Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

Thunderbird Thursday!
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Thunderbird is an interesting bit of American iconography. Based on native American mythology of some kind of giant bird of prey.

Not only basses but also:
Ford Thunderbird - car
USAF Thunderbirds - aerial display squadron
Mozilla Thunderbird - software
Thunderbird School of Management - Academic
Fabulous Thunderbirds - Music

I'm sure I am missing many.

From Britannica:
Thunderbird, in North American Indian mythology, a powerful spirit in the form of a bird. By its work, the earth was watered and vegetation grew. Lightning was believed to flash from its beak, and the beating of its wings was thought to represent the rolling of thunder.

 

[dagrev]

I just put RS66s on my SB600. Those are much better than the coated DRs on that bass.
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You are not helping!
Actually you are. It's been so long since using them I'm concerned they are all raspy clank and no lows. I don't do thin sounding.

Nice shoe in the reflection!

 

[Count Bassie]

I just put RS66s on my SB600. Those are much better than the coated DRs on that bass.
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Love those Aria Pro-IIs.

 

[dagrev]

So great to be playing with a band, even if only for a short time (TBA), and allowed to do my thing and appreciated for it, as opposed to unspoken crap like, "You didn't do it exactly like the last bassist so it doesn't work." I'm not the last bassist, so piss off and get over it.

That's really great. What you mentioned is a no go for me. I'm me. Good, bad, or indifferent. Take it or leave it. Generally my wonderful personality makes up for my lack of skill in playing!

 

[MCF]

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My next bird

Been awhile. Good to see you again.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Miles, what is that strap please?

What else goes with a Thunderbird? Lightning!

Ironically, I took it off one of my guitars, and only realized later how fitting it was.

Thunderbird and lightning, very very frightening!

 

[Klondike]

Been awhile. Good to see you again.

Ive been lurking, just can't keep up with you guys. funny to see the place get shut down.

 

[MCF]

I use to use them on my '55 Pbass and I think the '64 T-Bird in the 80s. I'm curious to try them again. I have some used Rotobass nickles I just put on another bass, but have yet to use it. I know the Swing bass 66s will either sound great or like ____, and don't really want to burn money on a set I might use for an hour. But I've done worse and only been marginally scared emotionally.

The Silvertone in the Avatar wears the stainless 66s. The frets are pretty beat so it doesn’t matter how much more wear they get, not that I play it much. Sentimental keeper that the twelve year old me used to sleep next to when I first got it for Christmas.

 

[BklynKen]

Thunderbird and lightning, very very frightening!

Galileo!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Is the case on the left a Yorkville case?

I wish. It's an Epiphone case that came with the 2009 TB Pro I bought used. Poorer quality than the one I bought for my 2012, and a bit beat up. No idea if it's the original for that bass.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

That's my Epi Vintage Pro.

It looks gorgeous; have you posted a larger pic that I simply missed?

 

[Engle]

Love those Aria Pro-IIs.

I traded a Vantage Flying V for that in 81 or 82. It’s heavy, the string spacing is really tight and there is not much taper to that huge neck, but it is so....solid. That’s the best word I can find to describe it.
I’ve put a lot of miles on it over the years. Glad I put the right strings on it again.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Galileo!

Galileo.[1]

[1] Probably designed something very like the Thunderbird. Probably with three strings. And a propellor.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

So......View attachment 3514642 what did I miss?

The C on the 9th fret?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Ive been lurking, just can't keep up with you guys. funny to see the place get shut down.

Welcome back, slacker! What's new in your Thunderbird world?

 

[JIO]

So great to be playing with a band, even if only for a short time (TBA), and allowed to do my thing and appreciated for it, as opposed to unspoken crap like, "You didn't do it exactly like the last bassist so it doesn't work." I'm not the last bassist, so piss off and get over it.

So smart of them -

 

[RedVee]

Saw an Abbey Road 50th Ann show last night. A bunch of Aussie rockers got together for this. Very enjoyable, the bassist was the guy from Jet. The Hofner got a run in the 2nd set where they progressed back to 1962.

Linda Bull was part of the ensemble and took lead vox on a few McCartney tracks, including a wonderful version of Oh! Darling.

 

[PillO]

That's because they're Slinkies. That's what they sound like.

Do try the Roto flats. I really liked them best thus far on the VP. Just might be "the" string for it. Next practice this week is with Round Core Boomers. Sound promising at home. Which means they will likely suck in a live setting. Wish I had an old set of the Rotos to send to you to try.

I tried boomers (regular ones) on my midtown. I hated them. But, as always, play them till they are done - you never know, they might grow on you or might break in nicely. Nope, hated them the whole time. But I really like every round core DR string I have tried. I really have to try some hex core DR strings.

When my white bird arrived, it had some sort of flats that I suspect may have been 77s but they were old and played out so they went quickly went away in favour of NYXLs.

All things considered, probably 77s next on the bird. I still have Steve Harris and his back up band on my mind - they really put on a great show.

 

[PillO]

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My next bird

Lightning McQueen! Cars was good. Cars 2 was terrible because Mater solves the mystery without having enough facts to do so. Couldn't get through Cars 3. I love the Mater CarToons; especially the Heavy Metal Mater episode - very Black Sabbathy.

 

[PillO]

I have never tried Rotos on anything. So many strings, so little time!

If you organize yourself well, you could try four different strings at once. Unless you are playing a Pro-V in which case you can try 5 different strings at once.