Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

Which begs the question - if you (or any club member here) could retire to any place in the US and gig with your bird for the rest of your playing days where would it be? What if you and your bird could gig into your old age anywhere in the world, where would that be?

No need to explain why (keep politics out of it) just list where you'd love to play your bird until your dying days.

Baja close enough?...

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Which begs the question - if you (or any club member here) could retire to any place in the US and gig with your bird for the rest of your playing days where would it be? What if you and your bird could gig into your old age anywhere in the world, where would that be?

No need to explain why (keep politics out of it) just list where you'd love to play your bird until your dying days.

For the US, I'd probably just stay right here (Austin area). Although lots pf laces west of here are tempting.

Anywhere? Edinburgh. Once you're there, there are so many places easy to get to. And I know musicians there and a number of places reasonably nearby.

 

[JIO]

Just back from our Bond Girl rehearsal. Took the Burns of London Vista Sonic and wow - just wow. This was its first 'outing' since I restored it, which was during early Covid lockdown. Gotta say - it's a fantastic sounding/playing bass. Medium scale, as long as a P or J and a bit on the heavy side, but what a great tone it has. I have it strung with La Bella flats and have a thin foam pad under the bridge cover for minimal muting. Feels great, sounds plunky, defined and still fundamentally fundamental (bass-y) - exactly the sound I go for and perfect for this band. But that's just the bass...

The evolving exit from Covid lockdown return to rehearsing/playing with both The Sean Conneries and Bond Girl has disclosed a more mature/closer connection/approach to creating as a band in both cases. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" in this case is true - as in, like creative souls re-connecting stronger. I heard it tonight through the rough-edges of not playing the material regularly - when it connected, it really connected. The feel was there. Bond Girl hasn't played for a few years, but it's all still there - just needs revisiting. (and remembering!) We have a month before our show - time to lock it in.

 

[KaraQ]

If outside of the US?

I dunno....probably either Japan, or one of the Scandinavian countries, maybe Norway

 

[GBassNorth]

Awready retired and I like this area(Stuart, FL), but probably Mt. Dora, FL-a little north of the Mouse's house.

Sounds like Florida is where your heart is, and for a person that's driven all over the country that says a lot. I spent some time in the Long Boat Key area west of Mickeys castle on the gulf coast and loved that area. Never been to Mt. Dora though.

I honestly need to see more of this world, like New Zealand and Scotland for example........
For what I know right now it would be Pt Angeles, WA. it's a small (but not too small) town surrounded by beauty, it's affordable, has a music scene, good food, nice people.......So that's the plan for Frank and I.

I find that as I get older the small town lifestyle appeals even more to me. Not so far out that you feel isolated but not so urban that you feel claustrophobic. Funny you should mention New Zealand and Scotland, many places in Washington state along the rugged coastline remind me of those places.

When I was growing up in TN in the '70s-'80s, I think that's why some people had kids - so they could get out & push to help their car up the hills....
(not a joke, either)

Absolutely not a joke, some of those hollers in eastern KY and TN have steep narrow twisty unpaved roads. In the snow and heavy rain I've done my share of pushing cars out of ditches and up hills, and frequently there were neighbor kids to help with the shove as well.

First gig with the GrecoBird done and dusted! A mind blowing local instrumentalist named Robbie Crowell pretty much insisted I buy one (he even found this one for me!) because he considers them to be way better than a Gibson. Let’s find out

Pros- this one is personal, but this bass sounds a lot like my beloved Fano JM4 that was recently stolen. I’m glad to have that sound back! Very punchy bass.
It looks pretty nice.
It plays pretty nice. Plays as nice as my Fano or Gibson TBird? Well, no. But it does play nicely.

Cons- it’s a bit heavier than the Gibson, but not terribly and I’m not really that sensitive about that sort of thing.
Big Con- Neck Dive!!! My Gibson has no neck dive at all. Not even a tiny bit. I might try to experiment with strap button location, but it’s kind of a drag. We’ll see. My NR has some neck dive and I just kinda got over it, so maybe that’ll be the case here.

