Thunderbird Club

[Tanner5382]

It certainly is a dilemma. To spend or not to spend, that is the question.

I’ll share my situation which isn’t far off from yours.

I stopped gigging about 10 years ago, but unlike you I kept everything. Now I play mostly for my own entertainment and relaxation and to keep my mind sharp and my dexterity up (bumping 64 years old with a strong touch of arthritis). I occasionally get together with a few other like minded band players for some garage band jams or maybe a family member birthday party gig. But 99% of the time I’m playing these days I’m playing along with CDs and Pandora. It’s fun, it’s entertaining and it does make a difference on my arthritis, but basically it’s a hobby at this point, as is golf and target shooting and fishing and all the other things I do.

I still buy stuff but not tons and I still have a lot of stuff (Ampeg SVT-VR and Bergantino 610 cab…) that I haven’t used in a decade and probably won’t ever use again. Every now and then I sell a piece of something I no longer use and buy something I will use, so the money out of pocket for me might not be as much as the money out of pocket for you.

Only you can decide if you want to spend the thousand or two or three to get back into instrument playing. But it might be helpful to look at it as a hobby with potential mental and physical therapeutic benefits.

And now I put my Thunderbird Club hat on and advise you to buy one of the new Gibby NR birds in your favorite color for about $2000 and get a used BassMark 1x12 micro combo for about $800 and some instrument cables and a clip on tuner for another $200. So thats $3000 all in for a top of the line set up that you can run at bedroom, garage band and even small venue levels. Many will envy your tone and many will envy your style, but all will envy your Tbird.

I appreciate you relaying your experience and advice!

 

[MCF]

Yes I was. The bridge was pretty much... locked up, for want of a better description... straight from the factory - in an unopened box. The saddle drums would only move a hair - if they moved at all. Same with the screws. And yes, I watched the Babicz owner's video on how to install and adjust the... thing... which is why I was so disappointed with it. It should have been a helluva nice bridge. Every part that moved, and all the screw holes, were covered in flash and burrs. Apparently, I just got the bad one. As for the control cavity; as I said, everything was connected to what it was supposed to be connected to, and everything worked. But, there were blobs and globs of solder on things that weren't connected to anything - and weren't supposed to be. It looked like somebody just flung solder in there at random. OTOH, the control cavity of my '13 'Bird is a textbook illustration of how it's supposed to be done. You can find pictures of the two fo them side by side here, if you want to look for them. Actually, there's so much solder in the '18's control cavity, it's a minor miracle that it works at all Campared to that mess, the control cavity on my $130.00 cheap-ass Chinese Starfire violin bass is a work of art. I expected better in a $2800 bass, from a company like Gibson...

Frankly, were I to receive something new in that condition I would have returned it for a proper one. Sorry you experienced those issues.

 

[Tanner5382]

do it. DO IT!!

You sound like you need help rationalizing.

Playing only at home? It is good relaxation. And with gear you like, you will play more making you more relaxed. This will lower your risk of various health problems.
You work hard, you bring home the bacon. You deserve nice things.

The hardest question, which colour. Don't torture yourself. Get both.

The bad thing is I did think about buying both and returning whichever color I didn't like as much, haha. Which might be a low move. I normally wouldn't do something like that, but the colors of these basses seem to vary quite differently in person from their online representation.

 

[MCF]

I feel you. I definitely appreciate the Markbass advice I was given and will certainly consider it, on one hand I was thinking something along the lines of it or a Traynor SB115.

On the other hand, if I commit to the price of the NR, there is the school of thought that maybe I should commit to going with a nice head and cab. Before I was using two different tube amp setups with my Gibson basses. An Orange AD200 with an Orange OBC115, and this monster which was my most used rig....
View attachment 4368440

It might be hard to go back to a combo after that.

That is a sweet rig.

 

[Tanner5382]

That is a sweet rig.

Thanks, it definitely was. It was very well suited to Gibson basses. But I think most British voiced amps are. Never played any of my Gibsons through a Mesa, but now you've got me thinking...

 

[GIBrat51]

Yeah, that's probably the one. Funny coincidence. It came with some D'Addario rounds, though.

Curious why you never removed the control cavity cover plastic film. It's still on it.

I don't think that one was mine, then. I've never put a set of D'addario rounds on a bass in my life. Never left a set of them on any bass I ever bought, either; well, for longer than a 5 minute function check, anyway. I don't use D'Addario strings at all - of any description, on any instrument. The factory polishes them with something that I'm highly allergic to, and it takes too much cleaning - with chemicals I'd rather not use - to make them clean enough for me. The only way mine would have had those strings on it, would be if somebody... appropriated... The Roto 77s. And mine did have all the plastic condoms removed. I loathe that stuff; it comes off anything new that I buy even quicker than D'Addario strings do...

