Thunderbird Club

[RedVee]

One of the few tolerable Streisand films (JMO). Madeline Kahn was always great. I saw that movie on one of my first dates.

I think it’s the only Ryan O’Neal movie I like.

It does help if you like a bit of slapstick humour and general silliness

 

[BklynKen]

Don’t think about it. I’ve decided to be neck agnostic, so I am. And that works for me. Once I get lost in the song, I concentrate on it. And yep, I only have two Gibson’s (for now anyway). There will be more, just taking a break from GAS for awhile.

BTW, just saw that Tom Seaver passed away. Sad day for baseball fans, New York in particular.

Yeah, I just saw that about Tom Seaver. I grew up a Mets fan.

Cool about the necks. You don't find a big difference between the NR and 2015 in that respect?

 

[GBassNorth]

hmmm... somewhat unrealistic of an analogy for a kazoo is not much more than a toy where like the tone or not, to make a soloed bridge pup on a J workable requires more than just basic chops..imho

Sounds like you're a fan of that signature Jazz "burp", that's cool, to each their own.
Which is why I said in my post "I know some people like that burpy, raspy, barky sound but to me it's the musical bass equivalent to a kazoo." Obviously to you it isn't, move on.

He’s lived there before. How do people there feel about Native California refugees?

LOL - probably about the same as many other states in the union feel about California. That's ok, I have thick skin (and a thick head).

The 1.73 nuts are only on the Epi bolt-ons. Epi VPs, Pros, CPs have 1.5 nuts, as do Gibsons. On the three bolt-ons that I have, I’ve become used to them even though I have small hands. In fact, I don’t really notice the difference after a second or two. They’re nice necks. Not as fast as my Gibson 1.5 or the neck on my Peavy Foundation, but very nice none the less.

I double checked my made in China bolt on Eppi Goth TBird and it does in fact have a 1.5" nut. I don't know if the Korean bolt on Eppi Goth is the same. But there appears to be at least one exception to the bolt on neck size.

 

[PillO]

Don’t think about it. I’ve decided to be neck agnostic, so I am. And that works for me. Once I get lost in the song, I concentrate on it. And yep, I only have two Gibson’s (for now anyway). There will be more, just taking a break from GAS for awhile.

I like the term neck agnostic. I will be using that.

I don't have any 1.75" necks, but I do have 1.63" and 1.5" With varying thicknesses. I like all of them for their own reasons and have no trouble adapting from one to another.

 

[MCF]

Yeah, I just saw that about Tom Seaver. I grew up a Mets fan.

Cool about the necks. You don't find a big difference between the NR and 2015 in that respect?

I notice the difference when I think about it. I mostly don’t think about it. To me it’s not a huge difference. But I’ve met others who would think it’s a huge difference. The bigger difference in my two Gibson’s is the reach is a bit longer on the NR.

 

[dagrev]

Interesting! How's the tone? Every DR I've tried was too laid-back for me in tone.

I can understand why you would say that. I bought some Blue Steels and they do have some brightness, but sound more like NPS. New Boomers seems brighter. Of course they are not meant to be their brightest string, but they are darker than I imagined.

 

[dagrev]

I favor the neck pup on all my basses, including my Thunderbirds. On the TBirds I normally have the neck pup at about 75% on and then I'll dial in a little bit of the bridge pup if needed for more note definition. My tone knob us usually at or below 50%.

This gives me the darker deeper tone that I'm typically after. I'm more a a pocket player than a showman, perfectly happy driving a solid bass line supporting the song vs jumping out front and competing with the guitars.

If I'm doing solo work or chords and harmonics on the thunderbird I have a tendency to do just the opposite. Bridge at 75% for clarity then bump the neck pup up a bit from zero to thicken things up a tad.

The neat thing about the TBird pups and placement is that both the neck and bridge are very similar flavors, one is just a little brighter and the other is just a little thicker in sound. On a Jazz bass I hear smooth and rich at the neck but nothing like it at the bridge.

Well said.

 

[dagrev]

He’s lived there before. How do people there feel about Native California refugees?

I can't go there! But he knows how to do normal OK. Since he's lived in Ky more than CA (I think), he will be well respected. Shoot, he likely has some respect left over from when he did live here! He's a class act and will do just fine.

Glad I read before posting. My typo was along the lines of: He's a a$$ act and will do just fine. Nothing could be further from the truth! About the a$$ part.

 

[JIO]

I've been meaning to do this over in a dress when I put a fresh set on......Boy Drag, '89 with Lull pickups, Tortex .73 pick, DR Hellborg strings.

It sounds a little like "Riders On the Storm" but it's probably something else.

 

[KaraQ]

Some more Thunderbird parts, accessories, related tools, & almost completely unrelated items showed up at my mail drop (oddly, after some $$ mysteriously disappeared from my bank ...weird):

 

[BklynKen]

The bigger difference in my two Gibson’s is the reach is a bit longer on the NR.

Which is why I kinda find it funny that @GonePlaid seems Reverse-averse when they have a shorter reach and thinner neck.

 

[BklynKen]

I can understand why you would say that. I bought some Blue Steels and they do have some brightness, but sound more like NPS. New Boomers seems brighter. Of course they are not meant to be their brightest string, but they are darker than I imagined.

Did you get the nickel Blue Steels? The stainless steel ones are supposed to be a similar brightness to the RS66.