Gotta get some strap locks and ditch the Rotos that are on it, but bottom line is it’s a good looking and great sounding bass!

I'd second most of your pros and cons. On mine, the sound is to die for but my Gibby Anniversary Bird plays more effortlessly (LOL - dare I say like butter). I just realized, I haven't ever strapped mine on, only played it seated, it might be neck heavy also, will have to give that a try in the morning. I have a well worn in set of TI Jazz flats on mine and can't imagine a better sounding string for this bass.

Baja close enough?...
View attachment 4282187

Baja is Baja, it's miles and miles and miles of its own little world where you can be as laid back as you want and let your worries melt away in the warm sun and soothing surf. Possibly one of the least stressful and most relaxing places on earth.

For the US, I'd probably just stay right here (Austin area). Although lots pf laces west of here are tempting.

Anywhere? Edinburgh. Once you're there, there are so many places easy to get to. And I know musicians there and a number of places reasonably nearby.

Fantastic music scene in Austin last time I was there about 25 years ago, I assume it's only gotten better. That and Nashville strike me as two excellent places for a gigging artist to retire.

I dunno....probably either Japan, or one of the Scandinavian countries, maybe Norway

Spent a lot of business time in Japan. The countryside outside of the cities is breathtaking. The big cities are their own world with everything you can imagine to see and do. It can be a pretty closed society to outsiders and places some very high values on tradition and culture. In my business dealings there just in the last ten years or so, there was still a very different expectation for women vs men (to the point that I felt uncomfortable at times). But everyone I interacted with there was very friendly and polite all the time.

 

[JIO]

Cons- it’s a bit heavier than the Gibson, but not terribly and I’m not really that sensitive about that sort of thing.
Big Con- Neck Dive!!! My Gibson has no neck dive at all. Not even a tiny bit. I might try to experiment with strap button location, but it’s kind of a drag. We’ll see. My NR has some neck dive and I just kinda got over it, so maybe that’ll be the case here.

Gotta get some strap locks and ditch the Rotos that are on it, but bottom line is it’s a good looking and great sounding bass!

Nice to find expression through an instrument! (congrats!) Yes, T-birds are nowhere near the worst neck-divers. The myth is keep alive by lazy repeaters of mis-information that makes them feel like they have real insight in the matter. (which pathetically... they don't)

 

[PillO]

Which begs the question - if you (or any club member here) could retire to any place in the US and gig with your bird for the rest of your playing days where would it be? What if you and your bird could gig into your old age anywhere in the world, where would that be?

No need to explain why (keep politics out of it) just list where you'd love to play your bird until your dying days.

Just one??? That is a challenge. In fact, not doable.
In no particular order... Alaska, Kyoto, Southern Italy, Stockholm, Singapore

 

[Bassmike62]

Happy TT..T !

Thunderbird and Traynor... with Tubes.

 

[dagrev]

Pretty soon Nevada will be able to say that.

Well much the US has been covered with water before and about half of it with ice before as well. So anything can happen again. Don't mind beaches closer but don't want the ice any closer!

 

[Larry V]

Some Thunderbird action from last night's debut show for my sons' new band.

My oldest son moved to rhythm and the newest member took over on bass. The set starts off in Eb which is played on my TBird and then it moves to standard E and Steve the new guy plays his Ibanez.

If you hit the "show more", there's hot links to the start of the individual songs so you can sample their performance if you'd like. My favorites are Mr. Brownstone, Crazy Train and Seek 'n Destroy.

Looking for comments both positive and constructive in criticism. Thx!

https://youtu.be/E8v2yTtzhE8?t=25

 

[roccobass]

Which begs the question - if you (or any club member here) could retire to any place in the US and gig with your bird for the rest of your playing days where would it be? What if you and your bird could gig into your old age anywhere in the world, where would that be?

