Thunderbird Club

[Engle]

My parents never understood my love of music, or at least not the type I was attracted to. I think I was just so different than the two of them that they just never understood who I was. They definitely didn't encourage my desire to learn to play guitar. Like our Queen I was into a lot of Glam and "Shock" rock. Alice, The Dolls, Kiss, Bowie/Ziggy were not bands my parents wanted me to listen to. My dad just thought I was nuts and my mom thought I was going to Hell, which the jury is still out on.

My daughter wanted to play guitar so we bought her the gear and paid for lessons. She was getting pretty good but rarely ever touches hers now. She went a completely different route and wanted to play acoustic and I fully supported that. I was just happy she had the interest and took it seriously. She does believe that Thunderbirds are the best basses, so thats a victory in my book. She has made it clear that she will be inheriting my 50th Anniversary Gold bass, but she may not be willing to wait until I am gone.

To all of you that supported your kids desire to play an instrument, I salute you.

It’s incredible when I think of the noise my mom endured with us teenagers playing in the basement! But she always said she was happy to know where I was.
She was a devout Mennonite Christian, but never bought into that “Rock is the Devil’s music” thing.

All you can do is try. My daughter is starting in the music program at Capilano University in September. She listens to pop/rock, but is more interested in playing classical music. I think she has a group lined up to play during the summer

 

[Nocturnal]

Mark, I like all of them - I'm pretty easy to please. Put some Ken Smith Rock Masters on the Greco it deserves better than dead Rotos.

Are those the strings you run on your Greco? I have a set of those and a set of the SIT strings and was debating. I am thinking the Smith's on the Greco and the SIT on the Epi CAR Bird since it is the darkest sounding bass I own.

 

[TBird1958]

Are those the strings you run on your Greco? I have a set of those and a set of the SIT strings and was debating. I am thinking the Smith's on the Greco and the SIT on the Epi CAR Bird since it is the darkest sounding bass I own.

Right now my Greco has SITs on it, I like them but I think the Ken Smith are a little better on that specific bass. I'm going to try the SITs on my White '89....

I did a YT of the Greco with the SITs will repost if you want.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Did another little test that borders on pointless. Recorded all four of my bird related basses into Logic, similar groove and attack, but it has some serious handicaps...
Bass 1 is the Cataldo NR41 with brand new DR Pure Blues strings. I don’t love these strings.
Bass 2 is the Fano JM4 with Cobalt Flats
Bass 3 is the Greco ‘Bird with a set of Rotos that have seen better days
Bass 4 is the ‘02 Gibson with Fender Roundwounds. Did two long shows (one outdoors) on the strings, so they’re not dead, but not what they were new


4 TBirds Test

Like Andy says, not fair but for me..
TBird
Greco
Cataldo
Fano

I got old Rotos on my Greco and that’s how it’s staying..

 

[JIO]

My Dad just couldn't stand the music I liked, he was a Big Band kind of guy - my music was '70s Glam.
He was a good father for sure, but this one point on which we never met, it's a wonderful thing to see though, your boys are up there and having a great time and you are right there with them giving that encouragement and making memories that they'll keep always. In my book that counts for a lot.

My dad was also from the big band/swing era (WWII/Air Force vet) and liked great pop singers like Tony Bennett, Teresa Brewer, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Peggy Lee et al. One of his favorites was Bobby Darin singing Mack the Knife. He liked that I was in a high-school combo even if he was ambivalent about what we played. (Sympathy For the Devil?) He actually liked Penny Lane by the Beatles and Whiskey Bar (Alabama Song) by the Doors (1929 by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, which he was savvy about). Didn't interfere with my musical interests in any way and actually helped me build stage-light towers. (hot colored flood-lights like at a drag-strip!) We also built my 1st bass amp together - a Heathkit.

I didn't hate the music he listened to, or rebelled against it by listening to Hendrix, Cream, Vanilla Fudge and the Doors - I just wasn't interested in it then. Oddly enough I've grown to love singers of that era who were/are famous, and for good reason. In fact, my most favorite male singer reminds me of those artists.

 

[GBassNorth]

Did another little test that borders on pointless. Recorded all four of my bird related basses into Logic, similar groove and attack, but it has some serious handicaps...
Bass 1 is the Cataldo NR41 with brand new DR Pure Blues strings. I don’t love these strings.
Bass 2 is the Fano JM4 with Cobalt Flats
Bass 3 is the Greco ‘Bird with a set of Rotos that have seen better days
Bass 4 is the ‘02 Gibson with Fender Roundwounds. Did two long shows (one outdoors) on the strings, so they’re not dead, but not what they were new


4 TBirds Test

First of all, considering the strings and the basses it’s amazing how much they all sound alike. Second observation is - you play very well. Third observation is, your Greco sounds pretty laid back compared to mine. My preference (and I’m splitting hairs here) is the Gibby first, Greco second, Cataldo third and Fano fourth.

 

[dukeorock]

If you're asking, I prefer the Cataldo. I was waiting for the Greco to blow me away. It didn't. It does sound good though. I like all four, but the Cataldo is closest to the tone I like.

