Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

Greco alert.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Greco-TB-700-Thunderbird-Red-1990-Made-in-Japan-Bass-Guitar-Very-Rare-Vintage-QQ-/184646792149

Looks like it was stored in a damp basement, but other than that looks to be in decent shape. Hopefully the electronics are not affected by the moisture, or the neck. Were I in the position, I think I would bite since it has both PUs. I haven't been keeping up with what they go for, but I could live with it. The red looks great. Flashy, like me. Well, not really.

 

[GBassNorth]

My maple BlondeBird is too bright with RS66s so I think I’m going to try the SITs.

I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on them. I was always under the impression that SITs were relatively bright strings, consequently I’ve never tried them, always on the hunt for deep/dark/rich sounding strings with a tight bottom end and subdued top end.

I’m currently working thru a set of Boomers right now. After a couple of weeks of playing I’m finding the D and A strings sound glorious, but the G is a bit thin and the E is a bit boomy. Once they’re completely broken in I’ll change up my EQ a bit to see if they balance out more.

 

[BklynKen]

Totally worth it, even with the roachy hardware - An Epiphone 3 point would fit it.

Looks like it was stored in a damp basement, but other than that looks to be in decent shape. Hopefully the electronics are not affected by the moisture, or the neck. Were I in the position, I think I would bite since it has both PUs. I haven't been keeping up with what they go for, but I could live with it. The red looks great. Flashy, like me. Well, not really.

I love worn, aged hardware (ahem). I'd be happy to put those black pickups in one of my basses.

 

[PillO]

always on the hunt for ... with a tight bottom end and subdued top end.

Reads better this way? And aren't we all...

 

[PillO]

Coming from a tech background, I understand the need for salespeople, but it’s the techs that deliver the product.

I both agree and disagree...

Perhaps the better way to say it is that the salesman closes the deal.

 

[TBird1958]

Reads better this way? And aren't we all...

No, sometimes it's the other way 'round.

 

[Carlos Azevedo]

I don’t have them on my Thunderbird but have a set on my P-bass. CJ Ramone uses them, they’re great for that aggressive, downstroke style and have a decent life.

As someone who loves CJ HELL YEAH, CJ uses my favorite P bass setup, he has been killing it with the great matt freeman (a monster bass player) squier bass, with a brass nut, high mass bridge, and yes, he keeps the spirit alive with a massive downstroking technique just like a good Ramone. Never thought about seeing a fellow downstroker in this club ​

 

[Engle]

Doing some matte black stickers and thought I’d add a bird to my MIJ Burns NR shaped object. The upper bout has that selector switch in the way.

 

[11th Street Kid]

As someone who loves CJ HELL YEAH, CJ uses my favorite P bass setup, he has been killing it with the great matt freeman (a monster bass player) squier bass, with a brass nut, high mass bridge, and yes, and he keeps the spirit alive with a massive downstroking technique just like a good Ramone. Never thought about seeing a fellow downstroker in this club ​

Hello, brother! CJ’s solo stuff is absolutely top drawer, love it! I love jamming out some Ramones tunes on my P-bass and absolutely always use the authentic technique when doing so. I do it through a VT Bass DI or should I call it a VT Dee Dee in a Box? I’ve started using the triangular Tortex picks for that style, you can hammer nails all day with those!

Downstroked Thunderbird sounds awesome as well although I don’t do it exclusively, depends what I’m playing.

 

[Carlos Azevedo]

Hello, brother! CJ’s solo stuff is absolutely top drawer, love it! I love jamming out some Ramones tunes on my P-bass and absolutely always use the authentic technique when doing so. I do it through a VT Bass DI or should I call it a VT Dee Dee in a Box? I’ve started using the triangular Tortex picks for that style, you can hammer nails all day with those!

Downstroked Thunderbird sounds awesome as well although I don’t do it exclusively, depends what I’m playing.

Hahaha, the VT Bass DI should be called VT Dee Dee for sure, I will get my Thunderbird in a couple days, I have always been a die hard P bass fan, and exclusively use a regular gator 1.5mm pick with my all downpicking technique, guess who my bass heros are and I tested a Thunderbird a couple weeks ago and loved it a lot, funny how versatile the thunderbird is. Glad to see all this amazing people out here with great thunder machines!!!

