Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

Well too rich for my blood. I didn't want to go over $13,000. Maybe next time. But wait. Is that shipped CONUS?

self driving...it shows up..

 

[dagrev]

Well, being Thanksgiving I will follow Canadian tradition. I'll watch Canadian football.

Canadian football is much like American football, except plays are called alternately in French and English and a native land acknowledgement is read for each turn-over.

I'll be watching the Roughriders vs. the Rough-riders. Others will be watching the Rough Riders vs. the RoughRiders.

You're baaaad!

 

[GonePlaid]

Does it have cassette or 8-track?

Cassette-w/ SiriusXM adapter.

 

[dagrev]

The rash is not red. It is a thickening and drying of the skin with some flaking. It is not relieved by moisturizer as it is an immune reaction, but topical steroid application will improve the rash. As the scales get thicker, cracking can occur and lead to bleeding. And with cracked skin, stubborn infections are possible.

I'm allergic to poly-isobutylene - commonly used in adhesives for bandaids and it makes those rubbery pens grippy. If I use one of those rubbery pens for 15-20 minutes, I end up with a rash on my hand. If I use it for a full day, I end up with thick plaques that crack and bleed.

And the stuff is everywhere. Notably, it is used in the plastic in cars - especially steering wheels. I can only buy cars with leather steering wheels.

I've heard of that allergy but fortunately it's not one of my issues. Seems difficult to avoid.

That's the most sophisticated justification for an upper-priced car if I've ever heard one. Have you started the football libations already?

Enjoy your Thanksgiving. Buy yourself another Thunderbird!

 

[PillO]

I've heard of that allergy but fortunately it's not one of my issues. Seems difficult to avoid.

That's the most sophisticated justification for an upper-priced car if I've ever heard one. Have you started the football libations already?

Enjoy your Thanksgiving. Buy yourself another Thunderbird!

I'm mostly kidding about the football. The CFL cancelled the football season this year. But there used to be two teams called the Roughriders...

Drinking will be limited and later.

 

[MCF]

The rash is not red. It is a thickening and drying of the skin with some flaking. It is not relieved by moisturizer as it is an immune reaction, but topical steroid application will improve the rash. As the scales get thicker, cracking can occur and lead to bleeding. And with cracked skin, stubborn infections are possible.

I'm allergic to poly-isobutylene - commonly used in adhesives for bandaids and it makes those rubbery pens grippy. If I use one of those rubbery pens for 15-20 minutes, I end up with a rash on my hand. If I use it for a full day, I end up with thick plaques that crack and bleed.

And the stuff is everywhere. Notably, it is used in the plastic in cars - especially steering wheels. I can only buy cars with leather steering wheels.

Translation: try cortisone cream.

 

[GonePlaid]

Nah. But if it were a vintage Econoline...on second thought...you couldn’t give me either one.

I thought these were cool. Impractical as all get out, but cool. Added factor: in case of an accident, you're the first one on the scene. Wouldn't keep one's 'Bird very secure though, but you could haul a 'fridge standing up.

 

[PillO]

Translation: try cortisone cream.

Pfffft. Cortisone cream is fine for bug bites, but for contact dermatitis, you really want a fluorinated steroid.

 

[dagrev]

I'm mostly kidding about the football. The CFL cancelled the football season this year. But there used to be two teams called the Roughriders...

Drinking will be limited and later.

There's got to be football on some channel. It's football somewhere!

 

[dagrev]

Translation: try cortisone cream.

 

[dagrev]

Pfffft. Cortisone cream is fine for bug bites, but for contact dermatitis, you really want a fluorinated steroid.

Fluorinated sounds more mediciney. More so than eye of knute or gopher gut salve.

 

[MCF]

Fluorinated sounds more mediciney. More so than eye of knute or gopher gut salve.

Just toughen up your hands the way some ball players have said they do it. With a common, readily available substance that is available every couple of hours or so, depending on your fluid intake.

 

[dagrev]

Just toughen up your hands the way some ball players have said they do it. With a common, readily available substance that is available every couple of hours or so, depending on your fluid intake.

I hope that is a myth that a player started to see how many other players would go pee on there hands! After all, we all know based on some wise ancient civilizations that it was a teeth whiter. (No personal experience of application in/on either location.)

 

[GBassNorth]

I decided to have a go at filling the empty strap holes. Not 100% happy with the results yet...I think some color needs added.

Probably black?

Maybe I'll use some of my uv-reactive nail polish...

View attachment 4015063

View attachment 4015064

View attachment 4015065

I'd put a strap lock pin in it. Just because there's a pin there doesn't mean you have to use it. Several of my basses have a superfluous strap pin.

I will urge caution and not solely for princess fingers reason.

Nickel allergy is reasonably widely known. There are many clinical reports of guitar players with nickel allergy being allergic to nickel guitar strings and ending up with a rash primarily on the fretting hand. But few outside of dermatology know that nickel is not the only metal with an allergic population. Chromium and cobalt can similarly cause allergic reactions.

Invalid Link Removed

So, as much as my theory is that the ribbon winding opens ever so slightly causing a micro cheese-grater effect on the fingers, it is also possible that the soreness is a nascent allergic reaction to the cobalt in the string. Such an allergy is unlikely to result in anaphylaxis (but it is possible with prolonged exposure), but could result in a nasty rash that persists for some time. And there is no reason to tempt fate.

