Thunderbird Club

[Nocturnal]

We are sifting through a list of songs trying to get a new list together for 2020.

Q: how do you lot handle songs that someone may have a strong dislike to? Do you give each mbr a 1 song veto ? Or another way?

The elder gent of our gang wants ‘Oh no John’ which I think is merde; and ‘Old Folks At Home’ which I’m a bit uncomfortable with (but we haven’t tried it yet but it is on the prelim list).

I’m hoping they get shuffled out by others getting higher rating among our gang. But maybe not.

Q2: would ‘Old Folks...’ be ok sung straight, without Minstrel like exaggeration ?

he is a music hall fan, and a Paul Robeson fan. Along with Nat King Cole, Belafonte etc.

He had us attempt a song from German theatre last year. That was a miss, we made him sing that solo.

somethings stick, others don’t.

add: and he is pushing for Are You Lonesome Tonight, but the Al Jolson version... not Elvis’.

How old is this guy??

OK, but what does that even mean in this context? Slippery? Toxic? Lasts forever?

I have heard a couple people say that the black TB Plus look like they have a Teflon coating, so maybe that is what he means??

 

[Gaolee]

But a good excuse to buy bass 14!




A Gibson, which would bring me back full circle, as my first bass was a tobacco burst '81 G3. The damn arrow headstock kept coming unglued and after three attempts ( by a Gibson approved repair guy ) I finally gave up and bought a Jazz...…… It did a couple of summers with no AC after that and the neck has major issues. A guy is making me a new neck on his dime, but I've been waiting a few years, so who knows?


I had that G3 and a fretless jazz for years and probably wouldn't have bought anything beyond that till I got the five string.


But NR Bird's are my basslust panacea.

We are here to enable. Anything for a friend y'know.

 

[Gaolee]

WITH CHROME!

Clearly you are one of us. Plus you are a wise acre, which is bonus points. You must have a 'Bird.

 

[Thumper]

We are sifting through a list of songs trying to get a new list together for 2020.

Q: how do you lot handle songs that someone may have a strong dislike to? Do you give each mbr a 1 song veto ? Or another way?

The elder gent of our gang wants ‘Oh no John’ which I think is merde; and ‘Old Folks At Home’ which I’m a bit uncomfortable with (but we haven’t tried it yet but it is on the prelim list).

I’m hoping they get shuffled out by others getting higher rating among our gang. But maybe not.

Q2: would ‘Old Folks...’ be ok sung straight, without Minstrel like exaggeration ?

We are a Democracy, 3 out of 4 vote yes and it's a go. But we all have 1 veto card, which can not be used again. Only one used so far, drummer used it for "Kryptonite." He's our youngest member, ironically, loves all things Creedence Clearwater, but then gravitates to Godsmack and the like.

 

[JIO]

We are sifting through a list of songs trying to get a new list together for 2020.

Q: how do you lot handle songs that someone may have a strong dislike to? Do you give each mbr a 1 song veto ? Or another way?

The elder gent of our gang wants ‘Oh no John’ which I think is merde; and ‘Old Folks At Home’ which I’m a bit uncomfortable with (but we haven’t tried it yet but it is on the prelim list).

I’m hoping they get shuffled out by others getting higher rating among our gang. But maybe not.

Q2: would ‘Old Folks...’ be ok sung straight, without Minstrel like exaggeration ?

Wow - that's a tough one. Both songs are from another era/sensibility and would have a hard time fitting in with more contemporary material. All of our band-members contribute material to our set-list and usually the drummer is the most critical. (can't live w/o them, can't shoot them ) Would your typical audience like songs like those two? If so I guess you could arrange them in a more contemporary/palatable way.
I was searching for French Yeh-Yeh songs from the late '60s and stumbled on this - very old school 'euro' anthemic (and not French!) but could be fun to play. Only using it as an example of outdated material that would still be musical enough to be entertaining to an audience.

 

[Gaolee]

OK, but what does that even mean in this context? Slippery? Toxic? Lasts forever?

Lasts forever, I hope.

 

[Gaolee]

Wow - that's a tough one. Both songs are from another era/sensibility and would have a hard time fitting in with more contemporary material. All of our band-members contribute material to our set-list and usually the drummer is the most critical. (can't live w/o them, can't shoot them ) Would your typical audience like songs like those two? If so I guess you could arrange them in a more contemporary/palatable way.
I was searching for French Yeh-Yeh songs from the late '60s and stumbled on this - very old school 'euro' anthemic (and not French!) but could be fun to play. Only using it as an example of outdated material that would still be musical enough to be entertaining to an audience.

I like how she kept backing away from that scary microphone monster's long arm. And then chased it around.

 

[JIO]

Well, FWIW, "Old Folks..." under its other title is the state song of Florida("Way Down Upon the Suwanee River"), so the 'minstrel' thing is OK left out.
In our band, we generally choose what to learn based on what our audience wants to hear. There are some songs that have been requested that just won't fit us-"Uptown Funk", for one-that we won't even attempt. We have ~300 songs we can do. That ain't one of 'em.

This always amazes me - my friend Cork was in working bands during the '60s (bass player and early electronica wizard in the late '60s) and used to play 7 nights a week and twice on Sundays in SF, at legendary clubs like Carol Doda's place in North Beach. (the stories!) He was young and that was another time but he supported himself as a musician then. I asked when his band rehearsed and he laughed saying they would get to the club a bit early and learn a song our two before the show each night. They also had the capacity to play hundreds of songs.

 

[JIO]

DEAD? Interesting tuning.

