Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

I had the powder for watch hands, and I thought I'd try it out. it is difficult to get the CA glue to play nice and look good with the powder.

There is a company out of Japan I think, that makes markers in stick form, they are a little easier to apply neatly.

Luminlay here they are https://luminlay.com/

I like those a lot. I may have to do some work on my fretless. It needs new pickups anyway, since I have fallen out of love with the Alumitones that are in it at the moment. And I'm not a big fan of the dark tobacco burst poly finish that's on it. Time to spend some money, I guess.

 

[MCF]

Was just telling my wife that when we get to the point that there’s only one Monkee, one Beatle, one Rolling Stone, and one Who member left they need to form a tribute band playing all their top hits and go on tour.

The amazing thing is the Stone will likely be Keith.

 

[MCF]

Been busy with the last gigs of the year and mixing and mastering the next Hair album, so haven't been around much. Been playing the Vintage Pro and Greco 4001s a lot, and increasingly thinking I might put a thunderbird pickup in the neck position of the Ric to add more low end oomph and output. And @Gaolee and @godofthunder59 guess I'll be joining the Acoustic Control ranks, picking up a 361 stack this weekend!




San Jacinto area? I know it was snowing down there yesterday.

My. Pinos/Pine Mountain club area at the southwest corner of Kern County at the border with Ventura County. Los Padres National Forest is my backyard.

 

[WillyW]

You’re braver than I am.

I like those a lot. I may have to do some work on my fretless. It needs new pickups anyway, since I have fallen out of love with the Alumitones that are in it at the moment. And I'm not a big fan of the dark tobacco burst poly finish that's on it. Time to spend some money, I guess.

It's only wood with metal bits stuck on, swing by the howse and we'll fix em' up.

 

[Gaolee]

Been busy with the last gigs of the year and mixing and mastering the next Hair album, so haven't been around much. Been playing the Vintage Pro and Greco 4001s a lot, and increasingly thinking I might put a thunderbird pickup in the neck position of the Ric to add more low end oomph and output. And @Gaolee and @godofthunder59 guess I'll be joining the Acoustic Control ranks, picking up a 361 stack this weekend!




San Jacinto area? I know it was snowing down there yesterday.

You got the 360 pre and 361 Power Plus cabinet? Nice! If you have a properly functioning one, it will take some getting used to, but they are outstanding once you get the hang of them. What you hear next to one isn't quite the same as what the audience hears. They have a big, full, dark sound. When you engage the bright button, they can sound a whole lot more full-range than you would expect from a big folded horn like that. If the fuzz works, it's a whole lot of fun, and the tuning fork is great for making weird noises, but is mostly useless otherwise. You will probably get some 60 cycle hum and all the rest of the 1960s and early 1970s character flaws. Once you start playing through it, that stuff is inaudible anyway.

They are far easier to move than you might expect, since the ergos of the tilt-back are good. A big enough car is a must. Are you picking up an original or a Grexa reissue? They are different, but not as different as you might expect. I love 'em both and play through the original in the basement at least a couple times a week. It's complete overkill for a practice amp, but why not?

 

[Gaolee]

The amazing thing is the Stone will likely be Keith.

Likely? I think that's inevitable. He will live to be 130 or so, and nobody will be able to tell how old he is. And then he will just turn to stone.

 

[WillyW]

Local CL has this one....

 

[D.M.N.]

You got the 360 pre and 361 Power Plus cabinet? Nice! If you have a properly functioning one, it will take some getting used to, but they are outstanding once you get the hang of them. What you hear next to one isn't quite the same as what the audience hears. They have a big, full, dark sound. When you engage the bright button, they can sound a whole lot more full-range than you would expect from a big folded horn like that. If the fuzz works, it's a whole lot of fun, and the tuning fork is great for making weird noises, but is mostly useless otherwise. You will probably get some 60 cycle hum and all the rest of the 1960s and early 1970s character flaws. Once you start playing through it, that stuff is inaudible anyway.

They are far easier to move than you might expect, since the ergos of the tilt-back are good. A big enough car is a must. Are you picking up an original or a Grexa reissue? They are different, but not as different as you might expect. I love 'em both and play through the original in the basement at least a couple times a week. It's complete overkill for a practice amp, but why not?

https://reverb.com/item/47774288-acoustic-360-bass-amp

It's an original one, 360 pre and 361 cab. Some tearing on the tolex on the back of the cab, but overall in pretty decent condition, grills still there and blue panel. Picked it up cheaper than they were asking, apparently it was making sound until recently, though a bit distorted, but now isn't passing signal. Probably a good servicing and cap job will get it all fixed up. If it doesn't quite get the top end and mids I'm looking for, I can always pair it alongside the Hiwatt or Sunn.

