godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,058
- 38,412
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
As a matter of fact, yes
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- club thunderbird
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
More polite than Oakland fans.Kinda curious-from a distance-what Vegas Raiders fans are gonna be like.
I've not weighed them, but the VPs seem to weigh a tad more than my '06 Gibson, which is perfect in fit and feel. Just a dream to play. Some on the interwebs complained about QC on those, but mine is about as close to perfect as one gets in that respect.
Every time I see/hear that expression, I remember I once backed up a would be singer named Danny Tadmore. Real name, IIRC.
I'm going to find out, the stadium is 80 miles from my winter home
I spend a fair amount in Las Vegas, may be able to hear them from Fremont Street (Downtown Vegas).
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My non-Thunderbird project for this evening.....
View attachment 4337767
(it's long overdue - I've had this stuff sitting around since just before the Covid-times)
Yes!
But this one, it also multiplies!
Not sure about division, but hopefully?
Progress is.....in progress?
Thunderbird!
Nice! I’ve seen a newer cherry sunburst one (2018)that was really nice. The black one I was looking at today was light and played great once halfway adjusted. Maybe someone at the factory figured it was safer to loosen the truss rod when shipping during the summer?
I feel the same way about my 2013. Pretty perfect.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Mine is most definitely heavier than the Gibsons, but I don't notice once it's strapped on. It also has a bit of neck dive that the Gibsons don't have. I didn't like the way the back of the neck felt. That's solved. I sanded the finish with fine sandpaper. Now it's a matte finish that feels a whole lot more like nitro and a whole lot less like a plastic bag. That bass is completely mine now, I guess. Although the previous owner managed to corrode all of the metal parts just enough for it to have a patina, and the knobs are black replacement knobs instead of the vintage gold ones. On a bass that's black and silver and white, gold knobs would have been one color too many anyway.
The gold knobs are something I don't care for, either. Since all the VPs have chrome hardware, they really should've had silver knobs. Imo.
Although, a black VP with gold hardware/knobs might've looked pretty good.
- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
I gotta say, my experiences have been the opposite. Both of my Gibson TBirds (‘02 and ‘14) were perfect in every way. Balance, set up, fit and finish. I bought one of the first Embassy Pros from Zzounds and it was comically bad. Tried another one at a Sam Ash that might’ve been even worse. The first VP ‘Bird I tried wasn’t that great either, though I’ve since tried others that were very nice. I still think my Gibsons play better, weigh less and have nicer finishes. Which isn’t to say I wouldn’t play a VP because they are a steal for the price. My Epi JC I had was as nice as anything I’ve ever played. The Epi Viola bass is surprisingly good, but I have a ‘67 Hofner, so...
I’ve heard quite a few horror stories about Gibson QC and I’m not discounting that, but I’ve owned a ton of Gibson guitars and basses and only one would I describe as less than top notch. I could just be lucky!
Here is a short gig report from yesterday.
The venue turned out to be quite a small backyard, so my R200 combo alone would have been more than enough. But I wanted to try chaining my Rumbles anyway, so I did it, and it looks cooler too
. I could also connect to PA, so I did that too. As there was a sound guy it was easier for us to let him control the FOH sound.
My Orville sounded super though my Rumble (as usual), and also I got compliments on my sound from the audience, so I guess the sound guy knew what he was doing.
I was running with the neck pup full, bridge off and tone almost full, (maybe at 8 or 9).
The playing went good, the place was full of dancing people, and we got a lot of compliments on our playing and sound. And it was so nice to play out in front of people again
And sorry, no action pics or videos (maybe some will pop up later, I saw many filming and taking pictures), so here is just one I took when when we were setting up.
The venue turned out to be quite a small backyard, so my R200 combo alone would have been more than enough. But I wanted to try chaining my Rumbles anyway, so I did it, and it looks cooler too
. I could also connect to PA, so I did that too. As there was a sound guy it was easier for us to let him control the FOH sound.My Orville sounded super though my Rumble (as usual), and also I got compliments on my sound from the audience, so I guess the sound guy knew what he was doing.
I was running with the neck pup full, bridge off and tone almost full, (maybe at 8 or 9).
The playing went good, the place was full of dancing people, and we got a lot of compliments on our playing and sound. And it was so nice to play out in front of people again
And sorry, no action pics or videos (maybe some will pop up later, I saw many filming and taking pictures), so here is just one I took when when we were setting up.
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Nah, they knew you were getting them so they took extra care.I gotta say, my experiences have been the opposite. Both of my Gibson TBirds (‘02 and ‘14) were perfect in every way. Balance, set up, fit and finish. I bought one of the first Embassy Pros from Zzounds and it was comically bad. Tried another one at a Sam Ash that might’ve been even worse. The first VP ‘Bird I tried wasn’t that great either, though I’ve since tried others that were very nice. I still think my Gibsons play better, weigh less and have nicer finishes. Which isn’t to say I wouldn’t play a VP because they are a steal for the price. My Epi JC I had was as nice as anything I’ve ever played. The Epi Viola bass is surprisingly good, but I have a ‘67 Hofner, so...
I’ve heard quite a few horror stories about Gibson QC and I’m not discounting that, but I’ve owned a ton of Gibson guitars and basses and only one would I describe as less than top notch. I could just be lucky!
I've been considering doing this for a while now. I had a '65 II and an '86 II that made me a II fan for life. I'm to the point that I don't necessarily need every bass I have to be vintage or "correct." I think I may need to buy a used VP and get this done.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I have been avoiding looking at it for as long as it has been on Reverb. No shipping, of course. As much as I like Entwhistle's playing, the signature is a big minus to me. Other than that, it sure is lust-worthy.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I Ike my Gibson nitro finishes. They look and feel real. The poly finishes on my Epis are all flawless. I understand poly is much easier to work with.
Do you know if they had him sign the original pick guard (a shame) or if they hay him sign a replacement keeping the original unmarred?
