Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

It is not Thunderbird Thursday here, it is Percocet Thursday. Yesterday was surgery Wednesday. I'm splinted up real good, but it seems like surgery was a success as fingertips move! That means in a few weeks I'll be able to play again!

So good to hear that all is going in the right direction! Hoping you’ll be up and strumming sooner than planned.

Background music? Low T? Well that's kinder than what you've said about Neil. I still listen to both of them.

I could take hours of SSP in the background no problem. I wouldn’t last two songs with Neil.

 

[GonePlaid]

I cancelled my Sirius/XM. They hit my credit card for $249. I'd lost track when it was up for renewal. And I'm hardly in the car where I listened to it. Made them refund that and they kept going lower and lower to get me to stay. Then the calls began. One day $4.99 a month. The next day $6.99 a month. I told them they're going the wrong direction and they were back to $4.99. Would have done it but, I was still annoyed at the auto renewal charge without so much as an email warning me about it. And I got two or three emails from tham about programming. Now get off my lawn.

Hmm. I'll hafta watch for that. I drive to Orlando-and back-every other weekend(140 miles each way[unless I detour]plus side trip to Tampa/St.Pete). I'd go nuts-er without it.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Out of interest, what string gauges are folks running ( on a regular Gibson T-bird )?
I've been using 40-100's for years but fancy putting a heavier set on for a touch more tension.
Wondering if I could get away with 45-110 without having to file the nut?

Sorry, got no Gibsons.

 

[GonePlaid]

Had some time to kill on tour today so we went to a music store. Guitar player bought a new amp. They had 3 different Darkglass amps and two Darkglass cabs, so I gave em a test drive with some new ‘select’ high end P bass. The P bass played and sounded fantastic, though a bit fancy for my tastes. Gold hardware and fancy wood. Great bass, but not for me.
The Darkglass stuff? I dunno. Kinda sounded like an ok sounding amp with a built in ok sounding dirtbox and a not so ok sounding compressor

So, whadda they charge for ok/not so ok?

 

[PillO]

Had some time to kill on tour today so we went to a music store. Guitar player bought a new amp. They had 3 different Darkglass amps and two Darkglass cabs, so I gave em a test drive with some new ‘select’ high end P bass. The P bass played and sounded fantastic, though a bit fancy for my tastes. Gold hardware and fancy wood. Great bass, but not for me.
The Darkglass stuff? I dunno. Kinda sounded like an ok sounding amp with a built in ok sounding dirtbox and a not so ok sounding compressor

The Darkglass stuff has a cult-like following. I have never tried it, but I am curious. I would love tp give it a go just to try to understand what others see.

Having said that, there are only a few ways to do dirt. So with little diversity in the clipping circuit, the refinements are elsewhere. (yes @Chucky Stiletti I am simplifying) So, with a plethora of dirt pedals available, I question whether any of the 'boutique' dirt pedals are really worth the money. As much as I like the sound out of the Geddy pedal(s), I can get 90-95% of that sound out of an EHX hotwax. To me (YMMV) that last 5-10% is not worth the additional cash.

 

[dukeorock]

So, whadda they charge for ok/not so ok?

I didn’t check since I was interested, but I’m sure it ain’t cheap!

The Darkglass stuff has a cult-like following. I have never tried it, but I am curious. I would love tp give it a go just to try to understand what others see.

Having said that, there are only a few ways to do dirt. So with little diversity in the clipping circuit, the refinements are elsewhere. (yes @Chucky Stiletti I am simplifying) So, with a plethora of dirt pedals available, I question whether any of the 'boutique' dirt pedals are really worth the money. As much as I like the sound out of the Geddy pedal(s), I can get 90-95% of that sound out of an EHX hotwax. To me (YMMV) that last 5-10% is not worth the additional cash.

I can see that. If I can’t get the drive I want out of my amp (no pedals) and smashing on the bass with a puck, it wasn’t meant to be that night

 

[RedVee]

One of my favorite expressions. Along with "same difference".

six of one, halfdozen of the other

 

[GonePlaid]

six of one, halfdozen of the other

Another goodie.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Probably one of their most melodic/poppy songs, but I always loved this one.

That isn't obviously a Motorhead song at first. The intro could almost be Rush, and when the soaring guitar comes in, it could be any of a dozen bands. So many flavors (including little sprinkles of Boston and EVH) in one song, and they make it work. Great song. Love this (and lots of MH) even without Real Thunder.

 

[Engle]

Sorry, got no Gibsons.

Me neither. Well, no Gibson Tbirds.

 

[RedVee]

I don’t mind listening to SSP, it kinda falls into the background music category for me (easily forgettable, mild, low key, maybe even low T). What I have difficulty doing is watching one of their video clips. The lead singer, who doesn’t have a bad voice for the type of music they play just kills me with his cross eyes. I assume he’s not doing it on purpose, and I feel for individuals that have that or a lazy eye problem, but combined with his voice and looks and lyrics it comes across as more of a weird Al Yankovic parody more than anything else. Maybe if he wore sunglasses or spent less time looking directly into the camera it might be better.

@KaraQ turned me on to the The Warning a few weeks ago. Now there’s a band with energy, style, vocals, guitar bass and drum chops and interesting songs. Kind of the Go Go’s with an attitude on steroids. I like to look for new groups to follow and so far I’m liking about everything they’ve done. Sure they’re selling a lot of sex with their image (as did the Go-Go’s, the Bangles, Heart, Pat Benatar, Tina Turner, Blondie, Joan Jett, heck even little bitty PJ Harvey makes a go of it). But unless they’re pulling a Milli Vanilli they’ve got a ton of talent. Check em out.





