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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
…..check again…
The “Bling on a Budget” build is still moving forward with parts acquisitions. The body, neck, bridge and some hardware have all been sourced and delivered. The tuners will be purchased today and next will be the pups. At this point I can say that the $1000 all in challenge is going to be almost impossible to meet. I’m finding scant useable used gear to purchase and a lot of the new parts are noticeably more expensive and harder to find in stock than they were just a few years ago. If I weren’t going with the Bling theme and if I was focused solely on cost it wouldn’t be much of a problem at all.
Once all the parts are in I’ll post a pic of it in pieces and maybe some progress pics along the way.
That brings me to the current challenge - pickups. Options range from ridiculously expensive to bargain basement. But this is the heart of the bass and it has to sound as good as it looks. I’d like to try something new or uncommon in the club so others can see how that option works vs other more well known options, but I like to not throw my money down the drain. So, Thunder buckers, Lulls, Lollars, Barts, EMG, China Buckers and Gibby/Eppi and Greco pups are all out since we have plenty of examples of how well those work. What options does that leave? Criteria - must fit within the std bird center block, must sound decent, must have or be capable of wearing gold covers and trim rings, would like to keep the total pup cost below $350 for a pair. Any ideas? About the only thing I can find that fits the bill is Josh Parkin pups, anyone here ever heard or tried his pickups?
Once all the parts are in I’ll post a pic of it in pieces and maybe some progress pics along the way.
That brings me to the current challenge - pickups. Options range from ridiculously expensive to bargain basement. But this is the heart of the bass and it has to sound as good as it looks. I’d like to try something new or uncommon in the club so others can see how that option works vs other more well known options, but I like to not throw my money down the drain. So, Thunder buckers, Lulls, Lollars, Barts, EMG, China Buckers and Gibby/Eppi and Greco pups are all out since we have plenty of examples of how well those work. What options does that leave? Criteria - must fit within the std bird center block, must sound decent, must have or be capable of wearing gold covers and trim rings, would like to keep the total pup cost below $350 for a pair. Any ideas? About the only thing I can find that fits the bill is Josh Parkin pups, anyone here ever heard or tried his pickups?
- Nov 27, 2003
- 2,017
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- Rogue luthier employed at Knooren Handcrafted bass guitars
Read very closely to what that picture of the Buffalo's says, in particular, the dates of when those planes went to action.
- Plane one: October 1941
- Plane two: December 1942
- Plane three: April 1944
- Plane four: October 1942
NONE saw use in the Lapland war because by then they were all replaced by BF-109's
So what I said about the Buffalo not being used by the Finns against the Germans is still true. They weren't at war with each other when the Buffalo was in service.
As for what the Soviets flew, those were mostly Polikarpov I-16 "Ratas"
I agree with the license plate and plate frame.
Actually we were in sort of a war with Germany, in the end of 1944. It was a part of the peace agreement made with Sovjet. We had to chase out all the German troups, that were stationed mainly in Lappland in the north of Finland.
But you are right, Germany supplied us some weapons and military help, especially during the beginning of what we call ”the continuing war” (1941-1944).
During the winter war, (Nov 30.1939-March 13.1940), when Sovjet attacked us, we got help from many countries, also the USA. The Stalin had thought he can take Finland in 2 months, but our troups gave Stalin a real fight, and we managed to keep our freedom, and did not end up in the CCCP, as happened to for example the Baltic States. But we lost quite a lot of area to Sovjet.
After this we lived in peace until summer 1941. We had no good choises, and we knew that we will be drawn into war again, so we teamed up with the Germans, sort of choose the least bad out of many bad things. And then Finland attacked Sovjet att the same time as Germany started their operation Barbarossa. We hoped to get back all the lost areas, that we’ve lost after the winter war.
The outcome was as we know, so we once again lost, and had to give up even more land. But most importans, we kept our independence.
No. Never crossed my mind. But you may come up with something that looks great. Custom paint job would be another matter.
Does Honey Badger make any that might fit? Maybe you could talk someone who doesn't have a Thunderbird PU into making one. That would be interesting. I would love for Klein Pickups (TX) to create one. The way they recreate PUs is amazing.
