Thunderbird Club

[hairypete1138]

Black with a cream or parchment pick guard vs white with a black pickguard - decisions decisions.

IMHO with all the chrome on that thing, I think the black will look sharpest, but I hate fingerprints and smudge marks all over everything and that's what you end up with if you get black.
So I don't know, maybe white would be better, besides I usually wear dark shirts while playing so white will pop out a lot more.
But white just looks so formal, maybe burst would be best, then it won't show fingerprints as much and will look a bit more retro, but I'm not in a retro type band and am focusing more on alternative, grunge and hard rock these days. So, maybe black would be best, yeah, that's what I'll do, black, I always come back to black. (I'm getting dizzy)

You've just summed up the internal monologue I've been having since 4:30 this morning!

 

[BklynKen]

Ending sentences with prepositions is something up with which we will not put.

Ok, Yoda.

 

[hairypete1138]

Get both, 1 black 1 white. That's the only correct answer, or all 3

I'd love to do that, but I quite like being married!

 

[JIO]

Hmmmm. I kind of want both of these. The thunderbird is one of those really rare Gibson ones that comes with an Epiphone case

At least he disclosed that it wasn't original and it is a nice case.

I saw a yellow one on eBay months ago and was scratching my head about the piezo pups. The listing mentioned nothing about it being a prototype Explorer.

That's a magical year AND in a custom color!

A yellow one also? Who knew? If 2 exist I guess it isn't really a prototype... And what is magical about a T-bird made in '91? (not being facetious - just curious why you said this)

 

[Larry V]

And what is magical about a T-bird made in '91? (not being facetious - just curious why you said this)

Both @Gaolee and @TBird1958 have said as much if my memory serves me right. I don't own one so I'll take their word for it.

 

[Gaolee]

My 1991 isn't the magic pixie dust 'Bird. That one is a 2001. The 1991 balances just an eyelash better somehow, but the 2001 has a ferocious angry piano sound, even volume, and all around great feel that is just a little better than any other bass. Gibson got it all right with that one. I expect it's just a matter of the specific pieces of wood, the specific pickups, and who knows what all else coming together in a uniquely perfect way. The 1991 is also great, as is the 2015. They just aren't quite in the league of the 2001 somehow.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

WARNING - Non-Thunderbird Content

I got tickets for Dream Theater in Toronto in November. I am expecting a great show. A great show, expecting I am.

Fixed, it is.
(Strikeout on my phone, I cannot)

 

[Larry V]

Sorry for the confusion. I had it in my head that it was the '91.

 

[PillO]

Ok, Yoda.

Actually, it was Churchill that originally said that.

 

[hillerup]

Michael is making his way through the next 22 pages. It's 11:03 EST.

Yep... Almost caught up - Only three pages to go...

I'm off the grid for two days, and there's a friggin' 25 pages to catch up... So far I've been at it for a little more than 4 hours...

 

[BklynKen]

Actually, it was Churchill that originally said that.

Yoda's last name was Churchill?

 

[PillO]

Yoda's last name was Churchill?

Of course it was. All of George Lucas' characters are based on British politicians. Chewbacca Thatcher is another example. And John Major and Tony Blair are immortalized as C3PO and R2D2.

 

[TBird1958]

After spending most of yesterday cleaning and getting the house/car (sometimes it's like a bomb made of equal parts bass guitar gear, girl clothes and make up has gone off) after last week's trip, I have the rest of the day to myself.
First, two clean, green machines...........

Later, after a nap with the cat, I get to have some "Girl Time"

 

[hillerup]

Caught up!

Yep, that's the one (except mines only 12" long). I used mine 8 hours a day 5 days a week for the better part of 20 years so it's a tool that I'm very used to and get along with quite well...

Edit: I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere, keep it clean guys.

I would too, if it were mine...

The scene where Kurt has got the girl trapped in the car just freaked me out.

I think the multi-camera angled car crash with the girl's body parts flying everywhere was pretty freakish...

Why, cause she made some art you don't like?

Basically yes... I won't exactly call her screaming for art.

Other than that, I think she had a big part in splitting The Beatles up, judging from the Let It Be movie.

Here's some more proof of lack of intelligence when it comes to wanting to go fast. I took that one after I came off the track and looked at the recorded high speed. I may be dumb, but I'm not dumb enough to try using a camera riding a motorcycle. I might have broken the ton on the way home from work today. Maybe. I admit nothing.
View attachment 1186362

You have a motorcycle capable of that speed???

The strings that came on it were in pretty good shape, so I still have 'em on there. I suppose it's possible that they were new when I got it. Does Epi use Schallers, or some cheap knock-off?

Cheap OEM Grover/Gotoh style knock-offs... They are far from perfect, but they seem to get the job done, and hold up tuning surprisingly well on all mine.

nah man... yer way off. J is solid.

@JJR58 ... I hope you don't mind me sharing your story, but I think it's time they knew.

