Thunderbird Club

[Dadagoboi]

Blueberries? Banana? Walnut? Several dozen of my miserable Calvinist ancestors just rolled over in their graves.

My forebears would tip the porridge into the porridge drawer and allow it to cool, then cut off slices to keep them going through the day.

All that stuff gets me started on the five servings of fruit and vege required daily. The blueberries are more like 3/4 c. They're incredibly cheap and healthy unlike raisin sugar bombs. $7 for a three pound bag, I consume a bag about every 10 days.

 

[kat888]

All that stuff gets me started on the five servings of fruit and vege required daily. The blueberries are more like 3/4 c. They're incredibly cheap and healthy unlike raisin sugar bombs. $7 for a three pound bag, I consume a bag about every 10 days.

Speaking of porridge, had polenta the last couple of nights -- set in the Italian porridge drawer, sliced and grilled.

 

[theFixer]

That hurts my eyes. Definitely not the work of a car designer...or designer of any kind IMO. There's so much visually wrong going on it's difficult to decide where to start the crit, it's just one incongruous element after another.

As I said earlier... I really do value your input, and will carefully consider everything you have to say about it, but I'm much less concerned with matters of aesthetics, ergonomics, balance, etc., than I am with structural or electrical issues that you might be aware of. The thing that bugs me the most, is whynahell they cut a 2"x10" channel out of the middle of the body for a scrawny little pickup, and then try to dress it up with the bumper of a DeSoto

 

[theFixer]

Yes, he owns the place too.



Thanks! I think it makes perfectly clear what camp I'm in, don't you? And lens flares make everything better.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

As I said earlier... I really do value your input, and will carefully consider everything you have to say about it, but I'm much less concerned with matters of aesthetics, ergonomics, balance, etc., than I am with structural or electrical issues that you might be aware of. The thing that bugs me the most, is whynahell they cut a 2"x10" channel out of the middle of the body for a scrawny little pickup, and then try to dress it up with the bumper of a DeSoto

"the bumper of a DeSoto" was a homing missile straight to my funny bone.

 

[kat888]

As I said earlier... I really do value your input, and will carefully consider everything you have to say about it, but I'm much less concerned with matters of aesthetics, ergonomics, balance, etc., than I am with structural or electrical issues that you might be aware of. The thing that bugs me the most, is whynahell they cut a 2"x10" channel out of the middle of the body for a scrawny little pickup, and then try to dress it up with the bumper of a DeSoto

"the bumper of a DeSoto" was a homing missile straight to my funny bone.

That's the FIRST thing you do on a Ric ... remove the sodding pickup cover! Why they persist with them is a mystery.

 

[GBassNorth]

More like a Pinto. Volvo's are at least well built

Actually, this is what I was thinking...

A Volvo 5 cylinder engine.

 

[GBassNorth]

Everything from the baroque aesthetics to the terrible engineering.

My friend has owned a '71 since new. I really like the checker binding, that's about it.

Never owned a Ric and I'm sure their fine basses but I just can't get past the looks of the darn things. They look like they were designed by a committee made up entirely of mechanical engineers.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Never owned a Ric and I'm sure their fine basses but I just can't get past the looks of the darn things. They look like they were designed by a committee made up entirely of mechanical engineers.

Maybe that's why I like 'em

 

[theFixer]

I will take quick stab of what I liked and did not like about my Ric's. I owned 3 2(4001's) and 1(4003) all were from the late 1970's.

Unlike Carlo, I loved the way the look. Still do. All of mine had thinner (read not so wide at the nut) necks vs. current models I have played. I really liked the upper fret access and the minimal (as compared to older Fender products) neck radius. I loved the recorded sounds and they worked well in studio situations.

I did not like the stock bridge. Not one bit. It was an evolutionary dead end that Ric got rid of on thier newer models. Tiny frets. They wore out quickly with round wound strings and eventually I had to have the bass re-fretted. The guy I took it too destroyed the neck feel for me, by putting in railroad tie size frets (not Ric's fault) but something to consider if you plan to hold on to it for a long time. The pick up output was a bit weak. The newer ones have new pick up designs so I can't speak to that. I always felt that the bridge pick ups were particularly weak and did not add much of value (clearly opinion, not fact) to the sound. Rick-o-sound is a gimmick that has out lived its usefulness.

I also found for live applications, I had to EQ quite a bit for the venue (more than I do now with my Thunderbird or than I ever did with my Jazz bass) even though the amp was the same. This, like most of this is subjective rant, often times left me feeling like I was missing the punchy mids I needed to cut through a mix with guitars & drums. The bass provided plenty of wide, low end and plenty high end but getting consistently solid rock tones was often times a struggle. YMMV

I appreciate ya taking the time!

