Thunderbird Club

[godofthunder59]

I thought so, just wanted a confirmation! also is the board rosewood?

Yes rosewood, stained ebony. My only complaint really, don't stain the fingerboard and use mother of pearl for the inlays. The dots are lifeless. I'd pay the premium for mop

 

[godofthunder59]

A quick video review of the Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbird.

Btw neck pickup only, tone full up.

 

[PianoOfDoom]

A quick video review of the Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbird.

Ugh. Now I'm tempted. I literally just got my first TBird five days ago and already want another for flats. Or drop tuning. Or just because I want one. The grown-up goth in me says Ebony, but I love TBirds with wood grain, so maybe another Sunburst.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Ugh. Now I'm tempted. I literally just got my first TBird five days ago and already want another for flats. Or drop tuning. Or just because I want one. The grown-up goth in me says Ebony, but I love TBirds with wood grain, so maybe another Sunburst.

Or you can have one of every offering, you wouldnt be the first club member with an over abundance of Birds in the cage

 

[theFixer]

State of the Rig, December 2017. Also have a 1200s 6x12 and another 2000s 2x15 to retolex and load with speakers. One day I'll have to run the 'Bird through all of them at the same time.

View attachment 2831490

drooldrooldrool

 

[Haji]

There's been a lot of discussion, for good reason, of the availability of rosewood for fretboards and such. It got me thinking: do I have to have rosewood? Why is That?

I thought about it a bit, and came to some conclusions. I don't put lots of stock in tonewood. Pickups have more impact proportionally than wood does, and nobody listens to the intricacies of the bass tone in a live environment. So, what is it about rosewood, then? I like the "feel" of it, both tactile and...i dunno, maybe spiritual is the word. But does it make a difference that matters? In the end, no, not really.

That being the case, what am I looking for, then? A hard, durable, dark wood (I still need a maple neck and frebbord, for reasons) with an interesting appearance, and for me many different woods will meet that requirement: bocote, pau ferro, ironwood, and a bunch of others.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies when it comes to tradition. Because its been that way in the past doesn't make it automagically better, and lots of stuff will work as well or better.

I'm not saying it's wrong to want rosewood. What I am saying is that, for me, a break from tradition for tradition's sake opens a world of possibilities to some really interesting and compelling new horizons.

 

[kat888]

There's been a lot of discussion, for good reason, of the availability of rosewood for fretboards and such. It got me thinking: do I have to have rosewood? Why is That?

I thought about it a bit, and came to some conclusions. I don't put lots of stock in tonewood. Pickups have more impact proportionally than wood does, and nobody listens to the intricacies of the bass tone in a live environment. So, what is it about rosewood, then? I like the "feel" of it, both tactile and...i dunno, maybe spiritual is the word. But does it make a difference that matters? In the end, no, not really.

That being the case, what am I looking for, then? A hard, durable, dark wood (I still need a maple neck and frebbord, for reasons) with an interesting appearance, and for me many different woods will meet that requirement: bocote, pau ferro, ironwood, and a bunch of others.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies when it comes to tradition. Because its been that way in the past doesn't make it automagically better, and lots of stuff will work as well or better.

I'm not saying it's wrong to want rosewood. What I am saying is that, for me, a break from tradition for tradition's sake opens a world of possibilities to some really interesting and compelling new horizons.

Spot on.

 

[kat888]

Lol they are chrome, can't you tell by the tone? Wink, wink.

Damn! I bought a nickel straplock set in anticipation...

It does look like chrome in your video Scott. Unlike the publicity shots which look like nickel.

 

[theFixer]

There's been a lot of discussion, for good reason, of the availability of rosewood for fretboards and such. It got me thinking: do I have to have rosewood? Why is That?

I thought about it a bit, and came to some conclusions. I don't put lots of stock in tonewood. Pickups have more impact proportionally than wood does, and nobody listens to the intricacies of the bass tone in a live environment. So, what is it about rosewood, then? I like the "feel" of it, both tactile and...i dunno, maybe spiritual is the word. But does it make a difference that matters? In the end, no, not really.

That being the case, what am I looking for, then? A hard, durable, dark wood (I still need a maple neck and frebbord, for reasons) with an interesting appearance, and for me many different woods will meet that requirement: bocote, pau ferro, ironwood, and a bunch of others.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies when it comes to tradition. Because its been that way in the past doesn't make it automagically better, and lots of stuff will work as well or better.

I'm not saying it's wrong to want rosewood. What I am saying is that, for me, a break from tradition for tradition's sake opens a world of possibilities to some really interesting and compelling new horizons.

