Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

My left hand is killing me this week. I can’t even close it.
Not looking forward to the day when physical issues force me to stop playing.

That. Just. Sucks. I hope it heals in a hurry.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Ya gotta have a bra that matches your Thunderbird.....

View attachment 3625317

you use that strap button location on all your birds?

 

[PillO]

My left hand is killing me this week. I can’t even close it.
Not looking forward to the day when physical issues force me to stop playing.

Left shoulder repair now scheduled for 1st week of February. Left thumb - still looking for a plastic surgeon with enough knowledge/experience in hand surgery for that repair.

Chapman Stick. That's my plan B.

My plan B - yelling at kids to get off my lawn, shouting at clouds that offend me, and explaining to children that music attained perfection in 1974.

 

[dagrev]

...and now something completely different...
View attachment 3625294
Thunderbirds with straps on.

Straps on a Thunderbird are a saftey item similar to seat belts. They protect the player as he/she soars into sonic flight while the Thunderbird is sails on clouds of thunder.

 

[gaffster]

Hmm. How's about a brushed aluminum PG for the silverburst? Just sayin'.
The PG on my 67 NR was custom made by Pickguardian(no affiliation). He has a lot of available colors. to match/contrast with almost any finish.
View attachment 3625492

Cool, I'll check it out...I do love that PG on your 67. I was wish-shopping ebay and reverb. Seems the vintage NRs have about caught up to the earlier style in value.

 

[TBird1958]

you use that strap button location on all your birds?

Nooooooooo!
I read and seen contradictory evidence that the upper bout was/was not the location that Gibson used, Mike Lull choose to use it, but spec's strap locks with his basses. That specific bass balances very well with no special, grippy or leather strap needed. All the rest of mine are at the heel (I leave the pins on the upper bout and just add the new one) thus several of my "Birds have 3 horns.

 

[TBird1958]

This one sure looks familiar. It gets around!

Gibson Thunderbird 1976/77 Re-Fin

View attachment 3625690

I did not like having to sell that bass...........Sometime Family is a PITA.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I did not like having to sell that bass...........Sometime Family is a PITA.

wonder how it ended up in Germany..

 

[Engle]

For you? I remember a guy copping all sorts of grief in a thread he started on the subject. It just ain’t proper don’t you know. He had a physical limitation that made the big ones very difficult I think. Extra short I think.

IMO good luck to him if it works for him.

Some folks on the Upright side are snooty about anything or anyone that doesn’t conform to their world view.
Yes, I will rebuild that 1/2 size for myself - probably with a rat-rod aesthetic. The head has been broken multiple times and has snapped off again.

 

[Engle]

I've replaced a coupla big band UB players('til the BL's died) that just couldn't hack it due to aging issues.

I can see that happening. I started UB way too late. My bad technique doesn’t help

 

[TBird1958]

wonder how it ended up in Germany..

At least the food is really good there!

 

[Engle]

My left hand is killing me this week. I can’t even close it.
Not looking forward to the day when physical issues force me to stop playing.

I feel for you. Maybe try a short scale?

 

[godofthunder59]

I did not like having to sell that bass...........Sometime Family is a PITA.

I was unaware that you had sold that bass, that's a bummer. Been there my friend.

 

[Count Bassie]

Straps on a Thunderbird are a saftey item similar to seat belts. They protect the player as he/she soars into sonic flight while the Thunderbird is sails on clouds of thunder.

Alright, let's calm down...

 

[Count Bassie]

I can see that happening. I started UB way too late. My bad technique doesn’t help

Likewise.

 

[Gaolee]

I did not like having to sell that bass...........Sometime Family is a PITA.

I can imagine. Giving that one up must have been a bit like losing a body part.

 

[Gaolee]

Some folks on the Upright side are snooty about anything or anyone that doesn’t conform to their world view.
Yes, I will rebuild that 1/2 size for myself - probably with a rat-rod aesthetic. The head has been broken multiple times and has snapped off again.

Unlike here, where we have a variable world view, depending on what wanders in. Except tort.

 

[Gaolee]

I can see that happening. I started UB way too late. My bad technique doesn’t help

I hear you about lousy technique. Any real player would look at what I do and cringe. I don't care all that much. So long as the intonation is close enough to fool our singer, it's good enough for anybody else in the room. She is hell on wheels when it comes to tuning and intonation. Technique? Let's just say I wouldn't know and leave it at that.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

At least the food is really good there!

beautiful bass....did you have it refinished like that?

 

[Engle]

I hear you about lousy technique. Any real player would look at what I do and cringe. I don't care all that much. So long as the intonation is close enough to fool our singer, it's good enough for anybody else in the room. She is hell on wheels when it comes to tuning and intonation. Technique? Let's just say I wouldn't know and leave it at that.

Intonation? Open strings are your friends. One of the tricks I learned from my daughter’s teacher is to hit opens whenever you can. Even if they are a third or fifth away, you can usually use that as a reference.