Thunderbird Club

[BklynKen]

That is a sweet Eagle Ken!

Thanks! It's technically a Bodine, named for Bill Bodine. It was a transition between the Seagull and Eagle. All mahogany, HI-A pickups, and simpler electronics.

 

[GonePlaid]

That is a sweet Eagle Ken!

At the last Jason Lane Band practice, I brought the Eagle. Guitarist says “Nice, a Les Claypool bass!”, I guess saying it resembles a Carl Thompson?
Same guy has said that he wants to get a Thunderbird guitar. But he can sing those high harmonies

To match yer Firebird Bass? I've been asked if mine's a 'Firebird Bass". I nicely explain the diff-once.

 

[Mvf]

If they have a rougher than Nickle plated feel they are likely Rotos, if not they could be Infelds. They are great strings. Not supper bright but clear, and lots of good mids and lows. Well balanced and last forever.

Infeld Bass Guitar | Guitar Strings | Products | Thomastik-Infeld Vienna

Hmm, yeah, from what you describe, could be Infelds. And they don’t feel like Rotos, so I don’t think they are that. But I could be wrong. Anyway, they stay on as long as I’m happy with them.

I remember you were checking a lot of strings for your 2006. But I don’t remember what you finally ended up with?
I’m still not sure if I will go with flats or rounds on this, when I someday change the strings. I have flats on my P and my EB3 but rounds on my Rick…

 

[GonePlaid]

Hmm, yeah, from what you describe, could be Infelds. And they don’t feel like Rotos, so I don’t think they are that. But I could be wrong. Anyway, they stay on as long as I’m happy with them.

I remember you were checking a lot of strings for your 2006. But I don’t remember what you finally ended up with?
I’m still not sure if I will go with flats or rounds on this, when I someday change the strings. I have flats on my P and my EB3 but rounds on my Rick…

Flats on 3, tapes on the 4th.

 

[Mvf]

Ah. Well here's the dead giveaway.

@Mvf What color(s) are the ball ends?

I check later, but as far as I remember, all the same,and like brass..

 

[Mvf]

Not trying to cut in, but I'll step in and answer while here. They were brass in the pic. That's why I thought they might be older if they were Rotos. Or, possibly Roto does things differently for the Europe market. Do you know when they changed to the colored ball ends?

Clever you, checking the pic…. I did not think about that

 

[Mvf]

Clever you, checking the pic…. I did not think about that

I actually have an old pic here, from when I just got it, before I glued the stud back and set it up. And yes, brass.

 

[Mvf]

Glad you did. I should've looked at the original post. Seems Rotos did have brass ball ends not that long ago, so they must be RS66.

For long-time users of these, how did you tell the strings apart before they start coloring the ball ends? @godofthunder59 ?

Ok, so seems I have Rotos on my bass after all. Thanks all for your input.

 

[dagrev]

They came in individual paper envelopes marked with the gauge. I wish thry would go back to the brass ends I can't stand the painted ones.

 

[dagrev]

Define recently. I know it's been over a decade. I *think* I recall such strings back in the late 70s or early 80s, but not catching on at the time. But I can't swear to that.

D'A was the first I recall--at least in my experience.

 

[GBassNorth]

Flats on 3, tapes on the 4th.

I think I see a trend there.
Good news is there’s plenty of different flat flavors as well as tape and round flavors.
I have flats on three of my birds - Cobalts, Chromes and TI’s. All sound completely different. I have La Bella black tape an my 2015 bird and on my FrankenGoth and both of those birds sound very different as well because of the pickups. I have rounds on two birds - Boomers and Optima Golds and they also sound very different from each other. I’ll be putting Optima Golds on the new bird build in December and with the three pup arrangement I expect it to sound completely different as well.
My goal is to avoid having multiple birds that sound alike, I like a variety tones to choose from.

 

[WillyW]

Spent a fair amount of time noodling around on the 2021 NR. Was somewhat convinced it might not be a keeper for me. Decided to try a couple things. Put a strap pin behind the neck and it instantly felt a whole lot better to me. Also had new a set of EBCF’s laying around, so I threw em on and liked it a lot better than the stock strings. Only ‘issue’ is with that bridge, the silks go over the bridge saddles. It sounded fine to me, but I’m gonna trim the silks back tomorrow and go get another set of strap locks. Now that the strap pin is at the neck heel, the awesome leather strap I got from Gibson is a bit short, I think. I tend to prefer nylon straps anyway. Did a quick recording with the bass and it sounded pretty dang nice to me. So I think I’ll just keep the NR and the Fano strung with flats, and the Cataldo and ‘02 Gibson will keep rounds. Probably going to sell the Greco reverse, though is a killer bass. I just have too many basses now and a couple gotta go. Maybe the Greco and my MusicMan Sabre. Can’t see me selling my Gretsch SpectraSonic, Drake or ‘67 Hofner. Will hang on to the Pbass for the occasional producer who’s just gotta have that

Worse. I'm still referring to the length of the silk wraps.

