Thunderbird Club

[GonePlaid]

until some little kid knocks your 60’s bird over snapping the headstock off and all you get is a “go apologize to the man” from the parents....harsh reality..

Wait. Were you at the gig where that happened(OK, it didn't snap off-cracked pretty badly though)? That's the damage that cost me the serial# in the repair. Fortunately, I wrote it down. UNfortunately, that don't prove !

 

[GonePlaid]

This. I'd leave the vintage stuff at home for any situation where I thought that was even a remote possibility.

The wedding reception where mine got knocked over should have been OK. Problem was that the temporary "stage" that was set up for us was too small so we were on the floor. The little hellions were bored so they decided to play tag which included running through the band 'area'. I didn't even get an apology from the little bastard's parents. At the time, the 67 TBird was my only bass so it kinda narrowed down my choice(s). Also, this was in ~74 b4 parents became as permissive as they did later.

 

[MCF]

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Here is a vintage picture of me at a keg party in the 70’s..You had to go to the tee shirt shop and pick out the iron on and they would press it for you while you waited..and you had to wear the blank tee shirt as they ironed it on ..kids these days have it made
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Wow. And the kid behind you with pooka shells. We could have been at the same kegger.

 

[JIO]

Why do makers (particularly brands I happen to like) have to rest on their laurels? I get the nostalgia trip, I really do, but can't we have something NEW with nostalgia-styling cues that WORKS instead of solely regurgitated design flaws. I may be nostalgic, but not entirely stupid. Is there some reason a manufacturer can't/won't have both the defective descendents of a dead design and the modern functional retro-styled workable instruments sold alongside?

depends on where you look -

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Wait. Were you at the gig where that happened(OK, it didn't snap off-cracked pretty badly though)? That's the damage that cost me the serial# in the repair. Fortunately, I wrote it down. UNfortunately, that don't prove !

no, but with over 60 or 70% broken TBird headstocks, I suspect it’s a pretty generic story...

 

[Engle]

until some little kid knocks your 60’s bird over snapping the headstock off and all you get is a “go apologize to the man” from the parents....harsh reality..

I’m not saying a 60’s bass needs to be taken out to gigs, but it’s a shame if they are never even played.

 

[Engle]

This. I'd leave the vintage stuff at home for any situation where I thought that was even a remote possibility.

That’s why we have VPs!

 

[Engle]

Wow. And the kid behind you with pooka shells. We could have been at the same kegger.

I had one of those necklaces!

 

[Engle]

no, but with over 60 or 70% broken TBird headstocks, I suspect it’s a pretty generic story...

Lucky for us you can now bring a VP to gigs.

The wedding reception where mine got knocked over should have been OK. Problem was that the temporary "stage" that was set up for us was too small so we were on the floor. The little hellions were bored so they decided to play tag which included running through the band 'area'. I didn't even get an apology from the little bastard's parents. At the time, the 67 TBird was my only bass so it kinda narrowed down my choice(s). Also, this was in ~74 b4 parents became as permissive as they did later.

But you still play your 67 TBird. Even if you had another one that had never been broken, you might not gig with it, but I’m pretty sure you would use it as as a musical instrument and play it.

 

[Engle]

Hey hey! Border Blasters were COOOL...
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I love the old ZZTop!

 

[BklynKen]

Wait. Were you at the gig where that happened(OK, it didn't snap off-cracked pretty badly though)? That's the damage that cost me the serial# in the repair. Fortunately, I wrote it down. UNfortunately, that don't prove !

Good thing it makes no difference since you're never getting rid of it anyway!

 

[Nocturnal]

With Schallers it's extremely important to occasionally check the body screw for tightness as well as the strap nut.

This is what I dislike about the Schaller version. I was reminded of this back in Dec 2018 (Back when people gigged) when it happened to one of the guitar players towards the end of a song. He was able to hang onto it and finish the song, but it could have ended in a broken headstock. I'm sure there are similar stories with the Dunlop's, but so far I have never had one come apart on me where Schaller's have. Loctite would probably greatly reduce the odds of them coming apart.

 

[Instagator]

Hey hey! Border Blasters were COOOL...
View attachment 4226773

Here’s a short story..I hope.
Next to my marina on the Chesapeake Bay there is a marine museum that has a 5000 seat shed for live music.They get all kinds of classic acts in the summer. Usually two or three rock acts and a couple of country shows.I’ve seen Steve Miller,Allman Brothers,Joan Jet ,Journey ect.
The week that ZZ Top showed up they had a two day lay over and parked their tour busses at the Holiday Inn next to the boat yard.The day before the show I rode my bicycle through the parking lot and saw Dusty Hill just hanging wearing cargo shorts and a tee shirt talking with another person.I didn’t want to be a stalker but I pulled up and said Dusty because of you and that picture on the Fandango album I bought a 68 Telecaster Bass..In his Texas draw he said glad I could be of some assistance..I said I hated that Bass and sold it the first chance I could..He laughed and just shook his head..and gave me that ZZ arm swing that they do with the car keys.

we were front row the next night..I actually used the Tele as a kid toy for the girls to bang on when the were growing up..I don’t miss it.

