Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

And what blows me away is that she just turned 70.

To me, she will always be Pinky Tuscadero's kid sister, Leather Tuscadero

 

[PillO]

Wow... not sure how I stacked so many quotes in my reply!

Wow... not sure how I stacked so many quotes in my reply!

Does anyone know what this bass is? Thunderbird-style body with a P-type pickup and a 2+2 headstock. It looks even more huge on her than mst of the other basses she played!



i just watched that clip this afternoon. She’s definitely a badass!

Wow... not sure how I stacked so many quotes in my reply!

Easy to do if you try hard enough...

 

[MCF]

Yeah, I guess she likes that P/J configuration. When I had the EpiBird 5er, that was one of my negatives about the thing. If I'd really liked the feel of it otherwise, I mighta changed the pup(ThunderBucker or?), but it and I just never jelled. Oh, well.

I have a 7ender precision PJ. It is my P with rounds. I can’t remember when the last time it was that I used the J PUP on it. It’s a “noiseless” PUP. Perfect name for it.

 

[PillO]

He is obviously someone with a big entertainment budget when he’s “working.”

Big entertainment budget when I am paying in ones?

And that is only because I know that (paint) strippers aren't coin operated.

 

[Gaolee]

Greco SB-850 Susie Quattro Model Thunderbird | eBay Not mine-it's in Japan, I'm not.

If those were cheaper, they would be more interesting. I need another bass like I need a hole in the head. Our bathroom sink has to be replaced (don't ask) and all in it will be about the price of a Thunderbird.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Interesting. I have yet to meet a lawyer with high job satisfaction. They all range from blasé about their work to seething anger and waiting to suggest some unnatural acts to the partners.

I knew one in the tech sector; she liked her job. She got let go for no reason other than her manager understood.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Yes (musician) people are definitely strange...and weird. Thankfully the subset of bass players that play Thunderbirds and belong to this club are cool.

The birds choose well.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Unless you play with a pick.

I just think of a pick as a unifingernail[1]. Hence part of the fingers.

[1] Like a weaponized unibrow.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

That pickguard... I wonder if the person that did it failed paper and scissors in kindergarten.

Have to hear them play to know if they also failed rock.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

My favorite SQ clip...

From way back in 1979. Just a tiny little thing all of about 5' tall yet she pounds the snot out of every inch of that fingerboard. Every time I hear a guy complain about how long the reach is on a TBird I remember this video and think, suck it up buttercup. SQ also played a Thunderbird type bass and never had an issue getting around that neck either.

Yep. A handful of awesome, smaller women bass players convinced me that short fingers did not prevent one from playing bass. Sometimes I have to remind myself that if their fingers can do it, mine can, too. In (very nearly) the words of Sam Wilson, "I do what she does, just slower."

 

[D.M.N.]

We can';t all be good at everyting and we must learn to allocate our time.

I appreciate that there are other people out there to do these things; I do not have to be one of them. There is only so much time I can allocate to things (learning and practicing) and my time and talents are better employed elsewhere. Just as I am sure that there are things you would consider your time and talents wasted on. [/philosophy]

Funny you mention it, I had to replace my cars battery earlier today as well!

 

[KaraQ]

And what blows me away is that she just turned 70.

Have you heard her newest album, that came out last year? Pretty good, imo.
Hope I can still be that active by the time I hit 70....☠

 

[bassgtarman]

Yeah, I guess she likes that P/J configuration. When I had the EpiBird 5er, that was one of my negatives about the thing. If I'd really liked the feel of it otherwise, I mighta changed the pup(ThunderBucker or?), but it and I just never jelled. Oh, well.

I’m not sure how much she actually liked it. I watched the new documentary about her (I’d always been aware of her but never really heard her much). Lots of footage in the doc, and then I watched a lot of stuff on YouTube and looked at a lot of photos (for bass research purposes... ahem). She played a lot of basses, but this was the only time I saw her playing this one. Several different Fenders and Gibsons, and even an early Yamaha BB. She was popular in Japan, so I’d guess she was offered a signature model deal but stuck with her other basses most of the time. She has a sweet ‘57 P that her dad bought her for her first bass in ‘64. She still has it!

 

[GonePlaid]

I have a 7ender precision PJ. It is my P with rounds. I can’t remember when the last time it was that I used the J PUP on it. It’s a “noiseless” PUP. Perfect name for it.

My backup is a Squier VM Jaguar SS with P/J. "Noiseless PUP"- I like that. Once in awhile I turn it on to remind myself that it sucks.

 

[D.M.N.]

And the poly is fully stripped! Not bad overall, just time consuming and a couple areas that turned into a real pain. A couple dig outs on the headstock, but nothing some wood putty and grain filler won’t take care of. Next step: sanding.

 

[FatCity]

Here is my new girl.

 

[dagrev]

I have a 7ender precision PJ. It is my P with rounds. I can’t remember when the last time it was that I used the J PUP on it. It’s a “noiseless” PUP. Perfect name for it.

The only P/J I've ever owned is a '00 Fender American Hot-Rod Precision. It sounds fantastic and I would never consider getting rid of it. It feels like a custom shop build. I can't find any flaws with it whatsoever. The jazz pick up is over wound slightly to give it a little extra punch. But I only dial it in about 80%. Probably half the time is off completely. It's just me, but I can't picture buying a Thunderbird in that configuration. Found by a Thunderbird I wanted to sound like a Thunderbird. In fact if I bought another precision, I might want it to sound like a Thunderbird!

History
8/1999-6/2000 American Hot-Rod Precision
6/2000 Fender introduced the American Series
6/2000-1/2002 American Hot-Rodded Precision [alternative name]
1/2002 Discontinued
Description
Style: 4 string
Finish: 3 Color Sunburst, Olympic White, Black, Natural, Sunset Orange Transparent
Neck: Graphite Reinforced Maple Modern “C” Shape
Nut: Bone
Fingerboard: Rosewood or Maple, (9.5” Radius/241 mm)
Pickguard: Shell
Frets: 20
Pickups: 1 “New” Hot-Vintage P-Bass, 1 “New” Hot-Vintage Jazz
Schaller strap buttons
Bridge: Deluxe Bridge (Top-Load/Strings-thru-Body)
Controls: 250k Solid Shaft (2 Volumes, 1 Tone)
Rolled Fingerboard Edges
Make: U.S.A.

 

[dagrev]

Big entertainment budget when I am paying in ones?

And that is only because I know that (paint) strippers aren't coin operated.

You know the ones could be more reflective of the place they are being dispensed not so much the budget they originate from……
So I've been told.

 

[dagrev]

Here is my new girl.

View attachment 3897437

Very nice. Congrats on a wonderful looking bass!

 

[TBird1958]

Here is my new girl.

View attachment 3897437

Congratulations on your new Thunderbird, we're here to help you own many more!

Happy to add you to the club if you like.