 

[GonePlaid]

This always amazes me - my friend Cork was in working bands during the '60s (bass player and early electronica wizard in the late '60s) and used to play 7 nights a week and twice on Sundays in SF, at legendary clubs like Carol Doda's place in North Beach. (the stories!) He was young and that was another time but he supported himself as a musician then. I asked when his band rehearsed and he laughed saying they would get to the club a bit early and learn a song our two before the show each night. They also had the capacity to play hundreds of songs.

Yeah, we have some that are 'regulars' that we know go over with our target age group. Others that we dredge up PRN, especially when one says "ya know, we haven't done(__)lately". And a few others that are "by request only".

 

[JIO]

Yeah, we have some that are 'regulars' that we know go over with our target age group. Others that we dredge up PRN.

I can't recall their name, but there was (maybe still is) a band in Wisconsin that did live Karaoke. Someone would walk up on the bandstand, state the song and they would know and play it - any song. I can imagine there were 'favorites' that were requested, but they knew any song that was thrown at them.

I had to look that one up: PRN is an abbreviation for the Latin term, "pro re nata" which loosely translates to "as needed." PRN is a term commonly used by health care employers and professionals to describe short-term, contract, part-time, or fill-in work by a nurse or allied health professional.

 

[Engle]

It occurs to me, after some thought, that one of the reasons I prefer to use the 'Bird for everything is that for 25+ years it was my only bass. Having gotten used to Gibson neck dimensions(I had a 66 EB-3 as my first bass), anything else is not only uncomfortable, but hurts my 74+ y/o left hand[my right hand is also 74+ y/o in case anyone wondered], particularly 7ender/Squier neck profiles. I f---ed* up in not getting an Epi EB-0 when I needed a short scale. The Squier felt and sounded OK in the short test at GC, so I bought one as my backup/tight space bass. At the end of a gig, I'm very aware of pain in my left thumb. Not so with the 'Bird.
View attachment 3725165
*oul

I don’t find the Epi EBOs feel anything like my 67 EBO. The Gibson DCs however do have that feel and vibe.

 

[Engle]

Yeah, even if I'm playing "Come To Jesus" in whole notes, I'll keep plucking away on it.
I Have a "jazz" gig Sunday that I'd like to use the 'Bird on but I already know that there won't be enuff room in the tiny space we have. I don't like playing this venue, but I'm doing a favor for a friend. It's gonna be 2 guitars, drums, girl singer, and me in an area that's small for a duo. I'll hafta use one of my short scale's . Oh, well, mediocre money but free beer. WT7.
View attachment 3725266 ETA: hope they have a decent Porter

Could be worse - I hope I’m still gigging in two decades!

 

[JIO]

Yeah, even if I'm playing "Come To Jesus" in whole notes, I'll keep plucking away on it.
I Have a "jazz" gig Sunday that I'd like to use the 'Bird on but I already know that there won't be enuff room in the tiny space we have. I don't like playing this venue, but I'm doing a favor for a friend. It's gonna be 2 guitars, drums, girl singer, and me in an area that's small for a duo. I'll hafta use one of my short scale's . Oh, well, mediocre money but free beer. WT7.
View attachment 3725266 ETA: hope they have a decent Porter

need to adopt the Bill Wyman technique -

 

[JIO]

I like how she kept backing away from that scary microphone monster's long arm. And then chased it around.

The place (stage-set?/nightclub?) is amazing! Tre extravagant!

 

[Glenn Johnson]

Were there any womennonites?

Be careful - you'll start another Movement
. .

 

[JIO]

Be careful - you'll start another Movement
. .

I remember a feminist off-road cycling mavin by the name Jacquie Phelan in the 80's who was known by the handle "Alice B. Toeclips" ... their organization was called WOMBATS : Women's Mountain Bike and Tea Society. I just looked them up and it's still active today! WOMBATS - Women's Mountain Bike & Tea Society - About WOMBATS For non-aficionado's of off-road human-powered bicycles - women are some of the best off-roaders out there. While men are generally stronger - women have awesome finesse navigating the gnarliest terrain.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Wonder if the guy at Gibson knew who JC was-and what his name would do for sales? Hmm.......

of course they knew, what bass manufacturer doesn’t? Just Gibson being Gibson with their “Sales Prevention!” strategy...

 

[DesolationBlvd]

I was about to turn in my membership here. I was clearing out guitars and basses due to lack of space, including a StingRay and SG Bass. I dropped one of my guitars to B to justify keeping it, but wasn't having much luck with B on the Thunderbird. I upgraded to the Babicz bridge, but the heaviest strings that would fit were .115 (GHS Bass Boomers in Heavy), which felt like spaghetti. Then I found the Kalium strings, which were tapered, so they fit in the bridge. I figured .142 would give me a B that is equivalent to a .100 - .105 E. All I wanted was low B without the girth of a five-string neck, and the Kalium strings delivered.

Now the Thunderbird is my number one bass again.

 

[JIO]

I was about to turn in my membership here. I was clearing out guitars and basses due to lack of space, including a StingRay and SG Bass. I dropped one of my guitars to B to justify keeping it, but wasn't having much luck with B on the Thunderbird. I upgraded to the Babicz bridge, but the heaviest strings that would fit were .115 (GHS Bass Boomers in Heavy), which felt like spaghetti. Then I found the Kalium strings, which were tapered, so they fit in the bridge. I figured .142 would give me a B that is equivalent to a .100 - .105 E. All I wanted was low B without the girth of a five-string neck, and the Kalium strings delivered.

Now the Thunderbird is my number one bass again.

Excellent! I have my Factorbird strung B-E-A-D, D'Addario's. Works great on that active fretless.