Thunderbird Club

[GonePlaid]

I dig it

Very clever "un-video".

 

[JIO]

Very clever "un-video".

or the ultimate video - unique in each persons imagination

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

That was the amp I've wanted since day one but will never own or need. And it wasn't because of famous players because I was unaware at that point. A local bass player in a B-3 trio played though one at our high school dance. A '70 Tele (neck-bucker version) with that (probably brand new) amp - I was hooked on the look and the sound! So it's very important to me as a symbol of "bass", way more than the SVT. But not to slag Ampeg - my '76 B-15N is a member of that legendary-ness of amp, but just not the ribcage rattle version.

that one indirectly touches on the hotly debated ss vs vt topic..

 

[JIO]

that one indirectly touches on the hotly debated ss vs vt topic..

I bet - but like I said, it was circumstantial for me - like when one first plays a THUNDERBIRD

 

[PillO]

I need one like I need another hole in the head. Which is why I have an original 1968 360 in the basement and a Grexa reissue in a closet upstairs for gigging purposes. There is nothing I ever do that would require a 360, but the sound you can get is unique. The original has a bright switch that brings it far closer to modern hifi sounding than you would expect. There's endless eq potential with the variamp knobs and the bass and treble controls. You wouldn't expect it to be as versatile as it is. And then there's that long-wave ocean of bass it can unleash on top of everything else.

Like you, I didn't want one because of somebody famous. My first "big" amp was an Acoustic 126 combo that I got in 1981 or so. I think it was a demo or return or something. It wasn't brand new, but it couldn't have been more than a few months old when I got it. I still have it, and it's still a workhorse over in a rehearsal space. That led to figuring out how to get a good sound out of Acoustic amps, which led to a well used 360 for cheap. It looks like they are getting back to being reasonably priced again, after a weird spike in the prices. They are workhorses, not collectors pieces. Or should be.

I didn't realize that you had a huge need for another hole in your head.

 

[Engle]

that one indirectly touches on the hotly debated ss vs vt topic..

I had a guy come up and admire my PF-50T last week (and then go on about his new Dynaco tube amp), but I could have done the same job with the MB200 and had a slightly different tone. Realistically nobody but me and the tube enthusiast would have been aware.

 

[GBassNorth]

I have been contemplating the tuners on my white Classic Pro. The G tuner is a bit dodgy. It works and holds tuning but is clearly nearing the end of its useful life. I am thinking Hipshot replacements for all 4 +/- D-tuner.

1. Has anyone done this,
1a. Describe anything relevant about the experience, and
2. Which Hipshot is the direct replacement?

Take note - only one data point (mine) but I found a significant difference between Hipshot and Hipshot Liscenced tuners. I unwittingly purchased a set of 5 Hipshot liscenced tuners for a bass build I was doing. All were a bit sloppy but 3 were worse than others, which I didn't notice until they were installed and tensioned up. So I called the distributor I purchased them from for 3 replacements, he sent me directly to Hipshot, who without question replaced them. All the replacements worked perfectly and were boatloads better than the first set. So I returned the other two for replacement as well.

Lesson - just buy the damn tuner directly from Hipshot. Might cost a bit more but it's an important part of a bass And can really throw a wet blanket on an otherwise nice instrument.

 

[GBassNorth]

My brain got caught on it too... then I wiped away the drool and moved on...

Me too! I shudder to think how odd a lefty Dingwall TBird would look. Side by side with a standard right handed bird it would be like - here's your bass, here's your bass on drugs.

 

[Engle]

Me too! I shudder to think how odd a lefty Dingwall TBird would look. Side by side with a standard right handed bird it would be like - here's your bass, here's your bass on drugs.

There’s a 2018 lefty on my local CL. Gets me every time I see it.

 

[PillO]

Take note - only one data point (mine) but I found a significant difference between Hipshot and Hipshot Liscenced tuners. I unwittingly purchased a set of 5 Hipshot liscenced tuners for a bass build I was doing. All were a bit sloppy but 3 were worse than others, which I didn't notice until they were installed and tensioned up. So I called the distributor I purchased them from for 3 replacements, he sent me directly to Hipshot, who without question replaced them. All the replacements worked perfectly and were boatloads better than the first set. So I returned the other two for replacement as well.

Lesson - just buy the damn tuner directly from Hipshot. Might cost a bit more but it's an impirtant part of a bass And can really throw a wet blanket on an otherwise nice instrument.

I have wondered about that. The licensed tuners are half the price with the only noted difference being that they can't be switched between bass side and treble side. I guess their research showed a need for a "value" segment product, so they sourced their own cut price version in China. I expect I will pony up for full price proper tuners.

You get what you pay for.

Thunderbird!

 

[JIO]

I had a guy come up and admire my PF-50T last week (and then go on about his new Dynaco tube amp), but I could have done the same job with the MB200 and had a slightly different tone. Realistically nobody but me and the tube enthusiast would have been aware.

Yep - our own tone to our ears is what makes our world go round! If other ears like it also, bonus.

 

[dagrev]

Feel free to enlighten me in a PM. Hate to bore the rest of the clan with pissy little details.

Glad you had the nerve. I was interested myself and just kept it to myself, not wanting anyone to think I have some kind of pee fascination.

 

[dagrev]

What?

View attachment 3540064

Ahhh. This is one of those "Find the Thunderbird in the picture" things.

 

[dagrev]

The modern over miced kick drum makes bass disappear. It sucks.

Yes.

 

[PillO]

Glad you had the nerve. I was interested myself and just kept it to myself, not wanting anyone to think I have some kind of pee fascination.

You should seek medical help for that urine retention problem!

Might interfere with playing your THUNDERBIRD

 

[PillO]

Yes.

Except Iron Maiden! Bass front and centre in the mix. The benefit of it being Mr. 'arris' band.

Thunderbird

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Ahhh. This is one of those "Find the Thunderbird in the picture" things.

Miss Liberty has it.

 

[gidbass]

Except Iron Maiden! Bass front and centre in the mix. The benefit of it being Mr. 'arris' band.

Thunderbird

On a tangent.... if they did a sparkle blue thunderbird, with maple neck and headstock, and a mirror pickguard I may be in a bit of trouble $$ wise...on the other hand, this would be an awesome fenderbird!

EDIT: I wish i had the photoshop skills to see what it would look like...

 

[Kriegs]

Ahhh. This is one of those "Find the Thunderbird in the picture" things.

Yes.

Miss Liberty has it.

shhhhhhh!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Yep - our own tone to our ears is what makes our world go round! If other ears like it also, bonus.

but they do, indirectly...if you love your "tone" you play better...if you play better the band feels it and "they" play better...if that happens the "energy" as a whole gets augmented.....the crowd feels this....the bass and it's tone continues to be pivotal...