Thunderbird Club

[Haji]

1987 Charvel 3B Neck thru Bass Guitar MIJ Aged Finish Jackson Bridge Pickups | eBay
This one's in similar shape and WAY more in line with market pricing.

 

[Toddcaster64]

So after playing guitar for years (and owning some REALLY nice gear), all the while owning a nice Fender P-Bass and not really playing it, I suddenly had an epiphany. Bass is fun. Really fun. I used to hate it. That damned bass sat there for 20 years. I don't know why it took that long, maybe its the fun of learning a new instrument, and certainly all the guitar playing makes it easier to pick up, but the change has been dramatic. I love it. I'm playing almost all bass now, and very little guitar. Anyway, I picked up one of these last month. Epi Classic TBird IV Pro. Even when I didn't play bass, I always thought this was the hottest chick on the block. On sale for $419.00. Best damn purchase I ever made. Gorgeous, set through neck, monster tone. The ONLY thing I dont' like about this is that I think they went too dark with the wood around the headstock. In my headstock pic, its in great light, so you can see the difference, but in dimmer light, the whole thing looks black.

PS I can live with it!
PPS I'm already thirsting for the black pickguard, but apparently, as has been mentioned, the Gibby one won't fit, and the instant gratification side of me hates the idea of having to trace this one and wait.

 

[Haji]

So I guess that was really an Epiphoney.

Try the veal, tip your waitresses. I'll be here all week.

 

[TBird1958]

View attachment 634380 View attachment 634381 So after playing guitar for years (and owning some REALLY nice gear), all the while owning a nice Fender P-Bass and not really playing it, I suddenly had an epiphany. Bass is fun. Really fun. I used to hate it. That damned bass sat there for 20 years. I don't know why it took that long, maybe its the fun of learning a new instrument, and certainly all the guitar playing makes it easier to pick up, but the change has been dramatic. I love it. I'm playing almost all bass now, and very little guitar. Anyway, I picked up one of these last month. Epi Classic TBird IV Pro. Even when I didn't play bass, I always thought this was the hottest chick on the block. On sale for $419.00. Best damn purchase I ever made. Gorgeous, set through neck, monster tone. The ONLY thing I dont' like about this is that I think they went too dark with the wood around the headstock. In my headstock pic, its in great light, so you can see the difference, but in dimmer light, the whole thing looks black.

PS I can live with it!
PPS I'm already thirsting for the black pickguard, but apparently, as has been mentioned, the Gibby one won't fit, and the instant gratification side of me hates the idea of having to trace this one and wait.

Welcome here!

I loved reading this, just warms my heart - Rock that Thunderbird!
Would you like a club number?

 

[z009]

Video
Dropbox - VID_20150614_142944284.mp4

this sounds like a weird version of carousel by blink 182 lol

 

[wolfkeller]

this sounds like a weird version of carousel by blink 182 lol

By who? Never heard of em, definitely Rammstein!

 

[Nocturnal]

Son of a...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

That is waaaay too much for that bass. Do a search for completed auctions and you will get a more realistic idea of what they go for.

 

[Larry V]

That was my first bass as well! The SR300DX. Sold it, shouldn't have.

 

[wolfkeller]

That was my first bass as well! The SR300DX. Sold it, shouldn't have.

View attachment 634433

This one was just a 300, looks the same. Took 7 months to save $700 for bass, case, zoom 506 (still have one) and all the other stuff. Learned on that bass, wrote a lot of songs, many gigs. Swapped out for dimarzio pups and then black hardware, then painted on inlays and then flat black paint. I eventually put in emgs and a Spector preamp but gutted it to pay for Thunderbird which I sold for custom order Spector and now looking for emgs to put back in. Crazy circle. It sounded just like my $2500 Spector euro. Still plays like butter. Had it in E,Eb,D, C#,B and many strings types and gauges

 

[wolfkeller]

This one was just a 300, looks the same. Took 7 months to save $700 for bass, case, zoom 506 (still have one) and all the other stuff. Learned on that bass, wrote a lot of songs, many gigs. Swapped out for dimarzio pups and then black hardware, then painted on inlays and then flat black paint. I eventually put in emgs and a Spector preamp but gutted it to pay for Thunderbird which I sold for custom order Spector and now looking for emgs to put back in. Crazy circle. It sounded just like my $2500 Spector euro. Still plays like butter. Had it in E,Eb,D, C#,B and many strings types and gauges

I just always hated the tiny headstock

 

[wolfkeller]

Good ol AMS, I haven't bought from them since then, probably should

 

[Toddcaster64]

Welcome here!

