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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
Yes I have a Standard in ebony and an Artist in natural. I have posted these pics before, but any excuse!
79 Artist- all original with functioning MOOG board
78 Standard- all original
Here is a link to a good resource- probably where you heard the sound samples?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I understand that the RD Standards in general are pretty uncommon- only 900 being sold in the three years of production. I understand there were only somewhere around 100 in ebony, making them a pretty rare production bass. I have seen very few ebony Standards for sale over the years and some of those had been modded. So probably not many still out there. The pickups in these were only used in this model and so when I was lucky enough to find a NOS loaded guard I snapped it up- so I have a spare set of pickups. Neck and bridge pickups are different as well.
In comparison to a Gibson T Bird and I believe the Epi Pro is similar in pickups and layout- much heavier overall. Surprising for such a long bass, probably a little better balanced when on a strap, although I don't feel that modern TBirds are bad neck divers at all. I find that I don't notice how heavy the bass is gigging it because it is pretty well balanced. The neck is displaced towards the headstock direction by an inch or so compared to my 09 TBird, if you understand what I mean. This means that the notes seem even "further away from you" than a TBird (and much more so than on a P Bass) and this took a little while to get used to. Neck is a little more substantial- a mm or so at the nut- but narrower at the nut than the average P Bass. The neck is deeper through than a TBird and so feels a fair bit fuller in your hand. I like the volute. Soundwise- nothing like a TBird, fairly bright actually but with plenty of bottom end, actually reminiscent of a Jazz bass in some ways but much fuller (ballsier) and not as mid scooped. Sometimes when I am using it I actually sometimes think that, if the horde of Jazz bass fan bois could get past their almost universal Gibson bass hatred and play one of these, they would be blown away. But that's not going to happen. This one sets up nice and low and is a pleasure to play.
They are definitely worth keeping a look out for- they are good. Also never fails to get positive comments when I use it.
In comparison to the Novoselic signatures that were around a year or so back- well I have to say- this sounds a fair bit different to the couple of those I played in shops. The signatures or whatever they were called sounded pretty much like a Jazz to me and I am not a Jazz bass guy. A NOS loaded RD Standard guard ( I still see them come up on eBay from time to time) in a Novoselic would be the go.
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Or you can take the Novoselic a completely different direction like I did
I de-Jazzed it and gave it some real balls 
I tried to find an ebony Standard before I bought the Novoselic but couldn't find the right one. This was an acceptable substitute in my mind and I didn't need to worry about damaging a vintage bass (which I wouldn't have wanted to do).Or you can take the Novoselic a completely different direction like I did
Very cool!
Thanks for both of your replies and nice pics.
I was expecting it to not sound like a TBird which is what makes me want it more. Otherwise Id just get a TBird... I was just asking because thats what Im used to and would give me a better idea of what the bass sounds and feels like and it seems like its as good as I thought. And the samples Ive heard were picked. I play with fingers on top of the neck pick-up wich makes it sound bassier.
Oh, and what about the upper fret accessability? Same as a TBird? looks like it would be like that. Honestly lookes like they could have put a Jazz bass style cut and, unlike deeper cuts on a TBird, it wouldnt ruin the looks of the RD.
Yes, and I liked them. I also saw this
I was expecting it to not sound like a TBird which is what makes me want it more. Otherwise Id just get a TBird... I was just asking because thats what Im used to and would give me a better idea of what the bass sounds and feels like and it seems like its as good as I thought. And the samples Ive heard were picked. I play with fingers on top of the neck pick-up wich makes it sound bassier.
Oh, and what about the upper fret accessability? Same as a TBird? looks like it would be like that. Honestly lookes like they could have put a Jazz bass style cut and, unlike deeper cuts on a TBird, it wouldnt ruin the looks of the RD.
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Glad to be of assistance.
I am a finger player too but play closer to the bridge, as a default, I suppose.
I hadn't seen the clip, thanks.
Upper fret access is a bit better in the RD than a T Bird by one or two frets because of the displacement of the neck, which I mentioned but probably didn't explain well above.
Here some bad quick pics I just took to try and show that.
The upper fret access actually looks pretty good. With a bit of struggle and some weird positioning I can still play all the upper frets on the TBird so the RD actually looks like its going to be comfortable and easy to play (considering what Im used to).Glad to be of assistance.
I am a finger player too but play closer to the bridge, as a default, I suppose.
I hadn't seen the clip, thanks.
Upper fret access is a bit better in the RD than a T Bird by one or two frets because of the displacement of the neck, which I mentioned but probably didn't explain well above.
Here some bad quick pics I just took to try and show that.
Yeah I found that part to be a little confusing (I still dont think I fully understand). Im not a native speaker
No problems at all. The best way I can explain it is to say that the body is attached to the neck at a different point in RDs as opposed to T Birds, so that the "deepest" part of treble side cutaway on my Gibson T Bird (and the Epi Pro looks to be the same from pics I have seen) lines up pretty much (give or take a little) with the 17th fret. On my RDs it lines up between the 18th and 19th frets. In theory that should give easier access to a further one or two frets up the RD neck. I suspect that is why Gibson designed them that way. The extra thickness of the RD body (40mm) compared to a T Bird body (30mm) will have some impact on comfort when accessing the upper frets as well- but yes, overall I find the access is better in a RD compared to a T Bird.
BTW- The deepest part of the treble cutaway on standard Jazz and Precision basses line up with the 19th fret (give or take a little). The Fender bodies are a little over 40mm. Access is similar in an RD to a Fender.
I just noticed you can see how tight the grain is on the ebony board on my RD and how open the rosewood is on my T Bird in these pics.
Fellas, your packing up a mountain of gear after your set, you make your Roth wannabe singer carry his Mike stand and he asks "why am I doing this? You need to hire roadies". That's about the point he gets cussed out in front of the whole bar and left in ohio. Search for singer begins. Good times.
Haji
Supporting Member
We had that same conversation-minus firing the singer-on Friday night. Being the singer is a get over. Luckily I've got my rig down pretty tight. Pop the covers off the rack, plug in the plugs, run a single cable to my pedal board, turn on the Volto and turn on the wireless transmitter. Done in a couple minutes.
Well, its been an ongoing issue. We have 6-8 shows booked with guarantees. We are trying to work it out for him to fulfil those but also have 1 audition tues. It all up in the air. We also may get our original singer to fill in.
As a tribute its an undertaking. My rig is the least of it. Props, lights, drips, ext. We're not big enough yet for a paid crew. We get help but this was 3 1/2 hr drive.
Get this, he brings his brother to help roadie his vocal crap, than says, when I'm done, out a towel over my head and escort me off. Hahahahahaha
Doing this, and doing of to make good money is an undertaking. We blew the place away but its so much that the actual playing can become an after thought to the show as a whole. Both good and bad
Oah, you mean the custom one WE made for him and deliver back and forth in the trailer we load/unload? Hope he had a nice walk cuz WE got paid.Hey. mic stands are heavy!!
We are three piece plus a female singer. Us three boys pretty much lug the lot. Luckily the routine for my bass rig is pretty much the same as yours minus the wireless- takes a couple of minutes. Most of my time last Friday was loading X2/ unloading X2/ setting up/ pulling down and tweaking the PA (Oh! and playing bass). We don't expect the singer to lug cabs- she couldn't do it.
Love the bass, and your shirt, Carlo!Rocking ThundaCoustic last night with Wattage. This is what happens to bassplayers and drummers who have known each other over 50 years...they're still telling us to turn down.
On a happy note, who loves Thunderbird basses???!!! Anyone? Come on, gotta be at least one! Man...haha
