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Thunderbird Club

#169,561
GBassNorth said:
LOL - of course I love my TBirds!

However, I still find an occasional minute or two to play my P basses. To my ears they are a close cousin to the sweet sound of a bird, just a bit more domesticated. And my Spectors with their active Humbucker goodness. And my Warwick's for their grit and growl in a snarling exaggerated Eppi VP kind of way. And my Alembics for their beauty and craftsmanship and grand piano tone quality. Even my lowly little Dano gets some occasional love for just being itself and not sounding or looking quite like anything else.

Alas, there is a red headed step child, one that gets little to no attention, one that is looked down upon and shunned - my Jazz basses. Since I started playing Thunderbirds I've only strapped on a Jazz a few times and every single time the same thing happens - halfway through the song I shake my head, the pause button is hit, the Jazz comes off, a Bird takes its place and the music resumes with a smile.
Click to expand...

Are we doing Fender Friday this week? might be against the rules.
 
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#169,562
GBassNorth said:
I loved my job but now that I'm retired (Jan 2013) I'm enjoying the new lifestyle just as much.
The biggest adjustment for me was going from large paychecks and no time to enjoy them, to having plenty of time but less available money. The good news is I now have as much time as I want to play the bass and plenty of great Thunderbird and other basses to play.
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You’re my hero. I can’t wait. Acquiring while the pay is good. Playing Thunderbirds and fly fishing will be my new job.
 
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#169,563
GBassNorth said:
LOL - of course I love my TBirds!

However, I still find an occasional minute or two to play my P basses. To my ears they are a close cousin to the sweet sound of a bird, just a bit more domesticated. And my Spectors with their active Humbucker goodness. And my Warwick's for their grit and growl in a snarling exaggerated Eppi VP kind of way. And my Alembics for their beauty and craftsmanship and grand piano tone quality. Even my lowly little Dano gets some occasional love for just being itself and not sounding or looking quite like anything else.

Alas, there is a red headed step child, one that gets little to no attention, one that is looked down upon and shunned - my Jazz basses. Since I started playing Thunderbirds I've only strapped on a Jazz a few times and every single time the same thing happens - halfway through the song I shake my head, the pause button is hit, the Jazz comes off, a Bird takes its place and the music resumes with a smile.
Click to expand...
This is my only “jazz” bass. And sounds a lot better IMO.
F20851F4-4A0E-48FA-BEA0-5156F9A73EF1.jpeg

I do appreciate a nice P bass.
 
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#169,564
PillO said:
Those humidifiers attached to the furnace are just mold growing machines.
Click to expand...
That is a potential problem. Usually the result of setting it too high or running it when not needed (or poor air flow). They have to be finessed to some extent as they are not "set it a forget" systems. At least not initially. Once you figure out the sweet spot mine never required much attention. I've had two and never had any problems. The last was nicely advanced over the first and had a significant filtration system for the water.
 
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#169,567
GBassNorth said:
LOL - of course I love my TBirds!

However, I still find an occasional minute or two to play my P basses. To my ears they are a close cousin to the sweet sound of a bird, just a bit more domesticated. And my Spectors with their active Humbucker goodness. And my Warwick's for their grit and growl in a snarling exaggerated Eppi VP kind of way. And my Alembics for their beauty and craftsmanship and grand piano tone quality. Even my lowly little Dano gets some occasional love for just being itself and not sounding or looking quite like anything else.

Alas, there is a red headed step child, one that gets little to no attention, one that is looked down upon and shunned - my Jazz basses. Since I started playing Thunderbirds I've only strapped on a Jazz a few times and every single time the same thing happens - halfway through the song I shake my head, the pause button is hit, the Jazz comes off, a Bird takes its place and the music resumes with a smile.
Click to expand...
This tends to be what happens when I play either one of my Jazzes. And they are nice basses. I've been ruined--or cured!
 
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#169,570
Playing a Bird is (for me) an experience that navigates in muddy waters somewhere between primal, mystical and authentical emotions. I feel like a different bassist when I stap a Bird on. I have a small collection, only 4 other basses and I enjoy playing them very much. Everytime I use one of those, I always end up thinking Yeah, but I could play the TBird on this song, which is true for 95% of what I play (don't have a Hipshot XTender yet on the Bird):
  • Fender American Special Jazz, my 1st quality bass and acquired in special circumstances, so that instrument is very close to my heart;
  • Fender Aerodyne Jazz, a great sounding instrument so easy to play;
  • SBMM Ray24ca, my 1st active bass, which has the same qualities as the Aerodyne, with a different sound;
  • Yamaha BB734A, which I'm still getting accustomed to.

But somehow, when I play the TBird, I feel the empowerment of Ghosts of Bassists Past draping over me (I know how that must sound...), which is a feeling I'm not getting when playing the other instruments. Inexplicable and sooooo gratifying.
 
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#169,575
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#169,579
Bassmike62 said:
Playing a Bird is (for me) an experience that navigates in muddy waters somewhere between primal, mystical and authentical emotions. I feel like a different bassist when I stap a Bird on. I have a small collection, only 4 other basses and I enjoy playing them very much. Everytime I use one of those, I always end up thinking Yeah, but I could play the TBird on this song, which is true for 95% of what I play (don't have a Hipshot XTender yet on the Bird):
  • Fender American Special Jazz, my 1st quality bass and acquired in special circumstances, so that instrument is very close to my heart;
  • Fender Aerodyne Jazz, a great sounding instrument so easy to play;
  • SBMM Ray24ca, my 1st active bass, which has the same qualities as the Aerodyne, with a different sound;
  • Yamaha BB734A, which I'm still getting accustomed to.

But somehow, when I play the TBird, I feel the empowerment of Ghosts of Bassists Past draping over me (I know how that must sound...), which is a feeling I'm not getting when playing the other instruments. Inexplicable and sooooo gratifying.
Click to expand...
I certainly don't play any better when I'm using a Thunderbird, but I sure do sound better!

I like all my basses, but often after playing Thunderbirds, I find I'm thinking while playing, "This doesn't sound as good as the Thunderbird last week." I love taking another loved bass, but there is something that is less satisfying when I do. When I'm playing one of the Thunderbirds, I'm never thinking, "This could sound."
 
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