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Thunderbird Club

In very particular order...
The TS prank clip was a hoot.
His songs don't do much for me.
His voice does nothing for me, except get on my nerves.
My opinion of his politics is best left unsaid. I live in LA and wish he and the Beeb didn't.
I don't know what any of their politics are these days. Hah! Joke's on them.
 
Katy Perry, not Taylor Swift. As much as we might want to think that our pop-tarts are interchangeable, they and their management probably think otherwise.
We can agree to disagree.
Is there anyone that thinks he is a good singer?
It isn't his political beliefs, it is hypocritical and sanctimonious approach.

I don't understand the cult of the "celebrity". Being able to sing, play a musical instrument, convince people that you are someone else on film, or just being really really ridiculously good looking does not qualify someone to opine on complex systems that they don't understand.

Sorry about LA. By all reports it was a great place in the 50s and 60s. There are network effects for the crazies, so once there is a nucleus, they tend to concentrate. But, your loss is our gain; with each celebrity crazy that goes to LA, another community loses a celebrity crazy.


Disclaimer - I am probably not serious about at least 50% of this. I will leave what I am serious about up to imaginations. But I feel for all you LA dwellers having to tolerate Justin Bieber amoungst you. Not sorry enough that I would have him back though...
You are about to lose, bigly! Celine Dion is retiring and heading back to Canada, so I understand. My condolences! Bieber will retire and move back soon enough. I'm really sorry. You deserve better. Canada deserves better. Oh, the humanity!
 
I don't know what any of their politics are these days. Hah! Joke's on them.
Whenever any entertainer, esp. Bono*, gets into politics it's "La-la-la-la-la-la-la". I hear nothing.


* being mostly of Irish descent. I'll prolly catch flak for that. Oh, well, look deep into my eyes. See anyone in there that gives a [noun]?
 
Nice. I had a '72 Ply Scamp that was hotrodded that looked like the tan Dodge next to your car. Mine was a dark brown with gold metallic flake. Had a 318 in it and as long as you could keep the back wheels from spinning it was as quick as anything I ever drove.
Power to weight is one thing. Getting the power to the ground is another. My brother had a 1965 Morris Mini Cooper that had been a C-Sedan racing car in the 1970s. It had all the trick parts and would rev to the moon. It weighed nothing. No windows, no interior, no civilized nothing. It scared the crap out of him and he wouldn't drive it. It also had something bent in the steering gear and went through wheel bearings just about every tank of fuel. No problems! It was a whole lot of fun to smoke the muscle car hordes at stop lights. They didn't know what it was, and smoking a fire breathing GTO or Chevelle once was fun. Smoking them the second time was even better. Then leaving them spinning by taking a quick turn that the Mini could do and they couldn't was icing on the cake. Low mass is it's own reward.

I didn't value human life near as much at the time, including my own. But, I gotta say that car would do handbrake turns just fine.
 
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String quandary on my VP. I don't know that there's an answer for this, but hey, it's forum and who knows. At home it's bright and aggressive. With my rig at church (Ampeg V4-BH 100w all tube + Ampeg Heritage 410 cab), it's not as bright or punchy. The bright part is not necessarily an issue for me. I like thick not clank. Punchy thickness but with big lows might be the best way to describe what I tend to like. I'm not trying to cut through anything. But don't want hallow or dull thud.

Strings thus far:
GHS Boomers- OK, but no magic.

GHS Pressurewounds (alloy 52)- Normally really punchy with good mids. They sound really good and I could be happy with it, but not in the "amazing" category.

TI Infeld Supperalloy (alloy 52)- Very nice at home but kind of bland with that rig. These are on my '64 Bird and are beyond amazing. Not so much on anything else.

TI Flats- Used them today and they seem closer to thick and punchy. Sounded better than I expected. I did end up turning the bridge PUP off about half the time. Seemed to add some punch, or something good. With my '64, which is my gold standard, I am amazed with either both PUPs or neck. With the VP it seems to suck a little something out. I've tried rolling the bridge back a little and it's just another degree of nice.

Options:
I'm not sure if I should throw the originals (whatever they are) back on to see if a bright string adds a little magic or what.

