Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

I know a guy that’s really into vintage Fender amps. He can talk about amp innards for hours, but when we both got called for a gig, he couldn’t play the breaks and solo in Johnny B Good

I could have grabbed the telecaster and done it, but then the bass line would get butchered...

Lol! as with anything, loads of folks “talk the talk”, not many “walk the walk”..

 

[Count Bassie]

or The Righteous Brothers, or The Walker Brothers, or The Blues Brothers... then there was The Mothers of Invention, who weren't brothers either.

Tom Fowler on bass, Bruce Fowler on trombone...

 

[PillO]

Well, tomorrow in Canada, it is election day. Some say that a debate in the free market of ideas is a better way of selecting the Prime Minister. But some of us miss the spectacle of the three day maple syrup wrestling tournament of only two decades ago.

Regardless, as a matter of principle, I will be wearing my Alice Cooper T Shirt tomorrow.

And I keep in mind what Alice tells us about democracy.


And I will just leave this here. Warning! THUNDERBIRD content.

 

[Gaolee]

Looked like there might have been a Firebird hiding in there somewhere, too.

 

[PillO]

Looked like there might have been a Firebird hiding in there somewhere, too. That's what the brief glimpse of a guitar headstock sure looked like.

Yep. Nita Strauss is an Ibanez endorser and has a signature model. Otherwise, there is a lot of Gibson product on stage.

 

[JIO]

Follow up - last night went well with all three bands delivering their groovy sets. Our ecletic set went really well considering all of us were in various stages of the head-cold going around. I played through a Genz Benz 4X10 rig which sounded ok, but for me anyway it lacked character. That and the fact that my congested head had trouble hearing it at all! Regardless, we soldiered through 13 of our 15 song 45min set-list eliminating a couple to save Kirstins sour-throated voice. Many favorable reviews from the audience and good spirits all around added up to a fun night. I booked the other two bands and managed the night so I was very happy all the way around.

Our drummer Steve was blocked in this pic - "Sleepless J" from the 1st band provided sax on Insane Asylum.

 

[JIO]

this doesn’t mean the Thompson Twins weren’t actually twins, does it?

Neither them or the Cocteau Twins!

 

[JIO]

I hate it when artists use one instrument in the studio for the original recording and then use different instruments on the road when they do a maiden tour promoting the song. That looks to be the case here as Hamilton is clearly playing a Jazz bass on the official 1975 live performance tour for Sweet Emotion. Makes one wonder if it's one of those endorsement situations where he's only allowed to play Fenders on stage.

You'd think differently if you were a recording artist.

 

[JIO]

Tom Fowler on bass, Bruce Fowler on trombone...

hummm..., "The Fowler Brothers" ... nah!

 

[JIO]

Sometimes basic is perfect.

Usually better

 

[dagrev]

I haven't caught up yet, but possibly Wiskey Rock A Roller by Skynyrd. Leon likely played it on a Thunderbird, Fenderbird or Jazz. Likely all three live at various times. Who knows on the Live album, doubtful on the original.

That would be Travelin' Man, not the aforementioned song.

 

[dagrev]

Usually better

Indeed.

 

[dagrev]

Well, tomorrow in Canada, it is election day. Some say that a debate in the free market of ideas is a better way of selecting the Prime Minister. But some of us miss the spectacle of the three day maple syrup wrestling tournament of only two decades ago.

Regardless, as a matter of principle, I will be wearing my Alice Cooper T Shirt tomorrow.

And I keep in mind what Alice tells us about democracy.


And I will just leave this here. Warning! THUNDERBIRD content.

True.
I like it.
Very, very true.
Lookin' good!

 

[PillO]

True.
I like it.
Very, very true.
Lookin' good!

Yeah, they call it old fashioned , but maple syrup wrestling is the only way to settle leadership contests.

 

[Count Bassie]

You'd think differently if you were a recording artist.

Could be so... Felix Pappalardi of Mountain recorded on a Thunderbird but played live with an EB-1. The 'Bird was allegedly too heavy for him to tour with.

 

[kringle77]

I was supposed to be using a dingwall D-bird standard at this halloweens motley crue tribute gigs but, thanks to thunderbird club member Gaolee, I'll be using a gibson short scale t-bird! I already have black knobs and a hipshot bridge on the way. Here's a flier with the d-bird, which looks pretty motley!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Could be so... Felix Pappalardi of Mountain recorded on a Thunderbird but played live with an EB-1. The 'Bird was allegedly too heavy for him to tour with.

the only mainstream basses i’ve never seen Hamilton with, are Ricks and non TBird Gibsons, seemed to have everything else....played a IV all night with fingers when I saw them in the 80’s

 

[GBassNorth]

You'd think differently if you were a recording artist.

Probably not.

If I was signed to Fender I would have used a Fender for both the studio recording and live promotional performances of the song. If the Jazz bass Hamilton is playing in the YouTube clip is good enough for the tour promoting the song then it should have been good enough for the studio work recording the song. Or from the flip perspective, if a Thunderbird was good enough for the studio work recording the song then a Thunderbird should have been good enough for the live tour promoting the song.

Again, I suspect (but have no certain knowledge) that Hamilton was signed with Fender and probably had a clause in his contract at the time that required stage and live appearances to be Fender only. If that assumption is correct, it potentially says a great deal about his opinion (and mine as well) of the Humbucker equipped Thunderbird being a much better fit for that particular song than a couple of Jazz single coils or a split P pup.

I've only ever played one Fender that can hang note for note with the Thunderbird, the Fender Telecaster Modern Player which is also equipped with Humbuckers. Fortunately I bought mine before they were discontinued. If you ever see one for sale for less than $600 snag it! It's the Eppi VP of the Fender world - and it doesn't even have Tort as an option.

Here's a steal...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[GonePlaid]

Looked like there might have been a Firebird hiding in there somewhere, too.

Yup!

 

[JIO]

Probably not.

If I was signed to Fender I would have used a Fender for both the studio recording and live promotional performances of the song. If the Jazz bass Hamilton is playing in the YouTube clip is good enough for the tour promoting the song then it should have been good enough for the studio work recording the song. Or from the flip perspective, if a Thunderbird was good enough for the studio work recording the song then a Thunderbird should have been good enough for the live tour promoting the song.

Again, I suspect (but have no certain knowledge) that Hamilton was signed with Fender and probably had a clause in his contract at the time that required stage and live appearances to be Fender only. If that assumption is correct, it potentially says a great deal about his opinion (and mine as well) of the Humbucker equipped Thunderbird being a much better fit for that particular song than a couple of Jazz single coils or a split P pup.

I've only ever played one Fender that can hang note for note with the Thunderbird, the Fender Telecaster Modern Player which is also equipped with Humbuckers. Fortunately I bought mine before they were discontinued. If you ever see one for sale for less than $600 snag it! It's the Eppi VP of the Fender world - and it doesn't even have Tort as an option.

Here's a steal...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I just meant to say these players are doing endorsements as part of their professional livelihood and know and operate within all the fine print details related. We being on the outside only see it obliquely as "if sponsored - must be seen using sponsored instrument".

That Fender Tele is interesting - the North/South pu location is pretty retro riffing off many basses in the 60's. Have not played such a bass but I can imagine some serious 'mid-scoop' is involved. It is a decent price for a Fender Fender. Is it MIM?