was a decent instrument for the money- great knowledge, most Importantly the G tuning that includes the relative E minor. At least one of my songs in that key, the metal song in fact- but I will tune according to what the new song calls for-


I was always a Mason fan going back to his early days with Traffic.

We saw Mason open for the Doobies at the football field at UCSB (UCSB had the stadium but no team). Doobies were the hottest band on the planet at the time. Mason did an amazing version of Watchtower. Thundering ovation. The Doobies came on and sounded horrible (turned out Johnston was having health issues). People started chanting “we want Dave.”
 
I was always a Mason fan going back to his early days with Traffic.

We saw Mason open for the Doobies at the football field at UCSB (UCSB had the stadium but no team). Debbie’s were the hottest band on the plant at the time. Mason did an amazing version of Watchtower. Thundering ovation. The Doobies came on and sounded horrible (turned out Johnston was having health issues). People started chanting “we want Dave.”
If you can find it, I recommend "Live At Sunrise" recorded around 2003 where he covers a lot of his early stuff, along with some material from his time with Traffic. His arrangement of "All Along the Watchtower" is my personal favorite- I'm a little over halfway through working out the version off the eponymous Dave Mason album from 1974. Great bass line in there, but I can't play it and sing too. Ironic isn't it?
 
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Ok. Who's putting EBCFs on their Thunderbird, and what's your take on that?
Most of us have had those on Thunderbirds at one point or another. I have gotten away from them for now, but liked them a lot. They sound as "round" as you can get from a flat. They also take EQ well. I put them on the fiver, and they seem to do well with it. Outside a mix, it sounds awful. In a mix, it sounds great. I don't think the active circuit likes the strings that much. They won't wear out for a very long time. It's going to be a while before I try different strings on that bass.
 
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If you can find it, I recommend "Live At Sunrise" recorded around 2003 where he covers a lot of his early stuff, along with some material from his time with Traffic. His arrangement of "All Along the Watchtower" is my personal favorite- I'm a little over halfway through working out the version off the eponymous Dave Mason album from 1974. Great bass line in there, but I can't play it and sing too. Ironic isn't it?
Here you go!

 
I have Ken Smith Bass Burners on the Flamingo. I like the way it sounds, but the orange silks offend my shallow self. A set of Rock Masters are on the way. That ought to make it sound a little more aggressive. I had those on the 2001 a long time ago and liked them a lot. The 2001 has Bass Burners on it for now, too. That was for a comparison of the 2001 TB+ pickups and the Thunderbuckers in the Flamingo. I would have a hard time telling them apart. If you want Thunderbuckers and find a set of 2001 TB+ pickups, you will get so close that I'm not sure there's even much difference in the sound that comes out of them.
 
Ok. Who's putting EBCFs on their Thunderbird, and what's your take on that?
Have them on my 2018, and have had for a while on my P-bass.

Plusses: they bring the 'brrrrrt' in a way LaBellas or Chromies do not.
They are grippier which helps with precise finger placement for we newbs.

Minuses: more work to slide on & not stop short, and doing so they add a bit of fingertip wear and tear that can chew thru calluses if you dont play a lot.

I like 'em on the 'bird in particular.
 
That is one flat I have not tried.
If i remember correctly, Chuck or Dave said the white tapes were brighter sounding?
Not really flats. Rounds with tape, unless I'm misremembering soemthing. But certainly feel like a flat.
Yes Sir you are. The white is brightest of the tapes and black the darkest.
 
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