Cosmo Valdemar

Love them! Especially the Charvel. I used to have one like it, long after they were 'cool'. I didn't give a damn! Let me know if you ever want to sell it...

I've always considered factory setups to be comparable to military intelligence.

I wouldn't describe either of those as scrappy... of course they could be when the music demanded it, but it didn't seem to be their inherent style. He co-wrote the songs they play from Fragile, but he was never credited at the time as he was still contracted to A&M as a solo artist. It would seem that still stands!

The canned applause is distracting, and frankly bizarre, but the performances and the sheer joy is something to behold. Pomeroy is amazing.

I saw that on eBay the other day! I'm still fascinated by this bass.

Well this is really something.

Funnily enough, my first though when reading this thread was when my old band supported Dumpy's Rusty Nuts... Luckily it wasnt anywhere near as horrendous as your experience!

The upper fret access is much better isn't it? You've got me thinking about a pink Thunderbird now... Seriously though @NancyJohnson, you seem to be getting a bit angry about all this. Only one person on here has replaced their truss rod cover. Nobody's trying to get one over on Gibson . There's just a lot of us happy that there's finally an affordable Thunderbird that does what we want. And does it extremely well to boot. I've played and owned several Thunderbirds, including Gibsons. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but you don't appear to have tried these Epiphones either.

I don't want to excise Gibson. I just think Epiphone make a better Thunderbird. Or rather, they make one better suited to my tastes and ideas of what a Thunderbird ought to be.

@Dood So happy it all turned out right. But I have to ask, was it all worth it?

FINALLY.

I'm trying to find a reason not to buy another one. I quite fancy a black one... maybe with flats and pickup/bridge covers...

http://www.rickysounds.co.uk/Bezels.html Pricey, but worth it. Congratulations on your new Rickenbacker!

I would leave it, or go for one of those matt black scratchplates they used to use. A mirror scratchplate would be awesome though!

I hadn't noticed that! I was more concerned by the E and G being wrapped the wrong way round the posts. A common error with these basses.

Very cool. They seem to be a bit of an unappreciated gem. There's a Squier 4 string on here that I've been eyeballing...

It is gorgeous. I remember gazing at these in wonder at the guitar shop near school. Such a strange headstock, so modern and elegant compared to the Fenders and Rickenbackers drawn all over my schoolbooks! I must have been 13, so just as the obsession was beginning! Never got to play one sadly. I think they would be too dinky for me, but I'd love a go!

Aargh! The stringing!!!

Note to self - don't buy a Markbass amp 😂

I never knew that! I've never needed to do it with my Ashdown MAG amp. Perhaps it is just the ABMs.

By distorted bass, do you mean driving your amp to distortion or using a pedal? I've always used distortion in some form or another but I don't think it really has any bearing on the questions you've asked.

What does the dummy jack do? I've never used one...

I love Jack Bruce. I think I actually love his singing more than his bass playing, which is saying something! Never had much time for Cream though. Clapton's fault.

I was 6ft 4 and 26 stone when I played mine 🤣 You'll understand why I never played it live.