Thunderbird Club

[TBird1958]

Made the pilgrimage to Emerald City Guitars this AM, had a nice chat with Trevor (Son of the owner) he was more than happy to chat for a few minutes about Thunderbirds. There were two in the shop, a '76 strung lefty and this fellow....

 

[GBassNorth]

Made the pilgrimage to Emerald City Guitars this AM, had a nice chat with Trevor (Son of the owner) he was more than happy to chat for a few minutes about Thunderbirds. There were two in the shop, a '76 strung lefty and this fellow....



View attachment 3899115

Hey, $0950 sounds like a bargain. (I suspect there's a 1 hiding under that E string though).

 

[D.M.N.]

Made the pilgrimage to Emerald City Guitars this AM, had a nice chat with Trevor (Son of the owner) he was more than happy to chat for a few minutes about Thunderbirds. There were two in the shop, a '76 strung lefty and this fellow....



View attachment 3899115

I played that bass back in December, it is absolutely stellar. There's a reason someone played it so much there's a thumb divot above the pickup. Wish I had the cash.

 

[GBassNorth]

Thinking about upgrading my outdoor rig...

Good news is - no more roadies needed to help schlep gear.
Bad news is - I'd have to be hooked up to bungee cords when I play.

 

[PillO]

Hey, $0950 sounds like a bargain. (I suspect there's a 1 hiding under that E string though).

Perhaps. But perhaps there is also a decimal under the D string... One can hope anyway.

 

[PillO]

Thinking about upgrading my outdoor rig...
View attachment 3899314
Good news is - no more roadies needed to help schlep gear.
Bad news is - I'd have to be hooked up to bungee cords when I play.

Do you have to modify your Thunderbird to shoot fire?

 

[D.M.N.]

who says Rush wasn't once cool?...

WAS!? Still are! Now GET OFF MY LAWN YOU KIDS!

View attachment 3899074

Rush is always cool, some people might just not be aware of it. Just bought some old 70s transfers recently and made myself these shirts:

 

[Gaolee]

Made the pilgrimage to Emerald City Guitars this AM, had a nice chat with Trevor (Son of the owner) he was more than happy to chat for a few minutes about Thunderbirds. There were two in the shop, a '76 strung lefty and this fellow....



View attachment 3899115

That one has been causing me GAS inflation for some time now.

 

[GonePlaid]

Looks like the SQ Greco TBird on fleabay sold.

 

[donahue]

Hey Thunderbirders!

I’m thinking about buying a Thunderbird (my first) and have a few questions please.

1. Are all Thunderbird necks 1 1/2” at the nut or are there certain models/years that have a chunkier neck/wider nut? Not a dealbreaker but just curious?

2. Are there certain years say, mid 80’s on up that are more or less desirable and why?

3. How are the 2014 120 anniversary models?

4. How are the models 2015? with the open coil pickups and extra switching options compared to the more traditional setup?

5. What is the general consensus on the set-neck studio models?

6. What are some of the more popular aftermarket pickups?

I’m not super knowledgeable on Tbirds at all but have some serious gas lately.

Thanks

 

[Instagator]

I miss my Saturday Night office desk..Still not playing out here in Va...And that's probably a good thing..Cheers everyone!

 

[GonePlaid]

I miss my Saturday Night office desk..Still not playing out here in Va...And that's probably a good thing..Cheers everyone!


View attachment 3899418

We're s'posed to play next Saturday night. We'll see what happens 'tween now and then.
Weather permitting I'll be doing an outside jam Monday-maybe.

 

[TBird1958]

Hey Thunderbirders!

I’m thinking about buying a Thunderbird (my first) and have a few questions please.

1. Are all Thunderbird necks 1 1/2” at the nut or are there certain models/years that have a chunkier neck/wider nut? Not a dealbreaker but just curious?

A Greco Thunderbird will have a wider neck, around 1.75"


2. Are there certain years say, mid 80’s on up that are more or less desirable and why?

Re issue starts in '88, there are some differences in the pickups over the years since then, there are at least 5 differing designs of pickups, however I don't have the change points delineated. Construction wise i like the early ones as there's no as much pitch to the neck. The downside to early re issues would be that the pickups can be noisy.

