Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

It plays great. I just wanted lower action in the higher frets. Would loosening the truss rod do that? I know it wound raise the action on the lower frets.

But you could lower the action then.

 

[PillO]

I make an effort to keep on good terms with the ones that are easy to play with.

It is worth staying on good terms with any who are easy... Wait, what are we talking about?

 

[Engle]

It is worth staying on good terms with any who are easy... Wait, what are we talking about?

Well...drummers in particular, but as a general statement it could apply to many categories of humans

 

[Engle]

I worked with the same one for over 25 years. We listened to each other and did accents and stuff together. Made our 4 piece group sound almost like a quartet.

I’m going to use that line!
I find with some drummers, we lock together automatically and continued playing just gets sweeter as we learn anticipate the accents. Other drummers require more conscious effort on my part (and probably theirs) even though they might be accomplished musicians.

 

[GonePlaid]

I worked with the same one for over 25 years. We listened to each other and did accents and stuff together. Made our 4 piece group sound almost like a quartet.

To elaborate: he read, played by feel, voluntarily taught the drum line at his son's school, and was an all-around really good guy. Oh. Sang harmonies-and one lead.

 

[GonePlaid]

I’m going to use that line!
I find with some drummers, we lock together automatically and continued playing just gets sweeter as we learn anticipate the accents. Other drummers require more conscious effort on my part (and probably theirs) even though they might be accomplished musicians.

Exactly. Ken wasn't boring but we developed a kind of feel what each other was gonna do and could kick it together. The band was very tight.
Someday, if I can figure out a way to get a coupla tracks off of our unindexed tapes/cds, I'll put them up. The (live only)recordings are from 82-84, non direct, into a one-point stereo mic and onto a pretty decent Akai cassette deck. No engineer(well, me, but I was busy playing).

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Hey race fans, Indy tomorrow, 10:00AM Pacific time...

Thunderbirds did the fly over.....Class act

 

[Engle]

It plays great. I just wanted lower action in the higher frets. Would loosening the truss rod do that? I know it wound raise the action on the lower frets.

Not really. Loosening the truss rod will create more relief and the action will get higher in the middle of the neck. But that gives the strings more room to vibrate and you can lower the bridge/saddles. It’s a matter of finding that sweet spot of enough relief.

 

[GonePlaid]

Thunderbirds did the fly over.....Class act

Classic or VP? I'm sure no NR.

 

[BklynKen]

Not really. Loosening the truss rod will create more relief and the action will get higher in the middle of the neck. But that gives the strings more room to vibrate and you can lower the bridge/saddles. It’s a matter of finding that sweet spot of enough relief.

I think I'm already at it. Thanks.

 

[Engle]

Exactly. Ken wasn't boring but we developed a kind of feel what each other was gonna do and could kick it together. The band was very tight.
Someday, if I can figure out a way to get a coupla tracks off of our unindexed tapes/cds, I'll put them up. The (live only)recordings are from 82-84, non direct, into a one-point stereo mic and onto a pretty decent Akai cassette deck. No engineer(well, me, but I was busy playing).

I recorded my punk band with a decent cassette deck in the early 80’s and about 5 years ago I transferred it to digital, then applied some eq. Some of it sounds pretty good.
Tape deteriorates over time. I suggest getting it digitized sooner than later. Not sure what you have for a computer etc, but pretty much any audio interface is going to have higher fidelity than a cassette deck

 

[MCF]

Thunderbirds did the fly over.....Class act

Always love to see Thunderbirds! They’re special to me having grown up at Vandenberg, although their appearances were rare during the Vietnam war.

 

[GonePlaid]

I recorded my punk band with a decent cassette deck in the early 80’s and about 5 years ago I transferred it to digital, then applied some eq. Some of it sounds pretty good.
Tape deteriorates over time. I suggest getting it digitized sooner than later. Not sure what you have for a computer etc, but pretty much any audio interface is going to have higher fidelity than a cassette deck

I[stink]at the technical [stuff]but the BIL stored it in the computer and EQed them some and burned some cds for me. Next time he's here, I'll pick a couple out and up/down/sideways load them.

 

[JIO]

They used to be easy to find-always hanging around musicians.

good one

 

[MCF]

haha i've been working abhor from the house. Weather has been pretty hot for our area and I have just been pooped when I get home plus I am working six days a week, so haven't gotten much done. Still have to finish my Eukelele (Kids are done) and I have to finish my Thunderbird build, remember the one that got painted Inverness Green with the Reverse Headstock Fender neck. I have to fit the nut and give it a set up and she is ready to go. I will have three and a half days off for Labor day so I hope to get some of that done then.

Glad to know someone is thinking of me, I don't know if that means I am missed or not.....

Glad you checked in! Looking forward to seeing your Inverness Green in final form. Stay safe my friend.

 

[dagrev]

Hello and new member here. After playing vintage Gibson and USA guitars and basses for 30+ years and avoiding them like the plague, I bought my first Epiphone (vintage Pro sunburst) 3 weeks ago new from Sweetwater. Wow, what a great bass! I love the vintage vibe, the build quality and playability is top notch.

Being so impressed by the TB model And with my history w Gibson, I happened upon a very good deal on a 2013 Gibson TBird with some sweet mods that I purchased to compare the Epi quality to. This Gibson model has a chrome Hipshot bridge, D=tuner and what I believe to be the exact pickups that come stock in the VP. I only need to swap the tuners and it will be a full black to chrome/nickel conversion.

I haven’t made the formal comparison yet as I need to restring both and I only received the Gibby on Saturday but will definitely post my opinions here soon.

Ok, here are required pics (provided by both sellers. I’ll photograph my own for the comparison).

EPIPHONE VP
View attachment 3955650

GIBSON
View attachment 3955651

So here’s where I’d like a little help from the club. The Gibson has the nickel pickups and covers installed. The bridge pickup is missing the black plastic pickup riser that the Epi VP comes stock with. I see quite a few people remove these. Anyone have one they’d like to part with? Otherwise are there any retailers that carry this part?

I look forward to posting my comparison in the future. First impressions is the VP is really going to give the Gibson a run for the money...

Oh, and do I get a number?

Well done and welcome! You simply can't go wrong with a VP. I have a '64 and the VPs are the next bet thing other than a boutique. I love the VPs enough to have two of them.

I'm likely wrong, but I was thinking that there was a Gibson version at some point that have chrome PUs. Someone may have already given correct info. If so, they may not be anything like the VP ProBuckers. If that sound exactly the same, could be. The modern Gibson PUs do not sound like the ProBuckers.

 

[dagrev]

They used to be easy to find-always hanging around musicians.

That's the kind of one-liners I was talking about!

 

[GonePlaid]

That's the kind of one-liners I was talking about!

I got a million of 'em. Some are funny.

 

[Klondike]

Thunderbirds did the fly over.....Class act

I've gone several times. Have a friend that lives about one half mile from the #2 turn. Race day is crazy starting with the Canons at five in the morning then a bus rout of helicopters shuttling in drivers and other VIP's. Would love to take the kids.

 

[JIO]

I got a million of 'em. Some are funny.

Well, when you have a million of them there's a fair chance some will be funny...