Thunderbird Club

[bluenose]

Doh that didn't quite work out how i thought ! oops , newby hoping to get added to the club , been reading the posts on here for a long time , i've wanted a thunderbird since i first watched martin turner of wishbone ash way back in the 70's, i ended up going down the fender jazz ( wash my mouth out ) route , anyway time whizzed by and thousands of gigs and rehearsals later i decided to go down the route of an Epiphone classic pro tb pick up model , purely because i'd read on here that they were really good basses and excellent value for money, a 76 bicentennial was always my favourite but they're darned expensive now and it wouldn't be fair to gig a decent one in some of the dives i get to play in ,so i decided to convert the brand new epi into a 76 clone, i didnt want to cut up the pickups a la T'Bird1958 i just didnt have the cohones to let rip with the cutters , i made some covers from sterling silver ( i'm a working jeweller by trade and used to working with the metal ) that fit over the top of the pickup and they can be removed if i want to return the bass to stock i'll throw in a before and after picture and if i'm inducted into the Birdhood i'll post some of the pics during the build process, hand making covers from nickel silver etc, anyway waiting in anticipation

 

[GBassNorth]

View attachment 920631 View attachment 920632 View attachment 920633 Doh that didn't quite work out how i thought ! oops , newby hoping to get added to the club , been reading the posts on here for a long time , i've wanted a thunderbird since i first watched martin turner of wishbone ash way back in the 70's, i ended up going down the fender jazz ( wash my mouth out ) route , anyway time whizzed by and thousands of gigs and rehearsals later i decided to go down the route of an Epiphone classic pro tb pick up model , purely because i'd read on here that they were really good basses and excellent value for money, a 76 bicentennial was always my favourite but they're darned expensive now and it wouldn't be fair to gig a decent one in some of the dives i get to play in ,so i decided to convert the brand new epi into a 76 clone, i didnt want to cut up the pickups a la T'Bird1958 i just didnt have the cohones to let rip with the cutters , i made some covers from sterling silver ( i'm a working jeweller by trade and used to working with the metal ) that fit over the top of the pickup and they can be removed if i want to return the bass to stock i'll throw in a before and after picture and if i'm inducted into the Birdhood i'll post some of the pics during the build process, hand making covers from nickel silver etc, anyway waiting in anticipation

Very cool!

 

[Korladis]

You weirdos have some bizarre hobbies.

For me, not counting the band, my big hobby is tactical shooting and training. Sort of a natural extension of having every friend that's not a musician being an LEO or Soldier. The music related "other" activities are combing Nashville music stores for gear and stuff I don't need, which will often be combined with seeing a local show after finding some food that isn't available up where I live (which is dang near everything!). The Music City, while being famous for country (well, pop country now) has a small but HUGELY talented heavy music scene. And even as competitive as that city is, I haven't yet met or played a show with people who weren't totally cool and supportive.

So what are your other hobbies away from the Bird, my friends?

To me, Her Highness' hobby is the normal one, and yours is weird, ha ha.

I do sort of an online version of pen/paper RPGs. Lots of world-building, etc. It's really dorky.

Another hobby of mine away from the 'Bird, is... well... playing Rickenbackers.

Thought I'd add my 2015 Thunderbird. Modded to nickel hardware and Thunderbucker Ranch '63s. Here's a photo with its older brother.

Very nice. With the new hardware and pickups, they look like they're from the same batch despite being separated by something like four decades.

View attachment 920631 View attachment 920632 View attachment 920633 Doh that didn't quite work out how i thought ! oops , newby hoping to get added to the club , been reading the posts on here for a long time , i've wanted a thunderbird since i first watched martin turner of wishbone ash way back in the 70's, i ended up going down the fender jazz ( wash my mouth out ) route , anyway time whizzed by and thousands of gigs and rehearsals later i decided to go down the route of an Epiphone classic pro tb pick up model , purely because i'd read on here that they were really good basses and excellent value for money, a 76 bicentennial was always my favourite but they're darned expensive now and it wouldn't be fair to gig a decent one in some of the dives i get to play in ,so i decided to convert the brand new epi into a 76 clone, i didnt want to cut up the pickups a la T'Bird1958 i just didnt have the cohones to let rip with the cutters , i made some covers from sterling silver ( i'm a working jeweller by trade and used to working with the metal ) that fit over the top of the pickup and they can be removed if i want to return the bass to stock i'll throw in a before and after picture and if i'm inducted into the Birdhood i'll post some of the pics during the build process, hand making covers from nickel silver etc, anyway waiting in anticipation

Looks great.

