Thunderbird Club

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

For me, sample size is a critical calculation. Each subject is expensive so you don't want to use more than you need. But, the cost of each trial is huge, so you don't want to fail by having too small a sample and have to repeat it.

Now that I'm finally back at a real keyboard and have a minute...

Two sides of the same coin. For a typical manufacturing process, a minimum of 10 (or 10%) for n is required, but for companies in the food and health business, higher standards quality control is needed, meaning more precise statistics, meaning a higher minimum for n.

It's the same reason food companies use stainless steel everything in the factories, along with high-frequency start TIG welding. The most common, rather the cheaper, and the method most people first learn, is scratch-start. The problem with scratch start is you have to scratch the surface to start the weld... and there's a possibility for bacteria to grow in that scratch.
Essentially, different fields may have higher standards, but the lowest standard for a standard sample would be 10 (or 10% if you know the population of the thing being checked)

 

[kat888]

Lol, same here. Snow days are "off-road vehicle" days.

In Edinburgh when it started proper snowing they would cancel the buses, which wasn't a problem for me but made it difficult for colleages who lived out in the mcboonies. There was a period of two months when I was one of the handful of people of people at work because I only lived an hour's trudge through the snow away and the boss was a complete arsehole. One morning in January I left the house at 06.30 and thought 'it's warm today' -- it was, it was -5C! Positively balmy after the -20C weather we'd been having.

 

[veebass]

@veebass -- And obviously you should have the bass disassembled for shipment, because you'll save a fvck-ton over having it shipped full size.

The guy said he might ship dissasembled if he fails to get the "inflated" price he is currently after. It would cost me close to $AU 2.5K to land it for what he is currently asking. I would never get my money back. Might be worth contacting Nash and seeing what they would charge for one- a mate has one made by them.

 

[georgiagoodie]

'Finally got a chance to play the new VP at band rehearsal last night for a few hours...

1. Our Queen is correct, the neck is FAT (deep). I have large hands so not a HUGE deal for me, but it could be difficult for those with more normal hands. But it kinda goes with the rest of the ergonomics on the bass. It IS a BEAST! I am 6'-2" with long arms, and it is all about I can do to reach the G tuner...
2. I was playing thru an Ampeg 4Pro with SVT810. The pups are definitely different than the TB+. There is much less compression on the 760TM than with the TB+. You can dig in more on the 760TM and it will get louder. Also the 760TM sounds nice as you go up the neck on the D and G strings. The TB+ has a bit more built-in lows & mid-lows than the 760TM. The 760TM does not appear to be as "hot" as the TB+, but I like less output on pups, as I play with a lot of dynamics. Of course you can just boost the amp's input pot for hotter sounds. Different, but I like the new 760TM pup. I was getting a strong "angry piano" tone. But, I could solo the neck pup and roll off the tone pot and get a nice thick thump, when required.
3. I first tried just the neck pup by itself. IT SOUNDS GREAT this way! I also mixed in some bridge pup, and got some good tones.
4. One thing I noticed, I was getting a lot of high freq. clicking from the pick hitting the pup chromed cover I am not getting on the Classic Pro. 'Not sure how tho address this, as I move around a lot between the bridge and the neck, as far as the plucking location.
5. By the end of the rehearsal, I was getting pretty comfortable with the bass. I find the bass is NOT very forgiving, BUT, if you are really playing the bass well, it will do what you want it to, musically speaking. Very solid.
6. The bass is SUPER COOL looking, of course.
7. I DID get one of the "eyebrow" wood tug bars installed. It works great when you play over the neck with you thumb...

View media item 16353

 

[dukeorock]

I have reached the point where the Epiphone VP is a non-starter for me. Apart from the question of availability, why on earth spend a fair whack on a IV only to turn into a II (@D.M.N. is right) and spend more for a replacement pup? I will however continue to derive vicarious pleasure from others' NVPDs. Carry on!

In the US VP’s are only $599 and lots of folks love em as is. I would think if you ripped out the 760’s they could be sold to offset the cost of a boutique pickup somewhat? As much as I like the 760 pickups, I’d swap at least the neck, personally

 

[theFixer]

I have sold a few things lately and have a little put aside for a purchase but am being thwarted at every turn.
First the Epis VP appear a forlorn hope for us on the right side of the world- strange.. they are made relatively nearby.
Next I actually found a Pink Paisley Single Coil P Bass in the US and the guy won't ship to Australia.
The guy with the cool red G3 with an ebony board in West Australia won't budge off his ridiculous $3K price and there is just no sign of a BFG Les Paul Bass anywhere in Australia.
I might run out and buy a P Bass in desperation.

Well... there's this...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[BklynKen]

The guy said he might ship dissasembled if he fails to get the "inflated" price he is currently after. It would cost me close to $AU 2.5K to land it for what he is currently asking. I would never get my money back. Might be worth contacting Nash and seeing what they would charge for one- a mate has one made by them.

I guess to do that with the VP you'd need to convert it to a bolt-on.

 

[kat888]

Well... there's this...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

That's very nice.

 

[BklynKen]

I find the bass is NOT very forgiving, BUT, if you are really playing the bass well, it will do what you want it to, musically speaking.

Exactly. I don't like gear to be too forgiving. Makes you lazy.

 

[BklynKen]

I have reached the point where the Epiphone VP is a non-starter for me. Apart from the question of availability, why on earth spend a fair whack on a IV only to turn into a II (@D.M.N. is right) and spend more for a replacement pup? I will however continue to derive vicarious pleasure from others' NVPDs. Carry on!

Another point. You and I can hang at the pub and watch those enjoy their VPs since I can't have one, either, because they're backwards.