I have some TI Jazz rounds, which I just found to be amazing on my new '64 Epi Embassy, when I thought brighter on a darkish bass was needed. But I was not really wanting to "copy" another bass. But don't mind doing so if that's the trick. My '76 sounds great with Fender flats--another shock. But it works.

I've been playing around with PUP height as well. Both up equally, Bridge down a fair amount in seeking the ideal mix.

After a while it becomes frustrating. I love the VP and not complaining about it, just the process of figuring out the best "marriage" with strings.

I’m going through a similar process right now, with my 2018 Gibson. I WAS using Dunlop Super Bright Nickel, which I’m using on all my round-wearing basses. These left me wanting more bite, top-end. Not zing, but more definition.

Suggestions here were:

SIT Powerwounds (nickel)

TI Jazz Rounds

DR Black Beauties

SIT Power Steels

Ken Smith Bass Burner

R66s in Nickle

Since I like the Dunlop’s, I sent for the stainless version of the strings I was using.

4 gigs in with those, and they’re holding up pretty well. First gig they felt rough and were a little too much zing, but now they feel like I can control by finger position how much bite I’m getting.

I’m still string-curious, so I’ll probably be working my way through the other suggested brands over time. I’ll share my exploits and look forward to reading about yours.
 
Whenever any entertainer, esp. Bono*, gets into politics it's "La-la-la-la-la-la-la". I hear nothing.


* being mostly of Irish descent. I'll prolly catch flak for that. Oh, well, look deep into my eyes. See anyone in there that gives a [noun]?

Me too, Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil got awfully preachy as well. Ruined the last show I saw of them.

* Me too. Feel free to tell him to zip it next time you see him. It’s the Irish in you. :laugh:
 
Nice. I had a '72 Ply Scamp that was hotrodded that looked like the tan Dodge next to your car. Mine was a dark brown with gold metallic flake. Had a 318 in it and as long as you could keep the back wheels from spinning it was as quick as anything I ever drove.
I had a 73 Duster with a 318 and you are right it was quick!
 
62CB56E1-ED33-4952-806D-7B242028D187.jpeg
nice little car show today...some real beauties..
View attachment 3447360
I’m a couple days late on this but......I used to have a 71 Charger. The happy ending is that my dad still has it!
 
I've played around a lot with the strings on my VP and to date I'm liking the Fender 7150ML round nickels best followed by Cobalt Flats.

I have an Ampeg SVT VR and 610 Bergantino cab that I have not plugged the VP into yet, but it should be a similar flavor to your Church rig. I'll give it a run tonight to see how the VP with 7150 strings sounds.
I don't think I have any Fender rounds any longer or Cobalts. Those are good options. I like the Fender Pure Nickles on a '62 Jazz. But don't the Fender nickle plated sound like d'addario (which I have a ton of that came on basses)? I know Fender strings changed a lot when DA took over production.

Yes, I would think your rig would sound similar, at least in a big room. The old V4BH is basically a 100w SVT (the RI V-4b is not).
 
Power to weight is one thing. Getting the power to the ground is another. My brother had a 1965 Morris Mini Cooper that had been a C-Sedan racing car in the 1970s. It had all the trick parts and would rev to the moon. It weighed nothing. No windows, no interior, no civilized nothing. It scared the crap out of him and he wouldn't drive it. It also had something bent in the steering gear and went through wheel bearings just about every tank of fuel. No problems! It was a whole lot of fun to smoke the muscle car hordes at stop lights. They didn't know what it was, and smoking a fire breathing GTO or Chevelle once was fun. Smoking them the second time was even better. Then leaving them spinning by taking a quick turn that the Mini could do and they couldn't was icing on the cake. Low mass is it's own reward.

I didn't value human life near as much at the time, including my own. But, I gotta say that car would do handbrake turns just fine.
Ha! Once going I could keep of with a friends Vett--for a while.

Another friend I grew up with had an older brother that souped up VW Bugs in the 70s. Would race Vetts and do well. If I didn't know them both I would never believe it. I have no clue what Bruce did, but other in town came to him to work on their Bugs.