Thunderbird Club

[Larry V]

My wife, who has always been unenthusiastic about any animal that has less than two feet just mentioned that she would like a dog one day soon. What?!? It would have to be a smaller, non-yappy, non-shedding dog. Meaning we probably need to start thinking about some genetic engineering. The dog would not go in the basement where the Thunderbirds live.

We're on our third dachshund. Two females and a male and I would highly recommend a docile female in the smaller sized ones. Our Molly is so mild mannered and sweet and she was very easy to train. Housebroken easily and trained not to go upstairs or downstairs and she has shown very little interest in my Thunderbirds.

 

[BklynKen]

Thunderbirds can cut through with the right eq. I have found that a Broughton Hi/Low pass filter makes a huge difference. I'm not sure what magic is stuffed into the little box, but somehow the bass sounds the same, but has far more presence without turning up. I think what it does is cut the lower frequencies that a Thunderbird can make, but that suck the life out of amps. It leaves the thunder and meat, but takes away any unnecessary rumble. Once that went into the signal chain, problems with cutting through or disappearing in the mix at certain points went away.

This is one thing I love about the Damnation Audio MBD-1. Besides some great overdrive/distortion, it just sounds "bigger".

 

[Gaolee]

I'm not sure what we will end up with. Small poodles can be calm, and they don't shed. But, they are poodles, so there's that. My feminine side doesn't go quite far enough to think a poodle is the best idea. Portugese water dogs were the ancestors of poodles. My brother's family just got one. The puppy is probably the sweetest, most docile puppy I have met. A puppy that doesn't bounce off walls all the time is an amazing thing. A colleague has a Pomeranian. Those are supposed to be yappy, but this one just isn't. I guess they can be trained if you start early enough. It doesn't shed much either. It looks like it should. My wife thought pugs were kinda cute. I'm less sure, but that's OK as long as she's happy.

 

[JJR58]

Thunderbirds can cut through with the right eq. I have found that a Broughton Hi/Low pass filter makes a huge difference. I'm not sure what magic is stuffed into the little box, but somehow the bass sounds the same, but has far more presence without turning up. I think what it does is cut the lower frequencies that a Thunderbird can make, but that suck the life out of amps. It leaves the thunder and meat, but takes away any unnecessary rumble. Once that went into the signal chain, problems with cutting through or disappearing in the mix at certain points went away.

I agree about the little red box. It's especially handy for my apartment playing. I would of course use it live, if that ever happened. But the fact that you can control the unwanted lows and highs is a huge bennie.

 

[GonePlaid]

I'm not sure what we will end up with. Small poodles can be calm, and they don't shed. But, they are poodles, so there's that. My feminine side doesn't go quite far enough to think a poodle is the best idea. Portugese water dogs were the ancestors of poodles. My brother's family just got one. The puppy is probably the sweetest, most docile puppy I have met. A puppy that doesn't bounce off walls all the time is an amazing thing. A colleague has a Pomeranian. Those are supposed to be yappy, but this one just isn't. I guess they can be trained if you start early enough. It doesn't shed much either. It looks like it should. My wife thought pugs were kinda cute. I'm less sure, but that's OK as long as she's happy.

Pugs snort-a lot.

 

[JJR58]

I'm not sure what we will end up with. Small poodles can be calm, and they don't shed. But, they are poodles, so there's that. My feminine side doesn't go quite far enough to think a poodle is the best idea. Portugese water dogs were the ancestors of poodles. My brother's family just got one. The puppy is probably the sweetest, most docile puppy I have met. A puppy that doesn't bounce off walls all the time is an amazing thing. A colleague has a Pomeranian. Those are supposed to be yappy, but this one just isn't. I guess they can be trained if you start early enough. It doesn't shed much either. It looks like it should. My wife thought pugs were kinda cute. I'm less sure, but that's OK as long as she's happy.

Frankie is the most bestess, perfect dog ever. Doesn't shed, a total sweetheart. And is so in tune to people.

 

[Larry V]

Pugs snort-a lot.

That could get expensive!

I think I'd rather buy more Thunderbirds!

 

[JJR58]

That could get expensive!

I think I'd rather buy more Thunderbirds!

 

[BklynKen]

Pugs snort-a lot.

Wonderful dogs, though.

 

[JIO]

I'm not sure what we will end up with. Small poodles can be calm, and they don't shed. But, they are poodles, so there's that. My feminine side doesn't go quite far enough to think a poodle is the best idea. Portugese water dogs were the ancestors of poodles. My brother's family just got one. The puppy is probably the sweetest, most docile puppy I have met. A puppy that doesn't bounce off walls all the time is an amazing thing. A colleague has a Pomeranian. Those are supposed to be yappy, but this one just isn't. I guess they can be trained if you start early enough. It doesn't shed much either. It looks like it should. My wife thought pugs were kinda cute. I'm less sure, but that's OK as long as she's happy.