 

[BklynKen]

I don't think that one was mine, then. I've never put a set of D'addario rounds on a bass in my life. Never left a set of them on any bass I ever bought, either; well, for longer than a 5 minute function check, anyway. I don't use D'Addario strings at all - of any description, on any instrument. The factory polishes them with something that I'm highly allergic to, and it takes too much cleaning - with chemicals I'd rather not use - to make them clean enough for me. The only way mine would have had those strings on it, would be if somebody... appropriated... The Roto 77s. And mine did have all the plastic condoms removed. I loathe that stuff; it comes off anything new that I buy even quicker than D'Addario strings do...

Strings are easy to change. ;-) But did you see my pic of the control cavity?

I bought it from a guy in PA. Did yours go to PA?

 

[dagrev]

It certainly is a dilemma. To spend or not to spend, that is the question.

I’ll share my situation which isn’t far off from yours.

I stopped gigging about 10 years ago, but unlike you I kept everything. Now I play mostly for my own entertainment and relaxation and to keep my mind sharp and my dexterity up (bumping 64 years old with a strong touch of arthritis). I occasionally get together with a few other like minded band players for some garage band jams or maybe a family member birthday party gig. But 99% of the time I’m playing these days I’m playing along with CDs and Pandora. It’s fun, it’s entertaining and it does make a difference on my arthritis, but basically it’s a hobby at this point, as is golf and target shooting and fishing and all the other things I do.

I still buy stuff but not tons and I still have a lot of stuff (Ampeg SVT-VR and Bergantino 610 cab…) that I haven’t used in a decade and probably won’t ever use again. Every now and then I sell a piece of something I no longer use and buy something I will use, so the money out of pocket for me might not be as much as the money out of pocket for you.

Only you can decide if you want to spend the thousand or two or three to get back into instrument playing. But it might be helpful to look at it as a hobby with potential mental and physical therapeutic benefits.

And now I put my Thunderbird Club hat on and advise you to buy one of the new Gibby NR birds in your favorite color for about $2000 and get a used BassMark 1x12 micro combo for about $800 and some instrument cables and a clip on tuner for another $200. So thats $3000 all in for a top of the line set up that you can run at bedroom, garage band and even small venue levels. Many will envy your tone and many will envy your style, but all will envy your Tbird.

That was certainly a long way to, "Go buy one!" We all knew you'd get there!

Actually great advice and perspective, as always. I concur, assuming one doesn't need the money for something else, and isn't unwise given finances and obligations. If it provides some enjoyment with no harm. Go for it, I say. I don't "need" all the basses and equipment I have at the moment, but I'm not getting rid of things just yet. When I stop enjoying those items and/or no longer play out any, that would likely change--some.

Which brings up another (opposite) point or side. I'm thinking of training my wife to get on TB and this thread in case something happens to me, to offer members the '64 and a few other things that may be of interest. I'd rather see any of the Birds go to some who really get it, and I know the regulars here would be helpful and honest about pricing. May not be practical, but something I'm pondering. Hopefully no need for a long time, but you can't really plan some things.

 

[BklynKen]

I don't think that one was mine, then. I've never put a set of D'addario rounds on a bass in my life. Never left a set of them on any bass I ever bought, either; well, for longer than a 5 minute function check, anyway. I don't use D'Addario strings at all - of any description, on any instrument. The factory polishes them with something that I'm highly allergic to, and it takes too much cleaning - with chemicals I'd rather not use - to make them clean enough for me. The only way mine would have had those strings on it, would be if somebody... appropriated... The Roto 77s. And mine did have all the plastic condoms removed. I loathe that stuff; it comes off anything new that I buy even quicker than D'Addario strings do...

Oh, I have the original receipt in a velour pouch. Looks like it was originally purchased at a Sam Ash in Las Vegas by someone with the first name of Chris.

 

[GIBrat51]

Strings are easy to change. ;-) But did you see my pic of the control cavity?

I bought it from a guy in PA. Did yours go to PA?

Yes, I did. That's nasty (compared to the one in my '13 - and probably yours, too), but I'm thinking mine was worse. As I said, there's a picture of it around here somewhere. I don't currently have access to all my picture files, else I'd repost it. As for the guy in PA? AFAIK, the bass went from a music store here in South Bend, to Reverb. No idea who they sold it to...