I wish they'd make them stock with chrome hardware and pickup covers. I honestly think they'd sell more of them that way.

 

[howie289]

After Bluenose, can I make it an even member #600? This is my Epi Classic IV Pro that I bought last year as my 1st bass after playing guitar on and off for many years. Of course this thread was totally responsible for my choice. Made in 2013 in Indonesia, I was impressed with the build quality. I replaced the 3pt bridge with a Hipshot, added strap-locks and replaced the round-wound strings with DR Legend stainless flats. After some truss-rod tweeking and tightening the output jack, it's playing great and has that angry piano sound. And I'm figuring out how to play it, too.

 

[Haji]

Another hobby of mine away from the 'Bird, is... well... playing Rickenbackers.

And you call me weird!

 

[GBassNorth]

View attachment 920565 Haji and I would get along pretty well, I'd think, because my #1 hobby/vice/taker-of-time-and-money is firearms and outdoors-related stuff. I hunt, fish, shoot, camp, canoe, etc any time I can FIND time... aside from that, I also like to ride my cruiser and tinker with making metal chips. I love and have more energy in the winter; summer completely saps me. I don't care for long walks on the beach, but don't mind chasing ocean wildlife if I have a chance.

Very nice rifle (and scope). I used to live in KY up until about 3 years ago and frequented Knob Creek for some very spirited high caliber and rapid fire shooting. Living in CA now where the mere mention of the "G" word strikes panic in the masses. I need to get back into target shooting again, it's just about the most fun you can have in a prone position!

 

[GBassNorth]

Thanks, reported!

A fitting tribute...

 

[Haji]

You're going the wrong direction! I went from San Diego to the Ft. Campbell area about a decade ago. Now I only have one gun that's Cali legal, and that's one I was given for Christmas nearly 20 years ago.

I used to see a lot of live music in San Diego. I wish I hadn't waited so long to get on the scene in Nashville.

 

[GBassNorth]

You're going the wrong direction! I went from San Diego to the Ft. Campbell area about a decade ago. Now I only have one gun that's Cali legal, and that's one I was given for Christmas nearly 20 years ago.

I used to see a lot of live music in San Diego. I wish I hadn't waited so long to get on the scene in Nashville.

Love the Nashville area! Lived in Northern KY for 35 years while working but retired a few years ago and decided I needed to get away from the heat and humidity and allergies. I'm originally from CA and wanted to be near the ocean again but knew I'd sacrifice two things in the move - my shooting hobby and affordable housing. So far no regrets on the move but I have considered buying some escape property outside CA (maybe Colorado, Idaho or Wyoming) where a few dozen acres can be had for a relatively reasonable price and I can park a motor home for extended stays if CA starts to get under my skin.

 

[TBird1958]

Thought I'd add my 2015 Thunderbird. Modded to nickel hardware and Thunderbucker Ranch '63s. Here's a photo with its older brother.

Shall I add you to the club as well? Lovely basses!

 

[ThaCoast]

The good thing about working in a music shop: when it's dead quiet, fiddling with pedals is always fun & i've almost finished deciding which i'm going to be getting for my pedalboard! Just missing a good compressor & an expression pedal & i'm good to go. Also getting a new speaker for the Goliath II cab so i'll be finalizing my peavey amp settings for good & see how it all sounds through 4 speakers Can't wait

 

[Christine]

My Mom passed away from dementia related issues Dec 23rd last year. Such a horrible, insidious disease. I'll be keeping you and yours in my prayers, Colin!

My dad passed from complications from Alzheimer's. I feel what you are going through. Keep the faith brother.

Thanks both, much appreciated

My wife says my hobbies are to expencive. I've jumped from perfectly good airplanes ( talk about addiction!), grew up skiing in Alaska, scuba diving(was a commercial diver for years and having kids really cuts into any dive trips), of course there are the basses and motorcycles. Could easily become a Track Day Junkie but that get reall expencive real quick.

