It’s actually graphite metallic. But obviously it’s a photo whore
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
-
- Tags
- club thunderbird
- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
Looks really cool in a glam sort of way though!
- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
Been working off and on for this record project. Band is in LA, sent me files to overdub bass and I send those files back. Been using a P bass, but switching to my ‘Bird this morning. You guys probably didn’t know this, but these things record like a dream 
I really should buy a nicer strap. It may make it a non-issue.
This is the strap I like to use on my 'bird. Don't let the pics or low price scare you away. It's a very nice strap! It's a "2 ply" strap with a light padding material inside. It's not not springy or anything... just a little added comfort. The nylon webbing isn't the thick, stiff stuff you're probably used to on a nylon strap. It's softer, more pliable, and more comfortable. It adjusts at both ends, so you have a little control over how the bass hangs on you. I like it a lot
D'Addario Planet Waves 3" Padded Woven Bass Guitar Strap - Black
Aussie Mothers & Grandmothers of Anglo-Celtic heritage used to run with “sure, it’s all fun n games until someone loses an eye”.
The last time I pulled that out my audience included - unknown to me - someone with a glass eye. Bit awkward that.
who knew?!
The tricks with TBirds balance incase you haven't already tried them...
The upper strap pin should be at the neck heel not the upper bout.
The bird likes to be hung low (belt buckle or lower if possible) vs Jazz bass in your armpit high.
Always use a nice bass strap, 3" leather with padding is preferred, anything Nylon or narrow will slip more.
If all else fails, position bass neck in a 1:00 position while playing.
Finally, be sure to wear your best bass face when playing.
Edit: YMMV
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godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
More and more my favorite Douglas Adams quote has become, “People are a problem”.
The entire quote is pretty excellent:
“The major problem—oneof the major problems, for there are several—one of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom you get to do it; or rather of who manages to get people to let them do it to them.
To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it.
To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.
To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem”
To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it.
To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.
To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem”
Nice job! But please remind me why you didn’t just try something like a Hipshot. Too easy?I came up with a solution for the saddle issues I was having on my EB3 bridge, they were not accepting of my larger gauge strings witch tells me there is a discrepancy when it comes to quality control since my Bird's saddles took on the larger gauge strings like a champ. I decided to go ahead and put the P bass bridge on the EB3 and I found that the bridge is not tall enough to gain string clearance over the pickups therefor I would need to place a shim under the bridge. Then I had another option come to mind without the use of a shim. I dont know if anyone in the world has tried this before so I may be the first. Not only is it effective as hell but damn that tone just took a serious leap forward. The neck pickup poles adjusted to the proper height with this particular bridge combines for a sound one would expect to have on a higher end bass. This my friends is where I stand back and I say to myself " Mike you absolutely magnificent bastard you have done it again"!. Love this bass now more than everView attachment 2838428 View attachment 2838430
Very nice. Looks like you could also store some extra pedals IN it.
Looks about right.
Yeah, the snow here was pretty funny, with nothing seeming to stick, other the on cars. But I did get to dive in 75°F water yesterday... in Brooklyn.
I used to use the app for android but sent a notification that it was being retired and to use a standard web browser. Does it still work?
This is the strap I like to use on my 'bird. Don't let the pics or low price scare you away. It's a very nice strap! It's a "2 ply" strap with a light padding material inside. It's not not springy or anything... just a little added comfort. The nylon webbing isn't the thick, stiff stuff you're probably used to on a nylon strap. It's softer, more pliable, and more comfortable. It adjusts at both ends, so you have a little control over how the bass hangs on you. I like it a lot
D'Addario Planet Waves 3" Padded Woven Bass Guitar Strap - Black
Ordered
. That was easy.
....and that right there is how it's done! Right down to the "bass face"
TalkBass I find works quite well in a phone browser, even better than their app did. I just keep a bookmark for
https://www.talkbass.com/watched/threads
where I can just tap on the thread name and it takes me to the first unread post.
https://www.talkbass.com/watched/threads
where I can just tap on the thread name and it takes me to the first unread post.
Forgot to mention about the strap thing. I’ve used a Mono Doolittle strap since I got my Thunderbird and it works great for me. Only 2” wide. It’s cotton with these amazing-feeling rubber ends, where I use Loxx strap locks. Mono products are vegan, for anyone who would care about that. I refuse to use animal products for basically a decorative manner. YMMV.
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Thanks!
Original plan was an angled pedalboard with a removable lid, power supply and a power bar/conditioner inside and storage for extra cables, and big enough to include my Mesa footswitch comfortably.
Decided against the lid because it's not needed for my uses, but can be added later. Also decided against the internal power supply and power conditioner because I'm always messing around with my chain, and I use the conditioner for my amps as well.
It's not as deep as it appears from the outside, there's a 1/2" piece of plywood inset into it, and 3/4" Oak will be set into the top (removable), but I could fit about 3 or 4 standard Boss pedals into each of the 3 sections.
So... G... I hope you understand that I'm not being oppositional just for sport. Hell... I'm running for president of your fan club... but with all due respect...
"The upper strap pin should be at the neck heel not the upper bout." - Everything that I hated about standing while playing the Thunderbird, disappeared when I put the button on the upper bout. It was virtually unusable to me unless seated, until I got the button on the horn. Until then... my focus was spent on trying to keep the body from tilting away from me (and the strap in front of the rear upper bout, was a near comical and completely unusable option for me)
"The bird likes to be hung low (belt buckle or lower if possible) vs Jazz bass in your armpit high." - When I played guitar... I practically hung 'em down to my knees. I tried it with the 'bird & everything was just so uncomfortable and difficult... I just started raising the strap little bits at a time, until it felt more natural and comfortable to play. Now it hangs with the top edge of the bass, just beneath my xiphoid process (where the ribcage comes together just above the tummy). Higher than I'ver ever worn any instrument (not including the saxophone
)"Always use a nice bass strap, 3" leather with padding is preferred, anything Nylon or narrow will slip more." - After I got my 'bird, I spent 50 bux on the first leather strap I've ever owned (the most I've ever spent on a strap). I used it for probably less than 10 minutes. It dug into my neck, did not allow the bass to hang comfortably, and the method by which I could adjust the strap length, didn't allow it to hang in a comfortable spot. I immediately went back to my 3" nylon strap (BTW... I'll make somebody a helluva deal on a brand new Black Levy's if anyone's interested)
"If all else fails, position bass neck in a 1:00 position while playing." - I refer to this as the "Robert DeLeo Position". Tried it. It felt horribly unnatural/uncomfortable. Couldn't hang with it. I spent more effort trying to hold it in that position, than I did trying to "fight" the neck dive (which doesn't really bother me all that much anyway). The bass just really didn't wanna be there.
The point of all this is... one, some, or all of these things should be tried if you're having difficulty getting used to a Thunderbird... but I disagree that there is a "right" or "wrong" way to wear it. Like most musical things... you can tune it to taste. Find what works best for YOU, and run with it. Of all the reviews & comments I've seen... PianoOfDoom is the first and only to complain about neck diving on the VP. That kinda tells me that maybe the same stuff that works for these other people, may not work so well in this case.
(I swear... this is NOT intended to to be confrontational, disrespectful, or douchbaggy in any way)
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BREAKING: Android not perfect.
I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts!Ordered
My experience with P Bass bridges has been incredibly pleasing, for me they are the answer to everything. Ive replaced other bridges with P bass bridges as well.