 

[kat888]

In the US VP’s are only $599 and lots of folks love em as is. I would think if you ripped out the 760’s they could be sold to offset the cost of a boutique pickup somewhat? As much as I like the 760 pickups, I’d swap at least the neck, personally

List will be $1200 minimum + $300 for a pup. Not a great deal less than a custom build.

 

[veebass]

Well... there's this...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Thank you.

 

[theFixer]

'Finally got a chance to play the new VP at band rehearsal last night for a few hours...

1. Our Queen is correct, the neck is FAT (deep). I have large hands so not a HUGE deal for me, but it could be difficult for those with more normal hands. But it kinda goes with the rest of the ergonomics on the bass. It IS a BEAST! I am 6'-2" with long arms, and it is all about I can do to reach the G tuner...
2. I was playing thru an Ampeg 4Pro with SVT810. The pups are definitely different than the TB+. There is much less compression on the 760TM than with the TB+. You can dig in more on the 760TM and it will get louder. Also the 760TM sounds nice as you go up the neck on the D and G strings. The TB+ has a bit more built-in lows & mid-lows than the 760TM. The 760TM does not appear to be as "hot" as the TB+, but I like less output on pups, as I play with a lot of dynamics. Of course you can just boost the amp's input pot for hotter sounds. Different, but I like the new 760TM pup. I was getting a strong "angry piano" tone. But, I could solo the neck pup and roll off the tone pot and get a nice thick thump, when required.
3. I first tried just the neck pup by itself. IT SOUNDS GREAT this way! I also mixed in some bridge pup, and got some good tones.
4. One thing I noticed, I was getting a lot of high freq. clicking from the pick hitting the pup chromed cover I am not getting on the Classic Pro. 'Not sure how tho address this, as I move around a lot between the bridge and the neck, as far as the plucking location.
5. By the end of the rehearsal, I was getting pretty comfortable with the bass. I find the bass is NOT very forgiving, BUT, if you are really playing the bass well, it will do what you want it to, musically speaking. Very solid.
6. The bass is SUPER COOL looking, of course.
7. I DID get one of the "eyebrow" wood tug bars installed. It works great when you play over the neck with you thumb...

View media item 16353

I wish my local GC were smart enough to get a VP in. All this talk of thick necks has me wondering...

 

[theFixer]

That's very nice.

It's at Seattle's Bass Shop... of course it is!

 

[Gaolee]

Lol, same here. Snow days are "off-road vehicle" days.

I'm always 100% amused by the people with 4x4 SUVs who think that because four wheel drive helps you go, it can also help you turn and stop. Every time we get a good snow and ice storm in Seattle, there's always a pile of four wheel drive vehicles at the bottom of hills because their drivers thought four wheel drive repeals basic physics.

 

[BklynKen]

I'm always 100% amused by the people with 4x4 SUVs who think that because four wheel drive helps you go, it can also help you turn and stop. Every time we get a good snow and ice storm in Seattle, there's always a pile of four wheel drive vehicles at the bottom of hills because their drivers thought four wheel drive repeals basic physics.

Happened all the time when I live in MA, too. Morons.

 

[TBird1958]

I have reached the point where the Epiphone VP is a non-starter for me. Apart from the question of availability, why on earth spend a fair whack on a IV only to turn into a II (@D.M.N. is right) and spend more for a replacement pup? I will however continue to derive vicarious pleasure from others' NVPDs. Carry on!

I think a Greco TB II is needed, Russ has one it's worth the trip to play it.

 

[dukeorock]

List will be $1200 minimum + $300 for a pup. Not a great deal less than a custom build.

Yep, no brainer for you and you can get exactly what you want!

 

[Dadagoboi]

I'm always 100% amused by the people with 4x4 SUVs who think that because four wheel drive helps you go, it can also help you turn and stop. Every time we get a good snow and ice storm in Seattle, there's always a pile of four wheel drive vehicles at the bottom of hills because their drivers thought four wheel drive repeals basic physics.

Last night around twilight some clown in a jacked up 4x4 pickup who'd been on my ass for a few miles attempted to pass me on a two lane road with oncoming traffic. I 'd just slowed down not to hit the guy in front of me who was turning left. I can only imagine the look on his face when the turbo kicked in as his windshield came even with mine. Those troglodytes think they own the roads as well as the mud.

 

[veebass]

I'm always 100% amused by the people with 4x4 SUVs who think that because four wheel drive helps you go, it can also help you turn and stop. Every time we get a good snow and ice storm in Seattle, there's always a pile of four wheel drive vehicles at the bottom of hills because their drivers thought four wheel drive repeals basic physics.

I have a 100 series Standard Landcruiser (solid front axle, lockable hubs, vinyl interior, barn doors)- definitely not the Toorak tractor type.. Little experience in the snow- not much of it around where I live- in fact, none.
I do have plenty of experience in the mud and dust, though.
Your story reminds me of a time I encountered a fellow driving a fairly new Range Rover way up on Cape York, coming towards me.
I came round a bend into an upward incline on a very muddy track- mud up to the gearbox cover- single deep set of tyre tracks in the mud- he was at the top of the incline getting ready to come down it past me.
I stopped, got out and called for him to wait and let me go first as the slope of the road made it look highly likely to me that he would slide into my car.
He seemed to lack that same grasp of basic physics and ignored me.
I got back into my vehicle, tried to get out of the way as much as possible and waited. He started down the slope and slid sideways into my steel bull bar.
Not very fast but enough to do a fair bit of damage to a front panel and a door on his car- nothing to mine.
The look on his face was priceless as he struggled to avoid the impact.