Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

I'll never forget the time I told Ceterra, Kath and the band to their face that their music sounded kinda sappy.

Before folks start throwing stones, in my defense, I'd never heard of the band Chicago, and I was very much into Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin type music at the time. Just a smartass high school kid at the time.

They have their own sound, and a kid or not, I can see where some might see it that way. At least some of their music. I've always had a strong comment in another direction about Sabbath type bands. But understand it's just not my thing at all. Doesn't sound sappy, but like something else to me.... But I understand some of the things I really like sound awful to a good many people.

But I have had the good fortune to never have the opportunity to tell anyone in Sabbath what I thought of their music!

 

[JIO]

That... That just works.

A bass with Darkstars is something else I would like to have. I think. I don't recall playing a bass with them, and if I did, it was years ago.

It's a different sound than a T-bird w/buckers, but the body is mahogany. It's pretty huge sounding - the trio I was using it in disbanded so I've been missing playing it at volume.

 

[dagrev]

It's a different sound than a T-bird w/buckers, but the body is mahogany. It's pretty huge sounding - the trio I was using it in disbanded so I've been missing playing it at volume.

How would you describe the sound of the DSs? Being single coil, how would you say they differ from a Jazz PU?

 

[dagrev]

VP family pic.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

That's just funny! For those of us with age, who knew basses needed batteries!

they don't...

 

[MCF]

I'll never forget the time I told Ceterra, Kath and the band to their face that their music sounded kinda sappy.

Before folks start throwing stones, in my defense, I'd never heard of the band Chicago, and I was very much into Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin type music at the time. Just a smartass high school kid at the time.

In those days, I would listen to them and grin and bear it. I appreciate them way more now. All the cute girls were into Chicago, America, Bread and the Carpenters. I did what I had to do.

 

[MCF]

VP family pic.
View attachment 3772543

A nice pair.

 

[dagrev]

A nice pair.

Thank you. I do really like and am impressed by them. If I had no bass and needed one to start all over, I think it would be a VP. (Ruling out my '64 Thunderbird and Embassy as options.) They are amazing deals as far as I'm concerned and just sound amazing. The white one was "used" from Sam Ash and significantly discounted. I couldn't tell it had ever been played. Still had the stickers on the PUs.

I just got a little glue into the neck crack on the burst. Got a crazy deal on it from a GC in Mass. The hairline crack is such that when strings on the crack is compressed closed. Structurally it's a non issue. It would only open up if I pressed on the front of the headstock. I wasn't an issue, but I thought, why not drop a little glue in there?

 

[JIO]

How would you describe the sound of the DSs? Being single coil, how would you say they differ from a Jazz PU?

Nothing against a J, but no direct comparison. Especially positioned in Gen1 T-bird spacing. Big, aggressive and growling. (the only aspect that a good J shares) I have a mid '60's Teisco with 2 singles and it similarly roars. Hot singles...

 

[StephnG]

You are correct sir!! My bad LOL
View attachment 3771646

Update,
PU's tamed & changed the Flatties to DR BB's and HELLO

What a difference that made, the "other women" are gonna get jealous now!!
Hey I can at least say "I Tried" in regards to Flatties and even though these were by far the best I ever tried (EB Cobalts)there is just no substitute, she's speaking to me now!!

BTW if anyone wants to to try them, I'll be glad to share..

 

[GBassNorth]

In those days, I would listen to them and grin and bear it. I appreciate them way more now. All the cute girls were into Chicago, America, Bread and the Carpenters. I did what I had to do.

I'm right there with you.
Many Chicago songs are on my favorites list these days. And like you, back then, I did what I needed to do to stay in the girls good graces. Well, I did draw the line at disco. Hated it back then, and still dislike it now, and you can throw rap in there as well. But I have come around on Chicago and much of the lighter stuff from the 1970's.

 

[JJR58]

Nothing against a J, but no direct comparison. Especially positioned in Gen1 T-bird spacing. Big, aggressive and growling. (the only aspect that a good J shares) I have a mid '60's Teisco with 2 singles and it similarly roars. Hot singles.

That's another pick-up i'd love to hear. Bet that bass sounds killer.
The DarkStar Bird that is.

 

[GBassNorth]

Update,
PU's tamed & changed the Flatties to DR BB's and HELLO

What a difference that made, the "other women" are gonna get jealous now!!
Hey I can at least say "I Tried" in regards to Flatties and even though these were by far the best I ever tried (EB Cobalts)there is just no substitute, she's speaking to me now!!

BTW if anyone wants to to try them, I'll be glad to share..
View attachment 3772607 View attachment 3772608

Glad to hear all is well! Those Black Beauties also look sharp with the blacked out poles on the pups.

 

[StephnG]

Glad to hear all is well! Those Black Beauties also look sharp with the blacked out poles on the pups.

Yes Sir They Do!!
Thanks!!

 

[JIO]

That's another pick-up i'd love to hear. Bet that bass sounds killer.
The DarkStar Bird that is.

They do, both the (narrow spacing) Guilds and Novak's -

 

[JIO]

Update,
PU's tamed & changed the Flatties to DR BB's and HELLO

What a difference that made, the "other women" are gonna get jealous now!!
Hey I can at least say "I Tried" in regards to Flatties and even though these were by far the best I ever tried (EB Cobalts)there is just no substitute, she's speaking to me now!!

BTW if anyone wants to to try them, I'll be glad to share..
View attachment 3772607 View attachment 3772608

Did you want your D string reverse wind?

 

[Thumper]

I liked Chicago well enough back in the day because they were awesome, but never bought anything or saw them, too busy buying the harder stuff. I've since seen the error of my ways and am buying everything with Kath. Cetera was certainly no joke either.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Was it my imagination or did I see some G&L's around here the other day!?
Behold the recent GAS Attack!!
The nut width & SS are a little tight for my taste in regards to 5 bangers BUT these "MFD" PU'S which IMHO stands for something I can quite "elaborate" on this forum are SO FLIPPING POWERFUL that if I "dig in" a little too much they actually pull the string to them like a junkyard electromagnet picking up a wreck!!

And when they do it makes a loud THUD that makes me JUMP right out of my skin!!
I would think I would be able to adjust them although I'm thinking they would probably have to be on the floor so they don't pull the Strings LOL

Anyone out there in TB Land have any advice on this??

Also if memory serves, there was also a thread on "Flatwounds" recently??
This piece came to me with "EB Cobalt Flats" if I got that right??
I must say I REALLY like them!! At first I thought they were "Ground Wounds" but to my surprise, they are "Flatties"
To my touch they feel a tad "lumpy" View attachment 3770877 View attachment 3770878 But a nice balance of mids & highs although perhaps my observations are a tad skewed being I'm on a "strange" but not bad...

They look like EB CFs, which some of us love, a few hate, and some don't care much about.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Ou

At the risk of sounding sexist I think mini dresses and hot pants should be required attire.

If you don't qualify it, it's not sexist. Post your pic wearing them first!
With a THUNDERBIRD, of course.

 

[Klondike]

That is one of the coolest birds on the planet. I get weak in the knees when someone posts a pic of it on here....So I’m thinking. Pick up a VP blem and send it to one of the reputable refinishers. It would be worth it and still come out somewhere around $1000. A bargain for a unique bird when you think about it.

Ij picked up a White VP with a pretty good crack in the neck, pulled one of the pups out. Now I'm thinking about having it painted Inverness. I am not sure what I will do with the pup configuration as of yet. I am not quite done with a different bass, decided I might really need a good quality straight edge but really want to see if it is possible to not spend a hundred bucks.