Thunderbird Club

[Larry V]

The sorrounding fields don't belong to the house, but the neighbouring farmers.

Actually the whole lot is only 971 m2 (0.0971 ha), and quite a bit smaller than what my girlfriend wanted - But the house, it's renovated interior, the size, the settings, the pool and the fact it was affordable for us and within a 30-45 minute drive from work made it perfect for us.

It is 224 m2 (2411 ft2) and has an addiional 50 m2 (538 ft2) heated utility room/garage that can be converted to a studio/rehearsal space as a bonus, which really sold it to me.

A master bedroom (upstairs) and 3 guestrooms (ground), big open space kitchen (ground), dining area and small living room (ground), two bathrooms and the biggest living room I've ever seen upstairs at 100 m2 (1076 ft2) - All in a fairly good condition, so we can move right in.

It sounds lovely and I'm so glad you've weighed all your needs with your available options. I'm sure you'll love it!

 

[JIO]

Well maybe I should try the SD's? since I've always been impressed with Seymour's work. Heck, those other 'big 3' you mentioned were probably inspired by Seymour, when they first started out?

I added a Seymour Duncan Hawkbucker in the late 80's - just checked and they are still made : Hawkbucker Judging from its model name and copy ("thunderous tone") it's specifically geared to T-birds. I've never done an A/B test to compare but after rocking it for 30 yrs I only know how awesome it's always sounded. It doesn't have a chrome cover/ring - going more for the muscular naked-bike look. I modified a black plastic surround for it. It was around $80 back then. I saw a '64 T-bird pu once on eBay and considered buying to make the bass tidy, but when something works (and works well) - don't fix it.

 

[Gaolee]

Ive only been able to play it home so not very loud and not in a mix. Tonight should be very telling.

I'm looking forward to your report. I was playing the 2015 last night, and had some small issues with how it sat in the mix. Using a ToneHammer, I dialed the mids a bit to the high side, and boosted there. Everything else was run flat. That did the trick. The strings are a bit dead, which doesn't help, but the high-ish mid boost made a huge difference.

 

[Zoobiedood]

I have used SD's Custom Shop Thunderbird pickups, but it wasn't in a Thunderbird..it was in a custom P-bass looking thing. So I might not be much help as I couldn't compare them in a similar body type.

 

[Fab Superlative]

Not sure when they still offered those cases - I bought one from Guitar Center for $50 in the late nineties - I had to ask again the price as even then it was a steal. Mine has the fuchsia satin cover sheet. Don't know any girls around here that that case makes me think of.., a funeral perhaps.

What? there ain't no more?
'bronze beauties
Lying in the sun
With their long soft hair falling
Flying as they run'

 

[JIO]

What? there ain't no more?
'bronze beauties
Lying in the sun
With their long soft hair falling
Flying as they run'

Maybe with fuchsia bikini's...

 

[Dadagoboi]

You've been missed! I hope all is well with you

Fine, thanks. TBC is bad for my OCD.

 

[godofthunder59]

Yes, Scott . Both SDs and ThunderBuckers. @godofthunder59

I have Seymour Duncan custom shop reproduction Thunderbird pickups under NOS '76 covers in a couple of basses. I was ordering these before Thunderbuckers were available. The SD pickups are ok they seem to lack the inherent distortion or grit of 60's units and Thunderbuckers. These days if I am going to pop for a reproduction Thunderbird pickup I would go with the Thunderbucker.

 

[godofthunder59]

 

[godofthunder59]

Note that the strings were kind of beat on the Cataldo.

 

[RikiP]

yeah surprisingly clean sounding, thanks for the demo

 

[Gaolee]

Thanks. This means I don't add one more option to the list of pickups to choose from that will eventually go into the 1991.

 

[Fab Superlative]

I have Seymour Duncan custom shop reproduction Thunderbird pickups under NOS '76 covers in a couple of basses. I was ordering these before Thunderbuckers were available. The SD pickups are ok they seem to lack the inherent distortion or grit of 60's units and Thunderbuckers. These days if I am going to pop for a reproduction Thunderbird pickup I would go with the Thunderbucker.

Yeah, even though the '06 is rockin' alright as is, the Babicz is a chunk. I'm debating whether to go full tilt and install one of your BadBird II's.
But like most, I'm at that point where this is a nice pre-flood 'Bird, and doing surgery that's going to leave a mark is a consideration. But nothing beats the tru-tone of the suspension bridge. And the upgrade of the pups- even though easily reversed, deserves the proper bridge to enhance swap.

It's kinda like back in the day when we were installing Jazz, bridge pups on our P-basses to give 'em more spank. And at that time, most of the P's that were going under the knife in the 70's were 60's Precision's. And now looking back on it today, it's still a thing to consider. This '06 Bird, is like the 60's P's were then- about 10yrs old or so.

