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Thunderbird Club

#156,383
TBird1958 said:
'Cause 10K means I'm pedaling a kidney or my stunt liver (neither of which I want give just now, because alcohol) to afford one. :laugh:
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This is the one on Reverb that I would really like to have. It's in duke'o'frok land. Maybe he can be enlisted to offer an absurdly low price and that price will somehow get accepted.
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With shipping it would "only" be about $9200. Plus tax...
 
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#156,387
JIO said:
Birds look great in BMM - it's a wonder they never came in that shade. There were a few other Gibsons/Epi's that did. Primarily guitars.

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Are they all the same colour? They look to be 2 different colours to me. I’m no good with colours though!

I remember reading about a stock ES335 colour called Sparkling Burgundy that was CAR-ish.
 
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#156,388
Engle said:
I could never understand going to great lengths to analyze song lyrics for deep meanings.
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I prefer songs tell a story set to great music. Needing to drop some acid or reflect on the inherent absurdities and contradictions of postmodernism to understand a song is too much (pointless) work for me. Tell me a story and even make me think, but not try to get me to be impressed by how deep you think you are. But that's just me. Everyone has their own preferences.
 
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#156,393
GBassNorth said:
KaraQ - do you have a secret to share with us? Please be the one that snagged it, I so wanted someone here to get it so we can catch a glimpse of it on Thunderbird Thursdays! So unique looking, with crazy pup placements and the ornate headstock. Ultra cool find if it's yours!
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KaraQ said:
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Guess since I haven't any pics at all ( :meh: ), I'll just have to buy a Thunderbird instead! :hyper: And take new pics when it gets here...:snaphappy::thumbsup:
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Pending shipping confirmation.....:)

1st time I've ordered something from JP in years :nailbiting:
 
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#156,396
Gaolee said:
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.
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The ‘15 is the best playing, most versatile bass I own (and I own too many, at least according to my wife). I don’t play out. It’s my number 1 and has been pick up and played pretty much every day for five years. While I take good care of all my basses, and it’s in great shape, it isn’t Pristine. It’s too good not to be played all the time.
 
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#156,399
dagrev said:
I prefer songs tell a story set to great music. Needing to drop some acid or reflect on the inherent absurdities and contradictions of postmodernism to understand a song is too much (pointless) work for me. Tell me a story and even make me think, but not try to get me to be impressed by how deep you think you are. But that's just me. Everyone has their own preferences.
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My favourite songwriters are Jello Biafra and Elvis Costello.
“She’s filing her nails while they’re dragging the lake” evokes an image. It doesn’t need to be profound or mystical!
 
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