 

[PhR75]

You got the 360 pre and 361 Power Plus cabinet? Nice! If you have a properly functioning one, it will take some getting used to, but they are outstanding once you get the hang of them. What you hear next to one isn't quite the same as what the audience hears. They have a big, full, dark sound. When you engage the bright button, they can sound a whole lot more full-range than you would expect from a big folded horn like that. If the fuzz works, it's a whole lot of fun, and the tuning fork is great for making weird noises, but is mostly useless otherwise. You will probably get some 60 cycle hum and all the rest of the 1960s and early 1970s character flaws. Once you start playing through it, that stuff is inaudible anyway.

They are far easier to move than you might expect, since the ergos of the tilt-back are good. A big enough car is a must. Are you picking up an original or a Grexa reissue? They are different, but not as different as you might expect. I love 'em both and play through the original in the basement at least a couple times a week. It's complete overkill for a practice amp, but why not?

I have always been fascinated by the 360/361 sound and was pretty sure that for example John Paul Jones' great sound on tracks like "Black Dog", "Houses Of The Holy" or "Walter's Walk" had something to do with that cab even though people usually wrote "he went probably DI anyway" stuff and "there's no way to mic that cab properly". Well, why Jaco hauled two of those beast around for over ten years if it wasn't a part of his sound.
I've never had a chance to play through a 360 stack or any other Acoustic cab. I recently bought an IR loader (Nux solid studio) for home recording purposes and for live work too since as much as I'd like to have my cab mic'ed I know it's quite often not possible. With IR based cab simulator in the end of the pedal board I can use effects and especially overdrive straight to the PA. Anyway, I decided to check if anyone had made IR of that Acoustic cab and found Dr. Bonker's IR of the 301 cab. I bought it and all became clear. It was the sound. Glenn Hughes' or Paul Martinez's sound on "Come Taste The Band" or "Malice In Wonderland": Martin Bass Bin (folded horn). Chris Glen on "SAHB Live": Acoustic 370/301 with a Telecaster bass.
Even my 12-string bass sounded good with it immediately and it usually sounds crap through DI.
I made a few clips with the IR which Dr. Bonker's put on his website with my permission (won't post them here since it's getting way off-topic and I'm not working for him) just because the sound was so inspiring.

Sorry for the rant, it's just great to see people love and use these legendary amps and I can see why (even though I'm only using a second best option).

 

[Gaolee]

https://reverb.com/item/47774288-acoustic-360-bass-amp

It's an original one, 360 pre and 361 cab. Some tearing on the tolex on the back of the cab, but overall in pretty decent condition, grills still there and blue panel. Picked it up cheaper than they were asking, apparently it was making sound until recently, though a bit distorted, but now isn't passing signal. Probably a good servicing and cap job will get it all fixed up. If it doesn't quite get the top end and mids I'm looking for, I can always pair it alongside the Hiwatt or Sunn.

It actually looks pretty decent for what it is and how old it is. Those things all got the living bejesus beat out of them for years. Picking it up for less than that asking price is pretty good these days. I wouldn't let mine go for double that. Nobody would buy it for that price, either, but that's fine because I wouldn't sell it anyway.

 

[Gaolee]

I have always been fascinated by the 360/361 sound and was pretty sure that for example John Paul Jones' great sound on tracks like "Black Dog", "Houses Of The Holy" or "Walter's Walk" had something to do with that cab even though people usually wrote "he went probably DI anyway" stuff and "there's no way to mic that cab properly". Well, why Jaco hauled two of those beast around for over ten years if it wasn't a part of his sound.
I've never had a chance to play through a 360 stack or any other Acoustic cab. I recently bought an IR loader (Nux solid studio) for home recording purposes and for live work too since as much as I'd like to have my cab mic'ed I know it's quite often not possible. With IR based cab simulator in the end of the pedal board I can use effects and especially overdrive straight to the PA. Anyway, I decided to check if anyone had made IR of that Acoustic cab and found Dr. Bonker's IR of the 301 cab. I bought it and all became clear. It was the sound. Glenn Hughes' or Paul Martinez's sound on "Come Taste The Band" or "Malice In Wonderland": Martin Bass Bin (folded horn). Chris Glen on "SAHB Live": Acoustic 370/301 with a Telecaster bass.
Even my 12-string bass sounded good with it immediately and it usually sounds crap through DI.
I made a few clips with the IR which Dr. Bonker's put on his website with my permission (won't post them here since it's getting way off-topic and I'm not working for him) just because the sound was so inspiring.

Sorry for the rant, it's just great to see people love and use these legendary amps and I can see why (even though I'm only using a second best option).

My first serious amp was an ACC 126 combo. It's not a great amp, but it got the job done and was loud as all hell. Which was what I wanted at the time. Tone? I'm 20 years old, what's tone? Many years later, I got the 360/361 stack, and that was it. It's the sound I wanted to hear. By the time it came along, I had discovered that tone was a thing, and volume wasn't always necessary. The irony is that a 360/361 stack is far louder than the 126 combo could ever be, but I haven't ever turned it up much.

