Thunderbird Club

[JJR58]

What part of Brooklyn?

BayRidge. Or Bay spillage, depends on the breaks.

 

[BklynKen]

BayRidge. Or Bay spillage, depends on the breaks.

Also the most insane Christmas decorations I've ever seen.

 

[JJR58]

Also the most insane Christmas decorations I've ever seen.

Depends on which part though.

 

[GonePlaid]

I grew up in South Florida, we (somewhat affectionately) referred to them as 'Roach House.'

I hung out at a guitar store on E. 4th ave. in Hialeah, about 2 blocks from one. We ate there a lot. The waitresses got used to us ordering things not on the menu-before our real orders-like "a bowl of grits with mashed mullet heads". We (somewhat stoned) thought it screamingly funny. They didn't-but we tipped well.

 

[GonePlaid]

this was our after gig hang...guess still there...24 ounce coffee cups..
sure didn't look like the online pics back then...
View attachment 3407202

A little too far north for me. "Jack Murphy's" on 79th street in Miami.

 

[GonePlaid]

It's an old shot of my collection/Subaru.




I still have the Subie, it turn 20 this year and has 256,000 miles on it. It'll likely stick around too.

Lemme know when it's "broken in". My Aerostar is at 338K.

 

[JJR58]

Yeah, yeah. Spoiler and all that. I didn't fall off. There's a lot to be said about that.
For FP.

 

[GonePlaid]

Did the previously mentioned outdoor charity gig today. Weather wasn't quite as miserable(humidity/ thunderstorms) as predicted so I took this: '67 NR, Rumble 200c/r112 cab

Sounded amazing. Lotta compliments on the rig. Played a bunch of tunes I'd never played before. Challenging but fun trying to "remember" basslines from the recordings.

 

[GBassNorth]

After playing a couple VP’s I can totally see how the 760 pickups would be perfection for one player, but not for another. Pretty bright and grindy. Cobalt flats would likely be a great ‘middle ground’ string. For roots/Americana music I really like Cobalt flats on several basses. My ‘02 Gibson Bird w/Lollars really works for me with Cobalt flats. When I want a full out rock sound, the Ken Smith BassBurners have worked really nicely for me. I could see me thinking BassBurners would be a little too grindy/smeared sounding on a VP, but again, for someone else it could be just the ticket. Just a hunch, but DR Pure Blues strings might suit a VP well

Haven't tried the Ken Smiths yet and although many here say the sound great I suspect they will be too bright for my tastes. Duke - would you say the Bass Burners are brighter sounding than D'Addario XL nickel rounds or Cobalt Flats? Also agree on DR Pure Blues for the VP, I had planned on trying some when the Fender strings go south.

Cool, great to have some ideas of what to try on one... when I get one! Which I really, really want to be be soon.

Keep your eyes open for used ones here on TB and Reverb if you want to save about a hundred bucks over the new ones. Sweetwater seems like a really good on line dealer that many of us bought ours through. The general consensus is that the older ones and the lighter ones sound even better than newer or heavier ones. Happy bird hunting!

 

[dukeorock]

Haven't tried the Ken Smiths yet and although many here say the sound great I suspect they will be too bright for my tastes. Duke - would you say the Bass Burners are brighter sounding than D'Addario XL nickel rounds or Cobalt Flats? Also agree on DR Pure Blues for the VP, I had planned on trying some when the Fender strings go south.!

From what you’ve said, I’m thinking you’d find the BassBurners to be too bright

 

[BklynKen]

Haven't tried the Ken Smiths yet and although many here say the sound great I suspect they will be too bright for my tastes. Duke - would you say the Bass Burners are brighter sounding than D'Addario XL nickel rounds or Cobalt Flats? Also agree on DR Pure Blues for the VP, I had planned on trying some when the Fender strings go south.

Are you looking for bright, with the crispness a little rolled off?

 

[Gaolee]

The Duke Drainage Blues

Tube hangin out my belly,
I'm hangin with Hank the cat,
I want him to feel my pain,
But Hank don't give a crap.

So slide me some morphine Jean,
I really wanna slip.
Gotta gig I can't play,
With this damn bag on my hip.

Hangin with Hank,
Is startin to wear thin.
Missing gigs with my bros,
while this tube is still in.
Can't slap the upright,
or even the Bird.
My doc says no,
I think he's a turd.

So slide me some morphine Jean,
I really wanna slip.
Gotta gig I can't play,
With this damn bag on my hip.

I'll be better soon,
says the turd of a doc.
Be able to gig,
and run like a clock.
Just bummin for now,
with a pain in my side.
Let's can the bag,
and get off of this ride.

So slide me some morphine Jean,
I really wanna slip.
Gotta gig I can't play,
With this bag on my hip.[/QUOTE]
Dayum! That's got top-40 written all over it!

 

[Gaolee]

I thought the Embassy had the same pickups as the VP.
The VP is a great value, especially if you don’t mind tweaking a few details. The pickup height screws tend to get sharp edges, and the machine heads are a little rough.

That's what a file is for.

 

[Gaolee]

I hung out at a guitar store on E. 4th ave. in Hialeah, about 2 blocks from one. We ate there a lot. The waitresses got used to us ordering things not on the menu-before our real orders-like "a bowl of grits with mashed mullet heads". We (somewhat stoned) thought it screamingly funny. They didn't-but we tipped well.

In the TMI mode: in my late teens, I would go hang out at an all-night pizza shop known to be frequented by cops. It was one of those deliberate things that I thought was fun, but that made other people completely paranoid. For what it's worth, the usual stuff that made people stoned made me paranoid. Other things had a different effect. I probably would have liked Ken Kesey. 'Nuff said.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Did the previously mentioned outdoor charity gig today. Weather wasn't quite as miserable(humidity/ thunderstorms) as predicted so I took this: '67 NR, Rumble 200c/r112 cab
View attachment 3407792 Sounded amazing. Lotta compliments on the rig. Played a bunch of tunes I'd never played before. Challenging but fun trying to "remember" basslines from the recordings.

crazy cool NR..

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Lemme know when it's "broken in". My Aerostar is at 338K.
View attachment 3407783

the Hindenburg...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Just get a VP before Eppi figures out what a steal they are. The pups are VERY receptive to string changes. I'm notorious for wanting gobs of low end and just a smidgen of top end. I too found the stock strings to be overly bright.

My VP String Journey...

Tried DR Silver Stars (like black beauties but silver) and didn't like them at all, felt floppy and sucked all the top end out of the bass even with the tone knob all the way up.

Tried Cobalt Flats and they sounded very very nice. Tons of low end, quiet slides, nice punch, no flop, easy bends, and noticeably more volume. Tone knob turned up over 50% and still plenty of top end. These are the most round wound sounding Flats I've ever tried. Highly recommended for the VP.

Tried Fender 7150ML round nickels and so far they are my favorite string for this bass. All the positive attributes of the Cobalt Flats with just a hair less top end and a hair more bottom.

Other potential hits with this bass would be Ken Smith Burners, Helbourg Strings and Roto 66's.

But most of all, don't pass up an opportunity to snag an Eppi Thunderbird VP even at normal street prices.

Rotos SM66 for me..
curious about the rounds having less top end than the flats..

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

The Embassy Pro has the same pickups as the VP, right? Maybe even the same tone control and such under the hood?

one would think..

 

[Feel-X]

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

ran into these little jewels in Berkeley today......forgot how cool EB-3's can play.....intoxicating low volume tone...the string to cone bounce ratio was mushy sweet...