Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

Ah oui ?
Still on painkillers ?

this is what happens when you don't protect yourself with a melon helmet...

 

[JJR58]

Is it a regular burst? It looks like it could be a cherry fade, but that may be reflection of your shirt.

Epi’s version of a cherry fade?

Mine aren’t any Gibson.

 

[Gaolee]

I've heard the almighty(?) P sound like hammered , and an "El Cheapo" sound amazing. Those knobs move, people.(SMH )
BTW, oboe to bari? There's a switch! I used to do flute to bari, but no double reeds-ever!

I'm trying to convince my son's fiancee to double on a single reed instead of being strictly an oboe and English horn player. The backpressure is absurd on double reeds, and burst blood vessels aren't uncommon. May as well hit yourself in the head with a hammer if you are going to play one of those! Oboe would certainly prepare the player to push a whole lot of air through a bari, so there's that.

 

[Gaolee]

Better with a picture
View attachment 4361902

She has a long list of accomlishments:
Written hit songs
Leads her own band
Plays bass (but not a Thunderbird, she would be better with a Thunderbird)
Showed us what a douche Lance Armstrong is

Looks like her guitarist plays a Firebird.

 

[Gaolee]

Just remember, there’s a tool for every job, and it looks like the other bass player was the perfect tool for the job of providing ignorant and uninformed bass gear opinions. Can’t fault him, he’s just doing his job.

On the other hand, you could always remind him that it takes a hell of a player to perform with a Tbird that’s constantly popping it’s head off, and diving to the floor while the finish peels and the bridge falls off right before your eyes, not to mention trying to coax more than one muddy sound out of the horrible pickups. Yep, it takes talent to play a Tbird, maybe when he gets some he should give it a try.

Well, he would have to get some talent AND be chosen by a Thunderbird.

 

[Gaolee]

None of the really nice light tuners seem to be available in nickel. I'm considering the Hipshot Ultralites, even though the ones I've had on my Carvin for well over 10 years I don't consider smooth at all. If I go clovers, is it their mini clovers that work for Thunderbirds? And 3/8" or 1/2"?

Mini-clovers and 3/8. Unless you want to ream the holes. Then 1/2 works just fine.

 

[Gaolee]

Snappy comeback!

The snapping was Mike's joints.

 

[TBird1958]

Picked this up on my way to my biking vacation destination. 2013, not played much so in almost pristine shape. Hotel’s gonna babysit it for 5 days, ´til biking tris is done. I brought my bass Amplug , so I get to play her until tomorrow morning.View attachment 4363694View attachment 4363693

Great score! Congratulations!

 

[Gaolee]

Electricity doesn't kill people, the easy path to ground kills people.

Well, when the person is that easy path.

 

[Nocturnal]

You can see the cost cutting right there... How much did they save by not finishing that 1.875 sq. in.?

That is what you call "relicing". You have to pay extra for it when it is done on the outside of the body.

Hello,

Can anyone here help me out?? I'm trying to sell a Bass locally and so far I've had two people tell me that it's a Chibson. I don't believe it is-- I purchased it used from a Gibson dealer a few years ago. However I can't find any information about it online.

It is looks like a Gibson Thunderbird Studio, but I was told when I bought it that it was a 'special Blackout Edition" - It has EMG TBHZ pickups that are supposed to be factory installed, and look it. Black grover tuners. Black pickguard. And Black Volume and Tone Knobs. I was told all of this was from the factory and not aftermarket, and it looks to me to be that way.

It really just looks to me to be a Thunderbird Studio of that era, but with all of the black appointments. Serial dates it to March 29, 2006 in Nashville. Unfortunately, I don't have the original case.

Has anyone ever seen another one??

If anyone can shed any light, I'd really appreciate it. ThanksView attachment 4363306

Beautiful!!!

 

[BklynKen]

Mini-clovers and 3/8. Unless you want to ream the holes. Then 1/2 works just fine.

Thanks. And AHEM!

If my choice comes down to the two mentioned, it'll likely be the Schallers. I never found the flat thin clover tuners to be comfortable to use. I love the stock Grovers. Too bad they don't come in nickel.

 

[Gaolee]

Thanks. And AHEM!

If my choice comes down to the two mentioned, it'll likely be the Schallers. I never found the flat thin clover tuners to be comfortable to use. I love the stock Grovers. Too bad they don't come in nickel.

You haven't lived until you have drilled a Gibson.

 

[Bassmike62]

Wow Mike, That's awesome!! Beautiful. Congrats!

Thx ! She plays well, will do better after a little fret cleaning and new strings .

 

[PillO]

You haven't lived until you have drilled a Gibson.

Ahem!

 

[GonePlaid]

Ahem!
View attachment 4363990

My exact thought on reading @Gaolee's post. that's scary.

 

[MCF]

Ahem!
View attachment 4363990

You really need to do something else for awhile.

 

[GonePlaid]

You really need to do something else for awhile.

He is-healing.

 

[dagrev]

Been running Diaddario XLs on my ‘77 Bird for a while just because they are available and relatively cheap. Last week I put a set of DM Blue Steels on, which were my go-to strings back in the 80’s when I was gigging hard (and had disposable $).
What a difference. Makes me feel like playing again.

Finding the perfect string isn't always easy, but is magic when it happens. I was never a fan of D'A's, but do lke DM Blue Steels. I have a '76 and currently it has Roto 66s on it and it sounds great. Also liked Fender Flats and TI flats on it as well. Happy playing!

 

[dagrev]

OK, I'm going to have to correct you and @GBassNorth . Just as the speakers in your cabinet are motors, the pickups and strings actually form a generator. That is the (AC) signal that your amp amplifies.

So, your thunderbird generates electricity. No wonder people are scared of thunderbirds (the neckdive and headstock are just covering for the fear).

Well there. It took a pharmacist who wears watermelon helmets to clear this up.

I've been here too long. This actually is making sense.

 

[dagrev]

Picked this up on my way to my biking vacation destination. 2013, not played much so in almost pristine shape. Hotel’s gonna babysit it for 5 days, ´til biking tris is done. I brought my bass Amplug , so I get to play her until tomorrow morning.View attachment 4363694View attachment 4363693

That is sweeeeet Mike! Way to go!