Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

Related: this amazing NPR interview with Jerry Springer. He was once mayor of Cincinnati.

Talk Show Host Jerry Springer Plays Not My Job

(At a bar) I (with some like-minded individuals) once did the math around Jerry Springer.

For some reason, the bar was showing the Jerry Springer show on the TV above the bar. The question came up; given the low socio-economic status of the guests, how long could the show run before running out of new (never seen before) guests?

With a few modest assumptions - 200 shows a year, each show showcases a similar parenting problem" in 3 families, average age of first child 18 y.o. average number of children 3 etc... As long as the proportion of the US population that fits that socio-economic status is equal to or greater than 2%, the show can continue indefinitely.

 

[GonePlaid]

(At a bar) I (with some like-minded individuals) once did the math around Jerry Springer.

For some reason, the bar was showing the Jerry Springer show on the TV above the bar. The question came up; given the low socio-economic status of the guests, how long could the show run before running out of new (never seen before) guests?

With a few modest assumptions - 200 shows a year, each show showcases a similar parenting problem" in 3 families, average age of first child 18 y.o. average number of children 3 etc... As long as the proportion of the US population that fits that socio-economic status is equal to or greater than 2%, the show can continue indefinitely.

They do(or did)have "ringers".

 

[GBassNorth]

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

Here's where I got my pickguard with the TBird logo engraved in it. Perfect fit.
Items for sale by overstocktoys | eBay
I don't see any new ones listed in his store but if you contact him he might be able to tell you if he has another batch coming.

 

[MCF]

So I’ve had the little Tbird I bought from brother @Kriegs for two weeks now. Could not ask for an easier seller to work with. Here was his post when he first got it.

Lucked into this short scale beauty! The re-fin was due to the original owner having carved X's into the body (attempting to make it look like a Nikki Sixx model?) and then, later, attempting to sand them out. The guy I got it from had the top professionally sanded, prepped and finished in a beautiful silverburst by Noll Guitars in Cranston, RI. I can't get the camera to pick up the beautiful job they did on the re-fin. You'll just have to take my word for it
I really like the matching accent stripe that they did on the 'blade' of the headstock The back of the bass was untouched in the re-fin process but has so damages, dings or even buckle rash. It's as clean as a whistle!

View attachment 3526203


View attachment 3526204


On a side note, does anyone happen to know what flats these are? I've found several that have light blue silks but none, that I saw, list the red white & blue ball ends.

View attachment 3526205

View attachment 3526207

It’s wonderful. All I did when I got it was tighten the TR about 3/8 of a turn, lower the action a touch, polish the frets and oil the FB.

The size is perfect for sitting on the couch and playing. The shorter length makes it easy to maneuver. Big difference from my VP. The 30.5 scale is a noticeably shorter reach, but the bridge placement is further from the bottom so it doesn’t feel “squished.”

I haven’t been able to A/B it with the NR, my other bird with Tbird+ pickups, but they sound pretty similar. This one is wearing DA XL nickels which sound good. It’s a set neck, has the solid Grovers and a perfectly fine for now stock 3-point. I haven’t decided what strap I’ll use; the Italia I have on it now is great. I’m going to try my Slingshot on it next. It balances perfectly.

Visually, it took a few days to get used to the narrow headstock. But I like it a lot and the Silver adds a nice look. The refinished top really is well done. The neck has a 1.6 Corian nut and barely widens to the bottom. It is really fast and comfortable. The frets are impeccable. And the rosewood is nice and dark the way I prefer it.

Gibson made 400 of these in 2011 so they’re pretty rare birds. Too bad there aren’t more. It’s a great alternative to the ubiquitous Mustangs that seem to be everywhere.

Highly recommended for anyone who also plays shorties. I love it.

 

[WSquires]

Thanks for the warm response, everyone. It's going to make a great recording bass when I hit the studio with my band! It most certainly is a player bass, but that's how I like 'em!

Here's where I got my pickguard with the TBird logo engraved in it. Perfect fit.
Items for sale by overstocktoys | eBay
I don't see any new ones listed in his store but if you contact him he might be able to tell you if he has another batch coming.

Thank you for sharing! I'll reach out to them and see what my options are.
I'm not sure if my guitarist would want an engraved guard though. Just so I know what options are available, is there anyone who makes repro guards with the logo lacquered over? (I'm assuming that's what Gibson does but I'm not sure). I'm thinking about getting him this as a gift for servicing my B15N at a very reasonable friend rate and if I could I would buy an authentic Gibson pickguard.

 

[dagrev]

Major PB envy here. Beautiful!

Is that not in the running for one of the best looking Thunderbirds ever? That gorgeous PB and shiny chrome?

