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Thunderbird Club

Great, I can be the second member in two clubs now!

I think I get #2 in the idiot club.

I’m number one I’m number one!!!

you guys are killing me......so much so, I feel a sense of belonging... can I be #3?..

HEY! I resemble that remark.
We’re all bozos on this bus.

Looks like numbers one, two and three are taken, so count me in as member "A" in the idiot club.
BTW in these times of COVID worries I'm practicing good hygiene, I'm no longer licking the windows of this bozo bus, at least until I get vaccinated.
 
No affiliation but there's a nice uncommon Thunderbird (not Firebird) in the bay at a very nice price...
Epiphone Firebird Charcoal Gray Burst Bass Guitar 4 String NICE NoReserve | eBay

:)Not to mention this little sweety on Reverb...
Epiphone Thunderbird Bass - Rare Pelham Blue - ca. 2007 | Chiltone Soundworks | Reverb

:rollno:Then there's this...
Gibson Thunderbird 50th Anniversary 2013 Bullion Gold | GuitarPoint GmbH | Reverb
I could have bought three of mine for that price and still had change left over.
 
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No affiliation but there's a nice uncommon Thunderbird (not Firebird) in the bay at a very nice price...
Epiphone Firebird Charcoal Gray Burst Bass Guitar 4 String NICE NoReserve | eBay

:)Not to mention this little sweety on Reverb...
Epiphone Thunderbird Bass - Rare Pelham Blue - ca. 2007 | Chiltone Soundworks | Reverb

:rollno:Then there's this...
Gibson Thunderbird 50th Anniversary 2013 Bullion Gold | GuitarPoint GmbH | Reverb
I could have bought three of mine for that price and still had change left over.
As an owner of both of those LE Custom Shop Epi models, I can say they’re great Thunderbirds. The Silverburst is fairly priced, IMO. The ask on the PB is what I paid for mine with case in 2019, so it’s a bit high, but not out of line.
 
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Hey guys. I’m sorry to rehash something I know has been asked and beaten to death, but hand me the club.

looking at aftermarket T-Bird pickups for a USA Gibson Bird to get a bit more high end and definition. The ThunderBuckers get lots of love here, and the clips on the YT sound really good.

I’m also looking at Lollar, I have a set of J pickups in my Nash and they are incredible.

are either of these straight drop in replacements for the standard Gibson size? Do they need some kind of spacer underneath, or would some pickup foam work fine?
 
Hey guys. I’m sorry to rehash something I know has been asked and beaten to death, but hand me the club.

looking at aftermarket T-Bird pickups for a USA Gibson Bird to get a bit more high end and definition. The ThunderBuckers get lots of love here, and the clips on the YT sound really good.

I’m also looking at Lollar, I have a set of J pickups in my Nash and they are incredible.

are either of these straight drop in replacements for the standard Gibson size? Do they need some kind of spacer underneath, or would some pickup foam work fine?
What strings are you using? I get plenty of high end definition with stainless steel rounds and the stock TB+ pickups.
 
Hey guys. I’m sorry to rehash something I know has been asked and beaten to death, but hand me the club.

looking at aftermarket T-Bird pickups for a USA Gibson Bird to get a bit more high end and definition. The ThunderBuckers get lots of love here, and the clips on the YT sound really good.

I’m also looking at Lollar, I have a set of J pickups in my Nash and they are incredible.

are either of these straight drop in replacements for the standard Gibson size? Do they need some kind of spacer underneath, or would some pickup foam work fine?
Also, how close are your pickups to the strings? Try raising them really close. It'll make a huge difference. I forgot just how much until I got another a week or two ago and had to set it up for myself.
 
Hey everyone!

Longtime member/lurker of the club. I just recently picked up my first Gibson bass - a 1977 Bicentennial Thunderbird refinished in Pelham Blue. I bought it off a delightful seller from Portland, OR, and am blown away by how it sounds. I've played a few modern thunderbirds over the years and it shocks me that they Gibson doesn't make ones like these any more.
PXL_20210109_183309346.jpg


Quick question for the group:
The guitarist in my band owns a black 2004 Gibson Thunderbird. The previous owner swapped out the white pickguard for a black one. I know he'd love to have a white pickguard with the bird decal on it. Can anyone point me in the right direction to get one?

