Thunderbird Club

[Count Bassie]

I'm still aiming for a Cataldo NR IV next year.
Played the Bird yesterday on Martha's Vineyard with Los Juelos (we named ourselves yesterday, after discovering "juelos" doesn't translate to anything), a 3 pc genre-jam ensemble. Love the solid heft of this bass. Enough lows to loosen packed earth, and mids that can muscle through stopped traffic.
Loving my sound lately.

 

[Count Bassie]

View attachment 3551065

You are in reality such a kind, long suffering, patient lady.

SHOES!!!

 

[godofthunder59]

Lol thanks! She is pretty rough. I bought this basket case about 11 years ago, she came with no Gibson parts and a failed replaced headstock and a caved in control cavity. It took me about a year to find all the parts and put it right, the bass quickly became my main stage bass so I could semi retire my '68 NR my main bass since '78 or so.

Here's what she sounds like, the intro of Behind Blue Eyes from Saturday night's gig. I'm sick as a dog here.

 

[GonePlaid]

Here's what she sounds like, the intro of Behind Blue Eyes from Saturday night's gig. I'm sick as a dog here.

 

[Gaolee]

Lol thanks! She is pretty rough. I bought this basket case about 11 years ago, she came with no Gibson parts and a failed replaced headstock and a caved in control cavity. It took me about a year to find all the parts and put it right, the bass quickly became my main stage bass so I could semi retire my '68 NR my main bass since '78 or so.

Thunderbirds came about for me so I could semi-retire the EB-2 that I had been playing since about 1983. That happened about ten years ago. The rest, as they say, is some academic subject that is not worth writing a book about.

 

[Jeremiah_S]

If we're doing numbers, I'd love one, if not, no hassle. All mellow

Here is the family

Here is the bass, a '97 Gibson Thunderbird. I installed a Hipshot bridge on it to replace the 3 point. Not better, not worse, just different

 

[Count Bassie]

If we're doing numbers, I'd love one, if not, no hassle. All mellow

Here is the family

Here is the bass, a '97 Gibson Thunderbird. I installed a Hipshot bridge on it to replace the 3 point. Not better, not worse, just different

Heckin' yes we do numbers! Our gracious Lady of the Thunder will surely be along to sort it out for you. Welcome to the party!

 

[Count Bassie]

I thought this was a pretty good visual rendition/allegory for band drama.
You can do your own analysis, parallels, what-have-you...

 

[Engle]

View attachment 3551148

I just played a 50th anniversary at a store yesterday. It was a very nice expressive instrument, but there was a weird finish flaw where the upper wing meets the centre section. It looked really bad and then disappeared depending on the angle.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Incoming!

 

[JIO]

I thought this was a pretty good visual rendition/allegory for band drama.
You can do your own analysis, parallels, what-have-you...

Looks to be the result of an unemployed industrial designer pyromaniac!

 

[GBassNorth]

I just played a 50th anniversary at a store yesterday. It was a very nice expressive instrument, but there was a weird finish flaw where the upper wing meets the centre section. It looked really bad and then disappeared depending on the angle.

It's a very non forgiving finish. I don't think they used any filler on this finish, the gold color coat looks to be applied directly to the wood prior to any sealer or filler. The open pore look is kinda cool up close and has tons of depth due to the super thick clear coating on top but anything absolutely short of a perfect joint will show as a seam. Also, the thick clear coat is prone to stress or thermal shock checking as well. It's a love it or hate it thing, I'm lovin mine.

Here's a close up of the body edge...

At just the right angle you can clearly see the gold finish deep in the open pores and grain of the Mahogany body. It looks like it would be rough to the touch but the gloss top coat is so thick it actually feels smooth as glass. From three feet away in normal light you'd never see any of this detail, it's a specific look Gibson was going after and I find it a refreshing change from thick solid color poly finishes that you can hide a multitude of errors under.