A lot of classic hard driving rock there, all in my rock short list as well. Without turning my back on those classics I’m also venturing down several other musical paths right now that include The Warning for newer stuff but also Caro and Melody Gardot and Gary Clarke Jr. for swing and blues; Darius Rucker and Midnight Cattle Callers for country western; Concrete Blonde and Mazzy Star for alternative; and even Peter White, Paul Hardcastle and Sade for smooth jazz.

Drives my wife nutz when I put my Pandora on thumbprint (random) play - you just never know what gonna come up next.

Lazy Eye did you say ?



Colin Hay did alright for himself. His solo stuff comes out on Lazy Eye Records.

 

[Bassmike62]

If memory serves, Dusty not only had a lot of gain, he also ran an octave pedal to fill up some of that space.

There's a ZZ Top documentary on either Crave or Netflix (or both), where you can hear Dusty's tone solo. Not what I anticipated, but as you guys said earlier, it worked well in band context.

(...) Yesterday was surgery Wednesday. I'm splinted up real good, but it seems like surgery was a success as fingertips move! That means in a few weeks I'll be able to play again!

Great news !!!

 

[Engle]

All this talk of what we don’t like to listen to reminded me of this CD I’m holding onto(nephew’s ex wanted me to give it back to him):
I don’t know how songs get Gold status, but I’m shocked at how many of this guy’s tracks made it:

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Indeed! Murphy has not yet delivered my NR, but soon! Even if it were, I will not be driving until I am 24 hrs off narcotics. But I think I will delay picking it up until I am out of the cast.

And I feel no need to have to have the surgery revised. Although it went well, I have what feels like 5lbs of plaster holding fingers, hand, and wrist immobile. It comes off in 13 days and I can start rehab (for the surgery, not the narcotics).

The surgery was done under a nerve block. In theory, I was there for it, but the wonders of modern chemistry means I don't recall anything after establishment of the sterile field. The amusing thing about the nerve block (well, there are several) was after the surgery, I lifted my arm to take a look and there was no muscle control at the elbow, so I whacked myself in the face with the cast.

Got video? 8^P

 

[Miles_ONeal]

... If I can’t get the drive I want out of my amp (no pedals) and smashing on the bass with a puck, it wasn’t meant to be that night

Going for that hockey tone!

 

[BklynKen]

Having said that, there are only a few ways to do dirt. So with little diversity in the clipping circuit, the refinements are elsewhere. (yes @Chucky Stiletti I am simplifying) So, with a plethora of dirt pedals available, I question whether any of the 'boutique' dirt pedals are really worth the money. As much as I like the sound out of the Geddy pedal(s), I can get 90-95% of that sound out of an EHX hotwax. To me (YMMV) that last 5-10% is not worth the additional cash.

I can safely say that the Damnation Audio MBD definitely offers more than the usual, including flexibility. Every dirt pedal I've tried since, the MBD has been able to get close enough to.

 

[PillO]

Got video? 8^P

Be very careful what you ask for...

Spoiler: Do not look!

You were warned.

 

[dagrev]

I grew up in SoCal and was in high school 76-80....

Hey, we have a lot in common. We were in HS the same years, we both play Thunderbirds, you have talent and I..... Well that's where the commonalities end!

 

[dagrev]

I don’t mind listening to SSP, it kinda falls into the background music category for me (easily forgettable, mild, low key, maybe even low T). What I have difficulty doing is watching one of their video clips. The lead singer, who doesn’t have a bad voice for the type of music they play just kills me with his cross eyes. I assume he’s not doing it on purpose, and I feel for individuals that have that or a lazy eye problem, but combined with his voice and looks and lyrics it comes across as more of a weird Al Yankovic parody more than anything else. Maybe if he wore sunglasses or spent less time looking directly into the camera it might be better.

@KaraQ turned me on to the The Warning a few weeks ago. Now there’s a band with energy, style, vocals, guitar bass and drum chops and interesting songs. Kind of the Go Go’s with an attitude on steroids. I like to look for new groups to follow and so far I’m liking about everything they’ve done. Sure they’re selling a lot of sex with their image (as did the Go-Go’s, the Bangles, Heart, Pat Benatar, Tina Turner, Blondie, Joan Jett, heck even little bitty PJ Harvey makes a go of it). But unless they’re pulling a Milli Vanilli they’ve got a ton of talent. Check em out.





A lot of classic hard driving rock there, all in my rock short list as well. Without turning my back on those classics I’m also venturing down several other musical paths right now that include The Warning for newer stuff but also Caro and Melody Gardot and Gary Clarke Jr. for swing and blues; Darius Rucker and Midnight Cattle Callers for country western; Concrete Blonde and Mazzy Star for alternative; and even Peter White, Paul Hardcastle and Sade for smooth jazz.

Drives my wife nutz when I put my Pandora on thumbprint (random) play - you just never know what gonna come up next.

Thanks, I'll give them a listen!

 

[dagrev]

If memory serves, Dusty not only had a lot of gain, he also ran an octave pedal to fill up some of that space.

Maybe, I only recall him saying he used a touch of chorus but live and in the studio. But that was years ago. ZZ Top has a "rig rundown" and goes over everything, but it's been a while and I don't recall one way or the other on the octive pedal, but it would be a great option, especially a three piece band.