Thunderbird Club

[RedVee]

Ok, I’ve been getting some oddities in my youtube suggestions lately.

I’m not sure what Bon Scott would make of this. I hope he’d be pleased.
I enjoyed it.

 

[mr zee]

Ok, I’ve been getting some oddities in my youtube suggestions lately.

I’m not sure what Bon Scott would make of this. I hope he’d be pleased.
I enjoyed it.

Hmmm, a considerable number of years ago this would've been a no no for me but yeah, as a not so grumpy 61 year old its quite good.

 

[fasterpussycat]

Ok, I’ve been getting some oddities in my youtube suggestions lately.

I’m not sure what Bon Scott would make of this. I hope he’d be pleased.
I enjoyed it.

The words are wrong.

It's a long way to the shop if you want a sausage roll!

 

[GBassNorth]

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?

It's a Fender (not Squier) made in China.

Quality and fit and finish are top notch. It is a heavy bass at about 9 pounds, and I believe the wood is a departure from the typical Fender ash or alder, it's either maple or pine (I'll need to look that up to confirm). The neck is maple/maple and wider than a TBird, closer to a P bass size and shape and is finished in gloss.

The sound is pretty amazing, tons of low end grunt, not overly muddy at all, very authoritative sounding, not a weak or thin tone. Sounds very much like my Anniversary Bird but much much louder with a tiny bit less mids but a bit more top and bottom end if wanted. They only made them for a couple of years and are getting harder to find. Most Fender folks weren't too interested in the sound but if you're a Humbucker oriented player they're one of the Best Buy's out there in the sub $1000 range.

The Guitar Center deal is a steal especially considering their return policy. Just have it delivered to your nearest GC for an in store pickup. Then if you don't like it, you can return it to the store and you don't have to pay any return shipping fees. Its full refund and zero out of pocket if you return it. Not much down side in that.

 

[PillO]

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 have not tried one of the Telecasters.

I have however tried a Dimension. Those sounded pretty good - again humbucker equipped and discontinued. Seems like people have competing and contradictory complaints about 7ender - they never do anything new or interesting and they should stick to P and J basses.

 

[JJR58]

The words are wrong.

It's a long way to the shop if you want a sausage roll!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

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?

and that's assuming he got sponsored by Fender which may not have been the case at all. in my experience, a player will grab whatever feels good (or is closest) plug it in and record away.... this was the mid 70's....wouldn't be surprised if Hamilton did not truly understand the impact of a single coil vs a bucker back then.....most players didn't care...

 

[TBird1958]

Ok, I’ve been getting some oddities in my youtube suggestions lately.

I’m not sure what Bon Scott would make of this. I hope he’d be pleased.
I enjoyed it.

It's always better with a big snarling Thunderbird, a pick, no toys in the chain and a GK.

 

[GonePlaid]

The words are wrong.

It's a long way to the shop if you want a sausage roll!

(I'll take 2)

 

[GonePlaid]

and that's assuming he got sponsored by Fender which may not have been the case at all. in my experience, a player will grab whatever feels good (or is closest) plug it in and record away.... this was the mid 70's....wouldn't be surprised if Hamilton did not truly understand the impact of a single coil vs a bucker back then.....most players didn't care...

Understand the difference? Nope-not back in 67 when I started playing bass. I heard what was on the EB-3 and liked it and stuck with (mostly) Gibsons since.

 

[GonePlaid]

It's always better with a big snarling Thunderbird, a pick, no toys in the chain and a GK.

And no need for a 5er.

 

[GonePlaid]

It's a Fender (not Squier) made in China.

Quality and fit and finish are top notch. It is a heavy bass at about 9 pounds, and I believe the wood is a departure from the typical Fender ash or alder, it's either maple or pine (I'll need to look that up to confirm). The neck is maple/maple and wider than a TBird, closer to a P bass size and shape and is finished in gloss.