 

[Engle]

It's a very non forgiving finish. I don't think they used any filler on this finish, the gold color coat looks to be applied directly to the wood prior to any sealer or filler. The open pore look is kinda cool up close and has tons of depth due to the super thick clear coating on top but anything absolutely short of a perfect joint will show as a seam. Also, the thick clear coat is prone to stress or thermal shock checking as well. It's a love it or hate it thing, I'm lovin mine.

Here's a close up of the body edge...
View attachment 3551735
At just the right angle you can clearly see the gold finish deep in the open pores and grain of the Mahogany body. It looks like it would be rough to the touch but the gloss top coat is so thick it actually feels smooth as glass. From three feet away in normal light you'd never see any of this detail, it's a specific look Gibson was going after and I find it a refreshing change from thick solid color poly finishes that you can hide a multitude of errors under.

Yeah seeing the pores with that gold is cool! This particular one looked like someone messed up and the wood wasn’t flat in that one area.
I couldn’t really see it while playing, but from 8-10 ft away, it would catch my eye. I’m also not into gold hardware.
It’s priced at $1400 CAN with a case and a gig bag, which seems like a pretty good deal.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Thunderbirds came about for me so I could semi-retire the EB-2 that I had been playing since about 1983. That happened about ten years ago. The rest, as they say, is some academic subject that is not worth writing a book about.

And yet you have written several on TalkBass. Personally, I’m glad.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Here's what she sounds like, the intro of Behind Blue Eyes from Saturday night's gig. I'm sick as a dog here.

Sick playing, tho! Hope you’re feeling better today.

 

[TBird1958]

If we're doing numbers, I'd love one, if not, no hassle. All mellow

Here is the family

Here is the bass, a '97 Gibson Thunderbird. I installed a Hipshot bridge on it to replace the 3 point. Not better, not worse, just different

Welcome Jeremiah_S,

Yes we do indeed do numbers here at the Thunderbird Club, that's some beautiful plank on your Thunderbird, really just has that classic look to it, very nice! We encourage questions should you have any, and of course please feel free to jump in the conversation, you're #785 - Welcome!

