Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

When I started framing/carpentry, we didn’t wear hearing protection, hard hats, steel toed boots...

Was gonna say- small factory and a saw sharpening shop were pretty rough on the ears.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Hey @Miles_ONeal !

We are supposed to be getting a snow storm tonight that made it's way from Texas. 30cm of snow (~12" or 1'). Bad enough you knock your own power grid out by icing up your windmills, but then you send the bad weather here.

So I am just going to go ahead and blame you for the snow for the next 12 hours or so.

i’ll take my 12 hours of sh... fame!

 

[Nocturnal]

Has there been any consensus on what gig bags work for tbirds? I made a Sandberg 48, fenderbird thing and bought an epi explorer case and am regretting the purchase big time.

I'm starting to think a gig bag might be the thing to do. The bass is 49.5" long. Any help is appreciated. I did some searching but wasn't able to ascertain if there was a viable bag option.

I use this case with some of my Birds. Its long enough for your bass. How about some pics of the bass?

https://www.amazon.com/Explorer-Bas...4ea66&pd_rd_wg=5afKh&pd_rd_i=B003ENJ2H2&psc=1

 

[GBassNorth]

I saw one at a Music-go-round here once. Seriously considered it. You know what they say about a fool and his money are soon parted. Or a fool doesn't walk our with a Sunn is a fool.

On an unrelated note, was just on the phone with a friend in Louisville KY and he said they just got some major snow (I think he said over a foot). Sounds like some serious white stuff for the central part of Kentucky. Not nearly as much snow removal equipment as up north and plenty of winding roads and steep hills. Stay safe brother.

 

[Blenin]

My Mike Lull reverse headstock non reverse

 

[LostJohnny]

New Thunderbird Day! I've had the IV for a while and just got the Vintage Pro today. Obviously I don't have any observations that haven't been made before, but it's interesting to see the differences - the longer, flatter headstock on the VP (although this photo exaggerates the difference a bit), narrower nut on the VP, belly cut on the VP, jack moved from top to side. And there are various little things, like the "shoulder" on the VP being more sloped than on the IV, and the body edges being slightly more rounded. Also note that the relative positions of pickguard, pickups, and knobs are slightly different. No question that the VP feels a little more alive and resonant too! I haven't weighed it, but I think it might actually weigh less than the IV.

The VP has flats on it, which is new for me, since I've been otherwise strictly a roundwound player. I thought I'd hate them, but they're not bad.

And the "Coffin Case" for basses fits it very well: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/coffin-case-bass-guitar-coffin-case

 

[Miles_ONeal]

New Thunderbird Day! I've had the IV for a while and just got the Vintage Pro today. Obviously I don't have any observations that haven't been made before, but it's interesting to see the differences - the longer, flatter headstock on the VP (although this photo exaggerates the difference a bit), narrower nut on the VP, belly cut on the VP, jack moved from top to side. And there are various little things, like the "shoulder" on the VP being more sloped than on the IV, and the body edges being slightly more rounded. Also note that the relative positions of pickguard, pickups, and knobs are slightly different. No question that the VP feels a little more alive and resonant too! I haven't weighed it, but I think it might actually weigh less than the IV.

The VP has flats on it, which is new for me, since I've been otherwise strictly a roundwound player. I thought I'd hate them, but they're not bad.

And the "Coffin Case" for basses fits it very well: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/coffin-case-bass-guitar-coffin-case

View attachment 4168990

I definitely find the VP (and CP) more comfortable to play for extended periods than the Std Epi!

which flats? And go, Coffins!

 

[GonePlaid]

My Mike Lull reverse headstock non reverse
View attachment 4169005

,etc.

 

[GonePlaid]

New Thunderbird Day! I've had the IV for a while and just got the Vintage Pro today. Obviously I don't have any observations that haven't been made before, but it's interesting to see the differences - the longer, flatter headstock on the VP (although this photo exaggerates the difference a bit), narrower nut on the VP, belly cut on the VP, jack moved from top to side. And there are various little things, like the "shoulder" on the VP being more sloped than on the IV, and the body edges being slightly more rounded. Also note that the relative positions of pickguard, pickups, and knobs are slightly different. No question that the VP feels a little more alive and resonant too! I haven't weighed it, but I think it might actually weigh less than the IV.

The VP has flats on it, which is new for me, since I've been otherwise strictly a roundwound player. I thought I'd hate them, but they're not bad.

And the "Coffin Case" for basses fits it very well: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/coffin-case-bass-guitar-coffin-case

View attachment 4168990

That's what I have for my 67 NR 'Bird, which is about 1 RCH under 52" long.

