Thunderbird Club

[BklynKen]

Black Beauties have a great sound to them and look cool. They have a certain "grippiness" to them that abates over time but never entirely goes. They last a long time too. I have also liked NYXLs on mine. I am part way through a steel string experiment with my `bird and so far I have found that I really don't like ProSteels. I'm putting some Rotosound Steels on today. We will see how that goes.

If you don't mind more flexible strings, you might want to try the La Bella Rx. I hear they're similar to the SS series, which I loved, but more flexible.

 

[Gaolee]

That’s a great observation! I can think of quite a few artists I just didn’t get the first few times I heard em. Some artists require that we learn to listen ‘differently.’

I have found that music I don't "get" right away is the stuff I end up listening to for years. The music that is immediately catchy turns into a bit of an irritant sometimes. Neither is a hard and fast rule, because consistency is another one of those things that was banished.

 

[GonePlaid]

I don't think the D tuner is different, I think the E A and G tuners were replaced. The D tuner is the only one that might be original. So, the real question is why didn't he/she change that tuner? Maybe an incremental improvement plan that is not yet complete?

My point is that it's not the same. Original? Maybe(?) Like you say, might be what's left of a "project". Glad to see the"worms"are runnin' wild on the 'best string' subject.

 

[Gaolee]

I will no longer comment on strings. I'm so close to having The ThunderBird rule book thrown at my head as it is.

We just throw those books around for sport. Remember, anything you really need, you were born with two of. You only have one head. What does that tell you?

 

[Gaolee]

The first three sentences are right, but @GonePlaid goes off the rails after that.

Budget is never a consideration for achieving the right sound. Of course, it is easy to spend someone else's money and realistically there is a limit to how much it is possible to spend on a set of strings...

Cobalt flats are terrible. My fingers were sore every time I played. I think they have a cheese grater effect. Chromes (to my ear) end up sounding like rubber bands. And there ended the great flats experiment.



Black Beauties have a great sound to them and look cool. They have a certain "grippiness" to them that abates over time but never entirely goes. They last a long time too. I have also liked NYXLs on mine. I am part way through a steel string experiment with my `bird and so far I have found that I really don't like ProSteels. I'm putting some Rotosound Steels on today. We will see how that goes.

I really like Fatbeams on my Midtown and Pure Blues on my JC, but neither of those is a `bird, so not much help.

I still cannot figure out how Cobalt flats tore up your fingers, because I found them plenty smooth. Then again, the ends of my fingers are like the bottom of a pair of workboots at this point, so it's not a completely valid comparison. I like Cobalt flats a whole lot. Funny thing is that I don't have them on any of my bass guitars for the time being. I'm learning to like tapes with Chinabuckers, which are reportedly very similar to Epi pickups.

 

[GonePlaid]

I'm trying to er on the side of caution. Like i ever do that. But just in case there are.

Rules?? We don't need no stinkin' rules!

 

[GonePlaid]

I still cannot figure out how Cobalt flats tore up your fingers, because I found them plenty smooth. Then again, the ends of my fingers are like the bottom of a pair of workboots at this point, so it's not a completely valid comparison. I like Cobalt flats a whole lot. Funny thing is that I don't have them on any of my bass guitars for the time being. I'm learning to like tapes with Chinabuckers, which are reportedly very similar to Epi pickups.

The first Cobalts I got were 'rounds'. As soon as I took the first one outta the package, I was like 'Uh, oh, f---*ed up". My mistake in the ordering process. I called up the place I got them(Talk Bass Store)and they exchanged them, no problem. Happy customer.


*oul

 

[steubig]

Oh man - one of my all-time favorite live shows was "Stinkbug" - with Nels and Stu on bass, at a joint called "Bruno's" in the Mission/SF. (many years ago) An LA guitarist named G.E. Stinson was also in the ensemble, along with East Bay'r Scott Amendola on drums. A super cool set! Friends of mine and I got there early and we grabbed seats that were next to an lovely young lady, so we got into a casual conversation. At one point G.E. came over and made some sort of comment informing us to "steer clear" of his gf... ? We just laughed because from our side it was pretty harmless and he was obviously feeling jealous, for whatever reason. Anyway - long story short, that night was recorded and it ended up on a CD many years later. It was one one those nights when you think - if this was only recorded... and then it is on a CD! Love minor miricles!

hi. glad you liked the l. stinkbug show the show being on cd ended up being pretty cool. we might have done two nights (i think have four discs of raw material from that stand, one per set?). funny thing is that it taught me that what happens in the room is not always what gets caught by a microphone. at the end of one improv, nels tuned down to a D (as i recall) and i was playing a low C# and were well swelling against each other. sounded like an abyss was opening up when we played it . . . on cd, didn't have that same *thing* . . .

that band has a reunion of sorts, playing in oakland and sacramento, you can find it on youtube, if you're so inclined.

for those interested in early-ish nels, the aforementioned rhythm plague (nels, guitars; wayne peet, keys and tr-303/808; me, overplaying on bass plus tr-808) and wayne peet's doppler funk, which also features nels' twin brother alex playing drums (he's a mofo). from the early to mid 80s.

