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Thunderbird Club

#38,821
This sounds like a good Sunday afternoon time killer. I'll call it, "I love my Thunderbird, but..."

If the "powers that be" granted you the power to build your dream bird... what would it be like?

With as much as I've always loved the NR... I would probably go with the traditional "reversed" body, as I've fallen more & more in love with it with each passing day since having one. It would be based on the 2015 model. Of course it would have a big fat neck, with a 12" radius on a pau ferro fretboard with side and 12th fret markers only, Grover Titans, a brass nut, medium jumbo stainless steel frets, and a large well sculpted volute. I need to get more familiar with T-bird pickups, but for the sake of this conversation, I'll go with the 2015 electronics. There would be 4 knobs with traditional Les Paul placement. They would control master volume, blend, neck pup tone, & bridge pup tone. I'd do away with the mini toggles, and go with push/pull pots on the tone knobs for coil tapping, and the jack would move to the edge. With as much as I'd love to go for a more vintage look... I'd hafta go with the Babicz bridge (high mass, full contact, and highly adjustable, with secure saddles). I would go with mild "gut-cut" and right arm (or "picking arm" for you south-paws) contouring. Until seeing TBird1958's chrome-over-cherry 'bird... it would've been easy for me to choose a simple clear coat over the mahogany/walnut. Now, I'm not so sure. It would either be Heritage Cherry or Natural satin finish though. I love the T-bird pick guard, and there would certainly be one on "my" bass that would proudly display the Thunderbird icon, but in an effort to avoid another whole paragraph... I'll just say it would have a "custom" pick guard.

Ok... who's next?:)
 
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#38,822
Dr_Feelgoood212 said:
Or a book called "Easiest Way To Rob A Bank... Without Getting Caught"
Or "Bank Robbing For Dummies"
Click to expand...
When-To-Rob-A-Bank-Hard-Cover-296x450.jpg
 
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#38,824
theFixer said:
This sounds like a good Sunday afternoon time killer. I'll call it, "I love my Thunderbird, but..."

If the "powers that be" granted you the power to build your dream bird... what would it be like?

With as much as I've always loved the NR... I would probably go with the traditional "reversed" body, as I've fallen more & more in love with it with each passing day since having one. It would be based on the 2015 model. Of course it would have a big fat neck, with a 12" radius on a pau ferro fretboard with side and 12th fret markers only, a brass nut, medium jumbo stainless steel frets, and a large well sculpted volute. I need to get more familiar with T-bird pickups, but for the sake of this conversation, I'll go with the 2015 electronics. There would be 4 knobs with traditional Les Paul placement. They would control master volume, blend, neck pup tone, & bridge pup tone. I'd do away with the mini toggles, and go with push/pull pots on the tone knobs for coil tapping, and the jack would move to the edge. With as much as I'd love to go for a more vintage look... I'd hafta go with the Babicz bridge (high mass, full contact, and highly adjustable, with secure saddles). I would go with mild "gut-cut" and right arm (or "picking arm" for you south-paws) contouring. Until seeing TBird1958's chrome-over-cherry 'bird... it would've been easy for me to choose a simple clear coat over the mahogany/walnut. Now, I'm not so sure. It would either be Heritage Cherry or Natural satin finish though. I love the T-bird pick guard, and there would certainly be one on "my" bass that would proudly display the Thunderbird icon, but in an effort to avoid another whole paragraph... I'll just say it would have a "custom" pick guard.

Ok... who's next?:)
Click to expand...
I haven't been able to get the idea of a Thunderbird "Custom" out of my head, I've been thinking about both black and white versions. 5 ply binding, I'm not a huge fan of gold but to go with the theme gold hardware, vintage style tuners, vintage style 2 piece bridge, thunderbuckers, black 3 or 5 ply pick guard, Ebony fretboard, with block inlays. Basically if Gibson made a vintage style Thunderbird Custom with thunderbuckers, and if I went with white (this is where Gibson messed up the white Les Paul Custom) the binding would be black on the outer edge not white. Stainless steel frets (same size as standard Tbird's), and a bone nut.
I don't know if it would be "The One and Only" but I've been daydreaming about it and I would love for it to be in the flock.

Edit: Forgot to add hand rest and bridge cover, obviously in gold to match (Thanks @veebass for reminding me)

And obviously a neck-thru
 
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#38,825
Dr_Feelgoood212 said:
I haven't been able to get the idea of a Thunderbird "Custom" out of my head, I've been thinking about both black and white versions. 5 ply binding, I'm not a huge fan of gold but to go with the theme gold hardware, vintage style tuners, vintage style 2 piece bridge, thunderbuckers, black 3 or 5 ply pick guard, Ebony fretboard, with block inlays. Basically if Gibson made a vintage style Thunderbird Custom with thunderbuckers, and if I went with white (this is where Gibson messed up the white Les Paul Custom) the binding would be black on the outer edge not white. Stainless steel frets (same size as standard Tbird's), and a bone nut.
I don't know if it would be "The One and Only" but I've been daydreaming about it and I would love for it to be in the flock.
Click to expand...
I'm right there with ya man. It takes a certain kind of guitar/bass to wear gold well. Fortunately... solid black and solid white both pull it off brilliantly! I was thinking about that T-bird custom idea as well. Those would be showstoppers for sure! Further proof that Henry J. is a complete idiot who knows nothing about his product OR his customers! Cataldo should produce one to show Gibson how it's done;)
 
