Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

Totally off subject here, but one of the authors (Dubner) of that book was in a local band here in the mid-eighties, even got a major label deal before imploding. They played a short reunion set a few years ago at a city function a few years ago and gave off a great energy!

Levitt aspired to be a professional golfer. Dubner has discussed his abbreviated music career. I think both were discussed in relation to how Malcolm Gladwell got things absolutely wrong in his 1000 hours of practice book (the author of the research on which Gladwell based his claim tore the claims apart).

 

[RedVee]

My SV deP band has been in hiatus due to "stuff" so I feel a bit out of practice and generally disappointed.

We got noticed and now have to be absorbed into the Conference system, have Police checks down on us, get working with children checks / permits done etc and have a management structure and report at regular meetings.

Anyway, we all (all that are left of us) agreed this is too good an activity to let fall. Then volunteers were asked for and all the foot shuffling and mumbling out the side of the mouth started.

So, meet the new "President elect"...

 

[theFixer]

Fortune is relative, as I recall you have two daughters - No bass can compare.
I do have some nice basses and it's my choice to be single, some of you know greater fortune than I'll ever imagine.

... and greater pain. A dodged bullet is a blessing as well, my Queen.

For the sake of levity, I'll gloss over my 3 daughters, and revert to the inanimate objects that make up happy...

 

[theFixer]

Monday morning here, but why not.
My dream Bird would be a Fender Bird.

It would be based on a reverse body. Painted shell pink nitro, but top bound in parchment white. Back could have a tummy rout like the current TBirds.
Neck would be 56/ 57 P Bass specs ie small headstock, 1 3/4 at the nut, Fender vintage fretboard radius (7 1/4 inch) and V in profile. Obviously maple board, but parchment white bound and blocked with real MOP.
Truss rod adjustment at the heal.
Reverse gear elephant ear long stem Kluson style tuners, Scott's nifty bridge and tailpiece, one Larry's pickguards in parchment. 2 X Thunderbuckers mounted in the 60s position. Oh and pickup and bridge covers.

I LOVE IT!!! Totally unique! As I picture it in my mind... the pink, cream, and maple... it all seems to work so well together! I'd love to see it come to fruition!

If you don't mind my asking... what is it that you like about having the truss rod adjustment at the heel?

 

[theFixer]

Ditto!

Seriously? "Ditto"? On something as specific and unique as that? You'd choose the same colors & everything???

 

[theFixer]

I was looking for a certain reaction.. achieved.

Yes... I suppose I do have a tendency to bite without looking for a treble hook first

 

[GBassNorth]

You, Sir/ Madam, must be a person of considerable taste.

And kind sir, so do you!
As an owner of a pink bass (Fender paisley tele) I will say that you really have to be on the top of your game when you strap one on. If you can't deliver the goods there's gonna be a $hit ton of ribbing going on. But that's ok, I just tell folks it matches my underwear, that shuts em up pretty quick.

 

[theFixer]

Hmm, today is not 08 August. Bass coming home on the weekend then. Really shouldn't be allowed out without adult supervision.

I assumed that was a standing rule with you

 

[theFixer]

Sort of like this, but with Thunderbirds?

View attachment 1195655
View attachment 1195654

Dude... you have Epiphone infused in your DNA, don'tcha

 

[GBassNorth]

Seriously? "Ditto"? On something as specific and unique as that? You'd choose the same colors & everything???

Actually I hadn't really given any thought to cream/parchment binding, but hey, it works. I'd probably also go with lollipop tuners to get that late '60's vintage Fender look on the headstock. But again, clovers work too, so I'm all in.
Most important is the shell pink/parchment body and maple/maple neck - that would be a sight to behold.

 

[veebass]

I LOVE IT!!! Totally unique! As I picture it in my mind... the pink, cream, and maple... it all seems to work so well together! I'd love to see it come to fruition!

If you don't mind my asking... what is it that you like about having the truss rod adjustment at the heel?

