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Thunderbird Club

#139,121
JIO said:
... 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...
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This, this right here. For all their issues with taking people out of the moment, the current world we live in does have the ability to create some sort of record of our existence. something I learned when my little brother passed away, what will be left behind to remember me by when I'm gone? I stopped gigging in about 1994, long before the age of cell phones, tiny hand held recording devices and home recording studios. the very few photos and VHS tapes that existed of me on a stage holding a bass guitar were all in a U-Haul truck that got stolen during a friend's move, so there's literally no record of me actually playing bass in a band other than 2 audio files that I posted on Soundcloud in an effort to preserve at least that much and one crappy photograph taken from a long ways off that you really can't make any of us out in anyways. The trick is to find a balance between making sure there's a record and still being in the moment.
 
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#139,122
Miles_ONeal said:
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 !
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Look forward to read more when you get one :-). Everything I read about them concurs.
 
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#139,123
kringle77 said:
Im back and forth on details for my next build. Ive got a pair of emg tbhz pups but, Im thinking about doing something like a nikki sixx hamer/spector bird with p/j pups. Id take opinions on the merits of each and what company makes the best set. Probably want to stay passive.

For reference, Ive owned a gibson shortscale bird, epi bird, spector legend 4x, and dingwall d bird. The dingwall was the best in every aspect but, when slung low, the low string got to be a left hand stretch. Im looking for a punchy lowmid sound when using a pick and fully dropped to d.
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I have used the EMG Geezer PJ set in a couple of basses, one of which is a Hamer Bird. To my ears they are punchy and growly with some grit to them. I really like them. The Hamer originally had active EMG's but I definitely like these better.
 
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#139,124
On another note, here's to Thunderbird Thursdays !

IMG_1604.JPG
 
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#139,125
JIO said:
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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of all the basses stolen from me (mostly Fenders) the Bicentennial Bird hurt the most....pretty unlikely meeting someone who not only loves Thunderbirds but also got one stolen...what are the odds?...
 
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#139,126
JIO said:
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?
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Not sure what you mean. The wings are 1 piece of hog on either side. The neck-thru section has fairly wide sections of hog on either side, followed by a thin slice of walnut, a somewhat thicker piece of hog, another thin slice of walnut, then a center piece of hog. In all, 9 separate slices ( of various thickness ) of alternating hog and walnut. Don't know if that matches Gibson construction though. Hope that clears up the confusion. :smug:
 
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#139,127
JIO said:
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...

View attachment 3661582
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Nice score man!
 
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#139,128
GBassNorth said:
Your obnoxious note is spot on. I always tip regardless of cover charge or even the quality of the music, better music and no covers get even bigger tips from me.

The only time I didn't tip was when I went to a nice upscale outdoor dinner and music venue and while I'm eating and talking with the other couples at our table some dude from the band (while the band was on break) walked the tip jar around the room and went from person to person asking for tips.

It wasn't a gentile reminder to the audience in general that tips are appreciated. It wasn't even a remotely considerate plea to the entire table. This jerk went to every single person at the table and asked for a tip. I considered that pretty damn obnoxious...
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Beyond obnoxious. My gut reaction?
If that dude was a band I was leading and did that, he'd be summarily fired on the spot. Seriously, no way I could deal with that belly-dragging indignity. Get a piece of cardboard and a crayon, see you at the traffic light.
Unbelievable. And I've done some stupid things in my day.
 
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#139,131
Glenn Johnson said:
Not sure what you mean. The wings are 1 piece of hog on either side. The neck-thru section has fairly wide sections of hog on either side, followed by a thin slice of walnut, a somewhat thicker piece of hog, another thin slice of walnut, then a center piece of hog. In all, 9 separate slices ( of various thickness ) of alternating hog and walnut. Don't know if that matches Gibson construction though. Hope that clears up the confusion. :smug:
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That's what it looks like in the photo. Epi says 7 on their website. Hence, the confusion. Here's a 7 ply (Pro-V). That's what I was expecting to see, only painted, in your photo.
 
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#139,132
Chucky Stiletti said:
Seattle has a couple of places like that in the Fremont area....folks basically jump on stage (no rear stage door) do their set and jump off..chop chop...pretty entertaining...don't know how true it is but someone told me that's how the Eddie Vedder trend of jumping onto the crowd originated in those bars..
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I have not seen that happen, but then I don't get out much. And I can only recall playing in a Fremont bar once.

And, for what it's worth, my son will be playing in Fremont at the Nectar Lounge with Orgone on the 17th of this month. Shameless plug for the kid, y'know.
 
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#139,133
Glenn Johnson said:
All you guys are making me want to spring for an actual Gibson Thunderbird. Ah, the sweet vanilla smell of nitro. . . You all remember I AM retiring, right? And that I would have to cut my spending a bit ( this from the guy who just purchased Hipshot tuners and bridge for my Classic Pro, a Dano Longhorn and a Dano 59XT ). What to do? Somebody talk some sense into me! :roflmao:
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Here's sense - buy the Gibson now while you still have a paycheck. You are welcome.
 
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#139,134
Gaolee said:
I have not seen that happen, but then I don't get out much. And I can only recall playing in a Fremont bar once...
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Closest I ever got to a Fremont bar was the Ballard Firehouse. Notably NOT in Fremont. ;)
Also holds the distinction of being only one of two places in Seattle proper I ever played. The other being The Offramp.
 
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#139,135
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#139,136
Edit: Upon investigation, the images of B&W VPs I saw were all apparently nickel, just looking black from the lighting/angle/etc. So nevermind.

Quick VP question: I have seen a couple of videos and images online that show a VP with black hardware. Is that an older version of the VP? The Epi site just lists nickel, and that's all I see for sale.
 
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#139,140
Miles_ONeal said:
Quick VP question: I have seen a couple of videos and images online that show a VP with black hardware. Is that an older version of the VP? The Epi site just lists nickel, and that's all I see for sale.
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Never seen a VP with black hardware. Not sure I'd want one since all that chrome looks so very good.
 
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