Thunderbird Club

[Klondike]

Yeah there is apparently a talkbass rule that says you can’t praise a counterfeit bass. I can only guess John Hall has threatened TB with litigation because this particular bass is a copy of a 4003.
What about Greco Tbirds?
I was just trying to get some help/advice on an old bass I bought. Looks like I’ll be going elsewhere.

I wasn't trying to be negative about it, would really like to see it.

 

[Bassmike62]

BTO was big in my area back when i started out on guitar in 1976. First guitar I bought is an Ibanez SG, 'cause Blair Thornton had one. I still have that guitar, which I believe is one of'em lawsuit ones. So many good songs came out of these guys back then, rock and jazzier stuff, but my fave has always been Blue moanin', a CF song. Was good to see RB and CF share the stage at the CFL Grey Cup halftime show back in 2010, Turner's voice still rocking it.

EDIT: pic added.

 

[BklynKen]

That's great to know. Nice case!

It really is. I can't tell you how many times it's smacked into low-hanging things in the subway and neither the case nor the bass is any worse for the wear. Great company, too.

 

[BklynKen]

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

Do tell!

 

[PillO]

BTO was big in my area back when i started out on guitar in 1976. First guitar I bought is an Ibanez SG, 'cause Blair Thornton had one. I still have that guitar, which I believe is one of'em lawsuit ones. So many good songs came out of these guys back then, rock and jazzier stuff, but my fave has always been Blue moanin', a CF song. Was good to see RB and CF share the stage at the CFL Grey Cup halftime show back in 2010, Turner's voice still rocking it.

EDIT: pic added.

View attachment 4169214

In what part of Canada was BTO not a big thing in the 70s?

Late 80s or early 90s I saw Burton Cumming (ahem) solo at a small club show.

 

[MCF]

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

Congrats!

 

[BklynKen]

In what part of Canada was BTO not a big thing in the 70s?

Late 80s or early 90s I saw Burton Cumming (ahem) solo at a small club show.

Sometimes you just have to take care of yourself, right?

 

[Nocturnal]

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

Nice work!! I like that a lot and the dual reversed P's are a win in my book!

 

[BklynKen]

Sometimes pickup rings make all the difference.

 

[MCF]

BTO was big in my area back when i started out on guitar in 1976. First guitar I bought is an Ibanez SG, 'cause Blair Thornton had one. I still have that guitar, which I believe is one of'em lawsuit ones. So many good songs came out of these guys back then, rock and jazzier stuff, but my fave has always been Blue moanin', a CF song. Was good to see RB and CF share the stage at the CFL Grey Cup halftime show back in 2010, Turner's voice still rocking it.

EDIT: pic added.

View attachment 4169214

They were big on the Central Coast here in CA. You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet, Lit It Ride and Taking Care of business were always on our set list.

 

[dagrev]

Wasn't that a short scale bass case?

No.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

i’ll take my 12 hours of sh... fame!

Yep, my brother is in Dallas, power out since 3:30 PM on Monday. No heat, no lights except flashlight. He said maybe down to 2 degrees tonight. I told him to go sit in his car to recharge his cell and warm up for a while.

Frozen Wind Farms in West Texas, and Snow Covered Solar Power Cells. Yep that stuff is going to save us from Global Warming..... LOL.

 

[Blenin]

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.

Yes please!!

 

[dagrev]

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.

Thanks, George. We're staying in for the time being. Just dealt with ice, not this! The weather people were saying we might get up to 12" (30.48 cm for PillO). I'm no weather person but told my wife it didn't look right according to the radar. It's still snowing, but we might get about 6-7" it seems, depending on how long this last bit lingers. We live on a curvy hill and the city has done a decent job it seems. Salted it several times in addition to the HOA doing a little early on. But I can't see the road currently and hope we don't need to leave during the night.

You're right, we're not equipped like up North. We've caught up a good deal. Largely for two reasons: First, it seems global warming is giving us more snows that cause problems than when I was younger. Second, a few years ago we had a good snow and the cities pants were caught down knowing a big one was coming (we've always had excellent leaders here), and UPS, who's main air terminal is here said it better never happen again or they were leaving. That got the smart guys attention. As a result, we're better equipped than ever before.

 

[dagrev]

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

Congrats on a killer Thunderbird. VPs are fantastic for twice the price. I love boomers and Roto's on them, but several flats sound fantastic as well. It seems like an odd mix, given that Thunderbirds aren't very versatile. I think outside of my '64 Thunderbird, my VPs are next is line as far as amazing tone.

 

[dagrev]

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!

Even better! Sure would like to have found those ProBucker's that came in that bass. Can't really imagine changing them and then selling the bass. Each to their own. You win!

 

[Bassmike62]

In what part of Canada was BTO not a big thing in the 70s?
Late 80s or early 90s I saw Burton Cumming (ahem) solo at a small club show.

Pink Floyd, Yes and Genesis were huge at our school, as well as folk music, so rockers were rather limited, or so I remember it. Then came disco and everything got blurry after that. I started appreciating dance music when I picked up bass playing in 2007, but back then... geezisss.

They were big on the Central Coast here in CA. You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet, Lit It Ride and Taking Care of business were always on our set list.

Not one of our gig goes (or went, or will go) without someone requesting TCoB.

 

[Blenin]

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.

I actually use the same case for my Lull NRT. I cut down the cushion to fit the bass contour. Really nice case.

 

[dagrev]

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.

Yes indeed!

I got to see them years ago with Grand Funk. Talk about a great concert!

 

[GonePlaid]

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

There are 2 Coffin cases. The larger Coffin Bass case will hold just about anything but an upright.