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#38,826
theFixer said:
I'm right there with ya man. It takes a certain kind of guitar/bass to wear gold well. Fortunately... solid black and solid white both pull it off well! I was thinking about that T-bird custom idea as well. Those would be showstoppers for sure! Further proof that Henry J. is a complete idiot who knows nothing about his product OR his customers! Cataldo should produce one to show Gibson how it's done;)
Click to expand...
I'm already working on the funding for it ;)
 
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#38,827
theFixer said:
This sounds like a good Sunday afternoon time killer. I'll call it, "I love my Thunderbird, but..."

If the "powers that be" granted you the power to build your dream bird... what would it be like?

With as much as I've always loved the NR... I would probably go with the traditional "reversed" body, as I've fallen more & more in love with it with each passing day since having one. It would be based on the 2015 model. Of course it would have a big fat neck, with a 12" radius on a pau ferro fretboard with side and 12th fret markers only, Grover Titans, a brass nut, medium jumbo stainless steel frets, and a large well sculpted volute. I need to get more familiar with T-bird pickups, but for the sake of this conversation, I'll go with the 2015 electronics. There would be 4 knobs with traditional Les Paul placement. They would control master volume, blend, neck pup tone, & bridge pup tone. I'd do away with the mini toggles, and go with push/pull pots on the tone knobs for coil tapping, and the jack would move to the edge. With as much as I'd love to go for a more vintage look... I'd hafta go with the Babicz bridge (high mass, full contact, and highly adjustable, with secure saddles). I would go with mild "gut-cut" and right arm (or "picking arm" for you south-paws) contouring. Until seeing TBird1958's chrome-over-cherry 'bird... it would've been easy for me to choose a simple clear coat over the mahogany/walnut. Now, I'm not so sure. It would either be Heritage Cherry or Natural satin finish though. I love the T-bird pick guard, and there would certainly be one on "my" bass that would proudly display the Thunderbird icon, but in an effort to avoid another whole paragraph... I'll just say it would have a "custom" pick guard.

Ok... who's next?:)
Click to expand...

NR Pelham Blue. 1.5 at the nut. 12" radius. Twin silver/nickel vintage humbuckers and matching hardware.
 
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#38,833
Dream Bird? It's just over there in my avatar. Oh another dream Bird!?

Reverse Thunderbird II neck through with two piece bridge/tailpiece, Hipshot ultralite clovers, ebony fretboard, 1.5"/12" nut and radius, Thunderbucker 66S and a single volume control. Finish would be alpine white with a white pickguard and abalone Thunderbird logo and fret dot inlays.

But you'd need a backup, so would go for the same again in an ebony/black finish with shiny metal and the same abalone.
 
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#38,835
kat888 said:
Dream Bird? It's just over there in my avatar. Oh another dream Bird!?

Reverse Thunderbird II neck through with two piece bridge/tailpiece, Hipshot ultralite clovers, ebony fretboard, 1.5"/12" nut and radius, Thunderbucker 66S and a single volume control. Finish would be alpine white with a white pickguard and abalone Thunderbird logo and fret dot inlays.

But you'd need a backup, so would go for the same again in an ebony/black finish with shiny metal and the same abalone.
Click to expand...
I was wondering what I would hear from you on this. Sounds like you're livin' pretty close to the dream already! You're one of the lucky ones:thumbsup:

I love the Thunderbird icon in abalone! VERY nice touch:thumbsup:

I've been meaning to ask you... how does the sound of your T-bird II, compare to the sound of a T-bird IV with the bridge pup rolled off? Is there a noteworthy difference?
 
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#38,837
TBird1958 said:
My Lull is my custom Thunderbird, but most of mine aren't "stock" anyway, just the Greco and Jackson. The rest are custom to varying degrees, paint, parts etc.
Click to expand...
I hope you know how fortunate you are! It's a damn rare thing to be able to stand up, walk across your living room, and pic up your dream bass anytime you want! It seems there's always something (i.e. - if only the neck were chunkier, if only it stayed in tune better, if only it had chrome, etc.). It's good to be Queen:thumbsup:
 
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#38,839
theFixer said:
I was wondering what I would hear from you on this. Sounds like you're livin' pretty close to the dream already! You're one of the lucky ones:thumbsup:

I love the Thunderbird icon in abalone! VERY nice touch:thumbsup:

I've been meaning to ask you... how does the sound of your T-bird II, compare to the sound of a T-bird IV with the bridge pup rolled off? Is there a noteworthy difference?
Click to expand...

When a little pāua isn't enough.

Invalid Link Removed

I reckon removing the bridge pup has made it a little more hefty and in your face. I'm picking it up today.
 
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