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Thunderbird Club

#180,602
Miles_ONeal said:
I kept Rotosound Angry Piano strings on the VP for a good while. While I appreciate the sound, I just didn’t want it for anything I play. (I’m no Ox.Maybe in a group with another bass player?) The VP was becoming a case queen. I even considered selling. But then I put the EBCFs back on and fell in love again. She’s the bird for tomorrow.
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I can understand that. I've not tried Roto 66s on a VP, but the NPS Rotos sound great, and no angry piano. I get the EBCFs--they did sound great on a VP, but I have this problem..... I'll be using the burst VP with Boomers tomorrow. My favorite string for VPs. The white has Roto flats.
 
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#180,607
My non-Thunderbird project for this evening.....

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(it's long overdue - I've had this stuff sitting around since just before the Covid-times :unsure: )
 
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#180,609
dagrev said:
Didn't you mention some dive and didn't like the poly finish? If you really like the tone, those things can be addressed and mitigated at least some. I'm not crazy about poly either and love the feel of lacquer, but wouldn't want to give up a VP for that reason. Shoot I had a Ric that was sticky and my '76 Thunderbird, and I assume both are lacquer. But if you can't go them I understand, but hate to see you pass on a tone you love over somethings and might be addressed to make it better. But we likes what we likes! And what we don't, just won't work.
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The neck dive and finish are not a problem, but the weight is a bit of a turn-off, or maybe VPs are balanced differently, I don't know...
 
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#180,615
dagrev said:
That's really sad about the Gibson. Very disappointing. You'd think that as they try to turn things around they would be really paying attention to what goes out the door and want to make great impressions. It seems Epi VPs get better QC.
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My VP, Casady and Eppi Hummingbird all have higher quality finishes, except it’s poly.
I should mention there was a LP Doublecut in trans black. That had the finish where they don’t try to fill the pores. It looked and played great!
 
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#180,616
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Most of my basses are strung with Rotosound RS66LD 105-45 just about all I use for the most part. There are exceptions of course Hofners, Kliras and my Fretless Precisions get Labella Deep Talk'n Flats.
Over the years I have had plenty of basses that wouldn't tolerate the tension of the Rotosound 105-45 gauge strings , most would be moved down the line, others relegated to be dropped a half step tuning.
Most notably in my collection my '76 Ibanez Destroyer and my '77 Thunderbird were relegated to half step tuning and as a consequence saw little use. Well the light bulb went off and I purchased some lighter gauge Rotosound and Ernie Ball strings for a number of basses and I am really happy with the results, nice low action without the struggle. Seems like a no brainer but the internet strikes again! String choices locally have always been pretty limited so I am enjoying ordering custom sets for specific basses. Heres my '77 with a brand new set of light gauge nickle Rotosounds, I'm trying to get used to the blue silk ends lol. While all of this seems really obvious keeping 60 plus basses in strings is a task and my preference for standard gauge Rotosounds is deep rooted.
 
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#180,618
godofthunder59 said:
Most of my basses are strung with Rotosound RS66LD 105-45 just about all I use for the most part. There are exceptions of course Hofners, Kliras and my Fretless Precisions get Labella Deep Talk'n Flats.
Over the years I have had plenty of basses that wouldn't tolerate the tension of the Rotosound 105-45 gauge strings , most would be moved down the line, others relegated to be dropped a half step tuning.
Most notably in my collection my '76 Ibanez Destroyer and my '77 Thunderbird were relegated to half step tuning and as a consequence saw little use. Well the light bulb went off and I purchased some lighter gauge Rotosound and Ernie Ball strings for a number of basses and I am really happy with the results, nice low action without the struggle. Seems like a no brainer but the internet strikes again! String choices locally have always been pretty limited so I am enjoying ordering custom sets for specific basses. Heres my '77 with a brand new set of light gauge nickle Rotosounds, I'm trying to get used to the blue silk ends lol.View attachment 4337822 View attachment 4337823
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Ever notice in Geddy’s book, almost every bass has RS66s?
 
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#180,619
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#180,620
Miles_ONeal said:
You're thinking "Did he whack the wall six times or only five?" Now, to tell you the truth, I've forgotten myself in all this excitement. But being this is a Thunderbird, the most powerful bass guitar in the world and the headstock will blow your head clean off, you've gotta ask yourself a question: “Do I feel lucky?”
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:roflmao:
 
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