Based on that recording, I couldn’t agree more! The Cataldo is the only one with fresh strings though, which gives it an advantage. The Fano has flats, which changes things and the Rotos on the Greco are fairly dead. That said, the Cataldo and Gibson are my favorite in this ‘test,’ but they were before the test anyway

 

[dukeorock]

Mark, I like all of them - I'm pretty easy to please. Put some Ken Smith Rock Masters on the Greco it deserves better than dead Rotos.

Exactly! It really would transform that bass

 

[dukeorock]

I know its not really a fair test with the strings, but my preferences are:
1: Cataldo
2: Gibson by a hair
3: Greco, Just barely loses to the Gibson
4: Fano

My exact thoughts on this test! Really though, I think they all sound pretty darn good and I feel like I could make any of em work. In order of playability/balance/weight
1. Fano
2. Gibson
3. Cataldo
4. Greco

 

[dukeorock]

First of all, considering the strings and the basses it’s amazing how much they all sound alike. Second observation is - you play very well. Third observation is, your Greco sounds pretty laid back compared to mine. My preference (and I’m splitting hairs here) is the Gibby first, Greco second, Cataldo third and Fano fourth.

I was also a bit surprised that they didn’t sound more different, considering the strings

 

[JIO]

I was also a bit surprised that they didn’t sound more different, considering the strings

I agree - other than the one with new strings and the one with flats (easy to discern) - they all sounded pretty much the same... like a T-bird.

 

[dagrev]

interesting you say that, was watching Brazil play Argentina for the America cup final, and the commentators were redacting the game….when one would go off on an anecdote the other would cut him off and continued to comment on the game….thinking out aloud I said “lighten up, don’t cut him off, can’t you watch what’s happening?” then my wife reminded me that the majority were probably listening to the game on the good ‘ole RADIO…

I often turn the TV volume down and listen to some games on the radio. I really like the old mystery drama's that stations use to play. Even as kid I would find a station and listen in bed at night. Actually had to use your brain and imagination. Cool stuff.

 

[dagrev]

My father too was a musical bigot. If it wasn't Django Reinhardt, Barney Kessel, Count Basie, Duke Ellington... I wasn't worth listening to.

It wasn't. What was wrong with you?



OK, just kidding, just kidding. I like most Big Band, but some of the pure Jazz then (and now) is less satisfying than hearing the toilet flush.

 

[dagrev]

I listen to as much baseball as I watch, which is a lot. The Dodger radio team of Rick Monday and Charlie Steiner are way better than the TV guys. It's a great sport to have on in the background while practicing with my Thunderbirds.

Rick Monday! One of my favorite players back then.

 

[MCF]

My parents never understood my love of music, or at least not the type I was attracted to. I think I was just so different than the two of them that they just never understood who I was. They definitely didn't encourage my desire to learn to play guitar. Like our Queen I was into a lot of Glam and "Shock" rock. Alice, The Dolls, Kiss, Bowie/Ziggy were not bands my parents wanted me to listen to. My dad just thought I was nuts and my mom thought I was going to Hell, which the jury is still out on.

I totally forgot, my mom enrolled me and my sister in piano lessons. I think I had lessons for about 6 months but my sister did it for about 18 months. My Pee-Wee football career interfered with the piano so I stopped playing piano.

My daughter wanted to play guitar so we bought her the gear and paid for lessons. She was getting pretty good but rarely ever touches hers now. She went a completely different route and wanted to play acoustic and I fully supported that. I was just happy she had the interest and took it seriously. She does believe that Thunderbirds are the best basses, so thats a victory in my book. She has made it clear that she will be inheriting my 50th Anniversary Gold bass, but she may not be willing to wait until I am gone.

To all of you that supported your kids desire to play an instrument, I salute you.

My parents were generally tolerant. Black Sabboth though, put Dad over the edge every time. I could play Beatles, CSNY, Yes, Kinks, and the like in the living room. Sabboth was strictly a bedroom band. With headphones when Dad was home.

 

[dagrev]

Thanks ... the rest?

More clips! The whole show!

 

[MCF]

Rick Monday! One of my favorite players back then.

Mine too. He's a very nice man.

 

[dagrev]

Did another little test that borders on pointless. Recorded all four of my bird related basses into Logic, similar groove and attack, but it has some serious handicaps...
Bass 1 is the Cataldo NR41 with brand new DR Pure Blues strings. I don’t love these strings.
Bass 2 is the Fano JM4 with Cobalt Flats
Bass 3 is the Greco ‘Bird with a set of Rotos that have seen better days
Bass 4 is the ‘02 Gibson with Fender Roundwounds. Did two long shows (one outdoors) on the strings, so they’re not dead, but not what they were new

DR Pure Blues were one of the least interesting strings I ever tried. Maybe I was expecting too much.

 

[dukeorock]

DR Pure Blues were one of the least interesting strings I ever tried. Maybe I was expecting too much.

I don’t like them at all! I just had a set laying around

 

[MCF]

Are those the strings you run on your Greco? I have a set of those and a set of the SIT strings and was debating. I am thinking the Smith's on the Greco and the SIT on the Epi CAR Bird since it is the darkest sounding bass I own.

SIT Power Steels and and Dunlop stainless Marcus Miller Super Brights sound really good on the Limited Edition Epi Fours. IMO.