My former SG bass had ball end silks over the saddles and it sounded fine and intonated properly so I didn’t bother to remove them.

I didn’t realize how long the silks on the pyramids were till y’all pointed it out! They are still my favorite strings for fretted!

I have been using EB extra slinky’s on most all of my fretlesses/fretlessi but I did get a set of the nickel SIT strings for my TeleV, I just haven’t converted it from BEAD yet.

 

[Gaolee]

Spent a fair amount of time noodling around on the 2021 NR. Was somewhat convinced it might not be a keeper for me. Decided to try a couple things. Put a strap pin behind the neck and it instantly felt a whole lot better to me. Also had new a set of EBCF’s laying around, so I threw em on and liked it a lot better than the stock strings. Only ‘issue’ is with that bridge, the silks go over the bridge saddles. It sounded fine to me, but I’m gonna trim the silks back tomorrow and go get another set of strap locks. Now that the strap pin is at the neck heel, the awesome leather strap I got from Gibson is a bit short, I think. I tend to prefer nylon straps anyway. Did a quick recording with the bass and it sounded pretty dang nice to me. So I think I’ll just keep the NR and the Fano strung with flats, and the Cataldo and ‘02 Gibson will keep rounds. Probably going to sell the Greco reverse, though is a killer bass. I just have too many basses now and a couple gotta go. Maybe the Greco and my MusicMan Sabre. Can’t see me selling my Gretsch SpectraSonic, Drake or ‘67 Hofner. Will hang on to the Pbass for the occasional producer who’s just gotta have that

Put a claw on it like WillyW did. It looks great, too. Function and shallowness all rolled into one!

 

[Gaolee]

To match yer Firebird Bass? I've been asked if mine's a 'Firebird Bass". I nicely explain the diff-once.

Nobody has ever said that specifically, but I get the occasional "wow, a real Thunderbird." Well of course it is real.

I think I see a trend there.
Good news is there’s plenty of different flat flavors as well as tape and round flavors.
I have flats on three of my birds - Cobalts, Chromes and TI’s. All sound completely different. I have La Bella black tape an my 2015 bird and on my FrankenGoth and both of those birds sound very different as well because of the pickups. I have rounds on two birds - Boomers and Optima Golds and they also sound very different from each other. I’ll be putting Optima Golds on the new bird build in December and with the three pup arrangement I expect it to sound completely different as well.
My goal is to avoid having multiple birds that sound alike, I like a variety tones to choose from.

Tapes on a '15 is a little like a black pick guard. It is meant to be.

 

[Engle]

Spent a fair amount of time noodling around on the 2021 NR. Was somewhat convinced it might not be a keeper for me. Decided to try a couple things. Put a strap pin behind the neck and it instantly felt a whole lot better to me. Also had new a set of EBCF’s laying around, so I threw em on and liked it a lot better than the stock strings. Only ‘issue’ is with that bridge, the silks go over the bridge saddles. It sounded fine to me, but I’m gonna trim the silks back tomorrow and go get another set of strap locks. Now that the strap pin is at the neck heel, the awesome leather strap I got from Gibson is a bit short, I think. I tend to prefer nylon straps anyway. Did a quick recording with the bass and it sounded pretty dang nice to me. So I think I’ll just keep the NR and the Fano strung with flats, and the Cataldo and ‘02 Gibson will keep rounds. Probably going to sell the Greco reverse, though is a killer bass. I just have too many basses now and a couple gotta go. Maybe the Greco and my MusicMan Sabre. Can’t see me selling my Gretsch SpectraSonic, Drake or ‘67 Hofner. Will hang on to the Pbass for the occasional producer who’s just gotta have that

I slip a ball end from an old string over the new string when the silk ends up on the saddle. Usually it’s just the E.

 

[Goatrope]

….I nicely explain the diff-once.

Sorry. Couldn’t resist.

 

[dagrev]

T Tuesday...

 

[dagrev]

Comes from this head. Great sounding, just won't bust drywall like it's 300w big brother.

 

[TBird1958]

What's in the case today.................

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

To match yer Firebird Bass? I've been asked if mine's a 'Firebird Bass". I nicely explain the diff-once.

curious, what do you tell them?
around here this is a reverse firebird bass…. .i don’t bother….