I have been told that I was disemboweling people in the back of the room on a couple occasions. It wasn't all that loud, but apparently I hit some sympathetic frequency with the insides of a human. That was the Grexa reissue, but the same happens with an original if you play it live. Which I did for quite a few years.

 

[JJR58]

https://reverb.com/item/47774288-acoustic-360-bass-amp

It's an original one, 360 pre and 361 cab. Some tearing on the tolex on the back of the cab, but overall in pretty decent condition, grills still there and blue panel. Picked it up cheaper than they were asking, apparently it was making sound until recently, though a bit distorted, but now isn't passing signal. Probably a good servicing and cap job will get it all fixed up. If it doesn't quite get the top end and mids I'm looking for, I can always pair it alongside the Hiwatt or Sunn.

That rig alone can do some serious damage.

 

[D.M.N.]

It actually looks pretty decent for what it is and how old it is. Those things all got the living bejesus beat out of them for years. Picking it up for less than that asking price is pretty good these days. I wouldn't let mine go for double that. Nobody would buy it for that price, either, but that's fine because I wouldn't sell it anyway.

Yeah, it's in alright condition, and I plan to gig my amps, there's only one I consider a minty collectors piece, so as long as they aren't ratty I'm pretty content. I picked it up for the same price as I did a full 2000s rig back in 2014, and even putting $200 into repairs, came out below a grand for and amp that's never given me a hint of trouble. Hoping the same will be said for this Acoustic.

That rig alone can do some serious damage.

True, but if you're already doing that much damage, what's a little more!

 

[JJR58]

Yeah, it's in alright condition, and I plan to gig my amps, there's only one I consider a minty collectors piece, so as long as they aren't ratty I'm pretty content. I picked it up for the same price as I did a full 2000s rig back in 2014, and even putting $200 into repairs, came out below a grand for and amp that's never given me a hint of trouble. Hoping the same will be said for this Acoustic.



True, but if you're already doing that much damage, what's a little more!

Take no prisoners

 

[GBassNorth]

Thanks. Only about 90 minutes north of you.

My. Pinos/Pine Mountain club area at the southwest corner of Kern County at the border with Ventura County. Los Padres National Forest is my backyard.

I’ll be up in that general area in late January on a Porsche outing. Lake Hughes, Agua Dolce, Castaic canyon run. Beautiful scenery in that part of the state.

 

[MCF]

https://reverb.com/item/47774288-acoustic-360-bass-amp

It's an original one, 360 pre and 361 cab. Some tearing on the tolex on the back of the cab, but overall in pretty decent condition, grills still there and blue panel. Picked it up cheaper than they were asking, apparently it was making sound until recently, though a bit distorted, but now isn't passing signal. Probably a good servicing and cap job will get it all fixed up. If it doesn't quite get the top end and mids I'm looking for, I can always pair it alongside the Hiwatt or Sunn.

Maybe road trip up to Santa Cruz?

 

[dagrev]

Was just telling my wife that when we get to the point that there’s only one Monkee, one Beatle, one Rolling Stone, and one Who member left they need to form a tribute band playing all their top hits and go on tour.

Would Keef count as one full member of the Stones? Just wondering.

 

[dagrev]

Been busy with the last gigs of the year and mixing and mastering the next Hair album, so haven't been around much. Been playing the Vintage Pro and Greco 4001s a lot, and increasingly thinking I might put a thunderbird pickup in the neck position of the Ric to add more low end oomph and output. And @Gaolee and @godofthunder59 guess I'll be joining the Acoustic Control ranks, picking up a 361 stack this weekend!

San Jacinto area? I know it was snowing down there yesterday.

That all sounds like wonderful news! Ric's have a neck pickup?

 

[D.M.N.]

That all sounds like wonderful news! Ric's have a neck pickup?

I guess? I've made no bones about it, for years I've been more fond of a single pickup bass, be it a Precision, TB II, or a Rick with just the bridge. Don't like the scoop from the phase cancellation with two pickups, but with the Ric-o-sound the pickups don't interfere with each other like they typically do. Even so, I've been thinking of how to run stereo with all my basses, and I think what I'll start doing is splitting the mono signal at the front of my pedal board, sending part to effects and part clean, and just using the sweet spot pickup on my basses. So on the Greco, just the bridge pickup to both amps, but one with effects.

 

[D.M.N.]

Maybe road trip up to Santa Cruz?

Hopefully! I know for spring of 2022, the band is thinking of doing like 3 day weekend tours out of LA, so one up the coast, SF, Santa Cruz, Cayucos, Santa Barbara kinda thing, maybe we'll be able to pull it off. Any venue recommendations in Santa Cruz, besides the Crepe Place (played there enough times...)?