 

[JIO]

^This here is sad to me. Baseball cards are collectibles. Basses and guitars are musical instruments that were crafted to make beautiful waves in the air.
I understand that they can be considered pieces of visual art, but not playing them at all...sucks.

I tend to feel this way also. I've still occasionally play my '64 T-bird and '66 P-bass out (gigs/jam-sessions/rehearsals) and just keep in mind and eye-sight of where it is at all times while in public. The P-bass is a tank so I know even if it gets knocked over it'll be ok, and my bird has a few battle scars from sliding down a wall where it was propped and being knocked over once by a lumbering cable TV producer many years ago. "er... oh.., sorry" ~ It's not made of crystal china but it does have a track record for neck-surgery. Just avoid swinging the bass into poles/pillars on a small stage... (most likely one of causes of hs separation)

Have posted this pic before - the last show I played the bird.

 

[BklynKen]

This is what I dislike about the Schaller version. I was reminded of this back in Dec 2018 (Back when people gigged) when it happened to one of the guitar players towards the end of a song. He was able to hang onto it and finish the song, but it could have ended in a broken headstock. I'm sure there are similar stories with the Dunlop's, but so far I have never had one come apart on me where Schaller's have. Loctite would probably greatly reduce the odds of them coming apart.

My first experience with locks was the Dunlops, which were already on my Carvin. They work fine. I find that connecting them is kinda vague, so on occasion it would come apart right away since it never caught.

The LOXX I initially chose for my Thunderbird in 2013 because they seemed to be the lowest-profile of all of them. They also work really really well. Super happy with them. Only downside is you're screwed if you forget your strap. But that just taught me to keep a strap in my gig bag that stays in there, and a second for home use. Never a problem since.

 

[KaraQ]

... With Schallers it's extremely important to occasionally check the body screw for tightness as well as the strap nut.

This is what I dislike about the Schaller version. I was reminded of this back in Dec 2018 (Back when people gigged) when it happened to one of the guitar players towards the end of a song. He was able to hang onto it and finish the song, but it could have ended in a broken headstock. I'm sure there are similar stories with the Dunlop's, but so far I have never had one come apart on me where Schaller's have. Loctite would probably greatly reduce the odds of them coming apart.

The newer Schaller design (I have both styles of buttons) seems much improved. The screws for the buttons not fitting properly was always my biggest problem with them. The new ones can be had in three screw sizes, which helps tremendously.
I never had issues with the older-style strap part, but the newer design has a set screw to help keep the nut from backing off.

The only real issue I have with the newer style is the "feature" of silent operation. Imo, this makes it harder to tell that the lock pin has engaged

 

[JIO]

My first experience with locks was the Dunlops, which were already on my Carvin. They work fine. I find that connecting them is kinda vague, so on occasion it would come apart right away since it never caught.

The LOXX I initially chose for my Thunderbird in 2013 because they seemed to be the lowest-profile of all of them. They also work really really well. Super happy with them. Only downside is you're screwed if you forget your strap. But that just taught me to keep a strap in my gig bag that stays in there, and a second for home use. Never a problem since.

I use the Dunlop Strap-Lok system on most of my basses. A few have their original unique vintage pegs with straps that stay on secured with rubber-washers. I always double-check the upper horn connection as a couple times I caught it right on time uncoupling. (very rare - just developed a habit of checking) I like how many 'port' options they offer, from out-board to inset and I use the stealthy inset versions on my own designs.

 

[BklynKen]

The only real issue I have with the newer style is the "feature" of silent operation. Imo, this makes it harder to tell that the lock pin has engaged

Silent operation? I wonder why that would be an attractive feature.

 

[Border]

^This here is sad to me. Baseball cards are collectibles. Basses and guitars are musical instruments that were crafted to make beautiful waves in the air.
I understand that they can be considered pieces of visual art, but not playing them at all...sucks.

I tend to agree with this as well. I bought my Thunderbird on line from a shop in New Jersey. I had played a couple at a GC south of Portland and foolishly left without one. I found the one I now have on line and bought without ever having played it. The seller told me I would not be disappointed, and could have a full refund if I was. The story was the bass was part of a half dozen or so instruments that had been wall art in some executive's office in NYC. I have no way to verify that, but it arrived without any signs of ever having been played. I like to think she was "liberated" from a glass case. All that being said, I am extremely careful and have been extremely lucky taking instruments to the handful of gigs per year we ever play.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

My first experience with locks was the Dunlops, which were already on my Carvin. They work fine. I find that connecting them is kinda vague, so on occasion it would come apart right away since it never caught.

The LOXX I initially chose for my Thunderbird in 2013 because they seemed to be the lowest-profile of all of them. They also work really really well. Super happy with them. Only downside is you're screwed if you forget your strap. But that just taught me to keep a strap in my gig bag that stays in there, and a second for home use. Never a problem since.

yeah, I got those LOXX on a couple of basses and their dedicated straps basically never come off....aren’t they now discontinued?