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Thunderbird Club

#50,761
Hey all, I’m debating making the nearly 3 hour drive to go check out a 78 Greco TB75. I’m trying to educate myself on the Greco basses, but I can’t find much about value, availability, and models. It looks like they sell anywhere from $700-$1,700.

Does anyone know of a good resource to learn the history of these? Or can anyone shine some light on the value of a ‘78 TB75? The shop it is at has had it listed at $1,000 for quite a while.
 
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#50,763
kat888 said:
Tonehammer can be an amp, in which case it's permissible to talk about it, or it can be a standalone preamp pedal, therefore best not to mention it.

@Gaolee has a TH preamp -- shhhhhhhh.
Click to expand...
Guy in the video isnt very specific, for all I know it could be hanging up in the garage when not in use, right beside the claw hammer and sledge hammer.
 
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#50,764
kat888 said:
Tonehammer can be an amp, in which case it's permissible to talk about it, or it can be a standalone preamp pedal, therefore best not to mention it.

@Gaolee has a TH preamp -- shhhhhhhh.
Click to expand...

I do a fair amount of doubling gigs, switching back and forth from electric to upright very quickly. So I put an Aggie TH DI (for electric) and a Grace Felix pre (for upright) on a pedalboard. Found it to be a great solution, personally :)
 
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#50,765
mbasile said:
Hey all, I’m debating making the nearly 3 hour drive to go check out a 78 Greco TB75. I’m trying to educate myself on the Greco basses, but I can’t find much about value, availability, and models. It looks like they sell anywhere from $700-$1,700.

Does anyone know of a good resource to learn the history of these? Or can anyone shine some light on the value of a ‘78 TB75? The shop it is at has had it listed at $1,000 for quite a while.
Click to expand...
I didn't know Greco was making Thunderbirds in 1978. I thought they started making them in 1988 or 1989. But that's not a well researched bit of knowledge, so they may very well have been making 'Birds in 1978. Whether it's a 1988 or 1978, $1000 is a decent price for one in good condition. The price of a good Greco has been going up pretty fast lately as far as I can tell.
 
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#50,766
dukeorock said:
I do a fair amount of doubling gigs, switching back and forth from electric to upright very quickly. So I put an Aggie TH DI (for electric) and a Grace Felix pre (for upright) on a pedalboard. Found it to be a great solution, personally :)
Click to expand...
I use the TH for both electric and upright. I go wireless. The swap is just a matter of stepping on the receiver to put it into tuning mode, turn off the transmitter, swap instruments, turn on the transmitter, tune, and step on the receiver again. It takes less than a minute if there's room. Where there isn't room for the upright, nothing is going to make it faster.
 
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#50,767
Gaolee said:
I didn't know Greco was making Thunderbirds in 1978. I thought they started making them in 1988 or 1989. But that's not a well researched bit of knowledge, so they may very well have been making 'Birds in 1978. Whether it's a 1988 or 1978, $1000 is a decent price for one in good condition. The price of a good Greco has been going up pretty fast lately as far as I can tell.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I’ve seen a few mentions of late 70s Greco Birds, but I’ll definitely look into the actually production years and possible serial number aging (if possible from a knock off brand).
 
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#50,768
mbasile said:
Hey all, I’m debating making the nearly 3 hour drive to go check out a 78 Greco TB75. I’m trying to educate myself on the Greco basses, but I can’t find much about value, availability, and models. It looks like they sell anywhere from $700-$1,700.

Does anyone know of a good resource to learn the history of these? Or can anyone shine some light on the value of a ‘78 TB75? The shop it is at has had it listed at $1,000 for quite a while.
Click to expand...
Though I can't speak for them myself... our imperious leader @TBird1958 speaks highly of them, and they have graced her collection of vintage and custom 'birds. I personally would view that as a weight baring consideration:thumbsup:
 
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#50,773
Here's the big nasty.
image.jpeg
 
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#50,774
JJR58 said:
SVP-CL, i guess that's the Classic. I like it especially because it's a clean sounding pre.
So with the B7Ku in front of it. Pretty killer.
Click to expand...

My inclination would be Bird > B7Ku > SVP-CL > GK poweramp in (bypassing the GK pre entirely). You need a board for the B7Ku and your tuner (just to annoy @hillerup) and reduce some of those cable runs.
 
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#50,775
kat888 said:
My inclination would be Bird > B7Ku > SVP-CL > GK poweramp in (bypassing the GK pre entirely). You need a board for the B7Ku and your tuner (just to annoy @hillerup) and reduce some of those cable runs.
Click to expand...

Can't bypass the GK pre section. Pure sonic bliss. The whole combo. I like all the cables everywhere.
 
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