Thunderbird Club

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Another way of looking at it could be, What's in the store tomorrow.

Exactly! Tomorrow being Friday, people might bring instruments to pawn shops for casino money.

 

[Fab Superlative]

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 was referencing insofar as progression Seth Lover->mentored-> Seymour Duncan, as relates to T-Bird pickups and then as follows, on down to the more recent winders.
Seymour's place in the privately held, independent/custom pickup aftermarket is as one of the founding fathers.

 

[JIO]

Fine, thanks. TBC is bad for my OCD.

Thunder Bird Chatter?

 

[Haji]

Figures that Duk had all the basses. My first was a mid 80's Aria Diamond PJ. I've never even seen a photo like the one I had. Wish I could, just for nostalgia and that old Matsumoku build quality. So it went:
Aria Diamond PJ
1987 Charvel 2B with EMG's
15 year break from playing
Ibanez Gio prawn shop "find"
Sterling SB1
2008-ish Chinese Goff TBird
1988 Charvel 4B w/EMG PJ Set
2014 ETBIV w/ Tone Monster pre amp

Clearly I need more, amd some better, basses.

 

[JIO]

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

pass

 

[Gaolee]

Matsumoku build quality might be good, but sometimes the design wasn't so good. My first bass was a Vantage with a P pickup, a maple body with short horns, and a maple neck with a big 2+2 headstock. Unlike my Thunderbirds, it had neck dive like there was no tomorrow. It was like wrestling with a bowling ball on the end of a broom stick. I got it brand new, before I had any clue about anything. I suppose it may have had some good qualities, but fighting with its balance was memorably awful. The good thing is that it started my career as a bass player, and then I gave it to my brother, who is also became a bass player. He's a better bass player than I am at this point. Our mother hasn't forgiven me for that influence. So, that's a few good things from that bass. I don't know what happened to it, and don't much care.

It looked like this one. With hindsight, it probably would have been ok with a relocated strap button.

 

[Dadagoboi]

I was referencing insofar as progression Seth Lover->mentored-> Seymour Duncan, as relates to T-Bird pickups and then as follows, on down to the more recent winders.
Seymour's place in the privately held, independent/custom pickup aftermarket is as one of the founding fathers.

Yeah, I hear Seymour's up for sainthood.

 

[hillerup]

Is that a thatched roof?

Yes it is...

 

[Fab Superlative]

Yeah, I hear Seymour's up for sainthood.

Lol!

 

[JIO]

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

cool! Coral Wasp inspired build - The Calabrone

 

[Fab Superlative]

Acoustic amps are hard to find in the Netherlands/Europe
I just found a Acoustic B2 in a shop. Will that be a way to get to the vintage Acoustic sound or is this a lesser member of the family??

I meant to reply to this before, man this club thread moves fast!

I've been wanting to check out a DiCosimo Audio, 360+ pedal: DiCosimo Audio - Custom Stompboxes
But they rarely come up used, and it seems like the only way I'm going to be able to check one out would be to just go ahead and order a new one. Thing being, I wonder how the actual 'heft' of the Acoustic rig will translate using the pedal version through whatever the rig of the moment is? And has already been mentioned- the cabs lent a major portion of that 'heft'. Although hooking up a 370 to any stout cab, still demonstrated that even the standalone head itself absolutely slammed hard.
So this pedal might be something to consider?

 

[dukeorock]

I forgot in my lifetime bass list...several uprights (maybe 10?) and a weird, inexplicable phase about ten years ago where I bought up a few ‘80’s Peavey basses. T-40, T-45, Foundation and Palladium...there was also a couple acoustic basses I was asked to use during that awful ‘MTV Unplugged’ era in the ‘90’s. Man, I hated those things

 

[kat888]

I forgot in my lifetime bass list...several uprights (maybe 10?) and a weird, inexplicable phase about ten years ago where I bought up a few ‘80’s Peavey basses. T-40, T-45, Foundation and Palladium...there was also a couple acoustic basses I was asked to use during that awful ‘MTV Unplugged’ era in the ‘90’s. Man, I hated those things

Q: What's the best ABG?
A: A tambourine.*

*or other portable percussion instrument

 

[JIO]

Yeah, I hear Seymour's up for sainthood.

St Seymour ... has a nice ring to it.

 

[Nocturnal]

Thanks Andy!

Papers are signed, the apartment has a buyer and bank meeting is on monday!

That is fantastic news!!! Congrats my friend!!!

Then there's the added cover they put in cases off and on. The 1991 is brown/pink with a plush sheet. The 2001 is brown/pink with a pink satin sheet. The 2015 is brown/pink with no sheet. The EB is a 2013, and its case is black/white with no sheet. I would be surprised if 'Birds from 2013 and 2014 had brown/pink cases. But who knows. It's just one more of those mysterious internal workings of Gibson things.

My 2001 Ebony Gibson has the brown/pink case with the satin sheet. My 2001 Gibson Blackbird is black/black with a black satin sheet with the Bird Iron Cross logo. 2013 Gibson 50th Anniversary case is black/white with no satin sheet. It did come with an almost vanilla scent to the case tho so that was a nice touch

 

[JIO]

My 2001 Ebony Gibson has the brown/pink case with the satin sheet. My 2001 Gibson Blackbird is black/black with a black satin sheet with the Bird Iron Cross logo. 2013 Gibson 50th Anniversary case is black/white with no satin sheet. It did come with an almost vanilla scent to the case tho so that was a nice touch

Leaves the door wide-open for someone compiling a (guitar/bass geek) book called "Case History" - (I'll take a small commission for coming up with the title)

 

[hillerup]

Matsumoku build quality might be good, but sometimes the design wasn't so good. My first bass was a Vantage with a P pickup, a maple body with short horns, and a maple neck with a big 2+2 headstock. Unlike my Thunderbirds, it had neck dive like there was no tomorrow. It was like wrestling with a bowling ball on the end of a broom stick. I got it brand new, before I had any clue about anything. I suppose it may have had some good qualities, but fighting with its balance was memorably awful. The good thing is that it started my career as a bass player, and then I gave it to my brother, who is also became a bass player. He's a better bass player than I am at this point. Our mother hasn't forgiven me for that influence. So, that's a few good things from that bass. I don't know what happened to it, and don't much care.

It looked like this one. With hindsight, it probably would have been ok with a relocated strap button.View attachment 2943391

Reminds me a lot of a Washburn Scavenger bass I used to have... Cheap bass, but really great sounding with a sustain that lasted for days. Wish I didn't let it go...

 

[hillerup]

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!

Thanks Larry, We will definitely love it...

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.

I'm sure she won't be as excited about the annual meeting as I would...

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

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.

I've slept on less.

 

[Fab Superlative]

I forgot in my lifetime bass list...several uprights (maybe 10?) and a weird, inexplicable phase about ten years ago where I bought up a few ‘80’s Peavey basses. T-40, T-45, Foundation and Palladium...there was also a couple acoustic basses I was asked to use during that awful ‘MTV Unplugged’ era in the ‘90’s. Man, I hated those things

Yeah, I hear ya' I still have a Guild B30-E NT and it's almost manageable to play while seated- standing tho'? fuhgettaboutit! feel like I'm playing a guitarrón mexicano, in a Mariachi band.