Thunderbird Club

[Engle]

It is cool isn't it? It's made by a friend in Pacifica who does underwater/sea creature illustrations for books. He's also a musician/bass-player and so is his wife. (two different bands) Very fitting for Pacifica - the show was at Winters, a couple blocks east of the Pacific Ocean.

It brings this label to mind:

It’s the equivalent of a loaf of bread, but it sure is tasty!

 

[Engle]

I use a slightly different method: 4 basses, 4 straps that stay on.

That’s a good method. I just have too many basses and not enough straps

 

[dagrev]

I love the old ZZTop!

Their first four albums or so were fantastic and funky, nasty, cool. After Deguello things changed. That album was even very different from what preceded it. I give them credit, they kept reinventing themselves and had spikes in popularity in every decade it seems.

 

[Engle]

I love the tones Dusty got! And you can usually hear him on those early albums.

 

[GonePlaid]

Makes me sick every time I here or are reminded of your story. My mom would have made me pay for it. Twice. Once with money...... But then again my mom was an adult raising a child, not a child (in a big body) raising a child.

These were wealthy, entitled, and 'connected' people to whom our equipment meant nothing. And I was not able to demand anything.(see 'connected')

 

[GonePlaid]

I love the tones Dusty got! And you can usually hear him on those early albums.

Woulda loved to've heard him on a 'Bird.

 

[Engle]

Woulda loved to've heard him on a 'Bird.

For sure, but really he can pull a good tone out of most any bass. Didn’t he have a Tbird with white fur on it?

 

[GonePlaid]

For sure, but really he can pull a good tone out of most any bass. Didn’t he have a Tbird with white fur on it?

I think that/those were just for the videos.

 

[Engle]

I think that/those were just for the videos.

He sure seems like he would like a Thunderbird:

 

[GonePlaid]

He sure seems like he would like a Thunderbird:
View attachment 4227405

The first album of theirs that I got(don't recall the title)was as part of a record club. I got home, opened it, put it on, and was like . Left it alone for a coupla days, then played it again, this time in the right, receptive mood. Instant fan. Saw them once as the opener for BadCo. Lotta ppl left after ZZ. We stayed, but it was kinda a letdown.

 

[Gaolee]

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.

If I had one, it would be gigged. Maybe. The EB-2 doesn't getting out much, but that is partly because it isn't a Thunderbird.

 

[Gaolee]

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 LOXX on everything now. And because I can, everything has a dedicated strap.

 

[Engle]

The first album of theirs that I got(don't recall the title)was as part of a record club. I got home, opened it, put it on, and was like . Left it alone for a coupla days, then played it again, this time in the right, receptive mood. Instant fan. Saw them once as the opener for BadCo. Lotta ppl left after ZZ. We stayed, but it was kinda a letdown.

I saw them on their Eliminator tour (I think). They are great musicians, and entertainers.

 

[Gaolee]

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

Schallers were OK, but getting the lock on the strap was a colossal PITA. And they would always unscrew if you didn't pay attention. The last bass with Schallers was a Ric. It has been gone for a number of years.

 

[Gaolee]

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

I sure hope not!

 

[GonePlaid]

If I had one, it would be gigged. Maybe. The EB-2 doesn't getting out much, but that is partly because it isn't a Thunderbird.

I'm seriously looking at options for semi-retiring the 67. 1) An Epi Embassy PRO @$400. From what I've read, very VP-y and not a humongous outlay of coin. B) A VP @~$700. I'm not currently rolling in dough(where's that "Prize Patrol"?). That might be stretching things a bit. And, even though I am gigging some, our season ends PDQ (shortly after Easter as the Snowbirds head north), it's about to get slower. We'll see. Or as they say in Denmark, "Que sera, sera."

 

[GonePlaid]

I use LOXX on everything now. And because I can, everything has a dedicated strap.

 

[Gaolee]

Drummers, however, are fair game(and PITA lead singers).

Hey! Oh, what? Squirrel!

 

[Engle]

If I had one, it would be gigged. Maybe. The EB-2 doesn't getting out much, but that is partly because it isn't a Thunderbird.

If I’m in any kind of sketchy situation, I just put the bird in it’s case when I’m not playing it.
I had an EB-2, but also an EBO. They pretty much make the same sound. But I really missed having a semi acoustic, so I got a Casady.

 

[JIO]

Actually, I don't right now. But when I get it outta the shop...

It brings this label to mind:
View attachment 4227389
It’s the equivalent of a loaf of bread, but it sure is tasty!

Hopefully it doesn't have a 'fishy' aftertaste. A guitarists friends brewmeister brother once made a (fish) flavored 'home brew' ...