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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
I like that, but is it vintage spec?
EDIT: and that one pickguard screw is 1/10 of a mm off...
the whole thing is RUINED!!!!! WHY DOESN'T GIBSON CARE ABOUT BASE PLAYERS!
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You’re allowed to doff it.
Yes, it’s vintage spec. It was spec’s out by some very vintage engineers at Gibson way back in 2015. And in defense of the Pick Guard design team, this is an after market guard which is why the one screw is 1/10th of a mm off.
As for Gibby not caring about us, they certainly do. While the Gibby guitar design teams dine on Filet Mignon and Lobster tail at the table they occasionally drop some very tasty table scraps for us bass players to eat off the floor… the 2017 VP, the 2012 NR, the 2013 Golden Anniversary issue, the 2015 Tbird, the 2021 NR, and I’m sure more to come. I’m ok with the pace of their innovation and new releases, it’s currently out pacing my ability to purchase them and does create a fair bit of exclusivity.
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That's one of the problems with basses with that superfluous string....
Yeah, having that G-string in the way all the time does get to be annoying!
You mean the full length thumb rest?That's one of the problems with basses with that superfluous string....
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,964
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Here's a reviewer that has a...er.., contrary opinion about a certain bass...
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
He wasn't chosen by a Thunderbird. Of course it misbehaved for him.
As someone that started on a Glarry Burning Fire, he misses the point that it is a great platform for mods. My Burning Fire was around $90 shipped and even after changing out the pups, pots, strings, tuners, bridge, and lining the control cavity with copper tape, I still came in under $200 (granted got the tuners and bridge gratis), it is my favorite bass to play since no neck dive and only 6.8#. The T-bird would be the top if I changed the strings to La Bella tapewounds and cured the neck dive.
I can forgive a bad setup but poorly finished fret ends on an otherwise nice bass is just gross and inexcusable. The T-Bird ergo issue this is overblown as usual. That Serek did sound pretty sweet though dispite his lazy and sloppy slap technique. Bad technique is a lot like bad fret ends to me. Lol.
There's a group of these guys that coordinated their videos at the end of the year, some of them had geetars on the list they never even tried, OR the pulled them off the wall at geetar center.
consider the source...
Only one of the guys from the group is any good, and he is a member here.
Are those pickups the same dimension as regular US T-Bird pickups?
It can't be difficult for Epi either. They make their guitars in more than three finishes. Run a few over to the guitar spray booth where they have more cans.
It's especially annoying since they discontinued white on the VP.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,964
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
This is true as we all know - T-birds aren't for everyone. As much as his opinions were somewhat extreme, his insights aren't totally wrong. I have yet to play one so I have nothing to say there, but unlike the less than 1/2 price Epi reverse iV it is in a price range that one should expect a certain level of (higher) quality. If any of what he says related to QC is true - this would be a deal-breaker for me at that cost. As in, I would generally rectify things like that
myself if said bass was more affordable. The last new bass I bought in '06 was a CIJ Fender '51P RI for about $650. It was really well made with no issues right off the wall. I sorta' agree with his exaggerated - "Gibson - why do you hate bass-players!" Introducing the NR was their chance of 'bonding' w/bass players and at that price-point it should be close to perfect upon delivery. Maybe he played a bad one...
Ignoring that he is disregarding an instrument based on the setup alone, is he wrong on his other points? The sound lacking definition? The neck dive actually being an issue on the NR as well?
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Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,896
- 142,217
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
For a new Gibson bass I think it's important to buy from a good dealer - I'm testifying for Sweetwater, they do a nice set up and look the bass over carefully. Over the years I've bought quite a few basses from them, many that later got sent to Uwe Hornung in Germany and I can say that they all were nicely done and had no issues. Regarding his thoughts on the NR, it's clear that he holds a bias and even his comments parrot a lot of "internet myth" that guys who don't like Gibson spout........ But hey, it's Wednesday and I finally got a day off!
Time for a nap with the kitty.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,964
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
His first tone opinion was that it is "dark sounding" - and that is true. I played my '64 II for years before adding the Seymour Duncan Hawkbucker pu at the bridge. I did that because... it was (to my ears) dark sounding and lacked definition. In my case this is a player preference as I gravitate to mid-centric bass tone - always have. Even playing it today - I favor the bridge pu and my right hand is over that pu. I love the ballsy tone from it and it's not "too" anything to my ears... but it is one of the darker toned basses in my collection. Haven't heard or played the new NR so I can't speak there.
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