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Thunderbird Club

#107,021
Gaolee said:
I could never figure out what the numbers were meant for. A Thunderbird II has one pickup? I guess since it's a humbucker, that means two coils. Maybe. And a Thunderbird IV has four coils. Sure, why not. But Firebirds? I'm really confused there. And why Roman numerals. Why not Arabic numerals like the rest of the world. Is this some kind of revisionist Eurocentric historicism sneaking out of the Gibson factory or something? Nah, couldn't be. That would at least be an explanation. Gibson logic usually requires suspension of disbelief.
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When I was in boot camp, we were told "There's a right way, a wrong way and the Navy way". Substitute "Gibson" for "Navy".:confused:
 
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#107,022
Gaolee said:
I could never figure out what the numbers were meant for. A Thunderbird II has one pickup? I guess since it's a humbucker, that means two coils. Maybe. And a Thunderbird IV has four coils. Sure, why not. But Firebirds? I'm really confused there. And why Roman numerals. Why not Arabic numerals like the rest of the world. Is this some kind of revisionist Eurocentric historicism sneaking out of the Gibson factory or something? Nah, couldn't be. That would at least be an explanation. Gibson logic usually requires suspension of disbelief.
Click to expand...
think Super Bowl..
 
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#107,023
Miles_ONeal said:
This is awesome! Thanks for posting. Do you remember who all is playing?
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Glad you liked it! It's over 20 years ago now, but if I remember correctly, it was just Luna with Lou Reed. The other vocals you hear are Dean Wareham of Luna. I love the guitar tone in there. If I had to guess, I'd say it's a Les Paul. Probably Dean, since I don't remember Sean Eden playing Gibsons in Luna.
 
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#107,026
Ok, I officially love the TI flats on the Hofner. The thump vs definition is really special. This bass is going to my session tomorrow, no question about it. The Gibson ‘Bird w/ Lollars got a new set of Cobalt flats. They just go so well together for both my gigs with Eskimo Brothers and Derek Hoke. Great strings for folks who don’t think they like flats, IMO. I wouldn’t use it on my Prayer Flags or Mike Lynch gigs, though I could. They don’t grind like a good roundwound, but they have a great ‘snap’ at the top of the note and that flatwound thump down low. Just love em for lots of stuff I do.
Not sure why, but I put some EB rounds on the Aria EB3 and they sound nice. That bass will need a bit of work should I decide to keep it.
With any luck, my BassBurners will get here to put on the Cataldo in time for my Mike Lynch gig on Thursday.
 
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#107,027
dukeorock said:
Ok, I officially love the TI flats on the Hofner. The thump vs definition is really special. This bass is going to my session tomorrow, no question about it. The Gibson ‘Bird w/ Lollars got a new set of Cobalt flats. They just go so well together for both my gigs with Eskimo Brothers and Derek Hoke. Great strings for folks who don’t think they like flats, IMO. I wouldn’t use it on my Prayer Flags or Mike Lynch gigs, though I could. They don’t grind like a good roundwound, but they have a great ‘snap’ at the top of the note and that flatwound thump down low. Just love em for lots of stuff I do.
Not sure why, but I put some EB rounds on the Aria EB3 and they sound nice. That bass will need a bit of work should I decide to keep it.
With any luck, my BassBurners will get here to put on the Cataldo in time for my Mike Lynch gig on Thursday.
Click to expand...

So, the checks in the mail, instead of your legal team coming after me? :)
 
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#107,029
JJR58 said:
So, the checks in the mail, instead of your legal team coming after me? :)
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They want to go ahead with legal proceedings anyway. It’s not personal, it’s just what they do. I guess one of them needs a new boat :/
 
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#107,034
Gaolee said:
I could never figure out what the numbers were meant for. A Thunderbird II has one pickup? I guess since it's a humbucker, that means two coils. Maybe. And a Thunderbird IV has four coils. Sure, why not. But Firebirds? I'm really confused there. And why Roman numerals. Why not Arabic numerals like the rest of the world. Is this some kind of revisionist Eurocentric historicism sneaking out of the Gibson factory or something? Nah, couldn't be. That would at least be an explanation. Gibson logic usually requires suspension of disbelief.
Click to expand...

It is at least curious why a one pu bass is branded "II" and a two pu bass "IV", but they had to brand it with something to differentiate the two. The Brits used to do the "Mk I", "Mk II" branding which is even more formal/aristocratic and the "I", "IV" is most likely a carryover from that. And when they spell it out - it's Marque I or II which has no "k" in it ...
 
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#107,036
BassBurner strings came in today...that’s good news. I find it funny that these are possibly my favorite string for rock music, but all the endorsers featured on the back are fusion dudes
71DC30DE-6AE6-4710-B096-FE5F7CA19058.jpeg
 
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#107,037
GonePlaid said:
Sounds like you need 'hazardous duty' pay.
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Early 90s, i’m well past that now.
As @Gaolee would say. And nobody died.

Gaolee said:
I could never figure out what the numbers were meant for. A Thunderbird II has one pickup? I guess since it's a humbucker, that means two coils. Maybe. And a Thunderbird IV has four coils. Sure, why not. But Firebirds? I'm really confused there. And why Roman numerals. Why not Arabic numerals like the rest of the world. Is this some kind of revisionist Eurocentric historicism sneaking out of the Gibson factory or something? Nah, couldn't be. That would at least be an explanation. Gibson logic usually requires suspension of disbelief.
Click to expand...

I reckon some Maynard G Krebs (?) guy in marketing thought it was cool.
 
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#107,038
JIO said:
It is at least curious why a one pu bass is branded "II" and a two pu bass "IV", but they had to brand it with something to differentiate the two. The Brits used to do the "Mk I", "Mk II" branding which is even more formal/aristocratic and the "I", "IV" is most likely a carryover from that. And when they spell it out - it's Marque I or II which has no "k" in it ...
Click to expand...
It has to be Marque. Otherwise they would have to call it the Thunderbird duke 'o' frock II and duke 'o' frock IV. That's just too long.
 
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#107,039
Gaolee said:
It has to be Marque. Otherwise they would have to call it the Thunderbird duke 'o' frock II and duke 'o' frock IV. That's just too long.
Click to expand...

I kinda doubt that idea was ever hoisted up the flagpole :)
 
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