View attachment 4015090

Over the weekend I was coming to the same conclusion. I've never had any issues with Cobalt flat roughness, they seem "roughly" as smooth as any of my other flats. But after several days of extended playing on my Goth strung with Cobalts my fretting index finger is a bit sore, never happened before.

I had pretty much chalked it up to one of two things...
1) a potential slight Cobalt allergy. I've never had a metal allergy so the likelihood of that is low but is a real watch out. Once your body becomes sensitized to something it can lead to reactions with other related things that contain trace amounts of what you're allergic to. So I'm keeping a close eye on that one.

2) the current set up of my Goth has the strings about a 32th of an inch higher than my desired action. This combined with what I assume is the relatively high tension of the Cobalt flats means I'm having to press harder and deeper with my fretting hand to hit notes cleanly - thus more concentrated pressure on my finger tips which might be the cause of the discomfort I'm experiencing. I'm currently looking at options to reduce the action to 3/32" or better (measured as open E at the 12th fret). I've done about all the fine tuning with the bridge and truss that I can, so I guess a minor neck shim will be the next move. When I'm ready to do that I'll be asking the club here for advice.

Does anyone know what the tension is on Cobalt Flats and how that compares to La Bella Black Tapes?

I will be mindful as time goes on and watch for any new physical developments. If I weren't so impressed with the sound I'd rip those babies off. But I'll give them some time. I know nickle doesn't bother me, but cobalt? Who knows? I think your description of possible physical and chemical problems areas are very real. They are the only string I play where after a while I notice a soreness that Rotos don't even give. I'm going to suck it up and give them some time.

I've heard that the cobalt rounds are as rough as a string can get. Never will I tempt fate that much.

I especially like this line of advice: Switching to the drums is the last resort, for incurable cases only.

View attachment 4015137

Cobalt Rounds are the only string I have ever used that after installing, tuning and 5 minutes of playing I had a pile of brass dust at the nut. Insanely agressive surface strings that could easily make a refret necessary in very short order.

On fleabay-not mine: 2012 Gibson non-reverse Thunderbird Bass Guitar, excellent condition, case candy | eBay

Nice at half the price. I've noticed the same insanity on the Gold Anniversary birds as well. $2500+ for something I paid about a thousand for just a couple of years ago. I'd buy that Gibby NR at $1200 or less including shipping, but wouldn't even bother to insult him with my offer. GLWTS

Last before this one was the local sale only one on here that stuck around for months because the seller didn’t want to ship. I think that $2500 + shipping ask is, uh, call it very aspirational.

Exactly.

 

[BklynKen]

Does it have cassette or 8-track?

Turntable.

 

[GonePlaid]

Turntable.

No, that's at the railroad yard.

 

[MCF]

I'd put a strap lock pin in it. Just because there's a pin there doesn't mean you have to use it. Several of my basses have a superfluous strap pin.


Over the weekend I was coming to the same conclusion. I've never had any issues with Cobalt flat roughness, they seem "roughly" as smooth as any of my other flats. But after several days of extended playing on my Goth strung with Cobalts my fretting index finger is a bit sore, never happened before.

I had pretty much chalked it up to one of two things...
1) a potential slight Cobalt allergy. I've never had a metal allergy so the likelihood of that is low but is a real watch out. Once your body becomes sensitized to something it can lead to reactions with other related things that contain trace amounts of what you're allergic to. So I'm keeping a close eye on that one.

2) the current set up of my Goth has the strings about a 32th of an inch higher than my desired action. This combined with what I assume is the relatively high tension of the Cobalt flats means I'm having to press harder and deeper with my fretting hand to hit notes cleanly - thus more concentrated pressure on my finger tips which might be the cause of the discomfort I'm experiencing. I'm currently looking at options to reduce the action to 3/32" or better (measured as open E at the 12th fret). I've done about all the fine tuning with the bridge and truss that I can, so I guess a minor neck shim will be the next move. When I'm ready to do that I'll be asking the club here for advice.

Does anyone know what the tension is on Cobalt Flats and how that compares to La Bella Black Tapes?


Cobalt Rounds are the only string I have ever used that after installing, tuning and 5 minutes of playing I had a pile of brass dust at the nut. Insanely agressive surface strings that could easily make a refret necessary in very short order.


Nice at half the price. I've noticed the same insanity on the Gold Anniversary birds as well. $2500+ for something I paid about a thousand for just a couple of years ago. I'd buy that Gibby NR at $1200 or less including shipping, but wouldn't even bother to insult him with my offer. GLWTS


Exactly.

Save yourself time and aggravation. Just get the pre-drilled, shaped shims from these guys (who I usually don’t buy from because of price - on principle more than anything). But these are your solution.
StewMac Neck Shims for Bass | stewmac.com

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Nah. But if it were a vintage Econoline...on second thought...you couldn’t give me either one.

I would happily take another '66 E100. I miss that beast.

 

[RedVee]

Apologies for the large picture, but it is hard to see with smaller images. Here is an example of what allergy would look like on the fingertips.
View attachment 4015149

I have that on my feet. Am I doing something wrong ?

 

[JJR58]

So it's obvious i've missed a lot here. I lack the supreme motivation to even try to try, to catch up.
Vince recently sent me a text about something to do with Epi making an NR.
Has something to do with a bass player working with Gibson on the idea.
But in my traditional manner. i accidentally deleted that text.

Anyone here know, or have heard about this?