Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

I think I’m picking up this Greco on Monday. I really don’t need another bass!

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Must be something in the water.

 

[Larry V]

I think I’m picking up this Greco on Monday. I really don’t need another bass!

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Holy smokes! Case queen for sure!

Why wouldn't you buy it?! Every single one of us would would buy her!

 

[MCF]

Anyone else bidding on this one? Looks like it sank with the boat..or someone with toxic sweat played it in the summer in 100% humidity.

If it goes much higher I might be out..

Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage PRO Bass - Alpine White 711106701189 | eBay

Too much of a project for me, and I’ve been looking for a beat up one to refin. Seller lists some things wrong with it , but not the missing G string saddle. How in the heck did that even happen?

 

[KaraQ]

Too much of a project for me, and I’ve been looking for a beat up one to refin. Seller lists some things wrong with it , but not the missing G string saddle. How in the heck did that even happen?

Missing saddle? They look all there to me.....

Set-o'-strings, bit of clean & polish, some chrome screws from Philadelphia Luthiers & a few minutes to swap - if electronics are working as he says, then done-ish?


Unless I've missed something?

 

[JIO]

If you don’t know them, my suggestion is to start with the album Live Dates from ‘73 when Martin first began playing a Thunderbird (initially borrowed from Overend Watts when his Ric was stolen). He’s primarily played Tbirds since then. His tone is wonderful.

More than John Entwhistle, I became a T-bird player influenced by MT. I saw/heard them live in early '74 when I was in art college in KC/MO and he rocked a T-bird IV. I bought my '63 II from an Omaha hock-shop shortly after that.

 

[MCF]

Missing saddle? They look all there to me.....

Set-o'-strings, bit of clean & polish, some chrome screws from Philadelphia Luthiers & a few minutes to swap - if electronics are working as he says, then done-ish?


Unless I've missed something?

No, you’re right. Was looking at my phone with it all the way back and looked like it was missing. Looked again on bigger screen and saw it.

 

[JIO]

Too much of a project for me, and I’ve been looking for a beat up one to refin. Seller lists some things wrong with it , but not the missing G string saddle. How in the heck did that even happen?

All saddles are there - the G saddle is floored-out in the wrong direction.

 

[KaraQ]

No, you’re right. Was looking at my phone with it all the way back and looked like it was missing. Looked again on bigger screen and saw it.

I was hoping that was the case! I was doing the same thing with my phone, was worried I needed to go get my glasses updated...

 

[TBird1958]

I think I’m picking up this Greco on Monday. I really don’t need another bass!

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You want that. You'll LOVE it!

 

[JIO]

I think I’m picking up this Greco on Monday. I really don’t need another bass!

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[JJR58]

They give you a hard time.

Classic!!!!

 

[MCF]

Too much of a project for me, and I’ve been looking for a beat up one to refin. Seller lists some things wrong with it , but not the missing G string saddle. How in the heck did that even happen?

I take it back. It could end up being quite a deal. Free-shipping and return. Nothing to lose. Perfect candidate for converting to a II and/or refinishing to the color of your choice. All my gear money is spoken for for awhile. I Hope @Instagator wins it!

 

[JJR58]

I think I’m picking up this Greco on Monday. I really don’t need another bass!

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Bring it to The Jersey gig!
Whew, made in time for an edit: Brooklyn as well.

 

[MCF]

And to celebrate Thunderbird Thursday - here's the bass I'll be playing on May 29th at Winters Beer Garden with TSC's -

...ok, so not strictly a T-bird, but it has an Epi Goth T-bird neck ok? And it 'cuts through the mix', 'plays like butter', 'kills' ... yah, it rocks.
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2 songs from our set-list played/recorded on the Teiscobird -

I’m picturing early 60s coffee house with everyone snapping their fingers instead of clapping.

 

[Gaolee]

Just finished loading up for tonight's gig. My gear got a lot heavier in the last 14 months...I think the clubs have been pulling a fast one on me over the years. They don't pay for a band..they pay for a moving company.

I met a guy at Bass Northwest back when it was open, and he said he didn't play out any more. He said it was being a mover, except with bad hours and worse pay. He had a point. We do it anyway for some unknown reason.

Have fun at the gig. It will sure feel good.

 

[Gaolee]

Anyone else bidding on this one? Looks like it sank with the boat..or someone with toxic sweat played it in the summer in 100% humidity.

If it goes much higher I might be out..

Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage PRO Bass - Alpine White 711106701189 | eBay

If you are bidding on it, I won't. It's hard not to, though. It could be made into a Thunderbird II and refinished.

 

[MCF]

I have ended up playing what amounted to live karaoke backing a few times. Some of the songs were songs we didn't exactly know, but pulled it off somehow. Good thing the audience was drunk. It was more fun than it sounds like it should have been and we got paid pretty well. That never happened when a Thunderbird was around. This may be significant.

It was a good night back in the day when we ended with this.

 

[MCF]

That is very much what we try to do, stick to the set list and play the show, no requests. Minus the tears of course.
It's worked very well over the years and we've never, ever had to cover "those songs" that are often groaned about (insert whatever song you want there) and we get paid, usually pretty well. We're hopefully going to rehearse this Sunday 5/23, fingers crossed!

Debut pic of new singer?

 

[Gaolee]

It was a good night back in the day when we ended with this.

Including the dancers? The cheesy organ sounds like 96 Teardrops.

 

[Goatrope]

More than John Entwhistle, I became a T-bird player influenced by MT. I saw/heard them live in early '74 when I was in art college in KC/MO and he rocked a T-bird IV. I bought my '63 II from an Omaha hock-shop shortly after that.

MT’s daughter lives near me. She has a sometime band called B-Movie. He’s jammed with them before.

I never met him personally, but was asked to join Annalise’s band a few years ago by a guitar player, ex-band mate of mine. I declined because they just weren’t really playing out at the time.

He shares stories of jamming with MT, that he was pretty certain of what he wanted everyone to play. Maybe a bit assertive?

Of his bass, he said “that was the loudest bass I ever heard in all my life”. Not in a bad way, but in a hot pickup way.