TBird 1958 #1
GodofThunder59 #2
Funkster#3
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Sidd Laroy #5
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lowend1 #69 Mopar or no car!
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s mcsleazy #71
Burruss #72
Matty H #73
moonshinegtrs #74
bass lord mutha #75
jumbodbassman #76
davidprice #77
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birdman14 #79
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johnk 10 #82
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TBirdie #91
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SOB H.R.MC #111
icks #112
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Venom of God #115
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Midas #117
GibsonBassCAZ #118
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Tilli #120
3l3phantstomp #121
Thrust Meatnozl #122
gaudenti #123
Birdbrain #124
CBTB #125
greghol #126
DV6 #127
marlond #128
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hillerup #135
Dadagoboi #136
MRDOOM #137
secretsound5 #138
trevorguns #139
J Sinister #140
Capitian Bob #141
gui****ed #142
Fullback32 #143
Johnny78 #144
jelenko #145
Jools4001 #146
Porkbun #147
Lucas G #148
NOT #149
JtheB #150
Andii Syckz #151
sj bass #152
FrankenIbanez70 #153
Nosgoth #154
Artyom76 #155
D Bopp #156
CDRhom #157
Mark4 #158
thepest #159
TheCush #160
Pure eVal #161
iamthebassman #162
juankidiaz #163
Wilbur88 #164
WillMuderface #165
Evsm73 #166
JB66#167
brettsto #168
TheProphet #169
mikeowen17 #170
Pharaohamps #171
dial666 #172
faivy #173
HAVOK #174
Astroburn #175
aLLard #176
MissionTbird #177
Thebassman2011 #178
DaM13N # 179
LanOsb133 #180
Lowner #181
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Justice #183
tiger rich #184
spunkadizzle #185
quadrogong #186
Wolf C Red #187
gui****ed #188
ledzep5296 #189
aussiebasshero #190
trackskinz#191
guns N rosesguy #192
Jamyi #193
Thunderbird90 #194
Cobra314 #195
Ric5 #196
ApocalypseDream #197
Gougedeye #198
okc-zee #199
NOLA Bass #200
AdamR #201
bassmaniac72 #202
pudge #203
BWileyTally #204
poomwah #205
chibfarm2001 #206
thisSNsucks #207
mr.mow #208
4005 #209
seansv #210
BassDoc51 #211
ben0099 #212
Trooper1911 #213
mordor #214
brotondo #215
HIaWATTha #216
Zerstorte Zelle #217
MrNecroVol #218
Freddy-G #219
Regininblood #220
ejaggers #221
gregoire1 #222
thundereagle #223
Geezer79 #224
cubanbass #225
Silverwolf1 #226
Mikaelbass #227
BruceBass3901 #228
Chris V #229
Mikaelbass #230
JayBassD #231
JMPeat #232
Phildogger #233
beebassdude #234
MrGotBass #235
2nd Wind #236
butter_fingers #237
Chumbly #238
roycroft 88 #239
finlover #240
recycled rocker #241
wolfmancharlie #242
balton4 #243
GregBummer #244
penguineman #245
TheOnlyJuan #246
nubs #247
Gringo Starr #248
PhR #249
georgestrings #250
cajunbass1985 #251
Wagz #252
armedmonkey #253
RedNeckBBQ #254
faviobarrio #255
PhantomApex #256
cmassa #257
vbass_2000 #258
MrMcHaggis #259
Linchpin72 #260
whitee96 #261
edpal #262
Ibanez Bassist #263
21petro #264
CiceroProfundo #265
Willncarolina #266
theweirdoid #267
Gaolee #268
TheLarch #269
Castagnier #270
diskovolos #271
fordkisskrazy #272
woodski #273
chipter #274
Unclejackrock #275
Bass173 #276
tbird99 #277
tore00 #278
lepreconbass13 #279
Junk420 #280
Tx Basser #281
epirokker #282
sugarsand #283
thebbconspiracy #284
Dionioann #285
LumberjackTBird #286
MikeyB5 #287
Thunders #288
anonparrot #289
darren1970 #290
Egbert89 #291
seBASStien #292
Figas #293
Vikerlane #294
ps10black #295
eldo #296
GGirl #297
FenderLove #298
quite_angry #299
hover #300
bdkthunder #301
MoSlevin #302
Gbass75 #303
rocknroll mouse #304
hillerup #305
GBassNorth #306
KPJ #307
fjadams #308
Nino D #309
Ecko #310
Peepaleep #311
DethByDoom #312
wvbass #313
rockscott #314
CDHawkins #315
scourge #316
Astreaux #317
pedrodelawasp #318
66Atlas #319
YOU LAND #320
Hilton Marsh #321
lfbassguy #322
Wolfpack #323
jayceofbass #324
ZombieSpacebat #325
Rotwang#326
mrb327#327
NWOBHM Kid # 328
Puisher 911 #329
Gunner 77 # 330
shadven #331
Guiness20 #332
dukey donkey #333
Bassco #334
chnapz #335
marq1965 #336
1stnamebassist #337