Pugs are very cute and cuddly and don't bark much - however their smushed face leads to breathing issues. A family member has an older pug and due to a near fatal breathing issue, a vet surgically adding a small hole (somewhere!) Once done it was like a pup again because it could breath normally. You can't see the 'port' through the soft fur and their pug was given a new lease on life! Mutts usually have less problems, but pet insurance isn't a bad option regardless considering the cost of anything medical etc.

 

[Rocker47]

We've had puppies from breeders and puppies from the local shelter. I won't go anywhere else than the shelter anymore. We have had nothing but good experiences. My best buddy, the one in my avatar, came from the SPCA. Simply an awesome dog. I look at it as saving two dogs. One that you take home and the one that gets the spot that was left open. Just my opinion.....I understand both sides of the dilemma though.

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah, a friend has pugs. I'm unconvinced. A Portuguese water dog seems like a better idea. Not a poodle, but it doesn't shed or get too big or get out of control. One of the calmest, most patient dogs I have ever encountered was a Doberman/German Shepherd mix. It had short Doberman hair, which meant it didn't fill a mattress with shed fur every day like a Shepherd does. It was big, intelligent, scary looking to anybody who didn't know it and that it didn't know. But it was quiet, calm, and completely un-aggressive. A dog like that would be too big for the house, and because my wife isn't very big, it would probably be too big for her to want to deal with. There are dogs like Pit Bulls that can be wonderful, but that freak her out because of their bad reputations. So, those aren't on the list.

Pound puppies are another option, as pointed out. Provided that the pound has a puppy that fits the bill when she decides it's time for a puppy. Whatever happens happens and when it happens isn't up to me so much. I'm at work and doing all kinds of things most of the time anyway, so whatever she decides is fine with me.

 

[Count Bassie]

My wife, who has always been unenthusiastic about any animal that has less than two feet just mentioned that she would like a dog one day soon. What?!? It would have to be a smaller, non-yappy, non-shedding dog. Meaning we probably need to start thinking about some genetic engineering. The dog would not go in the basement where the Thunderbirds live.

Poodles don't shed, and you don't have to get it the standard poodle haircut. Poodles can be great animals. Bigger ones tend to be, and they're great guard dogs.

Ok I'm behind the conversation curve here.

 

[JJR58]

Oh, and Frankie was a rescue dog.

 

[Nocturnal]

A few observations after playing bass and keys for decades in several bands at festivals and bar gigs.
-My perception of each gig is not always the same as my band mates, LOL
-Lead singers always have some sort of cold or throat affliction.


Please, I would like to hear what other bass players think !

These really stood out to me. A band I was in played our first and only show in December. The singer regularly had a cold or something sinus related going on. The drummer refuses to believe that the show was good in any way. Despite the crowd reaction and unsolicited comments from strangers, he thinks it sucked. Even my musician friends that were in attendance told him how good it was, and believe me, they would tell you if it was bad. They wouldn't be a-holes about it, but they would be honest. The drummer had some points to some weak spots but we had limited rehearsals with the drummer and the singer, well............lets just say there is something wrong when you can't remember how to play your own songs but the rest of the band knows them.

 

[Count Bassie]

It's always an awkward idea to judge you're own performance. I'm usually wrong when I'm too hard on me/the band.

 

[Count Bassie]

Do you folks leave the stickers on the back of your Epi 'Bird headstocks?

 

[Kriegs]

Thunderbirds can cut through with the right eq. I have found that a Broughton Hi/Low pass filter makes a huge difference.

+1 to this. The H/LPF has made it possible for me to use instrument/ effect/ amp configurations that were previously unplayable / unlistenable / untenable .


That's a lot of / 's

 

[Kriegs]

Do you folks leave the stickers on the back of your Epi 'Bird headstocks?

Nope. Stickers, protective plastic, etc. all come off when they get home. I once bought an almost 20 year old guitar from someone that still had the sticker, plastic AND hang tags on it, including the one with the price tag from the original shop they bough it in. He NEVER took anything off of his instruments. He actually played them on stage like that....
Invalid Link Removed

 

[JIO]

A few observations after playing bass and keys for decades in several bands at festivals and bar gigs.
-My perception of each gig is not always the same as my band mates, LOL
-The success of a gig is mostly about the vocals, sound quality and ability to read and work the crowd. Some of the best musical performances fell flat while some fairly ragged shows really hooked the house. It helps to keep the setlist flexible.
-If the monitors suck, the band suffers no matter how good the FOH
-You can practice till the cows come home in the jam room....the fastest way to ratchet up the quality is to get out and play a lot of gigs.
-Lead singers always have some sort of cold or throat affliction.
-Thunderbirds do add some thunder, even if they don't cut through as much.

Please, I would like to hear what other bass players think !

As it is my band, I'm the most critical of our performances. But I also know there is no such thing as a perfect performance. It is also perceived differently from the audience which inevitably has musicians from the other bands playing that night etc. The term "a grain of salt" is a given, but regardless of occasional flub-ups - it's the energy of the band that will either be good or not so good. When the energy/vibe is good - who cares about a brown note or slight timing hic-up? When the bands energy is there - the audience feels it and likes what they are feeling! Gig overview/assessment always is part of the following rehearsal and we are all used to airing objective criticism because the aim is a better performance next time.