The sound is pretty amazing, tons of low end grunt, not overly muddy at all, very authoritative sounding, not a weak or thin tone. Sounds very much like my Anniversary Bird but much much louder with a tiny bit less mids but a bit more top and bottom end if wanted. They only made them for a couple of years and are getting harder to find. Most Fender folks weren't too interested in the sound but if you're a Humbucker oriented player they're one of the Best Buy's out there in the sub $1000 range.

The Guitar Center deal is a steal especially considering their return policy. Just have it delivered to your nearest GC for an in store pickup. Then if you don't like it, you can return it to the store and you don't have to pay any return shipping fees. Its full refund and zero out of pocket if you return it. Not much down side in that.

I know it's shallow(what else is new), but I've never liked the looks of the Tele HS.

 

[Gaolee]

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.

And an EB-1 wasn't? I thought those were a big, solid chunk of wood like a Les Paul. Maybe they are hollow. Shows what I know.

 

[Gaolee]

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!

We are here to enable! That 'Bird is in a far better home than it was. Beats me what the seller's deal was, but I doubt she played it much. It's going to get far more love and attention now. That's how things are supposed to work.

 

[Gaolee]

The words are wrong.

It's a long way to the shop if you want a sausage roll!

Around here, it's a very long way to the shop that sells sausage rolls. We have to drive a car. My wife has found all of the places in Seattle that sell English cuisine. Well, pub grub, since that's what the English do best.

 

[Gaolee]

Understand the difference? Nope-not back in 67 when I started playing bass. I heard what was on the EB-3 and liked it and stuck with (mostly) Gibsons since.

That's pretty much how I was in the late '70s. I ended up with an EB-2 and have mostly played Gibsons ever since.

 

[GBassNorth]

I know it's shallow(what else is new), but I've never liked the looks of the Tele HS.

Shallow, but honest!
Actually, I think you have a lot of company in the Ugly Tele Headstock Camp.
It would be a total hoot to open a thread in GenPop seeking comments about the odd Tele Headstock design. I bet the thread wouldn't even get to page two before fights ensued, might even be popcorn worthy before the shutdown. I'll have to put that on my list of things to do for entertainment on the next rainy dreary day here in SoCal - Troll Fender fanboyz with an ugly HS discussion.

 

[GonePlaid]

Shallow, but honest!
Actually, I think you have a lot of company in the Ugly Tele Headstock Camp.
It would be a total hoot to open a thread in GenPop seeking comments about the odd Tele Headstock design. I bet the thread wouldn't even get to page two before fights ensued, might even be popcorn worthy before the shutdown. I'll have to put that on my list of things to do for entertainment on the next rainy dreary day here in SoCal - Troll Fender fanboyz with an ugly HS discussion.

I like it! Link here if ya do it. FWIW, I think Tele guitar HS's are also ugly, but since I don't play gee-tar, no BFD.(or should that be "no B7D"?)

 

[JIO]

I have not tried one of the Telecasters.

I have however tried a Dimension. Those sounded pretty good - again humbucker equipped and discontinued. Seems like people have competing and contradictory complaints about 7ender - they never do anything new or interesting and they should stick to P and J basses.

Fender has been about tradition and nostalgia since their reshuffle in the 80's. The CBS years only cosmetically evolved most models. They rarely innovate, just keep refining/honing their blue-chip product. It's understandable to a point as so much popular music was recorded on a Fender guitar/bass/amp - people trust/want that indelible/historic sound. Gibson has been only slightly more adventurous also being about their tradition. The more recent flip-flop of Fender making Gibson-esk product was amusing (ala Dimension) but Fender's w/buckers were initiated in the early CBS years (70-) on guitars and basses. It didn't stick as much with basses, but Fender guitars used buckers more and still produce them. For comparison think Ibanez (or most MIJ brands) who never stop innovating - way more adventurous and willing to test new product. Both Fender and Gibson are pretty conservative comparatively.

 

[GonePlaid]

I'd always been intrigued by the Dan Armstrong clear basses. Reverb has a story about them(and the guitars)and they have a few listed. According to the prices, their owners are very proud of them.