Ya see... a few weeks ago, J was captured by the outsiders. They knew he hung out here, but still did not have a Thunderbird. It seems they viewed him as a "way in". They tried to get him to agree to be their eyes on the inside. They said he would never have to worry about money ever again, but J refused. They became infuriated! After several hours of "persuasion"... the guy who appeared to be the brains of the outfit, strolled towards him holding a pair of pliers. He said he was done playing games, and offered J one last chance to be their patsy. J turned his head upward a little, muttered something about the guys mother, and spat a mouthful of blood & hate squarely in his face. He woke up face down, somewhere in the streets of New York City. Dazed, and barely able to walk... he stumbled around aimlessly for what seemed like an eternity, yet somehow... he managed to wake up in his own bed. He reached over & grabbed a pull from the bottle of single-malt he kept on his night stand, and began assessing his condition. Numerous cuts & abrasions... 3 teeth knocked out... left eye swollen shut... this was old hat. Nothing he hadn't seen a hundred times before... but then he noticed his left hand. These... these animals had mangled his left hand beyond recognition! Because of his loyalty and dedication to this club, and his unwillingness to yield... J payed the ultimate price! Barring some miracle... J is doomed to a life in which he can only play a Jazz bass.

Hell, that treatment would even make me prefer the alien probing...

This arrived today:

2012 Gibson Explorer w/ Gibson case, Schallers, and case candy. Kind of a "cousin" of the Thunderbird. I put a low-ball bid on it on ebay and got a notification, while on vacation, that I had won. Winning bid was $46 more than a new Epi Pro bird. Sometimes you get lucky.

That's a steal for such a nice bass!

I'm playing a '77 T-Bird that I bought new. (that'll give you an idea of my age) My thumb has worn a groove into the body above the bass pickup from resting it there and my arm sweat has worn through the finish along the upper edge of the body. Pretty much all the finish is gone from the back of the neck. The headstock is still intact. Sorry......no pics handy.

No pics = No bass...

 

[hillerup]

After spending most of yesterday cleaning and getting the house/car (sometimes it's like a bomb made of equal parts bass guitar gear, girl clothes and make up has gone off) after last week's trip, I have the rest of the day to myself.
First, two mean, green machines...........

Later, after a nap with the cat, I get to have some "Girl Time"

Fixed that for you...

 

[JIO]

After spending most of yesterday cleaning and getting the house/car (sometimes it's like a bomb made of equal parts bass guitar gear, girl clothes and make up has gone off) after last week's trip, I have the rest of the day to myself.
First, two clean, green machines...........

Later, after a nap with the cat, I get to have some "Girl Time"

WoW! I thought I've seen all your birds - is it a '64 and is it a re-fin?

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

@theFixer and other big handed Bird owners. The answer to our issues with big hands and thin necks under way over here at headquarters. By some point this evening I will present the answer witch will not surprise most of you, but what is surprising is the fact that the answer is being achieved smoothly and somewhat easily. Stay tuned.........

 

[theFixer]

Black with a cream or parchment pick guard vs white with a black pickguard - decisions decisions.

IMHO with all the chrome on that thing, I think the black will look sharpest, but I hate fingerprints and smudge marks all over everything and that's what you end up with if you get black.
So I don't know, maybe white would be better, besides I usually wear dark shirts while playing so white will pop out a lot more.
But white just looks so formal, maybe burst would be best, then it won't show fingerprints as much and will look a bit more retro, but I'm not in a retro type band and am focusing more on alternative, grunge and hard rock these days. So, maybe black would be best, yeah, that's what I'll do, black, I always come back to black. (I'm getting dizzy)

So... black is too "finger printy", and white is too formal? I'm afraid I have to agree with you about the black. There's no good way to eliminate the appearance of smudge, other than not using it. Since that's not a suitable option... let's look at the white. The only way you'll see smudges on the white, it if you're looking for it, and the light hits it just right. If the formality of its appearance is the issue... it seems you could de-formalize it with some vinyl. Vinyl looks professional, stays put until you want to remove it (in which case, it removes cleanly), and you are only limited by your imagination. Anything from a singular decal the size of a dime, to cool hot rod pin striping, to a complete rap! (just spit-ballin')

 

[theFixer]

@theFixer and other big handed Bird owners. The answer to our issues with big hands and thin necks under way over here at headquarters. By some point this evening I will present the answer witch will not surprise most of you, but what is surprising is the fact that the answer is being achieved smoothly and somewhat easily. Stay tuned.........

Nice! Lookin' forward to seein' wutcha got brewin'!

 

[TBird1958]

WoW! I thought I've seen all your birds - is it a '64 and is it a re-fin?

Its an Orville that had been retro fitted with a Two Point and refined by HMR Guitars, it's a lovely bass, the original craftsmanship is superb. In unmodified state the bass has a Three Point and is set neck, it's lines are close to a '64. I don't take it out too often, frankly it's in beautiful shape and I don't want to ding it up too much, so I play it around the house.