No need to explain why (keep politics out of it) just list where you'd love to play your bird until your dying days.

Here, or out west, North West.

I still love Morro Bay.

I’m with you on Morro Bay. That or any stretch of the California Central Coast from Morro to Cambria. It’s so beautiful.

 

[PillO]

Probably Dublin.

Beautiful lush green countryside.

So, we are not talking Dublin CA or Dublin OH, Dublin TX ...

 

[PillO]

There hadda be one-and you found it.

Actually, there is the original and the 2...

 

[Bassmike62]

And of course, working with the Thunderbird Tshirt is mandatory on TT chez la maison de Mike.

 

[roccobass]

Wasn’t sure if someone has beaten me to it. Correct me if I’m wrong, but shouldn’t this tune be the theme song for this thread? (Aka: The Bird is the Word)

 

[PillO]

Happy TT..T !

Thunderbird and Traynor... with Tubes.

View attachment 4282249

The voice of god right there! And I love the look of the 1510 -

 

[GonePlaid]

Happy TT..T !

Thunderbird and Traynor... with Tubes.

View attachment 4282249

A dream rig-long as I ain't gots to move it.

 

[Platypus13]

Hoping to find some input and guidance, if not sage wisdom, from you fine folks.

I currently have both an Epi Tbird 60’s bass (V-Pro) (tobacco burst), and an Embassy Pro (wanderlust green) on pre order. I’m looking for that classic Tbird sound, which I don’t have with any other basses. I need to nix one of these soon, but every time I think I’ve made up my mind, it changes again.

My pragmatic side says go with the Embassy because when all’s said & done it costs about 1/2 of the Tbird, which leaves cash to do an electronics upgrade on another bass. Problem is, I just can’t seem to get excited about the Embassy, especially due to Epiphone’s decision to extend the bass horn and lose the batwing headstock on the Pro, the two features that, IMO, made the otherwise ordinary looking Deluxe, kinda sexy. The Tbird on the otherhand is drop dead gorgeous. I’ll say that I kinda prefer the look of NR’s, though I don’t think I’ll ever be able to justify the cost. Any input to help sway my decision is greatly appreciated.

 

[GonePlaid]

Some Thunderbird action from last night's debut show for my sons' new band.

My oldest son moved to rhythm and the newest member took over on bass. The set starts off in Eb which is played on my TBird and then it moves to standard E and Steve the new guy plays his Ibanez.

If you hit the "show more", there's hot links to the start of the individual songs so you can sample their performance if you'd like. My favorites are Mr. Brownstone, Crazy Train and Seek 'n Destroy.

Looking for comments both positive and constructive in criticism. Thx!

https://youtu.be/E8v2yTtzhE8?t=25

Sounds good so far. I'll get back to it when I'm a bit more awake.

 

[dukeorock]

Hoping to find some input and guidance, if not sage wisdom, from you fine folks.

I currently have both an Epi Tbird 60’s bass (V-Pro) (tobacco burst), and an Embassy Pro (wanderlust green) on pre order. I’m looking for that classic Tbird sound, which I don’t have with any other basses. I need to nix one of these soon, but every time I think I’ve made up my mind, it changes again.

My pragmatic side says go with the Embassy because when all’s said & done it costs about 1/2 of the Tbird, which leaves cash to do an electronics upgrade on another bass. Problem is, I just can’t seem to get excited about the Embassy, especially due to Epiphone’s decision to extend the bass horn and lose the batwing headstock on the Pro, the two features that, IMO, made the otherwise ordinary looking Deluxe, kinda sexy. The Tbird on the otherhand is drop dead gorgeous. I’ll say that I kinda prefer the look of NR’s, though I don’t think I’ll ever be able to justify the cost. Any input to help sway my decision is greatly appreciated.

VP by a mile, to me!