More genuine for that type of neck mostly.
I have never had a problem adjusting the seven or eight I have with that arrangement. I have never had to loosen or remove the neck like some people say they have to with heal adjustment necks. I like the cross screw better than the allen key type as well. I get nervous with bullet adjustment truss rods cracking the fretboard near the nut.

 

[veebass]

Actually I hadn't really given any thought to cream/parchment binding, but hey, it works. I'd probably also go with lollipop tuners to get that late '60's vintage Fender look on the headstock. But again, clovers work too, so I'm all in.
Most important is the shell pink/parchment body and maple/maple neck - that would be a sight to behold.

Be careful or Carlo will make one and the temptation could be too great!

 

[veebass]

And kind sir, so do you!
As an owner of a pink bass (Fender paisley tele) I will say that you really have to be on the top of your game when you strap one on. If you can't deliver the goods there's gonna be a $hit ton of ribbing going on. But that's ok, I just tell folks it matches my underwear, that shuts em up pretty quick.

I am always on the look out for a pink paisley MIJ Tele at a reasonable price. The original '68s paisleys are just prohibitive. My whitish one was expensive enough. I would have no problem whatsoever proudly strapping a paisley one on.

 

[veebass]

Further to post about heal adjustment necks- obviously I talking Fender style necks.
I actually prefer the Gibson nut and little socket spanner arrangement to any other- it feels more solid to me and I have never had an issue with them. Wish I could say that about Fender allen key types!

 

[theFixer]

More genuine for that type of neck mostly.
I have never had a problem adjusting the seven or eight I have with that arrangement. I have never had to loosen or remove the neck like some people say they have to with heal adjustment necks. I like the cross screw better than the allen key type as well. I get nervous with bullet adjustment truss rods cracking the fretboard near the nut.

I've only had to work with one. It was on a piece that I referred to as "the bastard Strat". (I'll let your imagination run wild with regards to how my experience went). Only a fool would condemn the entire design based on such limited experience, but it certainly left a bad taste in my mouth. With the ease of access on the other end of the neck, that is where I placed my preference. On the one piece rock maple tree trunk that is the P-bass neck... I don't imagine the truss rod adjustment sees much use anyway!

 

[theFixer]

Further to post about heal adjustment necks- obviously I talking Fender style necks.
I actually prefer the Gibson nut and little socket spanner arrangement to any other- it feels more solid to me and I have never had an issue with them. Wish I could say that about Fender allen key types!

I forget... do you also play the dubble bass?

 

[veebass]

I forget... do you also play the dubble bass?

No, I don't.

 

[veebass]

Random TBird sighting- upcoming movie- American Satan. Also appears to be a skirt, boots and stockings of some type involved. Is our Queen making her film debut? Perhaps not, those would be GK cabs.

 

[JIO]

Can you explain that? What I meant is that the cutout on my Thunderbird is off to the side of my body, so it doesn't even meet up with my body.

Oh, I see - as a matter of fact this is an issue I have w/T-birds also. I feel it's because it wasn't designed from a players point of reference and/or the designer (Dietrich) didn't do enough (or any) player feedback in the prototype stage. I ride my birds closer to the neck to have a more conducive left hand relationship to the fingerboard and I have a permanent sore rib from the upper top body edge interfacing there having played it for 40 years. Sorry for misinterpreting what you stated.

 

[JIO]

This Lull cutout (borrowed from an eBay listing) is certainly deeper and much more extensive than the cut out on the back of my 08 Gibson TBird. I think the cutout helps keeps the bass from rolling forward. I also hook my strap over the rear of the bass instead of coming up behind it.

Here is a recent Gibson.

Woh - that rear-scallop on the Lull is really cool! I have an Epi T-bird body that I re-shaped to address my personal preference playing it - It's way more comfortable now. It's a Fenderbird or more accurately a Saunderbird as it has a P-style late 80's Saunders neck. Eventually I want to refinish it because it's such a killer bass and I may do a deeper scallop when I do.