I started out working life as a diver, a clearance diver in the Royal Navy back in the 70s. Did my sat ticket just before I left, I was going to go commercial but couldn't get a sat job in the UK and didn't fancy the alternatives so I retrained as a cabinet maker. I haven't done any diving since then other than a bit of freediving and spearfishing but not done that for the last 5 years either

 

[vdub75]

View attachment 920631 View attachment 920632 View attachment 920633 Doh that didn't quite work out how i thought ! oops , newby hoping to get added to the club , been reading the posts on here for a long time , i've wanted a thunderbird since i first watched martin turner of wishbone ash way back in the 70's, i ended up going down the fender jazz ( wash my mouth out ) route , anyway time whizzed by and thousands of gigs and rehearsals later i decided to go down the route of an Epiphone classic pro tb pick up model , purely because i'd read on here that they were really good basses and excellent value for money, a 76 bicentennial was always my favourite but they're darned expensive now and it wouldn't be fair to gig a decent one in some of the dives i get to play in ,so i decided to convert the brand new epi into a 76 clone, i didnt want to cut up the pickups a la T'Bird1958 i just didnt have the cohones to let rip with the cutters , i made some covers from sterling silver ( i'm a working jeweller by trade and used to working with the metal ) that fit over the top of the pickup and they can be removed if i want to return the bass to stock i'll throw in a before and after picture and if i'm inducted into the Birdhood i'll post some of the pics during the build process, hand making covers from nickel silver etc, anyway waiting in anticipation

ubercool!

 

[kirillstokes]

Guitar collecting and bass playing is my main (and relatively cheap) hobby. My wife supports it pretty enthusiastically compared to my other hobby...
Porsche cars

After the third one she put her foot down, I now have a strict one in one out policy to which I must adhere. We'll see how long that lasts.

Very cool!! Respect) porsche - car of my dreams)

 

[bluenose]

To me, Her Highness' hobby is the normal one, and yours is weird, ha ha.

I do sort of an online version of pen/paper RPGs. Lots of world-building, etc. It's really dorky.

Another hobby of mine away from the 'Bird, is... well... playing Rickenbackers.


Very nice. With the new hardware and pickups, they look like they're from the same batch despite being separated by something like four decades.


Looks great.

I wish they'd make them stock with chrome hardware and pickup covers. I honestly think they'd sell more of them that way.

agreed its a faff to convert ,good fun though

 

[Larry V]

View attachment 920631 View attachment 920632 View attachment 920633so i decided to convert the brand new epi into a 76 clone,

Sweet! That's one of my vinyls! I'm not sure if you know you ordered from me on eBay but that looks awesome!

I wish they'd make them stock with chrome hardware and pickup covers. I honestly think they'd sell more of them that way.

Heck, who even knows what year they'll start selling TBirds again muchless "retro" TBirds?

 

[Korladis]

Sweet! That's one of my vinyls! I'm not sure if you know you ordered from me on eBay but that looks awesome!



Heck, who even knows what year they'll start selling TBirds again muchless "retro" TBirds?

Well, Epiphone sells T-birds right now.

 

[EdO.]

On the subject of OTHER (expensive) hobbies... My main love other than music is tournament style water skiing, slalom course skiing. I could buy some pretty nice high end basses for what I gave for my last slalom ski and bindings. Tournament boats are WAY pricey, skis are WAY pricey, hell I gave $70 for my last pair of ski gloves. I actually have a sideline business building/selling slalom course systems (to help support my habit) but I won't bore you all with that here.

Quick back story. When I quit playing in bands 12 - 15 years ago (memory fails me...) I was totally burnt out on music, needed another release. I'd always skied but decided to get into it deeper. Kinda like music, if you get drawn into it it's a total addiction. Over the years I've had both shoulders rebuilt once due to injuries (it's a tough sport physically). When I got back into playing 3 years or so ago I did both, until I had to have my left shoulder rebuilt a second time last year. Ortho told me that if I tear it up again he doesn't think he can fix it a third time and I kind of need my shoulders to work if I'm gonna play bass, so... So I'm now retired from tournament style skiing. I now put that energy and time (and fundage) into my music. Still have the business of course but now it helps support THIS habit.

 

[bluenose]

Sweet! That's one of my vinyls! I'm not sure if you know you ordered from me on eBay but that looks awesome!



Heck, who even knows what year they'll start selling TBirds again muchless "retro" TBirds?

Yes it is one of your Vinyls and to be honest i didn't know what to expect i took a flyer on it and was gobsmacked at the quality its brilliant ,i was a bit duuuuuurrrrrrr my brain hurts regarding the application as i'd never applied one before and had no idea but its pretty obvious when you think about it , i made sure i rubbed over each strand of the design before i removed the backing and it worked without any lifting or splitting , i made a new scratchplate to attach it to. i'll post pictures and links to all of the bits i used to convert when i get chance , but if anyone is thinking of doing this the vinyl is definately the cherry on the cake i've had a load of positive comments from band mates and other bassists

 

[Larry V]

Yes it is one of your Vinyls and to be honest i didn't know what to expect i took a flyer on it and was gobsmacked at the quality its brilliant

I'm so glad you're happy with it and thanks for the high praise! You've made your Epi look awesome!