3. How are the 2014 120 anniversary models?

4. How are the models 2015? with the open coil pickups and extra switching options compared to the more traditional setup?
I think these are all unto themselves, destined to be very sought after in years to come.


5. What is the general consensus on the set-neck studio models?
I recently bought one and really like it a lot, it's a bit brighter and snappier, plus the neck is a little bigger as well - I'm still getting used to it, so far, diggin' it.

6. What are some of the more popular aftermarket pickups?

I endorse the first ones out there, I'm a girl of simple tastes, I only like the best.

I’m not super knowledgeable on Tbirds at all but have some serious gas lately.

Were I starting out, I would strongly suggest an Epiphone Vintage Pro, regardless of price it's simply a great bass guitar, and will serve as your gateway to spend many thousands of dollars and possibly selling body parts to finance yet more Thunderbirds.

Thanks

Hey Thunderbirders!

I’m thinking about buying a Thunderbird (my first) and have a few questions please.

1. Are all Thunderbird necks 1 1/2” at the nut or are there certain models/years that have a chunkier neck/wider nut? Not a dealbreaker but just curious?

A Greco Thunderbird will have a wider neck, around 1.75"


2. Are there certain years say, mid 80’s on up that are more or less desirable and why?

Re issue starts in '88, there are some differences in the pickups over the years since then, there are at least 5 differing designs of pickups, however I don't have the change points delineated. Construction wise i like the early ones as there's no as much pitch to the neck. The downside to early re issues would be that the pickups can be noisy.

3. How are the 2014 120 anniversary models?

4. How are the models 2015? with the open coil pickups and extra switching options compared to the more traditional setup?
I think these are all unto themselves, destined to be very sought after in years to come.


5. What is the general consensus on the set-neck studio models?
I recently bought one and really like it a lot, it's a bit brighter and snappier, plus the neck is a little bigger as well - I'm still getting used to it, so far, diggin' it.

6. What are some of the more popular aftermarket pickups?

I endorse the first ones out there, I'm a girl of simple tastes, I only like the best.

I’m not super knowledgeable on Tbirds at all but have some serious gas lately.

Were I starting out, I would strongly suggest an Epiphone Vintage Pro, regardless of price it's simply a great bass guitar, and will serve as your gateway to spend many thousands of dollars and possibly selling body parts to finance yet more Thunderbirds.

Thanks

 

[donahue]

Hey Thunderbirders!

I’m thinking about buying a Thunderbird (my first) and have a few questions please.

1. Are all Thunderbird necks 1 1/2” at the nut or are there certain models/years that have a chunkier neck/wider nut? Not a dealbreaker but just curious?

A Greco Thunderbird will have a wider neck, around 1.75"


2. Are there certain years say, mid 80’s on up that are more or less desirable and why?

Re issue starts in '88, there are some differences in the pickups over the years since then, there are at least 5 differing designs of pickups, however I don't have the change points delineated. Construction wise i like the early ones as there's no as much pitch to the neck. The downside to early re issues would be that the pickups can be noisy.

3. How are the 2014 120 anniversary models?

4. How are the models 2015? with the open coil pickups and extra switching options compared to the more traditional setup?
I think these are all unto themselves, destined to be very sought after in years to come.


5. What is the general consensus on the set-neck studio models?
I recently bought one and really like it a lot, it's a bit brighter and snappier, plus the neck is a little bigger as well - I'm still getting used to it, so far, diggin' it.

6. What are some of the more popular aftermarket pickups?

I endorse the first ones out there, I'm a girl of simple tastes, I only like the best.

I’m not super knowledgeable on Tbirds at all but have some serious gas lately.

Were I starting out, I would strongly suggest an Epiphone Vintage Pro, regardless of price it's simply a great bass guitar, and will serve as your gateway to spend many thousands of dollars and possibly selling body parts to finance yet more Thunderbirds.

