Thunderbird Club

[Larry V]

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

Is this friend venturing into TBird replacement P/Ups because of your new found love of TBirds?

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?

If you really enjoy playing that bass then play it and don't worry about keeping it mint. Your g-dad bought it for you to play so honor him by playing the heck out of it.

 

[Larry V]

And sorry to hear that your g-dad has dementia... so very sad. The long goodbye.

 

[Gaolee]

I can walk into a bass shop and have a great time looking as I'm pretty much immune to most basses............My loves are Thunderbirds and Gibsons.

Expand that to everything with strings and that's me.

 

[dukeorock]

Is this friend venturing into TBird replacement P/Ups because of your new found love of TBirds?

He’s been making T Bird pickups for years for someone else, with their label on em. He wants to market his own now. I’m looking forward to trying them

 

[Gaolee]

I still think stock Gibson pickups sound good! Alex Hacke uses the stock pickups too

Absolutely! My 2001 will have its stock pickups for as long as I own it.

 

[BklynKen]

He’s been making T Bird pickups for years for someone else, with their label on em. He wants to market his own now. I’m looking forward to trying them

Very interested to hear more about them.

 

[Gaolee]

This may be blasphemy, but the only other bass i can hang with next to a Bird, is a Ric.

Not blasphemy unless it is in my basement. It would be fact there, too. All that enters there becomes blasphemy just because.

 

[dukeorock]

Very interested to hear more about them.

Me too!

 

[bking0217]

And sorry to hear that your g-dad has dementia... so very sad. The long goodbye.

Thank you. It's kinda rough. He doesn't remember my kids, and in his advanced stage he doesn't seem to like ANY children anymore so I fear my children will never see him again. But, at the same time, it's more important to make HIM comfortable.

 

[TBird1958]

What island do, or did, you live on?

Ken, Dylan used to live on San Juan Island, which if you ever should visit Washington State is someplace well worth going, spectacularly beautiful!

 

[Gaolee]

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

Keep us posted on the new one.

 

[theFixer]

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?

You'll find the "parameters" here, to be vast, and forgiving

I understand your desire to keep it safe in it's case, and keeping it in the case during long periods of inactivity is certainly a good idea, however... if your Grandfather were of clear mind... what do you think his response would be to your question?

 

[Gaolee]

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.

Or buy what you want to play and take decent care of it. Or beat the bejeebers out of it.

 

[bking0217]

You'll find the "parameters" here, to be vast, and forgiving

I understand your desire to keep it safe in it's case, and keeping it in the case during long periods of inactivity is certainly a good idea, however... if your Grandfather were of clear mind... what do you think his response would be to your question?

I believe he'd tell me to rock 'n roll all nite and party everyday.

 

[Gaolee]

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?

If you have a place for it, keep it because it is a piece of your grandfather that will last. If not, it goes. Either way is good.

 

[bholder]

I believe he'd tell me to rock 'n roll all nite and party everyday.

Gene Simmons is your grandpa?

 

[Gaolee]

I believe he'd tell me to rock 'n roll all nite and party everyday.

Then keep it and play it when the urge strikes. Variety is good even if you are a complete Bird player.

 

[theFixer]

Or buy what you want to play and take decent care of it. Or beat the bejeebers out of it.

Is that what those are??? I've been poundin' the hell out of it, but my bejeebers must be stuck

 

[bking0217]

Gene Simmons is your grandpa?

No, but he was a bassist. He was Fender guy but we won't hold that against him. The day before he gave me the Squier, he bought this magnificent MIA Lake Placid Blue Jazz Bass that was an absolute joy to play. I have no idea where that bass is now.

 

[GBassNorth]

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?

If I were in your shoes, I'd play it responsibly. By that I mean, take extra good care of it, in a way it's priceless. So when not in use, store it in a hard case. After each use wipe it down and remove any finger oils from the tuning keys and hardware. Oil the fretboard a couple of times a year and keep the bass and case in a safe storage spot (not the basement floor). But most important, play it! Your Grandfather gifted that bass to you so you could enjoy it, do that responsibly and it will last generations. I wouldn't gig it or take it out of the house or studio much, that just invites damage or theft. And by all means, if at all possible try and get a photo of you, your Grandfather and that bass all together, then you can share those memories with your kids some day.