Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

Some of you are a bad influence (and I mean that as a compliment). I ordered a set of these to try out but not sure which bass to install them on. The 2001 is the only Gibson in need of fresh strings but one of my P-J loaded Birds needs a new set as well.

View attachment 3931629

Try them on the ‘01. I’m liking them on the ‘13 NR.

 

[MCF]

I know the Interwebz can be a strange place, but, where do you find this stuff?




It it a watermelon helmet forum?

Funny thing is, I see him on another thread I follow all the time and no melons. Not a one.

 

[dagrev]

Some of you are a bad influence (and I mean that as a compliment). I ordered a set of these to try out but not sure which bass to install them on. The 2001 is the only Gibson in need of fresh strings but one of my P-J loaded Birds needs a new set as well.

View attachment 3931629

SITs were and still may be really nice. Their NPS used to come on G&Ls--before they changed to D'A..... But I haven't used them in years, but need to give them another try. Once I used all the sets I currently have.

 

[PillO]

I've never really listened to them, but I know their guitarist Jody Davis from a non-music-related hobby of mine. He probably wouldn't know me from Adam, but I've met him and talked to him several times. I can't afford the things he makes that are part of my hobby that I know him from.

This all sounds very mysterious. You part of a club that collects belly button lint or something?

 

[Thumper]

Finally found a white strap for my newest, and favorite (this is hands down the best 4 I've ever played). This Levy strap is extremely soft (love the padding) and a true featherweight

 

[bassgtarman]

This all sounds very mysterious. You part of a club that collects belly button lint or something?

I collect tobacco pipes. Jody Davis makes really nice (and expensive) pipes. He used to be a regular attendee of the Chicago Pipe Show, which I’ve attended every year since 2004 (except for this year, when it was cancelled due to Covid). He rejoined The Newsboys and hasn’t been to the show since. I think he still makes pipes, though. So, yeah, it’s kind of like collecting belly button lint.

 

[tom_t]

WTH? Someone try to shoot you?

I see someone shooting - 1st I protect my Thunderbird.
So no. That wasn’t a case

 

[KaraQ]

Got a bit bored, so thought I'd try something new (to me, anyway...)
I did try it on my gio first, to learn the skill on bass I don't care too much if it gets screwed up (nice having a cheap bass to test mods & such on first!)
Also decided while the strings were off, that I was gonna screw up my perfect string height & intonation , and finally put my string saddles in correct order

Anyway....

Thunderbird!

Plus...

==
Thunderbirds?

 

[GBassNorth]

I collect tobacco pipes. Jody Davis makes really nice (and expensive) pipes. He used to be a regular attendee of the Chicago Pipe Show, which I’ve attended every year since 2004 (except for this year, when it was cancelled due to Covid). He rejoined The Newsboys and hasn’t been to the show since. I think he still makes pipes, though. So, yeah, it’s kind of like collecting belly button lint.

Neat hobby! So many great works of art out there to collect. I still have a couple of meerschaum pipes that both my father and father in law smoked during the war. Both pipes were from the early 1940's. My dad was stationed in the Pacific theater during WWII with the US Navy, and my father in law was in the British Royal Navy in the Atlantic. Both pipes have a lot of sentimental value to me.

I've seen some beautifully carved wood pipes. I'd imagine there could be some very steep asking prices for works from master craftsmen. If you have a favorite pipe in your collection you should post it along with your favorite Thunderbird as part of a TBird and other hobbies photo.

 

[GBassNorth]

Finally found a white strap for my newest, and favorite (this is hands down the best 4 I've ever played). This Levy strap is extremely soft (love the padding) and a true featherweight
View attachment 3931992

Beautiful bass! Humbuckers! Just what's needed to make me want to rock a Jazz.

Got a bit bored, so thought I'd try something new (to me, anyway...)
I did try it on my gio first, to learn the skill on bass I don't care too much if it gets screwed up (nice having a cheap bass to test mods & such on first!)
Also decided while the strings were off, that I was gonna screw up my perfect string height & intonation , and finally put my string saddles in correct order

Anyway....

Thunderbird!
View attachment 3932024

Plus...
View attachment 3932025

==
Thunderbirds?
View attachment 3932026

I like it! Subtle to the untrained eye, yet bold to those of us familiar with the brand. Very tastefully done.

It's always neat to see TBirds become personalized with unique accents. Your Thunderbird frets, Chuckys clear NR pickguard, Fixers club number stencil, and several 2015 black out guards come to mind among other member mods out there.

 

[KaraQ]

Got the tuning & intonation done, easier than expected. Just set the saddles so the silks were just on them, didn't have to adjust G at all, D only slightly.
Old settings:

New settings...

Weird? Or normal (because of saddles now matched to strings?) and I just think it's weird?

