Thunderbird Club

[KaraQ]

Nice! Pontiac, AMC, what’s next? How about a 1974 Corvette...
View attachment 4281617
note: not mine, I sold it decades ago but it was identical in year, color and options as this one and probably in about as good of condition. Won a few shows with it. Loved that color, called Laguna Grey, not far off the color of the AMC you posted.

Always loved that body style.

I had a black '75 for a while but not nearly so pretty - one that I rescued out of a field & got working again (that doesn't sound like anything I would do.... ), then traded off for the next project

 

[JIO]

I don't remember the dates when they changed tuners, but the first versions were taller. Some report they were smoother. Mine are. One of the later versions is a little rough--but works just fine. I'd never spend money replacing them.
View attachment 4281611

Vs...
View attachment 4281612

As neither are authentic vintage style - I think the later, smaller ones look better.

Originals were reverse-wind Klusons which were also on same vintage Fenders.

 

[GBassNorth]

Always loved that body style.

I had a black '75 for a while but not nearly so pretty - one that I rescued out of a field & got working again (that doesn't sound like anything I would do.... ), then traded off for the next project

Kara, you crack me up! I love the way you roll, never hesitate to dive into a project, learn a ton on the way and move on to the next project. If everyone was as committed as you to making things better this would be a much nicer world. Some great people in this club, hats off to all of you!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Nice! Pontiac, AMC, what’s next? How about a 1974 Corvette...
View attachment 4281617
note: not mine, I sold it decades ago but it was identical in year, color and options as this one and probably in about as good of condition. Won a few shows with it. Loved that color, called Laguna Grey, not far off the color of the AMC you posted.

almost bought a white 75 (350/4bbl/man) about three weeks ago and schmoe backed out last minute...

 

[GonePlaid]

I know local bandleaders who will not hire you if you don’t bring an extra bass and (preferably) amp..

For what they pay around here they'll get what I bring("Cartage? We don't pay no stinkin' cartage!").
Saying that, I usually have my backup Epi EB-0 in the van, and a backup amp that 'lives' in there, but there ain't room anyplace we play to bring that[stuff]in.

 

[dagrev]

Having broken Es and As many times onstage, I always take a second bass, I play hard.

Apparently you play rough! And those are the big strings!

Fortunately I don't ever recall breaking a string while playing.

 

[GonePlaid]

If we had the whole night like you do (multiple sets) I would consider bringing a second bass, probably a fretless. All the gigs here are multiple bands per night and 45min sets @. I have never broke a string while playing and don't think I ever will - I just don't play that hard, especially with my current bands. Bringing a second small, easy to include amp (like my TC Electronics 250) for sure as I have had an amp fail mind-set.

We're lucky they'll pay(barely)1 band. Multiples? That'll be the day.(Hey! I could write a son...nah.)

 

[dagrev]

all this Pontiac talk....
View attachment 4281586

There is a hat, but I'm pretty sure that's not you…

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

For what they pay around here they'll get what I bring("Cartage? We don't pay no stinkin' cartage!").
Saying that, I usually have my backup Epi EB-0 in the van, and a backup amp that 'lives' in there, but there ain't room anyplace we play to bring that[stuff]in.

it’s not like you are expected to bring the back up stuff in or they check your transport but if you brake a string or blow a speaker and cannot rectify pronto it’s buh bye...

 

[dagrev]

Which one newer?

The shorter like the one in the pic.

 

[GonePlaid]

I hope they're paying, then. If you're not, then I'll play whatever I want, unless you give me a very good reason to do otherwise.

Eggzackly!

 

[dagrev]

As neither are authentic vintage style - I think the later, smaller ones look better.

Originals were reverse-wind Klusons which were also on same vintage Fenders.
View attachment 4281618

Yes indeed. I like the taller ones because the originals were taller. Other than that, not much similarities.

 

[GBassNorth]

almost bought a white 75 (350/4bbl/man) about three weeks ago and schmoe backed off last minute...

If buying a 1975 model Stingray the only one to look at is a Convertible. That was the last roadster built in the USA for a number of years.
Counting backwards, The 1974 was the first year with rubber front and rear bumpers and differed from the 1975 with a split rear bumper and higher horsepower. The 1973 was the first year for the rubber nose but still had the Chrome rear bumper and higher horse power. The 1972, 1971 and 1970 were all pretty much the same except with Chrome at each end and last of the really high HP options.
I also had a bright red 1971 convertible (for the wife) at the same time that I had the 1974 TTop (for me). Corvette club drives were fun through the Kentucky hills. The 1968 and 1969 Corvettes were the real hotrods but the big engines were pretty finicky and the fiberglass suffered a lot of stress cracking. 1970/71 is my favorite year for the C3 generation of Corvettes.