Wayne Peet

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I'm trying to er on the side of caution. Like i ever do that. But just in case there are.

La Bella flats on everything!..

 

[JJR58]

We just throw those books around for sport. Remember, anything you really need, you were born with two of. You only have one head. What does that tell you?

At the rate i'm going, it really wouldn't matter much if my head was attached to my body or not.

 

[PillO]

I still cannot figure out how Cobalt flats tore up your fingers, because I found them plenty smooth. Then again, the ends of my fingers are like the bottom of a pair of workboots at this point, so it's not a completely valid comparison. I like Cobalt flats a whole lot. Funny thing is that I don't have them on any of my bass guitars for the time being. I'm learning to like tapes with Chinabuckers, which are reportedly very similar to Epi pickups.

Yeah, I don't understand either. They felt smooth, but after 5-10 minutes playing, my fingers were sore. I have heard a similar complaint from others as well. I wonder if there was bad batch(es) that caused this. I have heard that some of the early batches suffered a number of problems.

 

[JJR58]

La Bella flats on everything!..

Oh, you can't trick me with that one.

 

[Count Bassie]

So, plain old standard Epi Tbird. Any impressions or thoughts from y'all on that one?
I'm a modder, so smallish-like changes I can do, but things like p'ups, heft (generally), and feel-points I'd be interested in hearing about. Got an offer for one locally.

Thx for your time...

 

[Klondike]

La Bella flats on everything!..

Ive been eyeballing those in gold for the VP

 

[GBassNorth]

?...
Cobalt flats are terrible. My fingers were sore every time I played. I think they have a cheese grater effect. .

Interesting

I still cannot figure out how Cobalt flats tore up your fingers, because I found them plenty smooth.

My experience as well.

The first Cobalts I got were 'rounds'. As soon as I took the first one outta the package, I was like 'Uh, oh, f---*ed up".

I found the Cobalt Rounds to be insanely rough. Almost like playing barbwire. Ripped them off after 5 minutes. Hate them!

Yeah, I don't understand either. They felt smooth, but after 5-10 minutes playing, my fingers were sore. I have heard a similar complaint from others as well. I wonder if there was bad batch(es) that caused this. I have heard that some of the early batches suffered a number of problems.

Could have been a bad batch of flats. I've had several sets and all were just as smooth as any other flat I've played. The rounds were a different story, very very rough, probably fret eaters as well.

 

[fasterpussycat]

Kind of like soccer, rugby and tea talk? Yup, I hear you!

The S word is hate speech. Weird how people use it when they would never use the N word or call someone a F-----.

 

[MCF]

Well, finally caved. just purchased a new Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro to go along with my Fender Jazz and Ric 4003s.....the long 5 day wait for it to show up starts.

Now I need to figure out which Nickle Rounds sounds best on it.
any suggestions will be appreciated.

who gives out numbers?

View attachment 3323386

Welcome!

That's a very good deal! My personal opinion on the VP is that it's easily worth twice the retail price. Built as good and sounds as good or better than any Gibson TBird I've ever played. General consensus around here is the lighter VPs seem to sound even better than the heavy ones. Most are between 8 and 9 pounds, but some are in the sub eight pound range and some are bumping closer to 10 pounds.

Our Queen will probably be by shortly to welcome you the clan, give you a number, and explain what to do with the coconuts and grass skirt as part of your initiation.

Please keep that quiet. Epi May be reading it.

 

[Engle]

Well, finally caved. just purchased a new Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro to go along with my Fender Jazz and Ric 4003s.....the long 5 day wait for it to show up starts.

Now I need to figure out which Nickle Rounds sounds best on it.
any suggestions will be appreciated.

who gives out numbers?

View attachment 3323386

Congrats! They are nice basses - especially for the money.

 

[Engle]

Nice price on a 1973 EB-3 in Lakeland Fla.

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If you're gonna get an old one, the 60's are nicer than the 70's versions IMO.

 

[Engle]

I still cannot figure out how Cobalt flats tore up your fingers, because I found them plenty smooth. Then again, the ends of my fingers are like the bottom of a pair of workboots at this point, so it's not a completely valid comparison. I like Cobalt flats a whole lot. Funny thing is that I don't have them on any of my bass guitars for the time being. I'm learning to like tapes with Chinabuckers, which are reportedly very similar to Epi pickups.

I'm going to PU my first set of Cobalt flats and install them on the VP this weekend - They can't be any rougher than RS66s!