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Thunderbird Club

#177,001
Platypus13 said:
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.
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I've been thinking about getting a new Embassy Pro(Almond or Black)to have a less expensive-read semi expendable-alternative to playing out with my 67 NR TBird.
 
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#177,003
TBird1958 said:
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.
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You should visit Scotland. I’d love to live in Edinburgh, but it just gets too damn crowded. Beautiful country. And once they warm up to you, wonderful people.
 
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#177,004
GBassNorth said:
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.
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I'd stay right here in Colorado, but I'd move out of Denver, closer to the western border of the state.
Grand Junction, Gunnison, Telluride - somewhere around there...

Gateway-canyons-at-sunset-horz.jpg

Gateway Resort - one of my favorite getaways. The rock formation in the background is called The Palisade. Stunning views, amazing fishing and perfect summer weather..

social-telluride-colorado-travel-guide.jpg

Telluride. No better place to spend a week in the fall or winter... Fantastic skiing, and fantastic locals. A serene & charming small town..

fc9a4fea95a8c943670cc6f64126f057.jpg

Storm Pass near Gunnison. When you need to get away - far away - from it all....
 
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#177,006
MCF said:
I never knew anyone who had one. SoCal in the mid to late seventies/early eighties was the height of Japanese car dominance. Surprisingly though, some people bought Pintos and Vegas. Never understood that. But I don’t think GM even tried to sell any Chevettes in SoCal. No point.
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A neighbor had one and let me use to go get a part for my not running van(Dodge Maxi). I thanked him-and never considered driving it again.:eek:
 
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#177,008
dukeorock said:
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!
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Mark, is the strap pin at the heel or on the upper 'bout? Mine sits pretty well on me using the pin at the heel, I'd agree with your thoughts about the neck, I wish it were just a little slimmer, more like my Gibsons, but not too much of an issue.
 
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#177,010
superdick2112 said:
I'd stay right here in Colorado, but I'd move out of Denver, closer to the western border of the state.
Grand Junction, Gunnison, Telluride - somewhere around there...

View attachment 4282330
Gateway Resort - one of my favorite getaways. The rock formation in the background is called The Palisade. Stunning views, amazing fishing and perfect summer weather..

View attachment 4282331
Telluride. No better place to spend a week in the fall or winter... Fantastic skiing, and fantastic locals. A serene & charming small town..

View attachment 4282332
Storm Pass near Gunnison. When you need to get away - far away - from it all....
Click to expand...


If I couldn't live in Washington, Colorado would likely be my choice, the place you posted pics from are familiar to me as I've visited some of them and they were also destinations for the railroad I model, the Rio Grande.
 
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#177,011
GonePlaid said:
I've been thinking about getting a new Embassy Pro(Almond or Black)to have a less expensive-read semi expendable-alternative to playing out with my 67 NR TBird.
Click to expand...
FWIW, being retired has a lotta perks. Great hours, lotsa free time to do whatever. Pay sux, though. Thus a ~$400 Embassy vs ~$1800 new TBird.
 
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#177,013
JIO said:
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.
Click to expand...
I guess you’ll not be selling the Burns then.
 
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#177,014
TBird1958 said:
Mark, is the strap pin at the heel or on the upper 'bout? Mine sits pretty well on me using the pin at the heel, I'd agree with your thoughts about the neck, I wish it were just a little slimmer, more like my Gibsons, but not too much of an issue.
Click to expand...
have heard this before...my neck must be an exception....you mean narrower?
Gen 2 & Greco
C5191D7B-0894-479B-8A6E-BAF727E058BE.jpeg

63381E7A-9636-4932-AB26-249D95784367.jpeg
 
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#177,016
GBassNorth said:
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 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.


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.


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 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.


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.


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.
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If abroad, south of France for me....have escaped snow twice, not about to.....
8EB30B2B-0B2C-4875-86A1-FD2B1D360463.jpeg

29336EB9-AEEF-4F4C-AD0D-7748AC580B97.jpeg
 
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#177,018
Platypus13 said:
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.
Click to expand...
Thunderbird. They tend to be much better made, Embassy's can sound different for some reason--darker in my experience, the Thunderbird is more comfortable (not crazy about the roundness of the Embassy) and the Embassy "may" have more of a neck dive issue. I know they tried to address this but how well I don't know. The originals are neck-divers first class. (I have one.) And, there's a reason the Thunderbirds cost more.
 
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