Thunderbird Club

[wolfkeller]

Looking at several 76s some have speed knobs and some gold reflector knobs. Which did they have?

 

[hillerup]

I think you are right. Looked like a neck pocket. Stone waste of bass there buddy.

Yeah, it's a crying shame to treat a bass like that...

There should be some kind of punishment, like public flogging or stoning for doing something like that - But then, playing those horrid looking Schecters Sixx basses should be punishment enough...

 

[wolfkeller]

This belongs to Brian Scott on twitter. He has a huge collection of Crue stuff including the real skull bass. He says this is the white one that Nikki painted white.

 

[hillerup]

This belongs to Brian Scott on twitter. He has a huge collection of Crue stuff including the real skull bass. He says this is the white one that Nikki painted white.

Is that the guy with the Nikki Sixx museum, who has all his used Thunderbirds? That guy should know first hand, as he gets all Nikki's basses from the man himself...

Impressive collection...

 

[wolfkeller]

Is that the guy with the Nikki Sixx museum, who has all his used Thunderbirds? That guy should know first hand, as he gets all Nikki's basses from the man himself...

Impressive collection...

Yeah, that's him. He actually buys them. He paid about $15k for the skull bass.

 

[hillerup]

Yeah, that's him. He actually buys them. He paid about $15k for the skull bass.

I was under the impression they were given to him by Nikki... I remember seeing pictures from when he received a truckload of 20 Thunderbird basses from the last tour before Nikke switched to Schecter...

Paying that much per bass would ruin the poor guy...

 

[wolfkeller]

He only paid that much for the skull but he did tell me he bought everything he has

 

[hillerup]

He only paid that much for the skull but he did tell me he bought everything he has

Nice... That guy must have for a small fortune in Nikki's basses...

 

[Bent77]

Yeah, it's a crying shame to treat a bass like that...

There should be some kind of punishment, like public flogging or stoning for doing something like that - But then, playing those horrid looking Schecters Sixx basses should be punishment enough...

Ordinarily I would suggest lashings with a wet noodle.

This however may require beatings with a herring

 

[Nocturnal]

Yeah, it's a crying shame to treat a bass like that...

There should be some kind of punishment, like public flogging or stoning for doing something like that - But then, playing those horrid looking Schecters Sixx basses should be punishment enough...

One thing you have to keep in mind with basses like this; they were not vintage or really very collectible back when the Crue were starting out. Lots of players I knew in the 80's modified some of their gear because it was somewhat cheap for most items and no one really thought about long term values. In the early to mid-80s you could buy nice USA made guitars and basses for cheap because the new brands like Jackson/Charvel, Hamer, and B C Rich were the hot items. My first bass was a 64 P-bass that I bought for $300 with a case in 1984, the same price as a lower level Charvel bass at the time. My black 76 Bird was $400 with a case in 85. While I don't condone destroying a bass or guitar for the sake of a "show", no one could have foreseen the internet and the way vintage gear prices would take off.

 

[kirillstokes]

This is supposed to be Nikki Sixxs original Bird which was white and later painted red. Now, my question is, what year? It is a set neck so that is the issue. The 1976 wasa neck thru. I read somewhere that they kept the bicentennial PG through 1979 when they dropped them. View attachment 793560

always thought it breaks up cheap copies at concerts

 

[Count Bassie]

Paul Simonon of The Clash is pictured on the cover of London Calling in mid-stroke of slamming his now-Vinty old P-Bass to the stage floor. Later he was recorded as being sorry he'd done it... The moment was to big and he went with it. Yep, to bad, but it made for a great photo!

 

[Bent77]

Paul Simonon of The Clash is pictured on the cover of London Calling in mid-stroke of slamming his now-Vinty old P-Bass to the stage floor. Later he was recorded as being sorry he'd done it... The moment was to big and he went with it. Yep, to bad, but it made for a great photo!

I caught that interview. Sadly there was actual lament over that. He said the road crew gathered the pieces, but it was never the same.

Think anyone would have noticed if Simonon or Sixx swapped out with a Hondo first?

 

[hillerup]

Paul Simonon of The Clash is pictured on the cover of London Calling in mid-stroke of slamming his now-Vinty old P-Bass to the stage floor. Later he was recorded as being sorry he'd done it... The moment was to big and he went with it. Yep, to bad, but it made for a great photo!

Yes, he went with the moment and destroyed the wrong one, as his spare wasn't as good as the one he destroyed.

 

[Furious_Man77]

Looking at several 76s some have speed knobs and some gold reflector knobs. Which did they have?

Typically I have seen the 76's with reflector knobs, and 77/79's with speed knobs. The ones I have owned have been this way.

 

[hillerup]

I caught that interview. Sadly there was actual lament over that. He said the road crew gathered the pieces, but it was never the same.

Think anyone would have noticed if Simonon or Sixx swapped out with a Hondo first?

They never got to put it together again, as it was way beyond repair. It is now on display in one of the Hard Rock Café's...

 

[ThaCoast]

Paul Simonon of The Clash is pictured on the cover of London Calling in mid-stroke of slamming his now-Vinty old P-Bass to the stage floor. Later he was recorded as being sorry he'd done it... The moment was to big and he went with it. Yep, to bad, but it made for a great photo!

Great album shot! Story behind why he smashed the good one (sadly) was cause & I quote Paul Simonon from an article in my 2004 7ender guitars/basses catalog:
"...I suppose if i had stopped leaping & running around it would have been a less painful union. Well after a few years of throwing myself & bass around, we both arrived to play the New York Palladium. I think frustration with the audience not being allowed out of their seats & my own moody disposition cause me, in a fit of anger, to lift the bass high above my head & send it crashing to the floor, again & again! Penny Smith luckily captured the moment & the cover for London Calling was Created"

 

[wolfkeller]

I've thought about smashing a cheap bass as part of our show. I keep thinking, a splinter will nail someone (me) in the eye, I'll damage the stage and be liable or some such spinal tap moment. Hence, no smashing or lighting pants on fire ( I think of the great white disaster).

 

[Count Bassie]

I've thought about smashing a cheap bass as part of our show. I keep thinking, a splinter will nail someone (me) in the eye, I'll damage the stage and be liable or some such spinal tap moment. Hence, no smashing or lighting pants on fire ( I think of the great white disaster).

Fire is definitely a tender spot now for many. I remember that sorry event at the Station... A friend's cell phone captured the video you may have seen of the start of that blaze; he was the last one to leave the place whole, as it were. The FBI arrived and took his phone, promising to give it back, which they did eventually.

Myself, I'd feel some remorse for destroying a bass, unless it was a premeditated gag involving a"stunt bass" put together for the purpose.

 

[wolfkeller]

Yeah, that sort of thing. But then again, I imagine a rich guy or someone who can get anything they want free probably wouldn't value things as much as those of us who have to go thru all kinds of crap for just 1 good bass and its not even custom.