 

[BklynKen]

Any news on this Rex Brown Thunderbird we heard mentioned a while back?

 

[GonePlaid]

Any news on this Rex Brown Thunderbird we heard mentioned a while back?

Yes. They've been shipped-on board the "Mary Celeste".

 

[KaraQ]

Kara, you crack me up! I love the way you roll, never hesitate to dive into a project, learn a ton on the way and move on to the next project. If everyone was as committed as you to making things better this would be a much nicer world. Some great people in this club, hats off to all of you!

Thanks

The problem I have, though, is I never get really good at any one thing

But, I guess, it'd probably be pretty boring to be only good at one thing....

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

If buying a 1975 model Stingray the only one to look at is a Convertible. That was the last roadster built in the USA for a number of years.
Counting backwards, The 1974 was the first year with rubber front and rear bumpers and differed from the 1975 with a split rear bumper and higher horsepower. The 1973 was the first year for the rubber nose but still had the Chrome rear bumper and higher horse power. The 1972, 1971 and 1970 were all pretty much the same except with Chrome at each end and last of the really high HP options.
I also had a bright red 1971 convertible (for the wife) at the same time that I had the 1974 TTop (for me). Corvette club drives were fun through the Kentucky hills. The 1968 and 1969 Corvettes were the real hotrods but the big engines were pretty finicky and the fiberglass suffered a lot of stress cracking. 1970/71 is my favorite year for the C3 generation of Corvettes.

wanted it as a project car for my boy, myself, C2 mechanically injected 327 coupe kinda guy.....Shinoda’s sense of aesthetics was exquisite....beat many of the Italian carrozziere of the time imho....

 

[JIO]

We're lucky they'll pay(barely)1 band. Multiples? That'll be the day.(Hey! I could write a son...nah.)

That's exactly the point from most of the clubs end - at least 3 bands per night, and one joint in the Haight we played a few gigs at - 5 bands per night! Good for them as each band had their followers to spend money drinking and on top of that they charged a cover. Band would get zero money unless 50 people told the cover person at the door they were there to see that specific band. And no drink tickets for the band. That's how desperate it is in a once amazing city of live music. We were just getting started so it was more of a trail run for our band, but no more. And the clubs booker was a surly person. Life's too short.

At Winters Tavern in Pacifica, we have a closer association with the tavern owners and they always give us some money depending on keeping the small joint filled with people drinking. And 3 free drinks per band member. And no cover. They run a craft-beer tavern but also deeply love music and have dealt personally with bands for many years including Mike Watt, Jello Biafra and Agent Orange to name a few. I always look forward to playing there because it's a friendly environment. Plus, they had an incredibly tough time over the lock-down and dug in their heels to keep it going. They are real people - one of us, not "using us" for profit.

 

[GBassNorth]

Any news on this Rex Brown Thunderbird we heard mentioned a while back?

I'm hoping it happens. I already have a Rex Brown Spector Bird, if Eppi came out with one I'd buy it (in black) and have it Holo painted to match my Rex5 Pro.

 

[superdick2112]

That's exactly the point from most of the clubs end - at least 3 bands per night, and one joint in the Haight we played a few gigs at - 5 bands per night! Good for them as each band had their followers to spend money drinking and on top of that they charged a cover. Band would get zero money unless 50 people told the cover person at the door they were there to see that specific band. And no drink tickets for the band. That's how desperate it is in a once amazing city of live music. We were just getting started so it was more of a trail run for our band, but no more. And the clubs booker was a surly person. Life's too short.

This is how things still are in Denver - at least before the pandemic...

At Winters Tavern in Pacifica, we have a closer association with the tavern owners and they always give us some money depending on keeping the small joint filled with people drinking. And 3 free drinks per band member. And no cover. They run a craft-beer tavern but also deeply love music and have dealt personally with bands for many years including Mike Watt, Jello Biafra and Agent Orange to name a few. I always look forward to playing there because it's a friendly environment. Plus, they had an incredibly tough time over the lock-down and dug in their heels to keep it going. They are real people - one of us, not "using us" for profit.

...And this is how it should be everywhere.