 

[GonePlaid]

I definitely find the VP (and CP) more comfortable to play for extended periods than the Std Epi!

which flats? And go, Coffins!

 

[T-BirdBassist89]

Thats cool that your coffin case fits your T-bird mine doesn't unfortunately which is why I had to get a Epiphone Case

 

[LostJohnny]

which flats? And go, Coffins!

I don't know what the flats are, actually - they were put on by the previous owner, and I didn't think to ask him which ones. So far what I am feeling is that they are good for this kind of tone: Bachman Turner Overdrive, "Not Fragile", less good for this kind of tone: Guns 'n' Roses, "Rocket Queen"

Oh, and one other thing I forgot to mention in the original post: this VP has Thunderbucker 66 pickups in it too. They definitely sound like the clips on the Thunderbucker sounds page + flats!

 

[deff]

I use this case with some of my Birds. Its long enough for your bass. How about some pics of the bass?

https://www.amazon.com/Explorer-Bas...4ea66&pd_rd_wg=5afKh&pd_rd_i=B003ENJ2H2&psc=1

Thanks for the heads up. Here's the bass. Walnut Maple, Tbird, Mockingbird, and 48 style kinda all mashed together. It was fun to make.

 

[deff]

I've been using a Gator ProGo with my 2013 Thunderbird since I got it new and it's fantastic. It's more a soft case than a gig bag. Very protective. The key is to remove the inside detachable cushion. Not sure how your other basses would fit, but the 2013 Thunderbird just fits.

That's great to know. Nice case!

 

[TBird1958]

My Mike Lull reverse headstock non reverse
View attachment 4169005

New Thunderbird Day! I've had the IV for a while and just got the Vintage Pro today. Obviously I don't have any observations that haven't been made before, but it's interesting to see the differences - the longer, flatter headstock on the VP (although this photo exaggerates the difference a bit), narrower nut on the VP, belly cut on the VP, jack moved from top to side. And there are various little things, like the "shoulder" on the VP being more sloped than on the IV, and the body edges being slightly more rounded. Also note that the relative positions of pickguard, pickups, and knobs are slightly different. No question that the VP feels a little more alive and resonant too! I haven't weighed it, but I think it might actually weigh less than the IV.

The VP has flats on it, which is new for me, since I've been otherwise strictly a roundwound player. I thought I'd hate them, but they're not bad.

And the "Coffin Case" for basses fits it very well: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/coffin-case-bass-guitar-coffin-case

View attachment 4168990

Thanks for the heads up. Here's the bass. Walnut Maple, Tbird, Mockingbird, and 48 style kinda all mashed together. It was fun to make.
View attachment 4169128 View attachment 4169130 View attachment 4169137 View attachment 4169128 View attachment 4169130 View attachment 4169137

If any you would like to be on the club roster, please let me know - Happy to add you.

Really some stunning basses, thank you for posting.

 

[MCF]

Same here as well, probably the ex-wife.

Sitting too close at multiple NYCH shows. And Clash shows.

 

[PillO]

I don't know what the flats are, actually - they were put on by the previous owner, and I didn't think to ask him which ones. So far what I am feeling is that they are good for this kind of tone: Bachman Turner Overdrive, "Not Fragile", less good for this kind of tone: Guns 'n' Roses, "Rocket Queen"

Oh, and one other thing I forgot to mention in the original post: this VP has Thunderbucker 66 pickups in it too. They definitely sound like the clips on the Thunderbucker sounds page + flats!

Thanks, it has been a while since I have listened to Not Fragile. I forget sometimes how good BTO is/was. Fantastic riff rock.

 

[PillO]

Sitting too close at multiple NYCH shows. And Clash shows.

I thought it was spelled *NSYNCH...

 

[TBird1958]

Thanks, it has been a while since I have listened to Not Fragile. I forget sometimes how good BTO is/was. Fantastic riff rock.

I watched a show with Fred Turner, Randy Bachmann and a few others recently, they were very good, Fred is a good bassist (very overlooked) and sings with great power - quite impressive.

 

[PillO]

I watched a show with Fred Turner, Randy Bachmann and a few others recently, they were very good, Fred is a good bassist (very overlooked) and sings with great power - quite impressive.

Check one off the bucket list:
A couple of years ago at metric Thanksgiving (Columbus day in the US) we saw a benefit that included Randy Bachman. He told a story of being contacted by SRV's management just before he died asking him to write another verse for TCB so that SRV could record it on his next album. He then proceeded to play TCB in the style he thought that SRV would - as a bluesy shuffle.