Thunderbird Club

[GonePlaid]

Besides the aesthetics, I like having numbers or at least some kind of indicator.

The numbers on the NR's knobs are very faded and on a dim(ish) stage unreadable, so I hit the 7 on the tone with a dab of white paint(Testors).Why 7? Well, I use 3 settings:5 for mellow, 7 for most, 10 for for more 'rock-ish' tunes. So just a slight tweak in either direction from my middle position gets me where I wanna be.

 

[BklynKen]

heard that mentioned before and in all honesty, don’t know how numbers can help anyone in a live situation when you have to very quickly alter your tone or volume a skosh....I don’t even look at the knobs but rather fish for them by position and adjust strictly by ear....but that’s just me...

For me it's so I can confirm they're where I want them at a quick glance. They're set-it-and-forget-it for me. Neck on full, bridge rolled off a little, tone on full.

 

[GonePlaid]

Speaking of Thunderbird pickguard decals, one thing I can't find is actual Gibson style ones. They all seem to be Epiphone style.

When I've googled "Gibson Thunderbird Logo decals", I get a shipsp? load of choices. And no one in the audience can tell the difference(s).

 

[BklynKen]

When I've googled "Gibson Thunderbird Logo decals", I get a shipsp? load of choices. And no one in the audience can tell the difference(s).

Yeah, but I can. No one would even realize that the logo is currently upside down, but it bothers me.

 

[PillO]

i have a friend selling a Gibson Thunderbird IV in red. (Not sure what they call the color) for a good price. I want that first.

Plus and Epi NR won’t be $1800

Get both!

 

[GonePlaid]

For me it's so I can confirm they're where I want them at a quick glance. They're set-it-and-forget-it for me. Neck on full, bridge rolled off a little, tone on full.

Yeah, mine are neck-10, bridge-0, tone-as mentioned above.

 

[GonePlaid]

The numbers on the NR's knobs are very faded and on a dim(ish) stage unreadable, so I hit the 7 on the tone with a dab of white paint(Testors).Why 7? Well, I use 3 settings:5 for mellow, 7 for most, 10 for for more 'rock-ish' tunes. So just a slight tweak in either direction from my middle position gets me where I wanna be.

BTW, I'd take a fuzzy TT pic to confirm all this[stuff], but the NR's still in the shop.

 

[Patrick J]

Get both!

I’m getting a Pelham blue Thunderbird IV tomorrow evening

 

[godofthunder59]

That Time!....
View attachment 4236057

That's a beauty!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

The numbers on the NR's knobs are very faded and on a dim(ish) stage unreadable, so I hit the 7 on the tone with a dab of white paint(Testors).Why 7? Well, I use 3 settings:5 for mellow, 7 for most, 10 for for more 'rock-ish' tunes. So just a slight tweak in either direction from my middle position gets me where I wanna be.

your black knobs original? mine’s got the gold ones...wonder if it’s a year thing...

 

[dagrev]

@TBird1958 @GBassNorth you guys are I believe, the few with both Grecos and VPs...quick comparison possible?

Fantastic question. I'm thinking they should also do videos!

Also interested in how the new NR PUs sound compared to the ProBuckers in the VPs. I can't help but wonder how much Gibson considered those or something very close considering the praise they receive. Oh, and they sound awfully close to vintage to begin with.

 

[dagrev]

Yeah, mine are neck-10, bridge-0, tone-as mentioned above.

Hummm.

 

[dagrev]

Something old, something new(ish).

 

[MCF]

Not a bad idea to try, I may have some spares in a drawer, have to check....



Yeah, I think I prefer the style of the originals, or at least similar, the best.

I've discovered that I seem to not be a fan of dome knobs on (my) Thunderbirds, looks-wise at least.
I like them fine on my Ibanez basses tho....

So just how many basses do you have?

 

[FlyingPigSound]

Epi T-Bird VP's in Alpine White are hard to find these days...

 

[MCF]

How dare YOU!

Italian-American master thespian, Dino!

And as Matt Helm, he was cooler than cool. More babes than Bond.

 

[MCF]

I do love my VP, but I really wasn’t ready for how my the CP thumps! I love it too.

I like the modern Gibson Thunderbird pickups that are in the CPs. Maybe not vintage, but nice and Tbirdy.

 

[KaraQ]

So just how many basses do you have?

Hmmm, at the moment....13, I'm pretty sure.
7 are Thunderbirds....

 

[TBird1958]

@TBird1958 @GBassNorth you guys are I believe, the few with both Grecos and VPs...quick comparison possible?

It's not even a contest sound wise, Greco leave the VP in the distant dust, that pick up, especially a II is beyond monstrous, so much more depth, bass, mids and highs, the inherent growly RAWR is simply amazing. That Greco is without doubt a greatly under appreciated, unknown Thunderbird, as I've said before, it's a Sonic Destroyer of entire planets! As far as the rest of the bass goes they're slightly different since the Greco is a set neck vs the VP's neck thru, the quality there is about equal, I like the VP's hardware better, Greco's seem to tarnish and I've seen plenty that appear very heavily pitted.
If I were to have to choose one over the other, the Greco wins every time, that bass just kills.

Now, don't go thinking that I dislike my VP, far from it, it's a fine bass in it's own right and I'm very happy to own one and maybe another in the future, one reason I own the many different Birds in my small collection is that I really enjoy the differences between them all, I don't want them all to be the same.

Greco love

VP love

 

[Larry V]

Hmmm, at the moment....13, I'm pretty sure.
7 are Thunderbirds....

Hahaha...

I went through this phase. I've owned 10 different Thunderbirds. I had 8 at one time. Now I'm down to 5... 4 Gibsons and a Classic Pro.

I'm down to the right number though I could be talked into selling my short scale TBird and maybe my Classic Pro... maybe.