Gibson made/makes Firebirds (and others) in PB and were amazing looking. I don't get how someone at Gibson didn't think a few of those would sell like hotcakes. I know the experts who went to business school may not have made that observation, but any player would have.

 

[Instagator]

Just a pic from the days when we played gigs..it will happen again.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

If I'm not the first one to mention this, I'm sorry but...


Apparently Gene got his sense back in order. Maybe there will be a signature model Grabber too?

can’t watch GS without laughing....sorry, don’t mean to offend anyone but........

 

[D.M.N.]

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

Is that the one out of Oregon?

Edit: Duh, read the rest! Damn it, I was about to buy that one and then it disappeared and I never heard back from the seller!

can’t watch GS without laughing....sorry, don’t mean to offend anyone but........

I can't listen to that Trogly guy for more than 30 seconds, he annoys the piss out of me, Gene's soothing by comparison!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Is that the one out of Oregon?

Edit: Duh, read the rest! Damn it, I was about to buy that one and then it disappeared and I never heard back from the seller!



I can't listen to that Trogly guy for more than 30 seconds, he annoys the piss out of me, Gene's soothing by comparison!

probably intentional..

 

[Basvarken]

Not exactly a Thunderbird. But it does have some Tbird DNA

I call it the Thundervee.
It's 34" scale. Korina neck through.
Humbuckers wired in series!

 

[kringle77]

So I’ve had the little Tbird I bought from brother @Kriegs for two weeks now. Could not ask for an easier seller to work with. Here was his post when he first got it.

It’s wonderful. All I did when I got it was tighten the TR about 3/8 of a turn, lower the action a touch, polish the frets and oil the FB.

The size is perfect for sitting on the couch and playing. The shorter length makes it easy to maneuver. Big difference from my VP. The 30.5 scale is a noticeably shorter reach, but the bridge placement is further from the bottom so it doesn’t feel “squished.”

I haven’t been able to A/B it with the NR, my other bird with Tbird+ pickups, but they sound pretty similar. This one is wearing DA XL nickels which sound good. It’s a set neck, has the solid Grovers and a perfectly fine for now stock 3-point. I haven’t decided what strap I’ll use; the Italia I have on it now is great. I’m going to try my Slingshot on it next. It balances perfectly.

Visually, it took a few days to get used to the narrow headstock. But I like it a lot and the Silver adds a nice look. The refinished top really is well done. The neck has a 1.6 Corian nut and barely widens to the bottom. It is really fast and comfortable. The frets are impeccable. And the rosewood is nice and dark the way I prefer it.

Gibson made 400 of these in 2011 so they’re pretty rare birds. Too bad there aren’t more. It’s a great alternative to the ubiquitous Mustangs that seem to be everywhere.

Highly recommended for anyone who also plays shorties. I love it.
View attachment 4121385

I had a shorty for a little while and loved it. Really fun to play, sounds like a big bird and NO NECK DIVE!!! I only sold it because I only use my birds tunes down a whole step and the shorter scale wasn’t so great for that. Ymmv

 

[MCF]

I had a shorty for a little while and loved it. Really fun to play, sounds like a big bird and NO NECK DIVE!!! I only sold it because I only use my birds tunes down a whole step and the shorter scale wasn’t so great for that. Ymmv

I can see it might get a bit floppy. The pickup placement is pretty spot on relative to the neck and bridge for great sound. I like to play a lot of McVie stuff, and I’m loving how it sounds on those.

 

[StephnG]

Not exactly a Thunderbird. But it does have some Tbird DNA

I call it the Thundervee.
It's 34" scale. Korina neck through.
Humbuckers wired in series!

SWEET

 

[Nocturnal]

Not exactly a Thunderbird. But it does have some Tbird DNA

I call it the Thundervee.
It's 34" scale. Korina neck through.
Humbuckers wired in series!

Fantastic!!!

 

[Nocturnal]

Not exactly a Thunderbird. But it does have some Tbird DNA

I call it the Thundervee.
It's 34" scale. Korina neck through.
Humbuckers wired in series!

Fantastic!!!

 

[Bulltrout]

Not exactly a Thunderbird. But it does have some Tbird DNA

I call it the Thundervee.
It's 34" scale. Korina neck through.
Humbuckers wired in series!

That's erotic.

 

[kringle77]

I can see it might get a bit floppy. The pickup placement is pretty spot on relative to the neck and bridge for great sound. I like to play a lot of McVie stuff, and I’m loving how it sounds on those.

The short scale design is what got me interested in trying a Gibson thunderbird studio. The gene Simmons model looks like an even nicer version but, I’ll wait to see what Gibson releases this year before laying down any cash.

 

[RexxRokket]

Birdie day!

 

[MCF]

Birdie day!

I love the way you play that. You’re an inspiration for me to work hard to get better. Thanks for posting this.