I always think Charlie Croker when I hear his name, which is of course someone very different.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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I always think Charlie Croker when I hear his name, which is of course someone very different.
Amazing how many people shell out big bucks to see a live concert, only to watch it through a tiny screen...
I make sure to take a few pix at the beginning, along with maybe a short video, and then it goes and stays in my pocket to enjoy the moment.
It's fun to watch footage of old concerts (Like McCartney's "Wings Over America") and see the crowd totally into it, with not a phone in sight...
- Jun 30, 2010
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Ok, I'll bite. My Classic Pro has the same 9-ply construction as the Gibson, using the same tone woods, the same USA Gibson pickups, and superior tuners and bridge ( arguably ). It sounds FANTASTIC, plays beautifully, balances extremely well and is light in weight. The bass, plus all the Hipshot hardware and Epi hardshell case cost $900 all in, brand new. All I'm missing is the nitro finish. Now it is clearly a modern T-bird, not a 60's, but it must be awful close in sound and feel to a modern T-BIRD. What makes the 60's T-birds better. I really want to know. Are they that much better? Also, are modern Gibson T-birds that much better than what I have? I am truly curious, and I in no way mean to scoff at all those who own the real deal - heck, I want one too! Convince me darn it!
It sounds like the Epi Pro comes pretty close in looks and sound and is really affordable. The finish difference of lacquer/poly is purely cosmetic.
- Jun 30, 2010
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Did not know this - love the Black Mirror series.
- Jun 30, 2010
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It's gone on forever in a different form. Think about tourists at the Grand Canyon snapping pics and making movies instead of just experiencing the awesome scene in front of them. Eventually humans will get implants that let them record their experience while they appreciate it and download it for revisiting in their sleep. A few cool sci-fi films covered this in different ways.
- Jun 30, 2010
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That and the Wim Wenders film both address a similar theme - the ability to record experiences and dreams. As far-fetched as both seem - I bet both will eventually happen.
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- Jun 30, 2010
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Depending on its stealthiness, that can be done w/o compromising your real time experience. As in, setting the camera somewhere unobtrusive and just letting it film. I wish camera's were a bit more present when I was a kid - I don't have a single pic of myself with my first bass guitar in '66.
I do have this SX-70 shot of me playing my just arrived '64 T-bird II in 1978. I wonder if it was a Thursday...
I still have that brown leather strap - it must have not been with my '63 when it was stollen as I bought it years earlier.
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Think that's already a thing. . .Maybe that's the next 'app' - when you are standing/sitting next to the person staring into their phone, your face can appear on their screen to talk with them! They'd suddenly engage with you.., as well as looking at the split-screen of other information.
It's always Thursday if a Thunderbird is present. They live in the moment, and for them, the moment is always on a Thursday.
And that's a cool pic.
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- Jun 30, 2010
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That is a dayum cool bass to play at any age, probly even more at a young age
I've told the story here before - but that bass which I still have (post #139047) was bought for $750 (w/OHSC and all covers/mute) from a vintage guitar store back east with renters-insurance money after my '63 II was stolen from my apt. Sounds like a ridiculous price today but that was a lot of money back then and I could have never afforded it w/o the insurance money. My '63 II cost $150 w/OHSC and all covers/mute in '74 but was in a bit more used condition. As I've found out recently, only 3 were sold that year - mine was one of them. Who knew back then - just imagine if it hadn't been stolen.
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It depends on how they did the 'wings' - on a vintage neck-thru II/IV, the wings are grafted on with a V-joint - 2 additional pieces. On many since the raised center part is added to the full body. From your pic the 9 neck plies look spaced wider than the body plies - or is this just an illusion of the camera?
- Jun 30, 2010
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Think that's already a thing. . .
More the point that the 'face' on the screen would be right next to the person and yet they would prefer to interface via phone than just turning to look at the person next to them.
My 'Bird experience is rather limited, the one I have now (2008 Gibson) is only my second, after I owning a white Epi Classic Pro IV a few years ago. That bass was awesome, I sold it and don't even remember why, shame on Bassmike62.
But about a year ago, some dude came in the store where I was trying a Fender Aerodyne and showed me his vintage Sunburst Gibby and let me quicky A/B it with an Epi Classic Pro IV in display. The Epi sounded as I remembered my white 'Bird sounding, good bottom and strong mids, but the Gibson had noticeably more meat to it. I didn't ask what year it was made and we didn't have time to talk specs, but I also remembered the Gibson being slightly heavier. Both played similarly, but the Gibby seemed to play itself. I purchased the Aerodyne, but that moment made me want to get a Gibson, even if I had to wait. All that to say that I felt there was a difference between the Epi I tried and the dude's Gibby, but ever so slight, maybe even only noticeable by me. FWIW.
We're trying to get debt free, and I can't really justify the price of a Gibson. But @godofthunder59 and others have said the new VP is stupidly close to a great Gibson, so that's where I'm headed. Just need to sell that Pro-V !
Nice story, the fact that you still have that instrument is amazing
. I have 2 "retired" instruments, both Ibanez guitars: an acoustic Concord, possibly made in the late 70s and bought used from its second owner in '79, and an electric SG model w/mock-bigsby, possibly made a little earlier and if I understand correctly, could be one of those lawsuit axes. I bought her in '76 from her 1st owner. Those guitars will never get out of my family, plenty of players around here to ensure that.
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