Thunderbird Club

[Mosstone]

While I haven't played them in a Celtic Rock band, I play bagpipes in a Bagpipe band (NH Pipes and Drums) but it was Celtic bands (Wolfstone, 7Nations, etc) that were a factor in my learning the pipes.

Now I give you props for playing the pipes!

 

[Count Bassie]

Was the GK NEO relatively cheap? I've been considering adding a GK 210 to my GK 410 to beef it up some. How are your fingers coming along, healing up well?

I don't know the market value of the Neo cabs, but I got this one for $230. I think that was relatively cheap. Just walked into it, had to finally do some homework here and there to know whether or not I wanted it. I Did...

 

[marko57]

Heh... Thanks Marko. But you're not missing much. Except for the big events (Lowell Folk Festival, Summer Concert Series, etc.), Lowell doesn't have what I would call a vibrant local music scene.

When I was playing in bands there, we mostly had to travel for gigs. Just about all of the live music clubs have died out over the years.

Too true, most of the clubs have died out and the ones that remain don't want to pay squat. Playing Metal/Hard/Classic Rock would rule us out for the Folk Festival. Our regular gig in the 80's was at
The Zoo in Manchester, NH a dive and hell-hole of the finest order but they paid well, very well for those days. Nothing like that to be found these days.

 

[Count Bassie]

And yeah, props for pipes! A good Piper lights up a place, and a rhythm section! Like gas to a lit match.

 

[TBird1958]

Bonus points for Big Country on the stereo!

Off to work thus AM it's 22 miles to Tacoma, WA from my house, happily a reverse commute so there's a lot less traffic and higher speeds.
I love Big Country esp "The Crossing" lyrics and music are amongst my very faves all time.

 

[Count Bassie]

Off to work thus AM it's 22 miles to Tacoma, WA from my house, happily a reverse commute so there's a lot less traffic and higher speeds.
I love Big Country esp "The Crossing" lyrics and music are amongst my very faves all time.

Alright... let's calm down.





Just kidding!

 

[Count Bassie]

You can tell I feel pretty comfortable here, yes?

 

[marko57]

Off to work thus AM it's 22 miles to Tacoma, WA from my house, happily a reverse commute so there's a lot less traffic and higher speeds.
I love Big Country esp "The Crossing" lyrics and music are amongst my very faves all time.

I thought you lived in Seattle? What's with all that bright sunshine?!!!

 

[TBird1958]

I thought you lived in Seattle? What's with all that bright sunshine?!!!

Actually, I live in Des Moines which is just south of Seattle and right on Puget Sound........ People think it rains here all the time and we natives would prefer that most folks continue thinking that way Truth is, when it's nice here this is an incredibly beautiful place to live.

 

[marko57]

Actually, I live in Des Moines which is just south of Seattle and right on Puget Sound........ People think it rains here all the time and we natives would prefer that most folks continue thinking that way Truth is, when it's nice here this is an incredibly beautiful place to live.

I can honestly say that used to be my impression but my brother used to live in Gig Harbor (late 90's) and my middle daughter lived on Whidbey Island for 2 years so I've been educated that it's not always as rainy/gloomy as the impression held. I would agree, absolutely beautiful scenery, almost looks New England-ish with all the greenery.

 

[Count Bassie]

Alright... let's calm down.





Just kidding!

I'm lots of fun at parties..

 

[hillerup]

I'm lots of fun at parties..

I bet you are...

 

[RedVee]

Yeah, Celtic music is a lot of fun. I played guitar in a traditional acoustic Celtic band in Flagstaff, AZ. We didn't have pipes, but we had a flutist. Most people thought we sounded like acoustic/instrumental Jethro Tull (except most of the music we played were arrangements of of songs written about 500 years ago!).

The Irish band I was in was more 'contemporary' Irish folk (Tommy Makem, the Chieftains, Wolfetones, etc).

I enjoyed playing the Celtic stuff more.

Ha, I'm a bit interested in learning about Celtic/Irish folk mixed with Aussie Trad folk/roots. Know next to nothing ATM.

I have sat in a group Bodhran lesson though. Now that is something I want to investigate a bit. Not sure I could handle a fiddle, mandolin or bouzouki though lol. May buy a tin whistle though I guess there isn't much I can transfer from my (used once) Kazoo.

 

[Mike A]

Love love the pipes and the music. I've got a custom Mando in the works and plan to learn some Irish tunes along with my home-state Bluegrass, although I'm usually more of a rock guy.

 

[Count Bassie]

Mandolin is intriguing. I tried to play fiddle once, didn't really take to it, there's a major mechanics aspect I found tedious after a while. Just too many parts to that one, and life's too short. My younger daughter plays viola though, and she's getting very good.

Our Celtic rock band, the Volunteers, had our piper for a while, but her husband got jealous for all the attention she was getting, and made her quit. There was talk of going over and dragging him out of his house, taking him for a ride to the local limestone quarry...

Lol.

 

[TBird1958]

I can honestly say that used to be my impression but my brother used to live in Gig Harbor (late 90's) and my middle daughter lived on Whidbey Island for 2 years so I've been educated that it's not always as rainy/gloomy as the impression held. I would agree, absolutely beautiful scenery, almost looks New England-ish with all the greenery.

Ahhh, Gig Harbor! We used to dig clams there in the '60s - then there was the time I ate too many and met Ralph
Whidbey and the San Juans are heavenly.

 

[DerekW]

I don't know the market value of the Neo cabs, but I got this one for $230. I think that was relatively cheap. Just walked into it, had to finally do some homework here and there to know whether or not I wanted it. I Did...

Yeah, you got a steal, they go closer to $350-400 used. Nice!




I hate you.

 

[Mosstone]

Ha, I'm a bit interested in learning about Celtic/Irish folk mixed with Aussie Trad folk/roots. Know next to nothing ATM.

I have sat in a group Bodhran lesson though. Now that is something I want to investigate a bit. Not sure I could handle a fiddle, mandolin or bouzouki though lol. May buy a tin whistle though I guess there isn't much I can transfer from my (used once) Kazoo.

You might do well on a Mandola (it's like a large mandolin - Four courses of two strings each). We had a great mandola player in the Tatters (the Celtic band I was in) who built his own instruments. I think about picking one up myself from time to time.

 

[veebass]

Absolutely.

It kind of feels like the perfect blend between my two favourite bass types, Precision and Thunderbird. The growl, looks, and upper mid punch of a T bird combined with the chunky neck, simplicity, and depth of a P. And the shorter scale seems to make no difference to tension or punch, but just takes off that super long feel that T birds normally have.

One day I hope to round off the flock with a Cataldo single pickup reverse, but for now I'm pretty damn satisfied between the Greco and Epi.

That's great! I thought you would really like the single pickup Greco! They are really something else- I sometimes describe mine as tonally being my best P Bass (I have a few) and the looks leave a P Bass for dead. The slightly shorter scale and chunky neck don't worry me either- I hardly notice them.
Like you, I like having another different sounding TBird as well. My 08 Gibson with the EY pickups (Hong Kongbuckers) in it is quite different to the Greco and especially to how it sounded with TB+s in it. I prefer it- smoother and clearer than the TB+s IMO.
I reckon there will be another TBird in my flock at some stage too.

 

[RedVee]

You might do well on a Mandola (it's like a large mandolin - Four courses of two strings each). We had a great mandola player in the Tatters (the Celtic band I was in) who built his own instruments. I think about picking one up myself from time to time.

Tatters? Like 'in shreds' or like 'tayta' (spud) ?

I'll look mandola up. Cheers