Electric Wizard #338
Ces art #339
liquorsbass #340
MarkusBass #341
BigH #342
Tonyxtiger #343
jnumme #344
BklynKen #345 - First Gibson lefty!
HofnerVox #346
blackest frank #347
prafeston #348
snaverb #349
DrPFunk #350
Moonshine #351
mournblade #352
CreepyJack #353
Bluzman90 #354
N10 #355
WaboRat72 #356
undead menace #357
BlacknWhite #358
Snakeman1066 #359
brokencode #360
The Seabass16 #361
Thunderdrool #362
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solderjunkie #365
DougieB #366
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LAST C #369
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Liam McMonigle #376 Prince Liam
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bassgod0dmw #379
TomStuart #380
Electric Delta #381
Mastermold #382
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exiii #385
HengistPod #386
jason the fox #387
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tomshepp #399
THE DANiMAL #400
Andy Sivyer #401
Ender_rpm #402
Count Vitriol #403
bassistjoe93 #404
Project7Bass #405
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msact #410
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pfox14 #412
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germanson13 #428
Larry V #429
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lowendblues #435
James P #436
gunkle #437
jd56hawk #438
blocka #439
Earapeach1965 #440
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Bullitt5135 #442
JimSalomao #443
jassthebass #445
Rooster009 #446
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bahia0019 #448
awilkie84 #449
marko57 #450
Darchyboy #451
SonnyBassPlayer #452
Tbone76 #453
KF2B #454
RandomBox#455
BadBassDrummer #456
Cliffclone #457
yahtzee1280 #458
OldPlucker #459
Haji #460
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mistergoats #462 Formerly Geoffypants!
rickwebb #463
dannoman #464
Diddi #465
Butchboy #466
basscow #467
Graykong #468
Gilsdorf #469
mattbass6945 #470
Josh Thatguy #667
jgould 1124 664
TNF #471
Reservoir Dog #472
Chauncy - #473
GIBrat51 #474
giocalypse #475
veebass #476
Bamabird #477
Sneezy #478
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mule47 #480
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Rob L #482
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stingray68 #484
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Mike A #489
depalm #490
hopsbb #491
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denki109 #493
Ronbeast #494
Klondike #495
SVTbird #496
Jay_Dub #497
imdkoz #498
mz888 #499
The Bear GT500
probassace2 #501
L.L. Elwood #502
JELLIS78 #503
mrnylon #504
ProperModulation #505
BassicDesire #506
Twangster 101 #507
Mark Cult #508
Nowyn #509
the_stoot64 #510
Bass master Burt man #511
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Acoustic356 #515
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friendlybass #518
kirillstokes #519
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Leiria #521
Magi003 #522
Toddcaster64 #523
BigBadaBoom #524
Bace Waulkin #525
MIMJAZZ #526
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Cole_The_Rumbler #528
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z009 # 531
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Mnoir #533
thorstiborsti #534
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minirehak 212 #536
Off-Beat #537
phaze1todd #538
Matt O #539
Endo #540
R.Livingston #541
DonovanJM #542
AEAbass #543
BassmanMetzger56 #544
WSquires #545
Born To Hula #546.....Pics req'd
AkaGoal #547
AxxGrey #548
MCF #549
BassDaddy77 #550
Muchdoge #551
Count Bassie #552
George_Mirror #553
Sidewinder7 #554
Bucky4835 #555
el_cody_loco #556
MorguloN X Zed #557
drews.anderson #558
Medic579 #559
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Brugizzle #566
Shaun_Allen_Bass #567
back5burner #568
Lo-Hz #569
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lancimouspitt 571
Xandrell #572
Thunderbirdfan #573
CharlyG #574
Milo's #575
drummer5359 #576
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bassclef29 #580
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Ross W. Lovell #591
