Thunderbird Club

[RedVee]

They were so ahead of their time back then yet not very popular. They kinda belonged in the category of Dan Armstrong Lucites

There is a relationship there I think

The machines don't assemble the instruments - they CNC cut the body, neck/hs, wings (if applicable) precisely for a 'perfect' fit one to the other. A Plek is a machine that laser levels frets. Boutique builders use these machines just like the big producers do. With boutique builders it's a matter of less product going through less hands = more control of quality (mostly) post manufacturing of parts.

More consistency

Quality is a funny thing. Fancy construction doesn't make an instrument better. I don't want fancy inlays on the fretboard, for example, but I can certainly appreciate that kind of thing. I saw a Gibson Super 400 that was spectacular with all kinds of deco pattern inlays on the back of the guitar. Nobody would ever see that work when it was being played, and it wouldn't make the guitar sound better. It was spectacularly expensive, and I would have bought it if I had a zillion extra dollars floating around, just for the beautiful work. So, I'm inconsistent. So it goes.

I got no issues with bolt-on. I'm really happy with a bolt-on 'Bird and also the 7enderbird that's also a bolt-on. The construction doesn't make anything better or worse so long as it's done well within the technique.

A completely different thing to think about is the price of a Ford Mustang and some other more exotic cars. The Mustang is faster, more efficient, quicker turning, quicker stopping, and cheaper. It just doesn't have such fancy finishes and is a production product as opposed to a boutique product. Fancier isn't always better.

I’ve yet to meet an instrument that wasn’t of a higher standard than my playing ability... so neck join doesn’t worry me too much.

However my Gibson neck thru has a certain something that I just plain like.

 

[RedVee]

Well that's the thick and thin of it, to you no but there are those out there who like the differences enough to pay the extra regardless of cost (to some varying degree). It's a more personnel service

Lol! That sounds like an Irish Mammy saying!

 

[theFixer]

Cazzo! Mio Cugino! Tuo nome non e Pagano eh?

[translation]

"Dude! My @ss! There's no way that's your wife"

 

[theFixer]

... don't forget to tip your waitress.

Tip 'er? Hell, I knocked 'er clean over!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Yes, like JP - Michael is in the virtuoso category. He's a local East Bay cat and I've seen/heard him a few times and met him through a mutual friend. A nice guy and scary talented.

Yeah, I met him at a Marcus Miller show at Yoshi's in Oakland years ago. Like you said, very nice and humble. Just wish he would have something else other than Teen town (incidentally Marcus fully slapped TT at that show without a single pizzicato note) as that piece gets way too overplayed..

 

[theFixer]

No scusa. Il mio cognome è Verna.

Ma i cugini sono ancora una possibilità.

[translation]

"Excuse me? That is so my wife! She lets me play music and drink beer. Life is GOOD!"

 

[JIO]

Yeah, I met him at a Marcus Miller show at Yoshi's in Oakland years ago. Like you said, very nice and humble. Just wish he would have something else other than Teen town (incidentally Marcus fully slapped TT at that show without a single pizzicato note) as that piece gets way too overplayed..

Oh, I just chose that solo because of his Hendrix-esk outro - there's many other beautiful MM pieces on the tube. That's an old vid and I'm sure he rarely does TT these days if at all.

 

[Basshappi]

But of course, where are my manners!

View attachment 3018249

All but the middle one, are my builds from scratch. From left to right:

Soon to be double bound EB-2 semi hollow flat top medium 32" scale bass w/faux maple quilt/flame top & back, Soon to be Ripper bass replica w/bolt on neck, 70's Maya Grabber copy (got this near end December of 2017 for cheap w/original case. Everything except for the output jack (i upgraded myself) is original on the bass. Next the Infamous Tigerbird complete with Reverse Duncan QP pbass splits, & Classic stack Jazz set in Humbucker form at the bridge. Wired to a single kill switch for quick on/off use. Reverse b.c.Rich 4 in line style headstock & to top off Burnt up & down all sides with a blow torch & sealed in satin finish. Next is my bud's RD build in which i've just recently revamped/tweaked & staining the whole thing in black, sealed in semi gloss finish.

View attachment 3018253

Here's Tiger all on her own. Thing of beauty, roar of a beast! This was my third build, my first being A grabber replica for my father. If any newcomers are curious in my work, click this shameless thing.

Very nice!
I have always wanted a Grabber/ Ripper but since they were never made lefty that has never happened (There was an exception to the Ripper but I'd imagine those 2 will never come up for sale!). I've often thought it would be great to make or have one built that combined the features of both (essentially a set neck Grabber with Ripper pups), maybe someday.

 

[Gaolee]

I’ve yet to meet an instrument that wasn’t of a higher standard than my playing ability... so neck join doesn’t worry me too much.

I certainly resemble that.

 

[PillO]

No scusa. Il mio cognome è Verna.

Ma i cugini sono ancora una possibilità.

Translation:
I have no excuse. I put my condom on backwards.
My mom says she heard that this happens all the time.

 

[GBassNorth]

An interesting distant Tbird relative kinda X body design for sale over at the Low End...

Aria ZZB delux tiger $1099

 

[Engle]

I know how you feel. My wife took a picture of me leaning on my upright and I’m staring to look like my uncles.
And nice NR!

 

[Engle]

Hello Thundom of Kingbirds! I come bearing news on my Tigerbird. Recently took it out to check what fixes i needed to do - turns out i had already fixed it, just needed to raise the saddles a little bit to compensate. Action is still low enough with a slight buzz on the headstock end of the neck. But man it plays & sounds like thunder. With all 3 pickups, it's a nice flat balance - not muddy, not overly treble. It's really tight over the spectrum & it's fun to play. Definitely using this on my band's album

Pictures!

 

[RedVee]

Gentrification due to the wealth brought in by high tech is a huge problem here. San Fran is losing a lot of it's charm and character IMHO..

That’s Sydney... to me anyway.

But then I go near the Harbour, Bridge, Opera House... and love it all over again.

 

[TwyreZ]

I want to try one. I had a line of a pelham blue 2013 NR for $850 but did not have the $$ to spare at that time.

Not sure. I think there is a small market that they could tap into and maybe get somebody famous to play one?

Very good Bird the NR 2013, I sold my RD Novoselic to buy it and I don't regret. She is different from the others with her neck more typical PBass.

 

[ThaCoast]

Very nice!
I have always wanted a Grabber/ Ripper but since they were never made lefty that has never happened (There was an exception to the Ripper but I'd imagine those 2 will never come up for sale!). I've often thought it would be great to make or have one built that combined the features of both (essentially a set neck Grabber with Ripper pups), maybe someday.

Well the ripper was a set neck bass, you mean to have a grabber style neck (profile & arrow headstock) glued into the grabber/ripper body with ripper electronics?

Pictures!

Few pages backwards, there are some xD

 

[RedVee]

Uwe probably told me, but I was on sensory overload at the time........

I kinda feel a visit to your place would be similar

I'd be all over it f it was built to the same specs as the Eppi VP but in NR form.

But a II

 

[MrKeef]

Any good/great budget upgrades I can do to a standard Epiphone TBird IV? It's a great bass, but I want to make it even better.

 

[TwyreZ]

it seems to me that the MFD pickups from G&L are "exactly" (?) the same size as the stock Epi.

Pickup - L-series - four string

Pickup - M-series - four string

 

[TwyreZ]

compare your measurements with this one :

G&L L2000 MFD humbucking bass Pickup 2016 Black