Yes it is Chuck, but mine has lasted very well. Maybe from little use, or it might be made a little better. I actually think a little of both. This is the only case I've seen from the early 60s that isn't useless junk as far as carrying and protecting a bass. Every Thunderbird case is toast and useless as far as I'm concerned. Maybe it's just me, but the Epi case seems a little more sturdy. The inside color is better looking! (I have another case to carry the Embassy that's a little more snug.)
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
Nice case. If I needed one, I'd buy it.
Come on, we all know its a black light to make the velvet Elvis or blue ghost ship look really cool!
Come on, we all know its a black light to make the velvet Elvis or blue ghost ship look really cool!
Haha.. Yup, my velvet painting of Elvis doing a wheelie riding a chopper on a moonlit beach is just off screen!
Rexx - love your videos man!
Would be interested to know what your signal chain was on that recording. Any mixing in garage band or something similar to get the bass balance right and what you're using to shoot the video (go pro, iPhone, laptop...).
Again, great post, keep em coming!
Hey G. Thanks, man.
I record directly into a Lexicon Alpha interface, for the mix I use Audacity (https://www.audacityteam.org/) and I don't do any post-processing/post EQ, meaning that what you hear in my videos is what comes out of my pedals and my bass. I just take the songs I cover and ''kill'' everything under the 250/300 Hz specter (that way my bass has more presence in the final mix and doesn't get messed/mixed up with the original bass of the songs). I tend to take the volume down on the song track (from -3 to -6db more or less) and usually leave the volume on my tracks untouched. Once I get the spot where everything sounds ok, I mix the tracks and export the file.
In this particular case, I connected my bass into a Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra with its cab sim on, that's all.
For the video recording, I use a regular Android smartphone and for the video editing I use VSDC Video Free Editor (http://www.videosoftdev.com/).
Lastly, I mix the music and the video tracks on the VSDC.
Hope it helps and thanks again for the nice words!
Sort of close to home, but I have bigger fish to fry right now.
I'm considering getting an Embassy to be able to semi-retire the 67 NR from playing out. I'll definitely get the OHSC too.
this post really made my mind to go for the CP. There's still a few NOS CP on my local guitar store
Thunderbucker Pickup Issue:
Fellow Club members:
In 2015, I bought this bass (verbatim from the original TB ad):
“2013 Gibson non reverse thunderbird limited edition in Pelham blue, original case, customized:
1. Small ear hipshot ultralites full chrome
2. Dunlop strap lock pins
3. Babicz chrome bridge
4. Perfect pro shielding
5. Thunderbucker ranch pickups in chrome with framed, reversed engineering of 1976 pickups
The mods are all professional done”
The instrument plays well and I love the tone of the pickups.
BUT even though the PUs are ostensibly humbuckers, they’ve always hummed like single coils. Bridge, neck or both – hum! Rotate the instrument the right way, and the hum disappears, just like a Jazz Bass. All rooms (though some are worse than others).
My experienced luthier/tech -- he used to work for guitarist Ronnie Montrose -- said the ground and other connections were likely at fault, and I said, "OK, have at it."
He did his thing, but Nope, still hums.
Since I play in a pretty loud rock band, this usually isn't an issue, but still, I'd like to resolve it!
Does anyone have an idea of what is going on, and what to do to correct the issue?
Thanks,
-Joe in San Diego
Fellow Club members:
In 2015, I bought this bass (verbatim from the original TB ad):
“2013 Gibson non reverse thunderbird limited edition in Pelham blue, original case, customized:
1. Small ear hipshot ultralites full chrome
2. Dunlop strap lock pins
3. Babicz chrome bridge
4. Perfect pro shielding
5. Thunderbucker ranch pickups in chrome with framed, reversed engineering of 1976 pickups
The mods are all professional done”
The instrument plays well and I love the tone of the pickups.
BUT even though the PUs are ostensibly humbuckers, they’ve always hummed like single coils. Bridge, neck or both – hum! Rotate the instrument the right way, and the hum disappears, just like a Jazz Bass. All rooms (though some are worse than others).
My experienced luthier/tech -- he used to work for guitarist Ronnie Montrose -- said the ground and other connections were likely at fault, and I said, "OK, have at it."
He did his thing, but Nope, still hums.
Since I play in a pretty loud rock band, this usually isn't an issue, but still, I'd like to resolve it!
Does anyone have an idea of what is going on, and what to do to correct the issue?
Thanks,
-Joe in San Diego
This picture always confuses me. Is the VP really that much bigger than the (what I assume to be) your 64, or is this due to camera angle or something. The neck on the VP is longer for sure, due to the bridge placement, but even the body looks bigger?
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All excellent choices.
4) I would add a used Orville to that. Probably around 800-1000,-.
I used to own a modern Gibson, it had a nice smooth, sound, as you say above. My Orville sounds, in my opinion, more agressive, maybe like you describe the VP to sound? Anyway, I like the Orville sound.
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Get the CP! Quick!
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When I got a chance to play a new Embassy, some felt and sound better than others. So play around
before you buy if you can. Of course Sweetwater would be more likely to not send a bad one if you get one from them. I like my Embassy, but will say Thunderbirds are more comfortable. I'm not crazy about the big rounded body with no beveling for your forearm. It's not bad, I'm just sensitive I guess. The newer Epi's are supposed to balance much better, but I've never had a strap on one. Mine is a first class gold medal Olympic diver, so a good strap is necessary.
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That will be a good choice, but I have to say that neither of my VPs sound like the Who or Yes. I don't like the angry piano sound for my uses but go for big, thick and massive sounding with some punch and the VP does that as well. Not that Miles was implying the VP was only good for those brighter tones. He was just highlighting/contrasting what it does better than the CP. (I think I'm pretty close to being accurate on his take.) Not trying to talk you out of a CP, which is a really nice bass from all accounts, just didn't what you to think the VP only excelled in being bright sounding. When you get the CP, you have to post pics! We send "our people" out after those who don't!
It is a bigger bass. Certainly longer, neck slightly larger, bigger headstock and the body is a little thicker and slightly bigger in some ways if I recall correctly. I'd have to measure again to be sure on the body. The '64 is thinner for sure, and lighter.
Another take.
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will do, but I think I'm going to try both first. I need to wait the NOS CP cause it's on their warehouse. Ah, I remember almost got the active one but don't like the sound. So, more variable nowThat will be a good choice, but I have to say that neither of my VPs sound like the Who or Yes. I don't like the angry piano sound for my uses but go for big, thick and massive sounding with some punch and the VP does that as well. Not that Miles was implying the VP was only good for those brighter tones. He was just highlighting/contrasting what it does better than the CP. (I think I'm pretty close to being accurate on his take.) Not trying to talk you out of a CP, which is a really nice bass from all accounts, just didn't what you to think the VP only excelled in being bright sounding. When you get the CP, you have to post pics! We send "our people" out after those who don't!
Trying both first is always better when possible. Best of luck!