 

[JIO]

Considering favored pu on a two pu bass - I approach each situation it will be used in independently. The way a bass sounds recorded and/or live in a particular space will dictate adjusting/dialing in and how whichever particular bass is chosen. As no two basses will sound the same with the same adjustments/settings - the recording situation/room/engineer, the live space/situation (packed room, open space, low/high ceiling etc) will dictate (for me) how to achieve the sound/tone I want on the bass I chose to play. Needless to say, the amp and signal-chain chosen also adds adjustment capability. Personally I like both hum-buckers & single-coils, and both dual pu basses and single pu basses. For what it's worth, I also like both maple and rosewood/ebony fb necks, and walnut, mahogany and wedge necks. I also like both wide-nut necks and narrow nut necks. Add to that any fret number (20/22/24) and a few different neck profiles. Same with body woods - I like alder, mahogany, ash, and maple. And scale - 30"/32" and 34" are all good.

When I only had my '63 II (over 40 years ago), I was pretty bias against playing any other bass. (plus I couldn't afford another bass anyway!) After years of playing/owning all sorts of basses - it has allowed me to be open to more than one-way. Nearly impossible to 'rate' them numerically - and don't feel a need to anyway. Each different bass I play inspires me to play differently. Keeps me fresh and engaged as a player.

 

[MCF]

Some more Thunderbird parts, accessories, related tools, & almost completely unrelated items showed up at my mail drop (oddly, after some $$ mysteriously disappeared from my bank ...weird):

View attachment 3969339

What was your source for the chrome inserts?

 

[Nocturnal]

One of the few tolerable Streisand films (JMO). Madeline Kahn was always great. I saw that movie on one of my first dates.

I find Streisand totally unbearable except for that movie. And Madeline was great in so many things!

I think it’s the only Ryan O’Neal movie I like.

It does help if you like a bit of slapstick humour and general silliness

Only one of his movies I cared for as well. It is a fun movie.

 

[GBassNorth]

I can't go there! But he knows how to do normal OK. Since he's lived in Ky more than CA (I think), he will be well respected. Shoot, he likely has some respect left over from when he did live here! He's a class act and will do just fine.

Glad I read before posting. My typo was along the lines of: He's a a$$ act and will do just fine. Nothing could be further from the truth! About the a$$ part.

You my friend are way too kind! The world needs more people like you, looking for the good in everyone. I'm not so sure I deserve "class act" status, but I was known for Acting up a lot In Class - LOL. You're certainly spot on in regards to where I go I'll be just fine. I do promise, if I end up back in KY we'll get together for a nice dinner on me and hopefully many garage jam sessions to follow. Until that day, stay safe and God bless.

 

[GonePlaid]

Which is why I kinda find it funny that @GonePlaid seems Reverse-averse when they have a shorter reach and thinner neck.

My NR is 1 1/2" at the nut. Never had a problem with reach even though I don't have Gorilla arms. Thankfully, not T-Rex arms either. From the time I got it, switching from a Gibby EB-3(shorty), I always slung it pretty low with the neck at around a 40 degree angle.

 

[KaraQ]

What was your source for the chrome inserts?

An eBay seller who had leftovers from installing an aftermarket bridge

 

[BklynKen]

My NR is 1 1/2" at the nut. Never had a problem with reach even though I don't have Gorilla arms. Thankfully, not T-Rex arms either. From the time I got it, switching from a Gibby EB-3(shorty), I always slung it pretty low with the neck at around a 40 degree angle.

I hear you. I meant thinner front to back. But I'm sure you're so used to the NR neck that a thinner R might feel TOO thin.

 

[GBassNorth]

I like the term neck agnostic. I will be using that.

I don't have any 1.75" necks, but I do have 1.63" and 1.5" With varying thicknesses. I like all of them for their own reasons and have no trouble adapting from one to another.

We need to start a neck agnostic club! I play 4 string and 5 string and SS and long scale and pencil necks and aircraft carrier landing decks. I seriously don't give any of them a second thought. Some are easier to play than others, and some I can play faster on but I've never thought I can't play that. Fortunately I've never been afflicted with any poor ergonomic induced pain or other health related issues driven by neck size. I did have a torn rotator cup that made it difficult to reach certain positions, but that was temporary and not driven by neck size.

Some more Thunderbird parts, accessories, related tools, & almost completely unrelated items showed up at my mail drop (oddly, after some $$ mysteriously disappeared from my bank ...weird):

View attachment 3969339

You are such an inspiration when it comes to getting off my butt and diving into some of the bass projects I've been kicking around in my head for quite some time. Please keep the progress photos coming, they are beginning to motivate me into getting off the couch.

Considering favored pu on a two pu bass - I approach each situation it will be used in independently. The way a bass sounds recorded and/or live in a particular space will dictate adjusting/dialing in and how whichever particular bass is chosen. As no two basses will sound the same with the same adjustments/settings - the recording situation/room/engineer, the live space/situation (packed room, open space, low/high ceiling etc) will dictate (for me) how to achieve the sound/tone I want on the bass I chose to play. Needless to say, the amp and signal-chain chosen also adds adjustment capability. Personally I like both hum-buckers & single-coils, and both dual pu basses and single pu basses. For what it's worth, I also like both maple and rosewood/ebony fb necks, and walnut, mahogany and wedge necks. I also like both wide-nut necks and narrow nut necks. Add to that any fret number (20/22/24) and a few different neck profiles. Same with body woods - I like alder, mahogany, ash, and maple. And scale - 30"/32" and 34" are all good.

When I only had my '63 II (over 40 years ago), I was pretty bias against playing any other bass. (plus I couldn't afford another bass anyway!) After years of playing/owning all sorts of basses - it has allowed me to be open to more than one-way. Nearly impossible to 'rate' them numerically - and don't feel a need to anyway. Each different bass I play inspires me to play differently. Keeps me fresh and engaged as a player.

Many excellent points in that post!

I find Streisand totally unbearable except for that movie. And Madeline was great in so many things!



Only one of his movies I cared for as well. It is a fun movie.

Good to hear since Barbara Stristand is pretty much on my no watch list. Love Madeline though. I'll give it a try.