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Thunderbird Club

#152,041
dagrev said:
Still waiting on the Thunderbird to arrive. Actually to get this side of where it originally started (Phoenix). Tuesday night the update said it left the main Los Angles hub. Said the same Wed, but a later leave time(?). A way too general "update" this morning that said: "Your package is moving within the USPS network and is on track to be delivered to its final destination. It is currently in transit to the next facility."

I finally received a call back from customer support. The guy was really nice, but didn't know any more than I did about it. (But he gets paid to know what little I know about it.) I went over the scenario with him again about it leaving Phoenix, and for inexplicable reason it went to LA and showed up there the day it should have arrived here in Ky. He had no clue as to why that happened other than sometimes expensive items go a different path. I asked him if he could confirm where it was since the website did not show anything. He said it was in Bell Gardens, CA. I told him that was the main hub that it was supposed to have left from Tuesday night. I asked him why it took a week to make a five hour trip from Phoenix to LA and why was it still in the place that supposedly left? He had nothing at that point. Said there was nothing I could do except file a claim that it was lost. Told him we don't think it's lost it since you think you know where it is. I told him if this was a $90 pair shoes I wouldn't be concerned but it's a bass guitar worth over $1,000. I would like to know where it's at and if it's at least coming in the right direction, and when it might arrive since I have to sign for it. He was really nice unlike the other person, but was no more help. What a frustrating mess while waiting for a new instrument. Thanks for allowing the psychological venting--which I know does no good whatsoever.
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My experience with the USPS is that their tracking is just about the worst possible mess. Their delivery is a whole lot better, but they do make the occasional mistake. It's probably on a slow boat somewhere, or maybe a rickshaw across the country. If I was a betting man, I would bet you see it sometime next week.
 
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#152,042
Engle said:
Right? I would have happily bought those 3, but the brother couldn't sell them all to me at far less than market value, and I don't play guitar that much.
I did buy his 75 Marauder because I had a huge flood of emotion as soon as I picked it up. He played that one in our high school bands and when we had a hardcore band circa 82-84.
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I just bought a guitar. My wife won't be happy about it. She has earned the right by not having bad habits or doing dumb things. But, it's on it's way and I'll be happy when (if?) it gets here. It's a late '70s Korean made Martin knock off. It's got a beautiful rosewood body and spruce top. I had a similar one in the late '70s, and it had a huge voice. The problem with that one was that it was a factory second and had a sky high action. This one is supposedly more of a normal action height for an acoustic guitar, so I expect it to be more playable and to have a similar voice.

Neither Thunderbird nor even bass content. Sorry 'bout that.
 
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#152,043
dagrev said:
Still waiting on the Thunderbird to arrive. Actually to get this side of where it originally started (Phoenix). Tuesday night the update said it left the main Los Angles hub. Said the same Wed, but a later leave time(?). A way too general "update" this morning that said: "Your package is moving within the USPS network and is on track to be delivered to its final destination. It is currently in transit to the next facility."

I finally received a call back from customer support. The guy was really nice, but didn't know any more than I did about it. (But he gets paid to know what little I know about it.) I went over the scenario with him again about it leaving Phoenix, and for inexplicable reason it went to LA and showed up there the day it should have arrived here in Ky. He had no clue as to why that happened other than sometimes expensive items go a different path. I asked him if he could confirm where it was since the website did not show anything. He said it was in Bell Gardens, CA. I told him that was the main hub that it was supposed to have left from Tuesday night. I asked him why it took a week to make a five hour trip from Phoenix to LA and why was it still in the place that supposedly left? He had nothing at that point. Said there was nothing I could do except file a claim that it was lost. Told him we don't think it's lost it since you think you know where it is. I told him if this was a $90 pair shoes I wouldn't be concerned but it's a bass guitar worth over $1,000. I would like to know where it's at and if it's at least coming in the right direction, and when it might arrive since I have to sign for it. He was really nice unlike the other person, but was no more help. What a frustrating mess while waiting for a new instrument. Thanks for allowing the psychological venting--which I know does no good whatsoever.
Click to expand...

Ugh. Sorry, my friend. That's so absurd.
 
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#152,044
Gaolee said:
I just bought a guitar. My wife won't be happy about it. She has earned the right by not having bad habits or doing dumb things. But, it's on it's way and I'll be happy when (if?) it gets here. It's a late '70s Korean made Martin knock off. It's got a beautiful rosewood body and spruce top. I had a similar one in the late '70s, and it had a huge voice. The problem with that one was that it was a factory second and had a sky high action. This one is supposedly more of a normal action height for an acoustic guitar, so I expect it to be more playable and to have a similar voice.

Neither Thunderbird nor even bass content. Sorry 'bout that.
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Its ok with me - I'm an off topic guy. I did post a pic of a firebird today though...

I'm sure your wife wants you to be happy. It's not like you bought a Martin.
 
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#152,047
With an Ebony Epi VP and a tobacco sunburst VP arriving tomorrow, I just had to preorder the Epi Firebird from their new “Inspired by Gibson” line! Think I read something about a late June release?

Epiphone Firebird - Vintage Sunburst

I figure it’ll be a nice add to the studio...maybe I’ll learn a second guitar chord?

A378CC26-CBAD-43EA-839D-0283E225D6B5.jpeg
 
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#152,051
Engle said:
It’s Thursday and I remembered to take a pic of my Thunderbird:
View attachment 3829046
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VP w/ black knobs?
I love the look of the gold on the tobacco sunburst, but my 54 year old eyes have a hard time seeing the numbers on the gold knobs (not that you really need to see them that well, as most bass players dial in the ballpark at gigs). I do put knob pointer washers on all my instruments, it is nice to be able to see the numbers now and then...
 
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#152,053
FlyingPigSound said:
VP w/ black knobs?
I love the look of the gold on the tobacco sunburst, but my 54 year old eyes have a hard time seeing the numbers on the gold knobs (not that you really need to see them that well, as most bass players dial in the ballpark at gigs). I do put knob pointer washers on all my instruments, it is nice to be able to see the numbers now and then...
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Same - 55 year old eyes have a tough time, especially in the dark. I like to see the numbers, so the first thing I did was change the knobs to black. Never had anyone walk up to me at a gig and say cool bass, but wrong knobs...not that I would let that change my mind.
 
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#152,055
Engle said:
Its ok with me - I'm an off topic guy. I did post a pic of a firebird today though...

I'm sure your wife wants you to be happy. It's not like you bought a Martin.
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No, I sure as hell didn't buy a Martin! Or a Gibson or a Taylor or even a Yamaha. It was more used laminated Epiphone range. For what it is in the abstract, it's dirt cheap. For what its brand name is and the market for that kind of guitar, it's about right. It's a late '70s Hondo II, which I believe was made in the Samick factory. So, kinda like Matsumoku, only Korean. It looks like it was probably their top of the line guitar at the time, too. The headstock sure is a Martin rip-off. The logo isn't, but neither of those facts bothers me at all. It's an acoustic guitar, so there's less opportunity for the kind of creative Asian weirdness that electric instruments had in the '60s and '70s. If it doesn't sound good or if the action is too high for even my CroMagnon mitts, selling it shouldn't be too tough.
 
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#152,059
Gaolee said:
It's Thursday, and that seems like as good a day as any to have a portrait of the bolt-on Epiphone. It doesn't get the same playing time as some others, but it's not going anywhere.

Note to self: A better background for pictures of Thunderbirds would be a good idea.
View attachment 3829126
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Come on man! Have the decency to uncover the Acoustic.
 
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