Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

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.

Ok, let me ask this question - do the center plies go from the bottom of the body and remain consistent to the tip of the hs? (hense; neck-thru) Your pic gives the impression the neck plies are wider than on the body - but it may just be the neck out of focus looking that way. They are separated visually by the black halo/fade at the heal - so measuring the width on the body and neck independently would be best.

 

[dagrev]

Ramsey makes a lot of sense....When I finally reached zero debt, I shed lots of stress as well. Then again, people making 6 figures living paycheck to paycheck are good for the economy

It is indeed freeing. And allows for other things...like more Thunderbirds.

 

[GonePlaid]

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!

I read somewhere that the Honduran mahogany they used in the 60's and the way it has aged, contributes to the sound. Then again, I believe in The Great Pumpkin.

 

[dagrev]

Yes, made myself 100% debt-free in preparation for my retirement in 3 weeks. Not easy to do lurking around here!

 

[JIO]

It looks like I will have to check the VP out, or keep my eyes open for a nice vintage T-Bird, though that will probably be out of my price range. By the way, NO PLIES:
View attachment 3661674

No plies - masonite

 

[dagrev]

You will laugh at them when you learn how you can judge importance.

There are three levels of importance:

Not Important - constantly on the phone talking/texting/emailing because they think that they seem important because they have lots of people that need them.
Important - check their phone when it suits them and make appointments for phone calls because they need to manage their time and activity.
Very Important - never check their phone and appear to not even have one. Anyone that needs them knows what assistant to talk to and what to tell them to get attention.

The drones that are constantly on their phones and never in the moment are those that want others to think that they are special/important, but in reality, they are just drones.

Well I at least made it solidly to the "Important" level. I have a secretary, but she doesn't do everything for me.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Never seen a VP with black hardware. Not sure I'd want one since all that chrome looks so very good.

Apparently they were nickel, and it was lighting/camera angle. Darn. The other is still gorgeous; I just have a thing for the white with black. I was considering a CP over a VP for the B/W vibe, but if I'm gonna pony up, I'll take the closest to the original I can get.

 

[Gaolee]

Yes - irony abounds. When the ball first started rolling, the ideal of broader communication/understanding seemed to be paramount. We're now learning the bigger price of this opportunity.

Irony in an era of hipsters. It's appropriate. Cell phone use helped with some juvenile entertainment on my part. Some guy wandered off a curb into traffic just as a signal changed. He was in oncoming traffic, absolutely oblivious. I was on the DRZ, which is an obnoxiously loud single cylinder motorcycle and fit just fine between him and the curb. Then I gave the throttle a good blip. BRRRRRAAAAAP! His phone flew up in the air, and he spun back and forth trying to figure out where he was and what was going on. Beats me if he ever found that phone. I assume he made it back to the curb after I took off. My inner 6 year old brat was giggling for several hours after that one.

 

[Bassmike62]

Yes, made myself 100% debt-free in preparation for my retirement in 3 weeks. Not easy to do lurking around here!

Congratulations amigo and all the best in your new life !

 

[Gaolee]

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!

Not better or worse. Different. You need one. That's all.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Not better or worse. Different. You need one. That's all.

OK, fine, I need one, too. My birthday was last month, and whichever of you was going to send me a Gibbie for that day missed it! But it's not too late to make up for the glitch.

 

[Gaolee]

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...

On the rare occasions I go out anywhere, there is a very high likelihood that my phone will not go with me.

 

[Gaolee]

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.

Anything by Wim Wenders is worth the time.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

On the rare occasions I go out anywhere, there is a very high likelihood that my phone will not go with me.

My phone goes everywhere, but I'm good about keeping it in my pocket unless there's a reason for it to be out.

 

[BklynKen]

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.

The thing is, though, as much as it might've been worth at this point, would you even consider selling it? I love discussions of how much things you'll never get rid of are worth. Really doesn't mean anything.

 

[Glenn Johnson]

Congratulations amigo and all the best in your new life !

Thank you very much my bass brother!

 

[JIO]

Irony in an era of hipsters. It's appropriate. Cell phone use helped with some juvenile entertainment on my part. Some guy wandered off a curb into traffic just as a signal changed. He was in oncoming traffic, absolutely oblivious. I was on the DRZ, which is an obnoxiously loud single cylinder motorcycle and fit just fine between him and the curb. Then I gave the throttle a good blip. BRRRRRAAAAAP! His phone flew up in the air, and he spun back and forth trying to figure out where he was and what was going on. Beats me if he ever found that phone. I assume he made it back to the curb after I took off. My inner 6 year old brat was giggling for several hours after that one.

When lane-splitting during bumper-to-bumper rush-hours, a sharp throttle surge gets drivers attention fast. (motorcycle horns are usually "beeps") I do it mostly when I see someone just ahead thinking about changing lanes. Thinking about you say? How can you know that? If you ride long enough and stay focused, you know when to take action before it actually happens. It's the only way to keep the rubber side down.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

When lane-splitting during bumper-to-bumper rush-hours, a sharp throttle surge gets drivers attention fast. (motorcycle horns are usually "beeps") I do it mostly when I see someone just ahead thinking about changing lanes. Thinking about you say? How can you know that? If you ride long enough and stay focused, you know when to take action before it actually happens. It's the only way to keep the rubber side down.

Roger that. You notice a lot of little cues- many of which you don't notice that you notice. But I also think there may be intuition / prophetic gifts / whatever in play as well.

 

[Gaolee]

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.

The Offramp is now called El Corazon, if I remember right. It's not a Latin venue at all, but rather a grimy metal place. It's Seattle. Everything you know isn't quite what you thought you knew.

 

[JIO]

The thing is, though, as much as it might've been worth at this point, would you even consider selling it? I love discussions of how much things you'll never get rid of are worth. Really doesn't mean anything.

I see the '64s out there for sale and what they are going for but no, no interest in selling it. It wouldn't go for top dollar anyway because I added the bridge pu in the '80s and I've never regretted doing so. Along with it still being a bass I play - it has a lot of memorable Chicago blues bar miles in it.