My left hand pretty much dictates what bass will be coming home with me. My ears and eyes are a distant second and third in terms of priority. My size, and a couple medical issues necessitate big fat meaty necks. There aren't really a whole lotta options out there that I find appealing. The neck on this Ric made me smile the second my hand wrapped around it. It's the only bass thus far, that I can say that about. I keep hopin' for a Gibson that will make me smile like that, but so far, it ain't happened.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Never owned a Ric and I'm sure their fine basses but I just can't get past the looks of the darn things. They look like they were designed by a committee made up entirely of mechanical engineers.

My best friend is an ME, he's also an EE, and a guitard to boot. He's color blind and can barely dress himself...but he sure as hell knows what's wrong when it comes to Ricks.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Have the house to myself so I decided to take a new family photo (minus the FSO and beater) considering I already had the 8:88 in my "photo booth"
The pup felt like she was part of the family too, but didn't wanna say "cheese"

Man I hate "warm" coloured lights.

 

[willsellout]

I appreciate ya taking the time!
View attachment 2768151
My left hand pretty much dictates what bass will be coming home with me. My ears and eyes are a distant second and third in terms of priority. My size, and a couple medical issues necessitate big fat meaty necks. There aren't really a whole lotta options out there that I find appealing. The neck on this Ric made me smile the second my hand wrapped around it. It's the only bass thus far, that I can say that about. I keep hopin' for a Gibson that will make me smile like that, but so far, it ain't happened.

If you like the Ric, get it. They are cool basses. I would highly suggest you immediately replace those POS Ric pickups with some Classic Amplification pickups though. Ric has basically cut corners at every opportunity to keep their basses somewhat affordable. Their current pickups are absolutely worthless in my opinion. The neck is unusable as a standalone, and the bridge pickup lacks the girth and sizzle that they used to have. I posted a few threads about the work Ive done to Ric's over time. I've owned several. I love the way they look and love how some of them play, but it's very inconsistent. I posted some sound samples of the differences between the stock and the CA pickups as well. It's pretty apparent that the Ric pickups just don't stand up. I also posted pictures of the Ric vs. CA pickups and you can really tell exactly how cheap those Ric pickups are. I also hate the bridge. I hate adjusting the dual truss rod neck as well, although it's not technically difficult it is more difficult than what the standard is.

For me, nothing fits like a Thunderbird. I wish I would have found them years ago. Thenagain I really love the thin necks! Good luck!

 

[JIO]

That hurts my eyes. Definitely not the work of a car designer...or designer of any kind IMO. There's so much visually wrong going on it's difficult to decide where to start the crit, it's just one incongruous element after another.

 

[GBassNorth]

My best friend is an ME, he's also an EE, and a gui**** to boot. He's color blind and can barely dress himself...but he sure as hell knows what's wrong when it comes to Ricks.

My degree is in Mechanical Design so I wasn't knocking the ME's it was just my impression of the looks and how mechanical it all looks, not really fluid, more like "hey, here's some spare parts in the parts bin, let's see if we can make a bass with them". Maybe fine basses, just not my cup of tea.

 

[theFixer]

I have posted this before but you may find it interesting.

Thanks Kat! That was cool!

(John Hall sounds EXACTLY like David Letterman!)

 

[PillO]

@PillO and @kat888, regarding Traynor, did a search and found that there are quite a few dealers in the NYC area.
Going to see what's in stock, and at some point give a test drive.
Well, turns out some of the shops don't exist or carry Traynor.

Well, I suppose that makes it exclusive/boutique. And I never thought this would be the advice, but maybe you need to do some cross border shopping in Canada.

 

[PillO]

Yep that is how they have operated in other areas that I have been involved in.

Like so many other bits of regulation, CITES is regulation written to keep lawyers employed.

 

[Gaolee]

Porridge dude. Porridge!

1/2c rolled oats, 1c water and a pinch of salt. Stir, nuke 2 minutes, stir, nuke 1 1/2 minutes, eat.

Wallpaper paste... Mmmmmmm!

 

[Count Bassie]

Very cool! I went on the Gibson Factory Tour (Memphis not Nashville) a few years ago and they do their binding the same way, really cool to watch people scrape the paint off the binding with a razor.

@Count Bassie Jetglo 4003 is near the top of my GAS list, Sweetwater had them on sale in August too, for near used pricing. One day...
Maybe after a Cataldo though

Yeah, you're right there. Don't know if I'll see one in my house, but I'm all over that JAEBird, and that 12-string.