Thunderbird Club

[godofthunder59]

Pardon my ignorance, who is that?

Overend Watts of Mott The Hoople.

 

[dukeorock]

I always figured that fretboard wood, would be the least noticeable difference. Because of the minimal amount used, and that the strings actually contact the frets, not the board (as opposed to fretless). I'm really surprised!

I’m not sure I’d personally argue the point, but I tend to find it easy to believe Sadowsky and Tobias know a thing or two about a thing or two

 

[bking0217]

Yeah. You pays your money and you take your chances....I have a set of Lollar's in my Thunderbird but don't want to drop $400+ on a set.

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This is Jazz bass pick up to Thunderbird pick up conversion in a Fender Blacktop Bass.

The Lollars have my attention, too. One thing about me is that I may make plans for mods, but nothing is written in stone until it's ordered. I have been known to change entire orders as they're being placed.

 

[bylar13]

Probably brought up to death already, but what strings are you using on your 'birds? I'm using Galli stainless steel 45-105

I use the Erie Ball 105-50. They sound good, are cheap and available everywhere. I gave up on being a string aficionado.

 

[bking0217]

Look forward to your review!
I have Thunderbucker Ranch and Lollars. Love both a whole lot. I should be trying a whole new pickup very soon that a friend is developing. Very excited about those

I hope you're comfortable. They're not even taking orders right now, and when do start taking orders again, there's like a 2 month wait.

 

[D.M.N.]

@dukeorock what became of the Thunderbukcer 63 you had? You swapped in the 66, right?

 

[bking0217]

I use the Erie Ball 105-50. They sound good, are cheap and available everywhere. I gave up on being a string aficionado.

Nothing wrong with that. All that matters is that you're happy with your sound. I thought I was gonna be finished with Galli when I can't get them from the TB classifieds anymore because I would've had to import them to the sum of 35euros plus shipping, but another TB'er in the strings forum pointed me toward a reseller that has them for $19/set and shipping is free if I spend $35.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

I’m not sure I’d personally argue the point, but I tend to find it easy to believe Sadowsky and Tobias know a thing or two about a thing or two

They are two of the first people I'd believe too on this topic, that's for sure!
It just woulda been my last guess.

 

[GBassNorth]

No one is looking for 2002 Camaro either.
I don't think late model vehicles will ever be very desirable. In the 80's, 60's vehicles were desirable, but today, no 90's-00's (US) vehicle's are desirable.

I think the market gets it. Modern cars (post 1975) that are all show an no go, or are mass produced to flood the market will rarely if ever be worth much as they get older. The ones from the 1990's to get are the high performance low production models - Acura NSX, Porsche 993 Turbo, etc.

Will a modern Gibson bass see wild appreciation? Possibly, but it would have to be a special model with outstanding performance and low production numbers - 2007 SG Supreme, 2015 Thunderbird, and the 2017 Memphis Gold Top might fit that bill. If Gibson were to halt production on the 2018 Red TBird it might be up there as well, but that more speculation than fact.

Advice - buy what you like, if possible buy it used in mint condition and look for the models that are going up in price on the used market. You might or might not make much money in thirty years time, but you'll at least enjoy what you have.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

I think the market gets it. Modern cars (post 1975) that are all show an no go, or are mass produced to flood the market will rarely if ever be worth much as they get older. The ones from the 1990's to get are the high performance low production models - Acura NSX, Porsche 993 Turbo, etc.

Will a modern Gibson bass see wild appreciation? Possibly, but it would have to be a special model with outstanding performance and low production numbers - 2007 SG Supreme, 2015 Thunderbird, and the 2017 Memphis Gold Top might fit that bill. If Gibson were to halt production on the 2018 Red TBird it might be up there as well, but that more speculation than fact.

Advice - buy what you like, if possible buy it used in mint condition and look for the models that are going up in price on the used market. You might or might not make much money in thirty years time, but you'll at least enjoy what you have.

Agreed on all points.

I'm pretty sure there's still a Memphis Gold Top at my local Long & McQuade, haven't touched it, cause it's top of the wall, and I'm scared to see the price tag on it... But it sure is purdy. They also have a new 2014 Natural Bird... price hasn't decreased...

 

[kat888]

Probably brought up to death already, but what strings are you using on your 'birds? I'm using Galli stainless steel 45-105

This club moves fast, so I don’t think it hurts to bring certain topics as a refresher. Never tried Galli strings. You like em? Why? Curious here!

I’ve tried a few things just for fun, but at the moment...
‘02 Gibson- SS DR Lo Riders 45-105
‘14 Gibson- nickel Ken Smith Bass Burners 45-105
Cataldo NR41- Roto nickel RS66 45-105

1990 Orville Gibson - Ken Smith Bass Burners 45 - 105 nickel
2017 Cataldo NRBird - Ken Smith Bass Burners 45 - 105 nickel

There's a pattern there somewhere...

 

[dukeorock]

The Lollars have my attention, too. One thing about me is that I may make plans for mods, but nothing is written in stone until it's ordered. I have been known to change entire orders as they're being placed.

So far, the Lollars are my ‘favorite.’ Or maybe they’re just on my favorite bass...either way, they’re amazing. The only thing I’d say, knowing what I know now, is I just would’ve ordered the neck pickup and put a dummy cover in the bridge. The neck pickup is so dang good, the bridge pickup just doesn’t add much. I’m still going to try shimming the bridge pickup as high as I possibly can, but honestly, the solo’d neck pickup is pretty much everything I want

@dukeorock what became of the Thunderbukcer 63 you had? You swapped in the 66, right?

Correct! I still have the ‘63. It’s crazy good and I keep waffling on which TB pickup will be permanent in the Cataldo. My favorite P bass pickup ever, possibly

 

[Haji]

I'm going to save myself $3400 and just get an Epiphone Vintage Pro T Bird.