That’s my recollection as well. Buffalos (called Brewsters by the Finns) we’re used very effectively by the Finns against the Soviet’s not the Germans. I did look it up and found a very minor exception, basically there was only one air skirmish between the Finns and the Germans using Buffalo, all the rest were against the Soviet’s. Quote from wiki …..
“After Finland signed an armistice with the Soviet Union in September, 1944, they had to drive Finland's former ally, Nazi Germany out of the country during the "Lapland War". The only clash with the Luftwaffe took place on 3 October 1944 when HLeLV 26 intercepted Junkers Ju 87s, claiming two, the last victories to be made by Brewster pilots in World War II.[39] By the end of the war in Lapland, only eight B-239s were left.”
I’ll look into Klein. It would be cool if they could recreate a Greco pup. I even have one I could take out and loan them to copy. Wouldn’t that be cool, a new Greco spec pup option for Tbird owners!
gets better lol….you never said anything about Buffalos not being used against the Luftwaffe (although they were)
btw, I-16s were known as “Ishak” (donkey) to russian pilots….only later did spanish republican air force pilots christened it “Rata"…
that said,
THUNDERBIRD!!!!
I like your thinking. Klein has the most unique way of re-creating vintage pick ups of anybody I have seen. The early 60s precision pickup that I have from them is fantastic sounding and wasn't expensive at all compared to most boutique pickup makers.I’ll look into Klein. It would be cool if they could recreate a Greco pup. I even have one I could take out and loan them to copy. Wouldn’t that be cool, a new Greco spec pup option for Tbird owners!
Klein Pickups - Vintage Electric Guitar Pickups & Parts-
I have actually talked with the owner of the company. Often you can't do that.
This landed on my coffe table some days ago. One of the best bass books I've ever read.
- Nov 27, 2003
- 2,017
- 5,417
- 50
- Disclosures
- Rogue luthier employed at Knooren Handcrafted bass guitars
I'm about to tell you something really cool...
Finland was the largest operator of the Fokker D-XXI
They were used as interceptors during the Winter war where they gave the Red Air force a terrific run for their money and were only taken out of service in 1946.
The only Original Fokker D-XXI still in existence.
Now in the Fokker's country of Origin, the Netherlands, there were only wrecks and a few Converted North American AT-6 Trainers that kept the Memory of the D-XXI alive.
A real D-XXI stands higher on its legs and has the cockpit further back.
In the eighties a replica was made at the Fokker Factory which was meant to be flyable. But in the end never flew and was in a museum from pretty much day one.
BUT that's about to change because...
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The Fokker D-XXI recently made it's first taxi runs so it won't be long until it will be in the skies, as a monument to all pilots who flew it.
I haven’t done much on my Tbirds, but this is one of my Pbasses:
My wife did the artwork and I cut it with my Cricut machine.
In more concert news... The Judas Priest tour has been postponed. Not for Covid reasons, but because the new/replacement guitar player is in hospital with unspecified heart problem(s).
Richie Faulkner Heart Problem Leads Judas Priest to Postpone Tour (ultimateclassicrock.com)
Apparently had surgery and is 'resting'. There is a lot that can be done by way of a catheter these days, but that would have him off the road at least through Q4. If it was open surgery, he is off the road at least until spring.
Richie Faulkner Heart Problem Leads Judas Priest to Postpone Tour (ultimateclassicrock.com)
Apparently had surgery and is 'resting'. There is a lot that can be done by way of a catheter these days, but that would have him off the road at least through Q4. If it was open surgery, he is off the road at least until spring.
- Mar 13, 2008
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- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
They need KK Downing back, they're almost like L.S at this point.
I really should have gone to see them in the 80s. It was in Toronto that Halford dropped the Harley on himself.*
It sounds like there is still bad blood amoungst them. As much as they can get along for a show, a tour might be difficult. On the other hand, GnR have been holding things together since the "Hell Freezes Over" tour. Money goes a long way to repairing a fractured relationship I guess.
Unfortunately Tipton's playing days are over as a result of Parkinson's Disease.
* not a euphemism. He came out on stage on a Harley and dropped it.