 

[TBird1958]

Hahaha, the VT Bass DI should be called VT Dee Dee for sure, I will get my Thunderbird in a couple days, I have always been a die hard P bass fan, and exclusively use a regular gator 1.5mm pick with my all downpicking technique, guess who my bass heros are and I tested a Thunderbird a couple weeks ago and loved it a lot, funny how versatile the thunderbird is. Glad to see all this amazing people out here with great thunder machines!!!

A pick and downstroke = ignition switch for a Thunderbird. You're in for a good time!

 

[Gaolee]

This is one of the few times the Northwest is hotter than California. Not good. It’s 98 down here. I feel sorry for Salem, Or. I have friends there. Calling for 115 degrees tomorrow! Is this for real?

Yes, it sure is. Somebody will have medical problems up here.

 

[Gaolee]

Congrats on landing another Thunderbird!

Ah, who needs a mint bass? Do they sound better? It's got some life on it but that sucker is going to sound fantastic and you don't have to worry about the first scuff and...you got a great deal!!

The taller tuners are the first version. Note that both my VPs are Wilkinsons which made both styles. I like the tall tuners simply because they are taller like the old tuners. My first gen tuners on the burst all all smooth, but one on the white VP is a little rough. Both sets tune and hold tune which is the task assigned so I've never though of changing either of them.
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My black one has tuners like your white one. Funny thing is that I ran it through the wireless for a bit last night, and it was a whole lot tamer. I remembered that the Broughton was set to deal with feedback when playing the upright through an amp. Unfortunately, I remembered that this morning. It

 

[Gaolee]

Y’all hotter than central Tejas this week.

Yep. I was in San Antonio yesterday morning. It was cooler than here.

 

[11th Street Kid]

Hahaha, the VT Bass DI should be called VT Dee Dee for sure, I will get my Thunderbird in a couple days, I have always been a die hard P bass fan, and exclusively use a regular gator 1.5mm pick with my all downpicking technique, guess who my bass heros are and I tested a Thunderbird a couple weeks ago and loved it a lot, funny how versatile the thunderbird is. Glad to see all this amazing people out here with great thunder machines!!!

Don’t be surprised if you have to roll off a fair bit of low end with the Thunderbird when doing downstrokes. There’ll still be plenty there but you’ll be amazed at what an earth shaker it is!

 

[Carlos Azevedo]

A pick and downstroke = ignition switch for a Thunderbird. You're in for a good time!

Cannot wait for mine to arrive!

 

[Carlos Azevedo]

Don’t be surprised if you have to roll off a fair bit of low end with the Thunderbird when doing downstrokes. There’ll still be plenty there but you’ll be amazed at what an earth shaker it is!

When I tested a friend's Thunderbird I noticed the EQ had to be changed from my usual P bass or Music Man bass, but sometimes I love that brutal low end, still the Thunderbird has is unique lovely voicing.

 

[11th Street Kid]

When I tested a friend's Thunderbird I noticed the EQ had to be changed from my usual P bass or Music Man bass, but sometimes I love that brutal low end, still the Thunderbird has is unique lovely voicing.

Yeah, the “typical” EQ for my P-bass and my Thunderbird are quite different.

 

[dagrev]

My black one has tuners like your white one. Funny thing is that I ran it through the wireless for a bit last night, and it was a whole lot tamer. I remembered that the Broughton was set to deal with feedback when playing the upright through an amp. Unfortunately, I remembered that this morning. It

I don't recall ever having the same strings on both VPs at the same time to know for sure, but I believe the burst VP is slightly more tame than the white. PUs are as close to the same height as I can get, but something makes is a tad softer in some ways. The white is just aggressive (if/when desired).

 

[dagrev]

A pick and downstroke = ignition switch for a Thunderbird. You're in for a good time!

When I got the '06 Gibson I started playing more than normal with a pick to bring out a little definition which that bass needs. I now play about 75% of the time with a pick on every bass. Used to be about 70% or so with fingers, but I'm liking and using a pick more and more. I think this is called pick fluidity maybe! I do think that Thunderbirds were almost made for pick playing.