Thank you for your time, folks :D
 
Hey everyone!

Longtime member/lurker of the club. I just recently picked up my first Gibson bass - a 1977 Bicentennial Thunderbird refinished in Pelham Blue. I bought it off a delightful seller from Portland, OR, and am blown away by how it sounds. I've played a few modern thunderbirds over the years and it shocks me that they Gibson doesn't make ones like these any more.
View attachment 4121102

Quick question for the group:
The guitarist in my band owns a black 2004 Gibson Thunderbird. The previous owner swapped out the white pickguard for a black one. I know he'd love to have a white pickguard with the bird decal on it. Can anyone point me in the right direction to get one?

Thank you for your time, folks :D
I don't know what you paid for that Bicentennial, but it wasn't enough. It's beautiful. Not to mention the sweet Greco next to it.
I purchased a black pickguard for one of my birds from an eBay seller in China a while ago. Fit was perfect and quality was very good, even had the correct logo on it. Last I looked he didn't have any more pickguards in stock but I'll try and find his contact info for you.
 
Hey guys. I’m sorry to rehash something I know has been asked and beaten to death, but hand me the club.

looking at aftermarket T-Bird pickups for a USA Gibson Bird to get a bit more high end and definition. The ThunderBuckers get lots of love here, and the clips on the YT sound really good.

I’m also looking at Lollar, I have a set of J pickups in my Nash and they are incredible.

are either of these straight drop in replacements for the standard Gibson size? Do they need some kind of spacer underneath, or would some pickup foam work fine?

They'll fit the routs no problem at all, but you will need something underneath them, I used some mahogany blocks so the pickup mounting screws had a bit more material to bite into. You'll also need at least one black plastic spacer ring on the bridge pickup, some folks use one the neck and two at the bridge.


Happy to add you to group if you like - just let me know ;)
 
Hey everyone!

Longtime member/lurker of the club. I just recently picked up my first Gibson bass - a 1977 Bicentennial Thunderbird refinished in Pelham Blue. I bought it off a delightful seller from Portland, OR, and am blown away by how it sounds. I've played a few modern thunderbirds over the years and it shocks me that they Gibson doesn't make ones like these any more.
View attachment 4121102

Quick question for the group:
The guitarist in my band owns a black 2004 Gibson Thunderbird. The previous owner swapped out the white pickguard for a black one. I know he'd love to have a white pickguard with the bird decal on it. Can anyone point me in the right direction to get one?

Thank you for your time, folks :D


Lovely refin '76! Both of mine are too, wish Gibson would do more finishes, they offer guitars in everything imaginable - basses not so much.
A huge thumbs up for your Greco Thunderbird II, I have one as well - It's a Sonic Destroyer of entire worlds!
 
Last edited:
Hey everyone!

Longtime member/lurker of the club. I just recently picked up my first Gibson bass - a 1977 Bicentennial Thunderbird refinished in Pelham Blue. I bought it off a delightful seller from Portland, OR, and am blown away by how it sounds. I've played a few modern thunderbirds over the years and it shocks me that they Gibson doesn't make ones like these any more.
View attachment 4121102

Quick question for the group:
The guitarist in my band owns a black 2004 Gibson Thunderbird. The previous owner swapped out the white pickguard for a black one. I know he'd love to have a white pickguard with the bird decal on it. Can anyone point me in the right direction to get one?

Thank you for your time, folks :D
Major PB envy here. Beautiful!
 
Hey everyone!

Longtime member/lurker of the club. I just recently picked up my first Gibson bass - a 1977 Bicentennial Thunderbird refinished in Pelham Blue. I bought it off a delightful seller from Portland, OR, and am blown away by how it sounds. I've played a few modern thunderbirds over the years and it shocks me that they Gibson doesn't make ones like these any more.
View attachment 4121102

Quick question for the group:
The guitarist in my band owns a black 2004 Gibson Thunderbird. The previous owner swapped out the white pickguard for a black one. I know he'd love to have a white pickguard with the bird decal on it. Can anyone point me in the right direction to get one?

Thank you for your time, folks :D
Congrats on the '77. Looks killer! Some don't care for the sound since they are a little different that the original '60s version. But mine sounds very, similar and sounds great. They sound far more like a '60s version than the modern Thunderbirds from Gibson. (I have all versions to compare.)
 

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