Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

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.

D standard - DGCF
Drop D - DADG

Some songs are easier to play in drop D. Killin in the Name of leaps to mind.

 

[RedVee]

Pics or it didn't happen.

there is a photo as it happens but I haven’t seen it for years. I didn’t manage to get the exact T-shirt, but I looked around and found one that was suitably ugly.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

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.

it just drops your E string a whole step down to D so the tuning of the bass becomes D A D G..

 

[Miles_ONeal]

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.

W00t! Congrats!
The TBird just looks like it belongs in a band called Scorpions.
And agreed on the VP. One of the best things to come out of Gibson in a while- even if it’s a Stealth Gibson.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

nice spot.



different Munster

Herman?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Herman?

Gah! Of course someone beat me to it. Well played.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Preparing a new bass job I remembered owning an Epi TB some 20 years ago. I always liked the look. When I went into a music store this week I could finally get my fingers on a TB with fresh strings. Usually the strings on the basses there are done because of all the people playing the instruments there. And in my world any bass with old strings sucks.
So I took the TB into one of this test cabins and was really suprised ! I really love the fact that it delivers fantastic highs and bass and mids... I fell in love with that sound. So I asked the store to get all the TB's from the storage into the shop and a day later I was able to test them and choose the best one.
The first one, that I tried the day before was the white bass. I did not want a white one. I wanted a brown one but then I saw the black one... I loved the black one but the white one sounds better.. so I had to choose between a cracked and fixed headstock on the white with dream come true sound and a black TB with great sound and -for me- better look. I was offered a really good price for the white one ... what to do... If I had left the white bass in the shop...I know I would have been thinking on that tone all the time... so I took both.
I will be able to test the basses with full band tomorrow. At home at decent volume it already sounds fantastic. I use the Orange Bass Butler with the TB's and I like this combination. If I will keep the basses I will have to change the straplook screw. I really wonder why I did not try one of the TB's earlier. View attachment 3735706

I was going to say to let me know if you changed your mind on the white, then realized you are in Germany.

 

[GonePlaid]

Francis with an NR Bird..

I always loved this video. I'm just not sure why. Maybe it's the NR 'Bird.

 

[GonePlaid]

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.

First time I saw it, it was like looking at someone else playing my bass.

 

[Midas]

I have to say that I am really surprised how active the TB scene is in this forum ! I was blown away when I saw 7000+ sides of this thread. TB's are not very common over here, at least you never see them live. After I know how good they sound I can't tell why they seem to be so "unpopular" ? Only because of the handling? Or is the optics too much for the average bassplayer?

 

[fasterpussycat]

I have to say that I am really surprised how active the TB scene is in this forum ! I was blown away when I saw 7000+ sides of this thread. TB's are not very common over here, at least you never see them live. After I know how good they sound I can't tell why they seem to be so "unpopular" ? Only because of the handling? Or is the optics too much for the average bassplayer?

Well you don't need to have touched, let alone seen, a Thunderbird in the flesh to know they are just awful. Their headstocks pop off when you least expect it, they are really badly made, their pickups produce nothing but mud and raw sewage, they all -- without exception -- are so unbalanced they might as well have a block of concrete chained around the neck ... and they only good for metal.

 

[fasterpussycat]

 

[Midas]

A lot of very stunning bass designs are head pointy and I just don't care. I do have my hand at the neck while playing... ;-)

 

[Beginner Craig]

Well, yes. But the box is included.


A lot of people lost everything in that tornado, some of even lost their lives, very sad. This donation by Gibby is very cool, I don't think the previous leadership there would have made this move.



Likely GenPop comment - Gibson basses are garbage, no one would buy such junk. The only way Gibby can get rid of them is to give them away.


I'd try removing weight from the bass before adding any additional weight - ultra light tuners make a big difference. If you play standing, try several different types of straps (suede or wide straps will work best) or try running the strap through the belt on your pants to add a bit of friction. If you play seated you could try a classical guitar position or just rest your right forearm on the upper rear bout of the bass. The very last thing I'd ever consider is adding weight.

ok thanks

 

[Count Bassie]

The music of my misspent youth...



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...

Steve Harris was a Trace Elliot user...?

 

[gidbass]

The music of my misspent youth...



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...

There are a lot of tones available in this little unit. I personally don't really like any of the presets for me and what I normally play (even Steve's) but with just a little bit of dial turning I was able to fine a sound that "worked" for me.

With this new band, I will need to test out Steve's setting again once we get to some Maiden tunes...

 

[Instagator]

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.

That is correct.

 

[Instagator]

 

[Bassmike62]

View attachment 3736235

Nice. I have them on all my basses.
My way of avoiding getting a fiver, nothing against them in principle, just more comfortable with a 4 str. .

 

[Midas]

I love my 5 string LeFay ! But it is like a different kind of instrument for me. I play different, I try to feature the low string wherever I can. On a 4 String I feel "free".. And the weight is an argument..!