Thunderbird Club

[TBird1958]

I have been on the lookout for one, trying not to buy at the moment ( having limited success with that). The Epi Vintage Pros have sort of quelled my desire to buy reverse birds but your raving about the Greco has not gone unnoticed.

Knowing that you prefer a single pickup bass I would limit your search to one of those, it's probably not a going to be a popular opinion with everyone but in a direct comparison of the Greco vs. the VP for tone - The Greco just kills, there's way more sound going on, lots more bass and this angry growl that's irresistible.

 

[Nocturnal]

We've got some Hamer players here... Any of you guys know what to use for adjusting a truss rod to an '83 Hamer Cruisebass? Looks like a nut hunkered down in a narrow channel- I'm guessing a thin wall socket on a long handle, or similar?

One of mine came with a small socket/adjustment tool like Gibson uses. It is a thin socket type but not sure the size. I can try to look later but most of my basses are stored at the moment. I might still have one of the Hamer's here but not sure.

 

[MCF]

I have been on the lookout for one, trying not to buy at the moment ( having limited success with that). The Epi Vintage Pros have sort of quelled my desire to buy reverse birds but your raving about the Greco has not gone unnoticed.

Enablers. The whole lot of them (including me). I’m trying to save for an amp purchase and everyday there’s a distraction. I guess I could just go on a sabbatical from here, but that’s no fun.

 

[Count Bassie]

Enablers. The whole lot of them (including me). I’m trying to save for an amp purchase and everyday there’s a distraction. I guess I could just go on a sabbatical from here, but that’s no fun.

Come on, be strong, Scott!

 

[godofthunder59]

Enablers. The whole lot of them (including me). I’m trying to save for an amp purchase and everyday there’s a distraction. I guess I could just go on a sabbatical from here, but that’s no fun.

Typically I am the one doing the enabling, my just reward I'm sure.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

If it helps, here's the tail on my '77 Greco...
View attachment 4034460

it does, thx G. like mine but with a chrome vs a “bare” polished look. mine doesn’t have the s/n in the back of the headstock, also it seems like a much darker sunburst and P type knobs....starting to think it may have been refinished......wonder if these suffer from the flying headstock syndrome like the originals...although pretty wide at the nut the neck is still pretty slim and has no volute....... oh and TT!...

 

[dagrev]

Knowing that you prefer a single pickup bass I would limit your search to one of those, it's probably not a going to be a popular opinion with everyone but in a direct comparison of the Greco vs. the VP for tone - The Greco just kills, there's way more sound going on, lots more bass and this angry growl that's irresistible.

Could you please stop with words of further temptation? Pics aren't enough and now you have to use words too?

 

[TBird1958]

Could you please stop with words of further temptation? Pics aren't enough and now you have to use words too?

Video is next.........Just give in

 

[D.M.N.]

what year is that? mine (80) doesn’t have the holes for the bridge cover and although the pup covers and bridge are shiny smooth, the claw and rings are finished in this matte polished look. is there a way to tell the year by the s/n on these?

Yes, Greco serial numbers are actually pretty simple. The letter in the first position is the month (A-L, Jan-Dec), and then the following two numbers are the year. Mine is G788249, so July '78.

Link Removed

Mine didn't have that nice logo cloth, just a very vibrant orange fuzzy fabric case of lighter construction than a Gibson. My bass is otherwise just like yours SN J778148

October '77

Mine is G777282. The case looks the same as yours. I have all the original case candy including a Greco brand leather strap, a plush cloth sack to put the bass in, an instruction guide and all the standard tools.

As for the serial number - I'd guess the first two numbers are the year 1977, the next number might be the month (July for mine and August for yours), and the last three numbers might be the sequential number of units made. Not sure if they made these things in more than one factory, but the first letter might be a factory designation.

July '77

 

[GBassNorth]

Knowing that you prefer a single pickup bass I would limit your search to one of those, it's probably not a going to be a popular opinion with everyone but in a direct comparison of the Greco vs. the VP for tone - The Greco just kills, there's way more sound going on, lots more bass and this angry growl that's irresistible.

I have both the Greco and VP and concur.

 

[MCF]

Knowing that you prefer a single pickup bass I would limit your search to one of those, it's probably not a going to be a popular opinion with everyone but in a direct comparison of the Greco vs. the VP for tone - The Greco just kills, there's way more sound going on, lots more bass and this angry growl that's irresistible.

Greco PUPs vs. Thunderbuckers vs. Lulls?

 

[TBird1958]

Happy Thursday......These showed up in my FB feed today. 11 years ago.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I have both the Greco and VP and concur.

happy I didn’t get the VP to quench the desire for a reverse although it did cross my mind..
how do they compare feel wise? thought the Greco was going to be similar to a bicen but as the queen said; couldn’t be further apart..

 

[GBassNorth]

happy I didn’t get the VP to quench the desire for a reverse although it did cross my mind..
how do they compare feel wise? thought the Greco was going to be similar to a bicen but as the queen said; couldn’t be further apart..

Interesting question.

Off the top of my head, going by memory and without sitting down in front of the two basses - I'd say the VP is built better, it has a much better bridge, is neck through, but otherwise generally feels and plays about the same as the Greco at about 1/3 less cost. The Greco neck is nice, slightly shorter scale, more roll on the fretboard edges, but really doesn't make a noticeable difference to me when playing.

Eppi made a home run when they released the VP. The Greco by comparison is more of a grand slam, completely because of the beyond phenomenal pickups. So at the end of the day, both basses hit a homer but the Greco does it with the basses loaded.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Interesting question.

Off the top of my head, going by memory and without sitting down in front of the two basses - I'd say the VP is built better, it has a much better bridge, is neck through, but otherwise generally feels and plays about the same as the Greco at about 1/3 less cost. The Greco neck is nice, slightly shorter scale, more roll on the fretboard edges, but really doesn't make a noticeable difference to me when playing.

Eppi made a home run when they released the VP. The Greco by comparison is more of a grand slam, completely because of the beyond phenomenal pickups. So at the end of the day, both basses hit a homer but the Greco does it with the basses loaded.

 

[GBassNorth]

Happy Thursday......These showed up in my FB feed today. 11 years ago.
View attachment 4034899
View attachment 4034900

Nice 8 string NR. I don't recall seeing that one in your thunderbird family photo shoots.

 

[TBird1958]

Nice 8 string NR. I don't recall seeing that one in your thunderbird family photo shoots.

Jeff Ament owns it now..........Getting it back is a goal.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Jeff Ament owns it now..........Getting it back is a goal.

You play better than Jeff anyway...

 

[D.M.N.]

Jeff Ament owns it now..........Getting it back is a goal.

I've been trying to figure out how to get it from him for years now...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

the nothingness of the Central Valley...,

 

[GBassNorth]

Jeff Ament owns it now..........Getting it back is a goal.

Here's your chance...