The EVP is a great bass, and a great value for the price, but is in no way equivalent to a Lull in any category. The Lull is worth every cent of $4000...but 4 grand is A LOT of money that I don't have, so I'll be saving for an EVP.

 

[dukeorock]

Whoa...someone sent me this...no ‘Bird content, but this is kind of amazing
This mash-up of RATT and Marvin Gaye has no business being this good

 

[bking0217]

I'm gonna ask a question and hope it's in the parameters of the club because, honestly, this is the only part of TalkBass I feel comfortable. I own 3 basses. Of course my Thunderbird, an MIM Jazz Bass strung with flats, and a Squier P-Bass. I don't play the Squier because it was given a long time ago to me by my Grandfather who now has dementia. I've always been careful with it so it's still in nice condition, but my situation is whether I should go ahead an retire it to the case so nothing ever happens to it or if I should play it. My problem is because he gave it to me to play after I sold my only bass some years ago and he was in good health then. Things are very different now. What do you think?

 

[BklynKen]

'Birds first came onto my radar in I'm thinking somewhere around '08. At the time my main bass (actually, only bass) was my Precision. There was a music shop on the mainland I always tried to go into whenever I was off-island. I recall walking in to their bass room one day, and while they did usually have a decent selection of Epiphone and some Gibson basses (mostly SGs and Les Paul), on that day, hanging there was this big wonky shaped thing made of this incredible wood. I'd never seen any bass like it, and it was about as far removed from my Fender as I could imagine. I played it a bit, and to be perfectly honest I wasn't 100% sold on it. The string spacing was much tighter than my Precision, the neck was small and made my hand cramp up, and the frets were like railroad ties (my main issue with pretty much all modern Gibsons, and Fenders as well). But it looked incredible and smelled great (still smells great, I need to get that scent and put it in my laundry). More over, my father who was with me and is a carpenter, was blown away by the wood. He loved the way it looked too. Of course, being in 9th grade I didn't really have the cash for it. I worked hard that summer to try to save up, but still didn't have enough. But, knowing how much I wanted it, and liking it himself, my dad helped me cover the rest of the money as long as I paid him back. And that's how I got the Zebrabird.

It sort of became a case queen, really only took it out for performances/to show off because of the aforementioned issues I had with it (string spacing, small neck). I also found the pickups to be far too dark compared to the brightness and attack of the Precision, which remained #1 (and really, it still is).

Through trying a number of different basses (Jazz, Rick, EB-3), I came to realize I like simplicity in my basses, by which I mean the Precision setup of one pickup, a volume and a tone control. I'd seen Glenn Cornick play a T-bird II with the precision-esque setup, and so reading through TB and Fly Guitars started to hunt for one of those, eventually landing on the Greco II. I loved the look of the II, stripped down, back to basics without the second pickup cluttering everything up. Though I've since adapted and neck size nor string spacing bother me anymore, the Greco felt much more like home, with the wider neck, smaller frets, and larger spacing. Plus, it looks more like an original one, with all the Chrome, large headstock, etc, which I'd come to far prefer over the black hardware on the newer birds (Zebrabird included). There's a reason I have all the chrome covers on my Fenders.

At this point I find the birds just very ergonomically comfortable, keeps my right arm fairly straight as it rests across the lower fin, and it feels proportionately right (doesn't look small or overly large on me). With the pin at the neck, it also keeps the bass at roughly a 45° angle, which allows me to keep my left wrist and arm fairly straight, helping with speed. I've spent the last week almost exclusively playing the Zebrabird (it's my only bass with newish rounds on it currently, so it's the brightest), and boy does it play great. Still not 100% loving the tone, it's just a bit dark, but it has it's place and I have my other basses (once they get new strings) for my brighter sounds.

What island do, or did, you live on?

 

[dukeorock]

I'm gonna ask a question and hope it's in the parameters of the club because, honestly, this is the only part of TalkBass I feel comfortable. I own 3 basses. Of course my Thunderbird, an MIM Jazz Bass strung with flats, and a Squier P-Bass. I don't play the Squier because it was given a long time ago to me by my Grandfather who now had dementia. I've always been careful with it so it's still in nice condition, but my situation is whether I should go ahead an retire it to the case so nothing ever happens to it or if I should play it. My problem is because he gave it to me to play after I sold my only bass some years ago and he was in good health then. Things are very different now. What do you think?

I see your dilemma for sure. If it were me, I’d leave it out where I can see it, and pick it up from time to time. It was meant to be played. Just my thoughts

 

[bking0217]

I see your dilemma for sure. If it were me, I’d leave it out where I can see it, and pick it up from time to time. It was meant to be played. Just my thoughts

I understand what you mean. If you look at my avatar, you can see it hanging in the middle of the three. I just don't use it. Maybe if I DID use it more, it might help me get over some emotional stuff.

 

[Haji]

Probably brought up to death already, but what strings are you using on your 'birds? I'm using Galli stainless steel 45-105

Both of mine are tuned drop C, strung with Dunlop Heavy Core, the "heavier" set. IIRC that's a .115 to .50 set.

 

[GBassNorth]

Does that also apply to other 'birds such as the Spector Legend 4x? That's DEFINITELY on my gas list.

Love my Spector(s). Before you buy a Legend 4X try to find a used Spector Rex4 Pro. It's a much better build (solid maple wings, multi lam maple neck through, better electronics...). The Forte X is a step above the Rex and also a fantastic bass but quite a bit more expensive. The Spector club can be very helpful in answering questions and helping to locate a good deal. They're very much like this group, almost as chatty, more focus on finding the magic on board preamp/pup combo, but they're not nearly as insane as we are here.