Aesthetically, I prefer darker colored wood on a fretboard. I don't care so much what kind of wood... but I want it to feel like wood. A lotta 7enders, Rics, and some others, put a heavy gloss on the fretboard. It just feels like plastic, and I don't like it at all.

 

[GBassNorth]

Listing all the different FB materials on my basses...
Ebony, Rosewood, Ebonol, Maple, Wenge, Pau Ferro, Carbon Fiber, and probably others that I can't recall.

Do they sound different? Yes, but because they are on different basses I have no way of knowing if it's the FB material or the neck material or the body material or the pickups or the electronics or the construction methods. So I default to what looks and feels best and to a degree what plays best for my style. I like the looks of Rosewood or Wenge best followed by Ebony then Maple. I like the feeling of Rosewood best followed by Ebony. And although on different basses (so too many variables to be certain it has anything to do with FB materials) I find that I generally get a warmer rounder blooming note with my Rosewood FB basses and a sharper attack and cleaner note with my Maple and Ebony FB basses.

At the end of the day however, I've never turned a bass down because of the FB material. As a whole, the instrument either sounds good or it doesn't. That and playability and looks are my three "go/no go" decision points followed by cost, resale value and collectability.

 

[Haji]

Aesthetically, I prefer darker colored wood on a fretboard. I don't care so much what kind of wood... but I want it to feel like wood. A lotta 7enders, Rics, and some others, put a heavy gloss on the fretboard. It just feels like plastic, and I don't like it at all.

Yeah, I don't like that at all, either! Nor do I like painted necks or thick urethane gloss on the back. Why doesn't the industry revolve around my desires??? LOL!

 

[theFixer]

Yeah, I don't like that at all, either! Nor do I like painted necks or thick urethane gloss on the back. Why doesn't the industry revolve around my desires??? LOL!

it sherazhell ain't cuz they're busy caterin' to mine!

 

[dukeorock]

Lol they are chrome, can't you tell by the tone? Wink, wink.

Thanks so much for doing this clip!
I like that your interpretation of ‘zingy’ ain’t the same as some modern glass cutter tones I hear people doing.
The VP appears to be a winner!

 

[Haji]

It also occurs to me that I tend to like big frets, too. In truth, I don't actually feel the frebbord much at all...which kinda turned things sideways for me.

I rarely plug in a bass I'm playing for the first time, which seems to confuse GSD's (Guitar Store Dudes). I think I've mentioned this before: a bass had to vibrate a particular way or amount or it just doesn't interest me. I hate a dead stick. Pickups can always be changed.

 

[Gaolee]

You don't have to be Bonzo or Keith Moon to consider it a talent.

I'm certainly closer to Bonzo than Kieth Moon.

Sneaking off into the weeds eh?, one of my favorite past times but in order for me to play a gig I have to steer clear of the weed.......... until the set is done

No weed for me. Just sneaking into the weeds where I can get away with knowing where the one is and what chord it is but not playing either one directly. I don't even drink beer before the set is done.

I forgot that I mess with guitars, but not in front of an audience. I use the guitar for my own amusement mostly, and also to nail down the structure of a song. It's more effective than on bass for some reason.

 

[Gaolee]

I'm already thinking about how I'm going to cover the bridge pickup cavity.

Duct tape solves all problems.

 

[Gaolee]

Ugh. Now I'm tempted. I literally just got my first TBird five days ago and already want another for flats. Or drop tuning. Or just because I want one. The grown-up goth in me says Ebony, but I love TBirds with wood grain, so maybe another Sunburst.

You need three or four of them. Just pointing the underlying need expressed in your post. It's a practical thing, y'see.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Yeah, I don't like that at all, either! Nor do I like painted necks or thick urethane gloss on the back. Why doesn't the industry revolve around my desires??? LOL!

Next time you're at a music store, check out an EBMM StingRay. They have nice (rosewood) fretboards, and the back of the neck has a satin oil/wax ('blend') finish. Might be exactly what you're looking for.

 

[dukeorock]

Next time you're at a music store, check out an EBMM StingRay. They have nice (rosewood) fretboards, and the back of the neck has a satin oil/wax ('blend') finish. Might be exactly what you're looking for.

I have a trade offer for a really pretty Stingray. Great neck. I never could get a sound I loved out of those things. Tony Levin can, but I can’t

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

I have a trade offer for a really pretty Stingray. Great neck. I never could get a sound I loved out of those things. Tony Levin can, but I can’t

I already have one, but curious as to what's the configuration of it? Pickups and stuff?