 

[GonePlaid]

Got a bit bored, so thought I'd try something new (to me, anyway...)
I did try it on my gio first, to learn the skill on bass I don't care too much if it gets screwed up (nice having a cheap bass to test mods & such on first!)
Also decided while the strings were off, that I was gonna screw up my perfect string height & intonation , and finally put my string saddles in correct order

Anyway....

Thunderbird!
View attachment 3932024

Plus...
View attachment 3932025

==
Thunderbirds?
View attachment 3932026

Nice.

 

[RayWithFlats]

Finally found a white strap for my newest, and favorite (this is hands down the best 4 I've ever played). This Levy strap is extremely soft (love the padding) and a true featherweight
View attachment 3931992

Beautiful, I genuinely can’t see too many pics of this bass. I like white on white as a finish but IMO it takes a bit of chrome to make it really pop, this is perfect. A white on white T-bird is also great, really makes the most of the body shape.

 

[Thumper]

Finally found a white strap for my newest, and favorite (this is hands down the best 4 I've ever played). This Levy strap is extremely soft (love the padding) and a true featherweight
View attachment 3931992

Thanks y'all! Trying to figure out how to get lightning in a bottle on this one, and why I love it so much! In addition to the great balance (Gotoh Res-O-Lite tuners), the great sounding PUPs (Chinabuckers), upgraded CTS pots, DR lite Sunbeams; it's the feel of the neck. I had never heard of Hefner before I bought it, it is slightly less than 1.65" at 1.627". The frets were polished, the board rolled and conditioned (perhaps why the rosewood is so dark?). Visually, the maple neck has medium flaming going on. Plus the neck is a nice shallow C, not the annoying (to me) deep D of my "66J. I looked up B Hefner to see about getting another neck, it appears they are no longer in business?

In any case, after nearly a month, and despite all the great basses at my disposal, I can't stand not having it near, and haul it back and forth to practice. Truly, lightning in a bottle.

 

[RayWithFlats]

Thanks y'all! Trying to figure out how to get lightning in a bottle on this one, and why I love it so much! In addition to the great balance (Gotoh Res-O-Lite tuners), the great sounding PUPs (Chinabuckers), upgraded CTS pots, DR lite Sunbeams; it's the feel of the neck. I had never heard of Hefner before I bought it, it is slightly less than 1.65" at 1.627". The frets were polished, the board rolled and conditioned (perhaps why the rosewood is so dark?). Visually, the maple neck has medium flaming going on. Plus the neck is a nice shallow C, not the annoying (to me) deep D of my "66J. I looked up C.F. Hefner to see about getting another neck, it appears they are no longer in business?

In any case, after nearly a month, and despite all the great basses at my disposal, I can't stand not having it near, and haul it back and forth to practice. Truly, lightning in a bottle.

Fantastic! Great to hear it feels and sounds as good as it looks.

 

[Thumper]

Beautiful, I genuinely can’t see too many pics of this bass. I like white on white as a finish but IMO it takes a bit of chrome to make it really pop, this is perfect. A white on white T-bird is also great, really makes the most of the body shape.

Thanks, I'll try to get one of the flaming on the neck if I can. If I can find a great B neck (thinking Roasted), and a nice light body, I want to do a matching black one. It might cost more than the $900 or so I have in this one, $ I'll gladly spend if it turns out as fantastic as this one.

 

[Bassmike62]

Some of you are a bad influence (and I mean that as a compliment).View attachment 3931629

They are. And patient too. Took'em a couple of years, but they finally turned me to flats.

Sorry, Crue rules....they did it first, plus Nikki's playing a Spector Non Reverse.

My flatscreen's in the repair shop so I'm down to Netflixx-on-the-laptop again. I re-watched The Dirt yesterday and a couple of Crüe vids after, that movie is one of the best I've seen on bands. I'm no movie connoisseur, but I find the acting job by all is very good. The guys doing Ozzy and Mick Mars are hilarious !

 

[Engle]

Got the tuning & intonation done, easier than expected. Just set the saddles so the silks were just on them, didn't have to adjust G at all, D only slightly.
Old settings:
View attachment 3932107

New settings...
View attachment 3932108

Weird? Or normal (because of saddles now matched to strings?) and I just think it's weird?

Looks normal to me.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I see someone shooting - 1st I protect my Thunderbird.
So no. That wasn’t a case

Ha! I just aim the bird at them and press the Headstock Release Trigger and bam! THUNDERBIRD saves the day.

 

[dagrev]

Finally found a white strap for my newest, and favorite (this is hands down the best 4 I've ever played). This Levy strap is extremely soft (love the padding) and a true featherweight
View attachment 3931992

You're not seriously going to play that are you? In front of people? I'm not sure what they would think of you? To help you out, I would be interested in buying it from you to save you any potential embarrassment of having to play that thing.