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Calderlund #594
Pelham Bleu #595
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tlintu #597
bluenose #599
howie289 #600
cuth #601
Spoono Ghiefardi #602
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GTG 666 #604
bassburner #605
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Mason Nagy #607
the breakman #608
shandou #609
Stevis #610
Sabee #611
georgiagoodie #612
Danilixo #613
Turlu #614
rumblejunkie #615
SakuBass #616
MonsterGirl #617
ubernator #618
bassJuju #619
RikiP #620
iain.ross #621
Drestakil #622
barclaybass #623
rodv66 #624
wolverine9002 #625
Rezdog #626
bylar13 #627
willsellout #628
alembicbones #629
7dollarbologna #630
metah_ch #631
Gluvhand #632
hazmat57 #633
TBird_MD #634
allotabass #635
suededoesit #636
LiquidMidnight #638
Mind Eroded #639
hairypete #640
KingFace #641
BurnOut #642
jamersonburton #643
bass40hz #644
Bulltrout #645
vdub75 #646
Mvf #647
ThunderbirdMax #648
Session1969 #649
NullPorch #650
bizzybass #651
Border #652
Mantis Tobaggan #653
Tocean #654
HouseUmbrella #655
Sound Guy #656
theFixer #657
JKydd #658
dagrev #659
BXBss #660
Hillbilly Dave #661
Chucky Stiletti #662
Ponsonby Britt #663
silky smoove #664
ThunderFox #665
Lemmy #666
Dr_Feelgoood212 #667
Pillo #668 - Near the beast
JJR58 #669
BussplyrMojo #670
Pier #671
Skerrvydog #672
ezra1 #673
Nevada Bob #674
vandoorn #675
flashgod #676
Cardinal Fang #677
Kieran McGhee #678
jweber76 #679
RenoDave #680
Kenova #681
Shannon #682
clivem #683
Gyver #684
StaffordMike #685
djaxup #686
ppiluk #687
lamf #688
PianoOfDoom #689
dukeorock #690
Eddie Leblanc #691
dieselman #692
Miles_ONeal #693
Xansky #694
Megaton Aaron #695
Mr Wrench #696
Jakeman #697
byoung93888 #698
MommyPlaysBass #699
Nighttrain1127 #700
LH MCCURDY BASSES #701
Tooned #702
Gar Ulfr #703
Dysnomia #704
Thunderbird82 #705
Milchlingr #706
Vsp13 #707
bking#708
Fogboundturtle #709
ZenGuitarist #710
cableguy #711
Tori2013 #712
megatapper #713
hisdudeness #714
jpmcbride #715
Chuck King #716
netohugo #717
DLEE #718
Pixu #719
Scoops #720
GonePlaid #721
Engle #722
Moody Tuner #723
cellkirk74 #724
Wayfan #725
johnnyCreep #726
MrKeef #727
Elder Rynok #728
cornfarmer #729
tbird42 #730
Kriegs #731
bassstrangler #732
DChid #733
Bill Kron #734
yobtaf #735
mr_dave138 #736
Jonathan C #737
jackn1202 #738
ToddofThunder #739
Phat Stanley #740
Jakeman #741
Kikegg #742
ZeroSymbolic #743
Erik herman #744
Bassmaticmatt#745
Moosehead1966 #746
Crusher47 #747
lopeha #748
N4860 #749
Ginkgo+ #750
Greginperth #751
Nunovsky #752
Hounddog409 #753
Bassblisters #754
Toybreaker #755
BurtMacklinFBI #756
JD Ronson #757
lasbassplayer #758
jumbo steelie #759
mr zee #760
Cuzzie #761
Felix Lopez #762
mbell75 #763
badgenes #764
Redwine006 #765
Robert Hutton #766
Jonithen #767
ModuMan #768
Jeff K #769
DDXdesign #770
Kipp Harrington #771
stratoclutter #772
bobyoung53 #773
Patrick J #774
Richard I #775
TerribleTim68 #776
BuddhaFingas #777
Tom Ward #778
Glenn Johnson #779
Dasgre0g #780
Keith Rawlings #781
JJP_1984_LB50 #782
Overdriven 66 #783
BradE #784
Jeremiah_S #785
Thumper #813
Dave814 #814
Kat888 #888

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Gibby-bird, Epi-bird, Fender-bird, whatever-bird ... all THUNDERBIRDS!

BaCHBirds!!!...did a 3 setter with this last night an oh man....pure joy..

 

[fasterpussycat]

Thunderbirds came about for me so I could semi-retire the EB-2 that I had been playing since about 1983. That happened about ten years ago. The rest, as they say, is some academic subject that is not worth writing a book about.

If it's not worth writing a book about, then it's not an academic subject.

 

[Gaolee]

I thought this was a pretty good visual rendition/allegory for band drama.
You can do your own analysis, parallels, what-have-you...

That is something that could have happened in the alley behind the garage of bad behavior. But not to worry. My brother and I are professionals.

 

[Gaolee]

If it's not worth writing a book about, then it's not an academic subject.

Maybe a post on TB or two. Not a book. Yeah. Probably not academic.