• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#13,541
Mikaelbass said:
Haha mate, it's all yours if you win the odds;) these things are getting more and more rare. I'm keeping my Gibson and selling this to contribute to my Dingwall fund. (Don't judge me, they are the best basses I've ever played. Not cooler than a Tbird....but these basses are in a different category)
Click to expand...

No probs mate, I saw a couple of Dings at the Sydney GTG last year - amazing, way way way out of my league.
I can get by with 2 strings and about 7 or 8 frets.... :laugh:

I love that TBII of yours, it's case'n'bag and it's history. I'll buy a scratchie tomorrow. Seriously. :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: tomshepp, mrb327, Mikaelbass and 1 other person
#13,542
Klondike said:
Oh my!!! I think i just lusted a little over this! Winder what it would cost to the door??
View attachment 792204
Click to expand...
The dimensions look kinda off. Or something. Just doesn't look quite right.

hillerup said:
You really can't mistake them from each other, as the active Pro-IV's have an additional battery compartment next to the control cover on the back...

The Classic Pro-IV is a REALLY nice bass, that comes as close as possible to an original Gibson - Both playing wise and sound wise, at a fraction of the cost... There is no need to change pickups on this - Unless you want that vintage sound and vibe the classic chrome pickups gives you..
Click to expand...
Yeah, definitely the Classic then.

Leaving the pickups for now, since if I switched out for chrome ones I'd have to switch out the bridge and the tuners as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup
#13,546
Off-Beat said:
I'm not close to owning either. :(

How come the older bird stayed white? The creamish tone just fits even if unintentional.
Click to expand...

The Thunderbird IV is refin done around 5-10 years ago. I bought it from Baz Cooper. It's Polaris white nitro. The other two birds are original finishes. The '77 paint is very thick.

Nitrocellulose finishes are not all the same formulation. The more recently manufactured the less they tend to yellow.

This shows how thin a '60s nitro finish is.

P1050270_zps3c809803.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: mistergoats, Gaolee, rickwebb and 11 others
#13,548
I put nitro (well I had it done locally) on the Hamer Cruisebass I modded, and I was told it was OK to put back in the case. Well, the fur from the case' lining stuck to it in a few places, which was kind of s drag. And even with several clearcoats it's pretty thin, not robust. Still doing it again for the 'Bird is a thought.

Here's the Hamer, with me 'Bird... (The artwork is in acrylic, done by a friend).

IMG_20160208_100854.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: mistergoats, tomshepp, Nocturnal and 8 others
#13,550
Count Bassie said:
I put nitro (well I had it done locally) on the Hamer Cruisebass I modded, and I was told it was OK to put back in the case. Well, the fur from the case' lining stuck to it in a few places, which was kind of s drag. And even with several clearcoats it's pretty thin, not robust. Still doing it again for the 'Bird is a thought.

Here's the Hamer, with me 'Bird... (The artwork is in acrylic, done by a friend).

View attachment 793071
Click to expand...

Cool graphics!

Nitro never really "dries". It will always be dissolved by acetone or lacquer thinner, even 50 years after it was sprayed. It's possible the solvent from the glue used to attach the case lining was the culprit.

I recently got back a bass I built 2 years ago, black nitro finish. The paint is in great shape. I probably allowed it to cure for 10 days to two weeks before putting it in the case.

Acrylic paint and nitro are usually no problem, lacquers on top of enamels can be.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tomshepp, hillerup, Klondike and 1 other person
#13,553
So today i'm finishing up my grabber bass for good. Few slight mods & it looks & feels better: Radius'ed fretboard (or fingerboard wtvr you prefer to call it) to 12", the major part was removing most of the unwanted flakes that were causing roughness while playing, luckily after 7 coats of varnish, everything is pretty much level out & little to no roughness at all. Also, matching emerald green headstock (no flakes :D ). Loving the contrast & combination of Green, Black & chrome. This one is in the vault & tomorrow sees more focus on the thunderbird rebirth for the rest of the month.

Picture update later for all you cool katz :P
 
  • Like
Reactions: Klondike, Dadagoboi, RedVee and 5 others
#13,554
Dadagoboi said:
They made fewer than 140 of the whites in 77-78, they've really yellowed over the years. I've owned two of them, bought the first one sold in Hollywood CA in '77. Traded it five years later for a '77 Sting Ray I still have. Bought the current one from the original owner about 5 years ago.

IMO Bicentennials are inferior to original 60s Reverses. If you own both you know why.

P1050252_zps3985661e.jpg


A few of the reasons: lighter, better balanced, pickups, more refined body woodworking.

P1010193-001.jpg


Epi cases.
Click to expand...
drooldrooldrool:bassist:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dadagoboi and Nocturnal
#13,555
Dadagoboi said:
They made fewer than 140 of the whites in 77-78, they've really yellowed over the years. I've owned two of them, bought the first one sold in Hollywood CA in '77. Traded it five years later for a '77 Sting Ray I still have. Bought the current one from the original owner about 5 years ago.
These pics make me drool...

IMO Bicentennials are inferior to original 60s Reverses. If you own both you know why.

P1050252_zps3985661e.jpg


A few of the reasons: lighter, better balanced, pickups, more refined body woodworking.

P1010193-001.jpg


Epi cases.
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dadagoboi
#13,556
So i have been playing my epiphone thunderbird for awhile now and i really love it but right now it is my only bass so i need to get a backup. i mainly play punk and ska and sometimes metal, i have looked at a warwick star 2, fender p bass, a gibson SG and a few others but my main problem is that i cant seem to find a bass that plays as well as my thunderbird for whatever reason. recently the shape of my thunderbird has been annoying me (back wing hurts my arm after playing for about an hour, do not like the head stock, to long, cant find a case). the only bass i have found that gets kind of close to what i am looking for tone wise is a fender deluxe MIA p bass but im not willing to drop that kind of cash for a fender p bass when the gibson thunderbird blows it out of the water IMO. so i came here looking for help with some brands or models i should be looking for? my only thing is that i do not want to spend over 600ish bucks and less would be even better, the reason i hated the fenders was that it seemed like the frets were really sloppy and uneven all over the place, and i hate playing Jbasses. hopefully i can find some help in here
 
#13,560
4stringfiends said:
So i have been playing my epiphone thunderbird for awhile now and i really love it but right now it is my only bass so i need to get a backup. i mainly play punk and ska and sometimes metal, i have looked at a warwick star 2, fender p bass, a gibson SG and a few others but my main problem is that i cant seem to find a bass that plays as well as my thunderbird for whatever reason. recently the shape of my thunderbird has been annoying me (back wing hurts my arm after playing for about an hour, do not like the head stock, to long, cant find a case). the only bass i have found that gets kind of close to what i am looking for tone wise is a fender deluxe MIA p bass but im not willing to drop that kind of cash for a fender p bass when the gibson thunderbird blows it out of the water IMO. so i came here looking for help with some brands or models i should be looking for? my only thing is that i do not want to spend over 600ish bucks and less would be even better, the reason i hated the fenders was that it seemed like the frets were really sloppy and uneven all over the place, and i hate playing Jbasses. hopefully i can find some help in here
Click to expand...
Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I lay my arm right in the low spot.

When in doubt, lengthening the strap is the answer
 
  • Like
Reactions: Count Bassie, hillerup and drews.anderson

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back