 

[dukeorock]

Well maybe I should try the SD's? since I've always been impressed with Seymour's work. Heck, those other 'big 3' you mentioned were probably inspired by Seymour, when they first started out?

I dunno about that... seems most were made by studying a particularly magical ‘63 or ‘64 T Bird and modelling the pickup after that.

I'm looking forward to your report. I was playing the 2015 last night, and had some small issues with how it sat in the mix. Using a ToneHammer, I dialed the mids a bit to the high side, and boosted there. Everything else was run flat. That did the trick. The strings are a bit dead, which doesn't help, but the high-ish mid boost made a huge difference.

On some basses, I don’t mind when the strings start dying a little, but on my T Birds, I love fresh strings best by far. Gotta keep fresh ones on hand lately, as I only play one of my T Birds lately.

I absolutely love the sound of both of those basses!

 

[Shannon]

I try to keep up but some days just can't. It moves too fast in here and I have to practice once in a while

Wait, we have to practice?! But we have Thunderbirds!

 

[Stevis]

If all goes according to plans, I'll be swapping my 5 room apartment in Copenhagen for this on the countryside in a few month time:

View attachment 2942310

Congrats, Michael. How nice to be able to enjoy that bucolic and serene setting, while still being relatively close to the city. Please let your partner know that you will be hosting the first annual European meeting of the Thunderbird Club. Vince will be sleeping on a cot in the yard.

 

[willsellout]

New Family picture. Decided on keeping the Embassy pro. I swapped out the strings to some DR Sunbeams, set it up and it plays wonderfully. The tone is damn fine as well. I do need to, at some point, buy some new nut files and lower the nut height on it though. It could play even better than it already does. Anyway, here goes:

 

[mistergoats]

Slow day at the office today, so I made a list of lifetime basses I've owned. Bolded the ones I still own.

• 1994 Fernandes HB-65, black (had a really cool shape, but the truss rod broke without me ever adjusting it)
• 1984 BC Rich Mockingbird, natural (formerly bright pink)
• 1994 Fender Jazz MIJ 75RI, natural (was the only bass I used until 2012)
• 2012 Gibson Thunderbird, dark burst
• 2012 Gibson Grabber G3 RI, black (the one that got away)
• 2014 Gibson Midtown Standard, sunburst
• 1970 Dan Armstrong, lucite
• 2006 Gibson Thunderbird, classic white
• 2015 Parts Precision, white (Fender body/Warmoth neck/Lollar pickup)
• 2011 Fender Precision Deluxe, black
• 2018 Gibson RD Artist, black

 

[Shannon]

I'm the Doctor here!!!

Not any more.

Actually...

 

[Gaolee]

Slow day at the office today, so I made a list of lifetime basses I've owned. Bolded the ones I still own.

• 1994 Fernandes HB-65, black (had a really cool shape, but the truss rod broke without me ever adjusting it)
• 1984 BC Rich Mockingbird, natural (formerly bright pink)
• 1994 Fender Jazz MIJ 75RI, natural (was the only bass I used until 2012)
• 2012 Gibson Thunderbird, dark burst
• 2012 Gibson Grabber G3 RI, black (the one that got away)
• 2014 Gibson Midtown Standard, sunburst
• 1970 Dan Armstrong, lucite
• 2006 Gibson Thunderbird, classic white
• 2015 Parts Precision, white (Fender body/Warmoth neck/Lollar pickup)
• 2011 Fender Precision Deluxe, black
• 2018 Gibson RD Artist, black

That's a somewhat more exalted list than mine would be. My list is longer, and I have kept more of them. I'm just finished with lunch at my desk, so goofing off for a minute is OK.

1978 Vantage
1967(?) Danelectro/Coral Wasp
1968(?) Gibson EB-2dc
2006 Epiphone Thunderbird IV
2010 Fender RW Precision
1998 Rickenbacker 4003
196(?) Segova Vulcan
2004 Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV (now fretless)
2006 Rickenbacker 4003
1991 Gibson Thunderbird
2013 Gibson EB
2001 Gibson Thunderbird
2015 Gibson Thunderbird
2008 Epiphone Thunderbird IV
2017 Brad Lowe/parts Fenderbird

The EB got sold to my brother for a bit, but he decided he didn't like it as much as he thought he would and sold it back to me. The bolt-on Thunderbird I have now has a Dimarzio One pickup that I intend to put right at the neck, but haven't got around to that project yet. I probably ought to sell it, because I can't see it getting much play time. The rest of 'em get used regularly, although the EB-2 is semi-retired at this point. I don't miss any of the ones that are gone.