I loved reading this, just warms my heart - Rock that Thunderbird!
Would you like a club number?

OH, I NEED a club number!!

 

[SVTbird]

View attachment 634380 View attachment 634381 So after playing guitar for years (and owning some REALLY nice gear), all the while owning a nice Fender P-Bass and not really playing it, I suddenly had an epiphany. Bass is fun. Really fun. I used to hate it. That damned bass sat there for 20 years. I don't know why it took that long, maybe its the fun of learning a new instrument, and certainly all the guitar playing makes it easier to pick up, but the change has been dramatic. I love it. I'm playing almost all bass now, and very little guitar. Anyway, I picked up one of these last month. Epi Classic TBird IV Pro. Even when I didn't play bass, I always thought this was the hottest chick on the block. On sale for $419.00. Best damn purchase I ever made. Gorgeous, set through neck, monster tone. The ONLY thing I dont' like about this is that I think they went too dark with the wood around the headstock. In my headstock pic, its in great light, so you can see the difference, but in dimmer light, the whole thing looks black.

PS I can live with it!
PPS I'm already thirsting for the black pickguard, but apparently, as has been mentioned, the Gibby one won't fit, and the instant gratification side of me hates the idea of having to trace this one and wait.

Sounds like this is a job for Larry!

 

[hillerup]

Awwww.... Lol. I'll repent my sins at the altar of the thunderbird and make the appropriate sacrifices

Ummm, err, ahhh - I think what he meant to say was, he's saving up to buy a P bass that he can take the neck off of and put on a Tbird body for his next Fenderbird build.
Yeah, I'm sure that's what he meant, so lets give him a pass.



Whew, friendlybass, that was a close one. You need to hold your cards closer to your chest.

Everybody should have a Fender. They make you appreciate how awesome every other bass out there is.

that would be the appropriate sacrifice

I'll have to get the grass skirt and coconut shell bra out - We're going perform a lot of pagan rituals

We're going to take the body of your new p bass and throw it in a volcano

Then its neck will rise from the ashes as a magnificent fenderbird

If we can get a boar's head, why can't we get about a dozen whole pigs and pit roast 'em? Do a Thunderbird Luau.

Oh, there will be alcohol!

Seems the jury has come down with a verdict, and "friendlybass" retains membership in the Club.

But it was a close call, and strike three it's out of the Club without a warning!

 

[ThaCoast]

My first bass was a squier affinity series pbass traded it for my 2nd bass: ibanez GaxB short scale. Still have it, need to invest in a preamp or something to give it definition. It screamed Gene Simmons & i was 9-10 years old. Doesnt get played much in band context or gigs but it's great short scale to practice & mess with

 

[wolfkeller]

I've gotten busy with my band with shows so its got to the point where I have my live rig and basses (birds) and unless I'm playing a gig I don't see the stuff. I use a whole separate rig for rehearsal and whatever bass I feel like taking. I pulled out the ibanez and the p bass and man, the iby feels like a toy after those birds! What's cool is, I can go awhile not playing em and they still feel perfect and natural. The warlock, WHOLE, nother deal there!

If I happen to come across a pj bird, lefty or righty I have another project in mind! Never ends.

 

[Haji]

Of late I've really been wanting to get ahold of a BC Rich Ironbird. Our guitarist's main is a Mockingbird. A lime green or similarly obnoxious Ironbird would be a good teammate to his quilt top trans red one.

 

[kirillstokes]

My first bass be Jolana Disco bass (soviet Gibson RD copy) I bought it for 44$) I was 10 years old and more money I didn't have)

 

[Toddcaster64]

Ok I know the point is that it's a cheap copy, but as far as its appearance goes, am I the only one here who thinks that looks positively wicked?!

 

[Toptube]

Hey guys I'm curious about what fret size was used on vintage Non-Reverse Thunderbirds. Can someone chime in, maybe with an approximation (vintage/regular, medium, medium-jumbo, etc) if not an actual fret size?