 

[dagrev]

I feel you. I definitely appreciate the Markbass advice I was given and will certainly consider it, on one hand I was thinking something along the lines of it or a Traynor SB115.

On the other hand, if I commit to the price of the NR, there is the school of thought that maybe I should commit to going with a nice head and cab. Before I was using two different tube amp setups with my Gibson basses. An Orange AD200 with an Orange OBC115, and this monster which was my most used rig....
View attachment 4368440

It might be hard to go back to a combo after that.

The Reeves should do nicely once you find another!

 

[Tanner5382]

The Reeves should do nicely once you find another!

That was the deal of a lifetime at the (now closed, sadly) Atlanta Bass Gallery. 2000 bucks for the whole rig. I saw that craigslist ad posted, about had a heart attack, ran to the bank and straight there.

 

[dagrev]

That was the deal of a lifetime at the (now closed, sadly) Atlanta Bass Gallery. 2000 bucks for the whole rig. I saw that craigslist ad posted, about had a heart attack, ran to the bank and straight there.

The good thing was you weren't arrested for theft in that deal!

 

[BklynKen]

Yes, I did. That's nasty (compared to the one in my '13 - and probably yours, too), but I'm thinking mine was worse. As I said, there's a picture of it around here somewhere. I don't currently have access to all my picture files, else I'd repost it. As for the guy in PA? AFAIK, the bass went from a music store here in South Bend, to Reverb. No idea who they sold it to...

Maybe this one WAS yours. I see another receipt in here I think for the guy I bought it from, from G&A Music in Mishawaka, IN.

 

[MCF]

Thanks, it definitely was. It was very well suited to Gibson basses. But I think most British voiced amps are. Never played any of my Gibsons through a Mesa, but now you've got me thinking...

Good! That was the point! The tt800 is two channels, one based on the legendary Mesa 400 tube amp and the other on the Subway series amps. I love it. Read all about it.
Mesa Boogie Subway TT-800 Bass Amplifier | MESA/Boogie®
For all you ever want to know about Subways, check out the club thread.
Official Mesa Boogie Subway Series Club

 

[Tanner5382]

That was certainly a long way to, "Go buy one!" We all knew you'd get there!

Actually great advice and perspective, as always. I concur, assuming one doesn't need the money for something else, and isn't unwise given finances and obligations. If it provides some enjoyment with no harm. Go for it, I say. I don't "need" all the basses and equipment I have at the moment, but I'm not getting rid of things just yet. When I stop enjoying those items and/or no longer play out any, that would likely change--some.

Which brings up another (opposite) point or side. I'm thinking of training my wife to get on TB and this thread in case something happens to me, to offer members the '64 and a few other things that may be of interest. I'd rather see any of the Birds go to some who really get it, and I know the regulars here would be helpful and honest about pricing. May not be practical, but something I'm pondering. Hopefully no need for a long time, but you can't really plan some things.

That's a really good idea.

 

[Tanner5382]

Good! That was the point! The tt800 is two channels, one based on the legendary Mesa 400 tube amp and the other on the Subway series amps. I love it. Read all about it.
Mesa Boogie Subway TT-800 Bass Amplifier | MESA/Boogie®
For all you ever want to know about Subways, check out the club thread.
Official Mesa Boogie Subway Series Club

That's a sexy amp. It's definitely on my list. Thank you!

 

[GIBrat51]

Maybe this one WAS yours. I see another receipt in here I think for the guy I bought it from, from G&A Music in Mishawaka, IN.

Yes, that one was mine. G&A Music is the store I deal with. There's no clear dividing line between South Bend and Mishawaka; you have to have been born here to know which is which. Tell that guy to give the Roto's back; they were the stuff on that bass. And, I'm sure I took that plastic off that cover... anyway, I hope you enjoy the thing. Wish I could have...

 

[BklynKen]

Yes, that one was mine. G&A Music is the store I deal with. There's no clear dividing line between South Bend and Mishawaka; you have to have been born here to know which is which. Tell that guy to give the Roto's back; they were the stuff on that bass. And, I'm sure I took that plastic off that cover... anyway, I hope you enjoy the thing. Wish I could have...

Thanks. It's super nice. Fortunately the control cavity situation doesn't bother me in the least. If you hadn't mentioned it, not sure I would ever have even opened it. But it will be messed with, since I'm putting in Thunderbucker pickups. And no thanks on those strings; I use stainless steel rounds.

 

[MCF]

That's a sexy amp. It's definitely on my list. Thank you!

I smile and get that warm tingly feeling every time I play. Heading up to the shed now for a few hours.