Looks great!
I tried a Ric in store once and quickly found that it wasn't for me. But if I were a Ric guy, I would be all kinds of jealous.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
I tried a Ric in store once and quickly found that it wasn't for me. But if I were a Ric guy, I would be all kinds of jealous.
I bought two of those new right when Rickenbacker yanked them out of GC for selling the cases separately, I stupidly sold them both. You can take the shoes off of them if it bothers you, it will get maybe a little noisier but the sound doesn't change, those bridge pickups are powerful little muthas.
No matter what GC tells you that is why they no longer stock them, everyone always complains about Rickenbacker being out for themselves, they were protecting the consumer this time.
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They're like T-birds, you have to get used to them. I wouldn't go without one now.
I respect that.
I never had to get used to my first Thunderbird. Had a nice Ric for a few years and I never did get used to it. Always wanted one, but just never clicked with it. I sure wanted to. They are just flat out awesome looking and unique sounding. They look like a work of art as much as any popular instrument.
I bought my first Ric in 1977 and got rid of it a few years later, I was a P bass guy back then, I didn't like anything about it except the looks. I finally heard of a factory fretless selling for 500 bucks and bought it, I gradually played around with it and got used to it and bought a fretted one. These were all 4001s which I still like, got a '79 now along with a couple of 4003s, one a fretless. My first T-Bird was bought new about 15 years ago, I too sold that after a few years, I then bought a new one in 2018, I love it, strange how your tastes evolve over time. I also started playing upright early 2000, I now figure if I try hard enough I can get used to anything.I respect that.
I never had to get used to my first Thunderbird. Had a nice Ric for a few years and I never did get used to it. Always wanted one, but just never clicked with it. I sure wanted to. They are just flat out awesome looking and unique sounding. They look like a work of art as much as any popular instrument.
I still like P basses too, Jazzes etc, etc.
So you are saying that I am not smart enough to play one. I accept that and think you might be right.
I can't believe it takes a whole page to get to this:
Do you leave the stool on the stage?
I didn't mean to imply that all, just my own experience, sorry if I gave that impression. I gave them a second chance and was determined, I can be stubborn anyway.
A lot of people seem to have trouble getting accustomed to them and I was one of them, persistence paid off for me.
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I have just about every output jack orientation made and my favorite is the side mounted electrosocket jack, that’s why I installed it on my BlingBird, easy to locate with the guitar strapped on without scratching up the finish, and because it’s hidden it has no aesthetic issues, also looks more elegant than a side mounted plate style jack…
Top mounts are convenient but too much stress can crack the top wood. Standard or flush side mounts are a PITA, I’m forever fumbling around trying to insert the cable without scratching up the finish. Strat jacks are ok from a use and access standpoint but aesthetically don’t fit every design.
As for cables, if I’m using a front jack I like a right angle cable, less likely than a straight plug to get bumped hard and crack the top wood, and if for some reason it gets too much stress it usually snaps off inside the jack vs breaking the surrounding wood. Same right angle preference if using a side jack, and if sitting it’s a strong preference because the lower profile means less chance of it hitting the chair or other things.
I like side jacks way better too.
In my situation it was probably the Ric resisting my awful playing. Figured if it made it more awkward for me to play I would send it to someone who can actually play.I bought my first Ric in 1977 and got rid of it a few years later, I was a P bass guy back then, I didn't like anything about it except the looks. I finally heard of a factory fretless selling for 500 bucks and bought it, I gradually played around with it and got used to it and bought a fretted one. These were all 4001s which I still like, got a '79 now along with a couple of 4003s, one a fretless. My first T-Bird was bought new about 15 years ago, I too sold that after a few years, I then bought a new one in 2018, I love it, strange how your tastes evolve over time. I also started playing upright early 2000, I now figure if I try hard enough I can get used to anything.
I got my '64 in 81 or 82. Just always felt like it was made for me once I got a strap with a little resistance on the back. The '64 and '06 are a comfortable to play as anything I ever picked up.
Only if it was a bad crowd or management. Who want's to pick it up anyway.
…call Bill Murray, he’ll not only pick it up, he might even eat it.
In my situation it was probably the Ric resisting my awful playing. Figured if it made it more awkward for me to play I would send it to someone who can actually play.
I got my '64 in 81 or 82. Just always felt like it was made for me once I got a strap with a little resistance on the back. The '64 and '06 are a comfortable to play as anything I ever picked up.
When I got my first thunderbird I played an awful lot of F#s when I wanted play an F.
When I got my first Ric I thought the spacing at the bridge was too narrow, thought it was too dainty and it was either all bass or treble, I couldn't find an in-between on it. It took me a LONG time to get used to the Ric. I came from a P bass and liked to dig in. I almost destroyed a Hofner, the four little pieces at the bridge for intonation were on the floor. I played so hard when I was a kid I destroyed the last couple of frets on a P bass, this with flat wounds.
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I'm not smart enough to play a lot of instruments. Adding Ric to the list is a very small increment to the list.I didn't mean to imply that all, just my own experience, sorry if I gave that impression. I gave them a second chance and was determined, I can be stubborn anyway.
A lot of people seem to have trouble getting accustomed to them and I was one of them, persistence paid off for me.
Some things came easily to me with music, I always had a good ear and learned quickly but learning how to get a good sound out of them took me a lot of time, my ear made me lazy and if anything was too difficult I just didn't try. It took me a long time to get out of that. I'm just talking about myself now, no one else. One thing I have learned in over fifty years though is that if it's physically or mentally possible for me to do, I can do it if I try long and hard enough.
I don't remember who said it but it is said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, I do not include myself anywhere near that catagory by the way.
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- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,972
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Looks like it could be a good replacement for the Gibson 3-point bridge.
I miss this one a lot!
But the twisted neck forced me to off it.
Ugh!
One day I will have another.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,972
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
It just looks wrong, even if you didn't know what a Thunderbird bass looked like.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,972
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
