Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

Lol. RHODE ISLAND!!!

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Awesome! You in Portsmouth?..

 

[TBird1958]

Hey TBirs, had a question for you. What are we defining as a Thunderbird? Are the original Gibson Thunderbird and perhaps the Epi the only one's we will call Thunderbirds? Or are the many others with winged body shapes and Thunderbird pickups also Thunderbirds? Or could it be any bass with Thunderbird pickups and the Thunderbird sound?

We are loose about it to a certain degree, the original Gibson concept was a mahogany/walnut multi ply neck through bass with a pickup that uses neither P nor J to denote itself. The shape of course is automotive designer Raymond Dietricht's work. As time has gone by there have been many variations of the concept involving construction of the neck (i.e. bolt on or set), the shape of the body, Non Reverse and Reverse, as well as multitudes of different pickups. That I've been able to document Gibson alone has used 7 different pickup designs since the '60s. There are lots of great Ho's out there, Greco, ESP, Orville, Hamer, Ibanez, Jackson to name a few - They're all Thunderbirds.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

All Mopar RB engines weighed roughly 670lbs. RB includes 383, 413, 426 Wedge (NOT Hemi), and 440. With the exception the 413 Max Wedge as it had a dual quad setup which adds some weight.

Thought a heavier transmission was needed though.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Thought a heavier transmission was needed though.

Torqueflight A727 on everything bigger than a 318

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

my "bluesmobile"..

 

[Gaolee]

White Thunderbird = The SEX!



BTW, I'll be in Paris this Saturday

Life could be worse!

 

[Gaolee]

I've learned not to mess with Goat Boy anymore, even if he is a, uh, er...............

A rotten kid (TM).

 

[Gaolee]

Hey TBirs, had a question for you. What are we defining as a Thunderbird? Are the original Gibson Thunderbird and perhaps the Epi the only one's we will call Thunderbirds? Or are the many others with winged body shapes and Thunderbird pickups also Thunderbirds? Or could it be any bass with Thunderbird pickups and the Thunderbird sound?

There are reverse and non-reverse Thunderbirds, Gibson, Hammer, Lull, Epiphone, and a bunch of others. All kinds of bass guitars seem to be just fine. Look up Thurgood Marshall's definition of pornography. Then apply it to Thunderbirds. That would probably work, but then, I'm not our Queen, so that's not the final word.

 

[Christine]

I don't have much to offer, but one thing for sure is get a flex-shaft for it, or get one that already has a flex-shaft. It will make your life a million times easier.

I think most of them come with the flex but it seems to make sense to get one

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

We are loose about it to a certain degree, the original Gibson concept was a mahogany/walnut multi ply neck through bass with a pickup that uses neither P nor J to denote itself. The shape of course is automotive designer Raymond Dietricht's work. As time has gone by there have been many variations of the concept involving construction of the neck (i.e. bolt on or set), the shape of the body, Non Reverse and Reverse, as well as multitudes of different pickups. That I've been able to document Gibson alone has used 7 different pickup designs since the '60s. There are lots of great Ho's out there, Greco, ESP, Orville, Hamer, Ibanez, Jackson to name a few - They're all Thunderbirds.

Any chance of you sharing any of that info on the different pickup designs or point us to a source?

 

[Christine]

Only "sports"car I ever Really wanted: Volvo P 1800. And that was b4 I ever saw "The Saint".

I had one, a 1967 in a dark grey with a red leather interior, it was a bit of a doer upper but it was lovely. I sold it when I got the Lotus but I wished I'd have kept it. Not fast or anything but so nice

 

[Christine]

'63 Split window 'Vette? Nahhhh.
'70 Boss 302? Nope.
'69 Coronet 440 RT? Who cares.
'68 Charger 383? Pfffft...

This is what I really want!

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Sorry, Mike... gotta call you out on this one.

I'm 100% with Mike

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Torqueflight A727 on everything bigger than a 318

383s rev higher and sound better imho. Although as you mention engine weight is the same, ancillary equipment such as manifolds etc. would weigh more. A 440 Charger outweighs a 383 Charger. I could be wrong but would imagine the f/b weight ratio is more even in a 383 Charger. I like straight line performance but we have many mountains and windy roads in CA. Believe it or not, 289 Shelbys/Cobras are more sought after over here than 427s.

 

[Larry V]

I'm 100% with Mike

...but you're excused for your choice since you've probably never heard these cars run or ridden in these cars. Mike on the other hand... no excuse.

 

[Christine]

yes, cream white is orgasm !

Not if you haven't had one for a week!

OK I know, coat/hat I'm off

 

[GonePlaid]

I had one, a 1967 in a dark grey with a red leather interior, it was a bit of a doer upper but it was lovely. I sold it when I got the Lotus but I wished I'd have kept it. Not fast or anything but so nice

I had a '63 babypoo brown PV544 up 'til I got my first van. Loved it but couldn't haul gear in it. Ugly as a mud fence but fun!

 

[TwyreZ]

yes, cream white is orgasm !

Not if you haven't had one for a week!

OK I know, coat/hat I'm off

Hmm... I should not have written that...

 

[JJR58]

Hmm... I should not have written that...

To late!!!, it's already been immortalized here.

 

[TwyreZ]

 

[GonePlaid]

...but you're excused for your choice since you've probably never heard these cars run or ridden in these cars. Mike on the other hand... no excuse.

I can and do appreciate the muscle cars . Sorry,bowtie, but was never a fan of the plastic pigs after about '62(whenever they went to the "pointy" rear end-I liked the rounded tail). Just me, I guess. Had an Impala Convertible-327/250 w/ Powerglide (yuck) that could run once ya got it moving. Off the line, a Model T in reverse could eat it up, but from 12 mph up it'd go!