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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Those sound even better with a Dimarzio One pickup. I have had mine since the early 1980s, and it's absolutely a keeper. Back then, it was just old and not particularly respected. The two pickup version is far more versatile than anybody realizes.
Went to my lesson last night, all we did was play. Then Tom (my instructor) pulled out and let me play on this:
I had so much fun. (Pictured isnt his, but it is the very same model. It was SOOOO cool!
I had so much fun. (Pictured isnt his, but it is the very same model. It was SOOOO cool!
- Jul 1, 2005
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- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
My '67 EB-2 with flats and all the junk removed, handrest, mute, witch hats, and pickguard.
My '67 EB-2 with flats and all the junk removed, handrest, mute, witch hats, and pickguard.
Oh man, Carlo, that one is in beautiful condition (as expected). What does the button do? The button on the '64 I played yesterday was black plastic (maybe Bakelite? Thought that was more 50's-ish) and didn't seem to alter the sound much. Also it was in WAY rougher condition. No shine, very red on the horns and just overly dusty looking and nicked up. Not where I want to put that kind of cash.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
That's beautiful. Mine is a red one with two pickups from the factory. The wiring is butchered and there's no mud button. I put the bridge cover back on and have a mute, but it's not on the bass. You can't lower the action enough with the mute installed, at least not on mine. I don't have the pickguard fitted, but I have an aftermarket pickguard to put on it one of these days. It isn't in as pristine a condition as yours, but it's in very good shape, considering. The bridge is a little ratty, but it is an adjustable one with nylon saddles. Thunderous thump doesn't even begin to describe what it sounds like when it's cranked up, and when it's not cranked up, it has a warm, woody sound that nothing else can touch.
It doesn't come out to play much, mostly because I don't want it to get damaged. It's the best sounding bass I own, and it's far more versatile than it has any right to be.
It doesn't come out to play much, mostly because I don't want it to get damaged. It's the best sounding bass I own, and it's far more versatile than it has any right to be.
- Jul 1, 2005
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- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
It's a 'baritone switch' which adds bass. Not very useful. I think they switched to chrome from bakelite in '67. There are a lot of EB-2s out there with high asking prices. Mine wasn't cheap but it was still a lot less than a comparable condition '67 NR.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I like the baritone switch, you can never have too much bass 
. In other news, i'm down to cutting the alder & shaping the heel back to original. Then i'm calling it a day. Still gotta glue the fretboard on, finish my homemade hand radius block 12", & then i'll be able to do the excess work of paint/stain/slotting/fret work -.- to have it back in playing order. The body only really needs paint & clear coat, other than that it's ready.
. In other news, i'm down to cutting the alder & shaping the heel back to original. Then i'm calling it a day. Still gotta glue the fretboard on, finish my homemade hand radius block 12", & then i'll be able to do the excess work of paint/stain/slotting/fret work -.- to have it back in playing order. The body only really needs paint & clear coat, other than that it's ready.
And for the first time ever Im GASing for a Phantom bassCataldo Phantasm in a 'Safe Shot' $40 double scoped gun case. It's survived three 1,000 mile UPS trips.
The bass is longer than a TBird but 2 inches narrower. The case has been discontinued.
My '67 EB-2 with flats and all the junk removed, handrest, mute, witch hats, and pickguard.
Lovely!
This one is for sale locally. It's a 66. I had a look at it. Virtually unmarked as well. He wants just under $AU 5K for it.
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So it went from having two big blocks on either side, cut down, trimmed & almost nothing left of them on the heel. & it's a tight perfect fit. Also, the fretboard is glued on!! So work will resume next monday (or tuesday depending how hectic my weekend is).
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- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
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- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
From the knobs, pickguard, paint scheme, evertiltt bridge, and cover it looks like a late '67 to me.
I paid $1800 USD for mine delivered with a brand new Starfire case three years ago.
- Mar 13, 2008
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- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
This is the one I played yesterday from the shop's FB page... $3K CAD...
No mutes or covers or holes for those.
No mutes or covers or holes for those.
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 80
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
I love Phantoms. I currently have two, a 1965 made in England one and a clone I built for myself last year.
Here's the first one I owned, a '71 Made in Italy POS. This is Steve 'ThunderBucker' Soar and me the day we bought the matching pair in '74.
The Made in England ones are really great basses. Excellent balance and necks, powerful pickups. The Italian ones had pencil necks that warped and weak pickups.
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
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- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Nice! '64 hardware is nickel instead of chrome and the two point bridge is machined instead of cast pot metal. I wish I could afford a natural '60. Black plastic pickup cover and banjo tuners. That's the grail.
It was impossible to get the action low enough on my '67 without removing the mute.
Wow! that's as expensive as the blackbird my dad had got in early 2002-03. But man what a beaut
I love Phantoms. I currently have two, a 1965 made in England one and a clone I built for myself last year.
Here's the first one I owned, a '71 Made in Italy POS. This is Steve 'ThunderBucker' Soar and me the day we bought the matching pair in '74.
The Made in England ones are really great basses. Excellent balance and necks, powerful pickups. The Italian ones had pencil necks that warped and weak pickups.
I never was one for the phantom shape (more a teardrop guy) but damn it looks good!
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 80
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Wow! that's as expensive as the blackbird my dad had got in early 2002-03. But man what a beaut
I never was one for the phantom shape (more a teardrop guy) but damn it looks good!
It's a pretty exclusive club! I wanted one ever since I saw a red one in a music store window in 1965.
