Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

Decided to try something I hadn't done yet.
I plugged this...
View attachment 3443515

Into this...

And played along with this...

At ear bleed volumes! OMG that 2015 has serious balls!

I thought I felt a tremor yesterday when I was in Canoga Park....

 

[MCF]

MCF - I have the Ebony VP, I bought it in 2017. One of my favorite Thunderbirds, both in how it plays and looks.

I haven't had any grippy problems with the neck yet and I'm very partial to satin or unfinished necks. This one doesn't seem stickey or slow even when my hands sweat. But I too have been leery about the high gloss poly. If it starts to become a problem I'll just hit it with some scotch brite.

The VP bridge has all the intonation and height adjustment you'll ever need to set the bass up for any reasonable action. I normally like about 1/16" to 3/32" clearance at the 12th fret and was able to obtain that in a matter of minutes. I find this bridge and the 3 point bridge super easy to quickly adjust. My 2015 TBird has the Babicz bridge, and although it has significantly more adjustment capability I found it took me hours to get it where I wanted it, which ended up being right about where my 3 point bridges are set. Go figure. Of the bunch, I like the VP bridge the best.

My tuners are working great and have had a real workout with all the string testing I've done on this bass. Note that the early model VP like mine has slightly different tuners than the current model. Not sure if the new ones are better, worse or functionally the same as the originals.

If it's of any help to you, I live near Simi Valley. Feel free to swing by the house and try a VP along side a 2015 Gibson bird and a 2012 Anniversary Bird as well as a modded Eppi Goth. You can run them into a Tube, Solid State or Hybrid head with Bergantino cabs or a GK Combo. A nice little space to noodle around if you want.

Thanks. Could be the store it was in. Maybe someone left snowcone juice or something on the neck. I only have one other guitar with high gloss poly on the neck, a 7ender, and it’s fine. I didn’t study the bridge all that closely, but it sounds promising. Tuners seem to be one way manufacturers are cutting costs, but I couldn’t tell about those. Like I say, I’ll be getting one for sure now that I’ve played one.

Only seem to get out your way at Christmas; my brother lives in Dos Vientos by Newberry Park. Was close yesterday though. Maybe I can take you up on your offer one of these days, although I’ll likely pull the trigger before I have time to get out there.

 

[GonePlaid]

I was expecting some R40 love from you GP

Love the R40-used it Tuesday night for concert band rehearsal. Also for the performances. And will be using it for a country club gig Saturday. It's just that the Kasino is sitting there, plugged in, ready to roar as soon as I connect a bass.

 

[GonePlaid]

Funny, some of these things I regret, others I don't. Arthritic hands and bad shoulders is probably the result of rugby, but I don't regret playing. Knees are probably the result of running with a 40lb pack; kind of wish I had done less of that (but not omitted entirely). Really wish I had taken hearing protection more seriously (making sure hearing protection fit properly and provided full protection) around things that go bang.

I drove 18 wheelers for 23 years. I have no idea how many times I jumped down from the 4' high floor of the trailer(s). My knees know.

 

[Seamus55]

I've always liked the look and feel and sound of the T bird but, aren't they neck heavy? Last thing I need to do is wrestle with my bass .

 

[jumbodbassman]

yes they have neck dive issues.

 

[GonePlaid]

yes they have neck dive issues.

And the myth continues.

 

[GonePlaid]

I've always liked the look and feel and sound of the T bird but, aren't they neck heavy? Last thing I need to do is wrestle with my bass .

They have to be slung lower than many basses. Do that and you'll love it(see pic in avatar)

 

[Larry V]

yes they have neck dive issues.

And the myth continues.

They have to be slung lower than many basses. Do that and you'll love it(see pic in avatar)

...and use a grippy strap in the 3" width range.

 

[jumbodbassman]

not a myth on my basses. and yes if slung low and played with a pick it is more of a non issue. I dont do either. also non reverse is much better.....

 

[Gaolee]

What else would you do with a dead horse?

Salami. Horse makes for good salami. I found that out while living in Norway. Horse salami sandwiches became a staple, since I didn't have refrigeration where I was staying.

 

[Gaolee]

Well guys I turn 60 at the end of the month, I'm not sure I am ready for it lol. I made some changes in my life related to my health a little over a year and a half ago and this picture was a revelation for me, my wife tells me I look 15 years younger. This picture was taken this past weekend at a local music festival and I was shocked at the difference. I'm ready to Rock to the finish line, I'm in three bands and doing sub work and looking for more!
View attachment 3443586

Looking great! Is there any significance to the fact that you are between two women and in front of a dumpster in the picture? Just gotta ask because it's the kind of question that has to be asked around here.

I have been told by a 70 year old colleague that spending time in the gym and being healthy in your 50s means you won't hate yourself in your 60s. I'm less than a year behind you, and hope to be able to rock to the finish line as well.

 

[GonePlaid]

Salami. Horse makes for good salami. I found that out while living in Norway. Horse salami sandwiches became a staple, since I didn't have refrigeration where I was staying.

We had a name for all cold cuts in the Navy. First word was"horse"..........

 

[GonePlaid]

Looking great! Is there any significance to the fact that you are between two women and in front of a dumpster in the picture? Just gotta ask because it's the kind of question that has to be asked around here.

I have been told by a 70 year old colleague that spending time in the gym and being healthy in your 50s means you won't hate yourself in your 60s. I'm less than a year behind you, and hope to be able to rock to the finish line as well.

Whippersnappers! Hmph!(GOF sound) 74 in August.

 

[Gaolee]

not a myth on my basses. and yes if slung low and played with a pick it is more of a non issue. I dont do either. also non reverse is much better.....

I have not had any issues with neck dive from Thunderbirds with the exception of bolt-on Epiphones. That issue gets solved by moving the upper pin to the heel of the neck. I find that they balance where you put them, unlike other bass shapes that won't let you rotate the neck up. The most neck dive I get from a bass guitar is my Precision, ironically enough. I had a Ric that wanted to be horizontal all the time. No neck dive, but it wouldn't let me move the neck up at all, either. As I understand it, there are Thunderbirds that dive badly. I just haven't played one yet.

My understanding is that a '76, like the one I assume your signature mentions, has the pin on the vestigial upper bout and also has a larger headstock. I'm sure it has some neck dive, especially if the pin is not at the heel of the neck.

 

[Gaolee]

I've always liked the look and feel and sound of the T bird but, aren't they neck heavy? Last thing I need to do is wrestle with my bass .

I find that I wrestle with Thunderbirds less than other bass guitars. They work well for some people, not others. Try one and if it chooses you, you will know.

 

[Furutan]

'67 T-bird II in Frost Blue

That is a big change in hue. It gives it a color that screams vintage and is not a color that Gibson would match in some sort of vintage reissue. This reminds me of a batch of Gibson silverbursts. Most of them retained their color but one batch yellowed really badly, with a result that did not look anything as nice as yours. Because of the metallic paint, they turned into pissbursts.

 

[Kriegs]

yes they mine have has neck dive issues.

Never had a problem with mine

 

[GonePlaid]

We should schedule some kind of group chant or ssomething. All of us on five continents at the same time willing them into existence. Pelham Blue for me, but Inverness Green...I would have to buy two.

I just realized, if I got Inverness Green it would(almost)match my Aerostar. Then I'd only hafta repaint My Safari Sunburst to match my 67 NR

 

[Inky13]

Yeah, I take the Thunderstorm warnings very seriously when I am thinking about going out on the lake. On the golf course too, but at least there you can hold up a 2 iron.

Because even God can’t hit a 2 iron.