Thanks

Thanks a lot for the info and suggestions. Greco Thunderbird huh? I just checked those out and they seem pretty cool.

 

[TBird1958]

Thanks a lot for the info and suggestions. Greco Thunderbird huh? I just checked those out and they seem pretty cool.

A little wider neck on them, the single pickup (Thunderbird II) version just RAWRs , well worth the money!

We have a little fun here......... This is a Greco.

 

[donahue]

Are these a licensed Gibson Item? Are they neck through?

 

[TBird1958]

Are these a licensed Gibson Item? Are they neck through?

I don't know that Gibson licensed them but they were only for the Japanese market originally, production is long over, I think most go back to 1977. They are set neck basses like the Non Reverse and Studio Gibson.

 

[PillO]

Rush is always cool, some people might just not be aware of it. Just bought some old 70s transfers recently and made myself these shirts:

View attachment 3899332

So 70s; so cool!

 

[PillO]

will serve as your gateway to spend many thousands of dollars and possibly selling body parts to finance yet more Thunderbirds.

Truth...

 

[Gaolee]

Hey Thunderbirders!

I’m thinking about buying a Thunderbird (my first) and have a few questions please.

1. Are all Thunderbird necks 1 1/2” at the nut or are there certain models/years that have a chunkier neck/wider nut? Not a dealbreaker but just curious?

2. Are there certain years say, mid 80’s on up that are more or less desirable and why?

3. How are the 2014 120 anniversary models?

4. How are the models 2015? with the open coil pickups and extra switching options compared to the more traditional setup?

5. What is the general consensus on the set-neck studio models?

6. What are some of the more popular aftermarket pickups?

I’m not super knowledgeable on Tbirds at all but have some serious gas lately.

Thanks

1. Are all Thunderbird necks 1 1/2” at the nut or are there certain models/years that have a chunkier neck/wider nut? Not a dealbreaker but just curious?
Our gracious queen answered regarding Grecos. If you like a fistful of neck, some of the earlier Korean made bolt-on Thunderbirds have a 1.75" neck that's also a big ol' baseball bat. They are dirt cheap if you can find one.
2. Are there certain years say, mid 80’s on up that are more or less desirable and why?
So far as I know, there were no Gibson Thunderbirds released into the wild between 1979 and 1989. After 1989, they are similar, with the usual variation between individual wooden objects. That said, I'm convinced that my 2001 has some magic in it that other bass guitars just don't. Now that the 1991 has been refinished, it's very close, and the 2015 has its own charms.
3. How are the 2014 120 anniversary models?
I don't know from personal experience, but I would expect them to be very similar to other Thunderbirds made after 1989.
4. How are the models 2015? with the open coil pickups and extra switching options compared to the more traditional setup?
They feel the same to play. They are somewhat more versatile, because of the pickups. Setting them up is a bit different, because you lower the pickups to get them to sound good, rather than raising the pickups like you would on nearly any other Thunderbird. The magnets in those pickups are immensely powerful. If you find one and don't buy it, you will miss something unique. I suppose they might be collector's items someday, but mine will not be. It's getting played.
5. What is the general consensus on the set-neck studio models?
I do not have any personal experience with those. I believe some, if not all, Greco and Orville Thunderbirds are set neck as well.
6. What are some of the more popular aftermarket pickups?
That's a can of worms! I can't remember them all. The 1991 has eBay specials we call Chinabuckers. They are cheap but work well. Eventually, they will be replaced by Thunderbuckers. That's the plan. There are others. Lull, Lollar, Seymoure Duncan, and a bunch of others I'm forgetting now. I won't be replacing the pickups in the 2001, because it's the magic bass and messing with that would be really dumb. The 2015 will keep its pickups because that year is unique and has its own thing going. It's the 1991 that will get pickup experiments done to it. Although, I gotta say that the Chinabuckers sure do sound good.

When a Thunderbird chooses you, you will know, and you will have no choice but to take it home. If it really chooses you once and for all, you will find yourself playing it more and more and more over time. Then you will need another one. And a flock of them.