Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

I had to steal Santaman from @PillO for my FB profile picture. That is awesome. I need to find a copy of Stewieman that was used on the Clockwork Angels tour for future use.

Like this?

I'll keep my eyes open...

 

[GonePlaid]

no bfd this had been around for 10 years when you showed up..
View attachment 3252360

Oh, yeah, I looked that up b4 I posted. It seems like they sold about a dozen of them under various names. I wonder if any still exist. I'll bet the owners didn't argue over rounds vs flats!

 

[GonePlaid]

I’m ‘62 - so if the Thunderbird has a really long development maybe they started working on it in ‘62... maybe.

So I started looked for an anniversary/significant age bass. A 2012 would be be when I turned 50, a 2016 would be the year when I started up playing around with basses (again).

I found a 2011 the right time and price, and everything just worked out. So I figure ‘close enough’.

Just say it was conceived in 2011, delivered in 2012.

 

[Engle]

Completely off topic: the drummer in my cover band builds solid wood drums. I helped him set up for a promo video shoot last night. This is a walnut bebop kit with calf skin heads:

 

[GonePlaid]

Don’t Epi just call all TBird pickups TB-Plus ?

Hmmm.

 

[GonePlaid]

Just looked it up, you’re right. That’s kinda stupid to call them all the same.

But they've never specified "plus what".

 

[GonePlaid]

I auditioned one of those about 18 months ago (or at least a D'Angelico very similar to that). It sounded good, but wasn't quite what I was looking for. When the store decided to blow it out because they were moving, the drop in price did not motivate me to buy it either, so something about it just didn't speak to me. But it was a really nice bass. In the end the Midtown and the JC spoke to me on my hollow/semi-hollow quest.

Those weren't available when I bought this for $550. Ibanez AGB 200.

 

[GonePlaid]

Completely off topic: the drummer in my cover band builds solid wood drums. I helped him set up for a promo video shoot last night. This is a walnut bebop kit with calf skin heads:
View attachment 3252588

Nice!

 

[Engle]

It's worth the effort, just on account of what it is whether it's a '63 or 64. I sure hope it gets done easily for you. It is certainly worth spending some money on, especially when considering the initial price.

Looking back at the pictures, the problem isn't the break, it's the epoxy. How do you remove the epoxy without removing wood?
I wonder what Dan Erlewine would do?

 

[GonePlaid]

Looking back at the pictures, the problem isn't the break, it's the epoxy. How do you remove the epoxy without removing wood?
I wonder what Dan Erlewine would do?

I wonder "how much wood and what would the shape wind up being".

 

[Markamb1]

Sound?

Completely off topic: the drummer in my cover band builds solid wood drums. I helped him set up for a promo video shoot last night. This is a walnut bebop kit with calf skin heads:
View attachment 3252588

 

[Engle]

Sound?

To give you an idea, this is iphone video I took last night. We set up 4 mics on the kit for the actual videos.

 

[Band Mom]

I'm not looking seriously. I still need to get the 5-string running! I just peruse now and then to see what's out there. I saw a '64 with a headstock repair I'd love to have (from a store I trust), but too much cash for right now. I got a book to promote.

Are you looking at Austin Vintage? I was just there yesterday and the 64 had already been sold. Wasn't going to buy it, but definitely wanted a look. And that price was a steal for a '64.

 

[GonePlaid]

To give you an idea, this is iphone video I took last night. We set up 4 mics on the kit for the actual videos.

 

[Markamb1]

Nice. More useful though what do you think of them compared to what you’re used to?

 

[Band Mom]

And speaking of birth year basses, there's a 76 I'm chasing on Reverb right now that I'm having the seller do some due diligence regarding things like weight, microphonic pickups, and a possible refret.

As to the pickups, if there are any issues, are they the same size as any replacement pup? I fully intend to make the 76 my primary rehearsal/recording 'Bird, so I need it playable. I really would not want to have to do any routing or something equally irreversible in order to get it into playable shape.

 

[Markamb1]

I’m having a hard time trying to figure out the production numbers of the Gibson Blackbird.....short of emailing them. I usually do alright just googling....

 

[Markamb1]

Does anyone have an ebony stain finish?

 

[Nocturnal]

And speaking of birth year basses, there's a 76 I'm chasing on Reverb right now that I'm having the seller do some due diligence regarding things like weight, microphonic pickups, and a possible refret.

As to the pickups, if there are any issues, are they the same size as any replacement pup? I fully intend to make the 76 my primary rehearsal/recording 'Bird, so I need it playable. I really would not want to have to do any routing or something equally irreversible in order to get it into playable shape.

76 Pickups should be the same size as other Gibson Thunderbird pickups or their replacements. Not sure about cavity depth tho.

 

[Engle]

Nice. More useful though what do you think of them compared to what you’re used to?

I like them. They are much warmer than your average rock kit with a lot of overtones and resonance.
The calf skin heads lend themselves to playing by hand - which Raphael is great at. I'll post the link once Rick does his editing.