Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

I really wonder why I did not try one of the TB's earlier. View attachment 3735706

Ahhh. That's what so many, including some guy named Geddy say. Welcome home!

And by the way, Thunderbirds sound great with certain flats as well! For those who like Thunderbird variety.

 

[dagrev]

4 X 8....1 X 15...BADAZZ rig...haven’t felt this tempted in a loooong time...
View attachment 3735759

Even my Ampeg heart felt a tingle seeing that!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Even my Ampeg heart felt a tingle seeing that!

wait till @JIO catches a whiff..

 

[Midas]

I need fresh steel strings. Piano string sound played with fingers. That's were my heart starts pounding

 

[BklynKen]

A little streaming of cables. This is fun stuff.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

So, I joined a new band (now in 2). This one, is going to start off as a Scorpions tribute band and then we will be sprinkling in other 80's "classic" metal. The likes of Iron Maiden (yay!), Judas Priest, Accept etc. I'm stoked as this is what I grew up listening to, and still listen to today. The guys seem really cool and can all play as well.

My other band is a bar cover band playing lighter rock/pop songs that folks can dance to, which I enjoy because we gig and I like the band, but I don't love the material.

Anyways, in my bar band, we are all IEM's and I never got to hear my VP through an amp in a band setting (only ambient FOH when gigging)...until last night.

I ran my VP through my Steve Harris Tech21 SH1 into an older Ampeg BA 115 with both pickups and tone dimed. I also ditched the flats on all my basses and run DR Lowrider SS now, including on my VP.

Wow...just...wow. I think I finally understand where the "Thunder" comes from in "Thunderbird" now...

Even with all the Thunder, it could cut through the mix like a knife when I wanted it too.

The singer/BL and one guitarist were excited, as they both like the Tbird and it helps with the Scorpions image, although I can't remember ever seeing Francis with anything but his red PBass with white pickguard. The other guitarist was indifferent until we started playing, and then at break asked me about the bass and was impressed by the sound (and look!).

If you are a fan of the TBird look/shape, this is the bass to buy! You won't be disappointed.

Just thought I'd share.

Francis with an NR Bird..

 

[Count Bassie]

801?

Love that album cover. Cool sounds too.

 

[gidbass]

Francis with an NR Bird..

Well crap...may need an NR now...

 

[fasterpussycat]

A little streaming of cables. This is fun stuff.

View attachment 3735865

That's super tidy. Very sleek.

 

[BklynKen]

Francis with an NR Bird..

Wow, in all the decades of knowing that song and video, I can't believe this is the first time knowing it's a Thunderbird.

This from 1974 only has a P Bass, but such a cool and relatively unknown song.

 

[Gaolee]

Cat daydreaming about Thunderbird.

View attachment 3734676

Hmmmm... None so pink.

 

[Gaolee]

My ancestors were in a Led Zeppelin song.

Mine are anonymous. They seem to want to keep it that way.

 

[Gaolee]

I just bought two Epiphone Vintage Pro iV basses. A white one with a head crack and a black one. Funnily the white bass with the fixed headcrack sounds much better than the other one. Therefore I could not resist to take it home. Could this be the same effect like with old Gibson's?
And the guy in the shop mentioned that the new TB's that are ordered will be 100 bucks cheaper due to a change in pick ups. Is there any information about this?

First I heard of the change. Congrats on the new pair.

 

[RedVee]

Herman?

no, but I did dress as Eddie for a work party

 

[BklynKen]

no, but I did dress as Eddie for a work party

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[Gaolee]

That's what I was thinking...this white bass did speak to me. Both basses handle drop D very well by the way. I have some songs where I need that D.
I will try to record something but I am afraid I will not be able to record some studio quality. But maybe it is better than nothing. But it will be next week.

You were chosen twice in one day. Impressive!

 

[PillO]

So, I joined a new band (now in 2). This one, is going to start off as a Scorpions tribute band and then we will be sprinkling in other 80's "classic" metal. The likes of Iron Maiden (yay!), Judas Priest, Accept etc. I'm stoked as this is what I grew up listening to, and still listen to today. The guys seem really cool and can all play as well.

The music of my misspent youth...

I ran my VP through my Steve Harris Tech21 SH1 into an older Ampeg BA 115 with both pickups and tone dimed. I also ditched the flats on all my basses and run DR Lowrider SS now, including on my VP.

My first thought on the Steve Harris preamp was that I never really thought about his tone. Then I listened to some demos and read through the suggested settings in the manual and thought that it is essentially Orange amps in a box. An appealing sound, but not enough for me to think about getting one. But if a used one came up at a great price...

 

[dagrev]

An exceptionally nice Bicentennial on Reverb like my white one. No affiliation, just thought it interesting. And a little pricey, but about as nice as one can find. One owner.
Gibson Thunderbird Bicentennial 1976 White

 

[PillO]

Welcome Midas, that's lovely pair of Epiphone Vintage Pro you have! We encourage all questions and the posting of pictures, video etc about Thunderbirds - Don't listen to @PillO, helmets made of Melons are not required for membership! You are #801 here!

Oh sure, not required. But if you really want to have fun...

 

[RedVee]

the first thing I did when I got them home was install Hipshot Drop D tuners.

dumb question time on drop tuning.

I thought you would drop all the strings back. D G C F ? But the Drop D tuner is only on the E string, correct? So when used you would have D A D G ?

Obviously from the question, I have never tried anything but standard tuning.