retroman

The bass, the stance, it all says one thing................ROCK!! PS, what has the guitarist spotted on the ceiling?

Spinynorman, that looks in really good condition Shaggy, cheers for the tips. I have been using short scale, light guage Roto's on mine. I'll try messing about with the amp EQ a bit more, and see what happens. She really does have a super fast neck, despite the high action. Perhaps some heavier guage DR's will tighten the sound up a bit? We're really getting a tasty display of Gibbo's in this thread now, cheers Chaps

OOH Shaggy.......Now that's a gorgeous collection '65 Thunderbird IV :wub: :wub: Interesting about the tone of the EB2's. I would describe mine as muddy.......More like an extremely dense bog that's been trampled by Mammoths! Does sound quite good with the baritone circuit switched off

IMHO, the current range of Thunderbirds are the best to play ergonomically. They are slightly shorter, and have a much smaller headstock, so they ballance better when playing. Also they have a much slimmer neck. They won't dent your pocket so much I would also consider doing a back to back with the Gibson, and the Epiphone Pro. The last Epi Pro I picked up was really good. To see the size difference between a '76, and a '09 'Bird, have a look in the "Gibson Porn" thread. I have posted pictures of my two together, and you can see the size difference Hope this helps

[quote name='SS73' post='739431' date='Feb 8 2010, 09:28 PM']I think these and the EB2's are just not meant to have a low action.[/quote] +1. My EB2 at best has a medium/high action that I just put down to the short scale length. The Ebay 'Bird looks well looked after. It is very easy to wear through the finish like that. My 09 had the finish wear through first time I used it with a strap Really nice padded strap as well Interesting that the seller mentioned the balance "issue". My 09 is no problem at all. I can let go of it, and it stays put. The '76 is definately a lot more headstock heavy. Perhaps it's the original 'Birds that got the bad reputation for neck dive, and now people just assume that if it's a Thunderbird, it's gonna neck dive? +1 to the fly guitars site as well

[quote name='firmo' post='739286' date='Feb 8 2010, 07:20 PM']No but I can buy a spanner for about 50p from Wilko.[/quote] And then spend about 2 hrs having to chisel off the bolt that the 50p spanner has mangled beyond all recognition I can understand the mechanic and his tools thing. I am a qualified mechanic, and must have at least £10,000 worth of tools They're all spotless, and kept in a very neatly arranged roll cab....Why? The amount of time that you can waste using inferior, poorly maintained, filthy tools, stored in a disorganised tool box is unbelievable. Not to mention the risk of personal injury increases using cheap tat, or looking highly unprofessional. Like I said, look after your tools, and they will last you a life time. Same levels of tidyness apply to my bass equipment. BTW, did I mention I'm a neat freak! No offence meant to anyone, just my own opinion. At the end of the day, we're all different, and it's OK to enjoy our hobby in different ways to each other

Appologies for the missing pictures, the fault was at this end All sorted now though That EB3 looks tasty

Just a thought....The rehearsal rooms at Darley Abbey Mill? Think they have storage facilities there

[quote name='farmer61' post='738474' date='Feb 7 2010, 09:11 PM']That's one fantatsic looking piece of kit....many congrats......![/quote] Cheers F61 Glad to hear that you're impressed with yours. My 09 Bird has a huge tone, and a super fast neck, and the neck dive really isn't the problem that a lot of people would have you believe Look forward to seeing the pictures. The '76 got it's first outing at band practice the other night. What a tone monster! Very different to play to the newer ones though. The neck is a little wider, and the headstock is HUGE!! I don't know that I can resist using her at a couple of gigs actually........ Mainly to hear her through my SVT rig! I use an ancient Carlsboro rig for practice, that I leave there

OK, here's some piccy's of the '76 bicentennial 'bird; Doesn't the newer bird look much smaller than the original!

My EB2 has the old fashioned 2 point mounting bridge, and the only way of adjusting the intonation is via two grub screws that work against the back of the two posts Took ages to get it adjusted, and it's as near as I could ever hope to get it. IMHO, trying to get a low action on the short scale EB2 is pointless anyway, as they are only really any good at root note stuff. Getting up the dusty end of the board makes for some interesting, boomy sounds! I find the 3 point bridges far better. The one thing I have found with them is they don't like strings that have the silks at the ball end of the string. Always seem to wind up with the silk on the saddle of the E string, making getting the string heights difficult, as the saddle for the E always seems to wind up towards the very rear of the bridge. So far I have always managed to get a low action, and really good intonation with the 3 point bridge. I've seen those Hipshot bridges, and they look good. Fine for a gigging bass, but don't they clamp down onto the body, and leave a "footprint" in the finish? That's the one thing that put me off

That's a nice tale. I can understand why you would never want to part with her :wub: Perhaps she just needs a truss rod tweak?? My EB2 has a medium/high action, but both my Thunderbirds have a really low action

Fascinating read, thanks for posting it up Given my recent "issues" with a certain bass I can believe it. My friend and I could probably consider ourselves Gibson enthusiasts, and my friend bought a "proper" Les Paul. It weighed a ton, and never did sound quite right. He wound up selling it, and is now thoroughly in love with Tokai Love Rock's. I've had a go on both his Love Rock's, and they are gorgeous, and certainly better than the Les Paul was

The comment about using it for "fending off burglars" had me howling! Makes ya feel like having a flutter on it in recognition of his honesty, and banter, doesn't it

I keep all mine squeeky clean. I recently done some repair work, and a set up on a Strat for someone, and it probably took me longer to clean it, than do the work, absolutely disgusting filth, even had mould on it! Everytime I play one of mine, it's out with the duster, and clean all the finger prints off, wipe the strings down,etc. If I have played them for over an hour, or my hands have got sweaty from a gig, then its off with the strings, full clean and polish, lemon oil on the fret board. I'm especially fussy with the nitro cellulose basses I have. Sweat is nasty stuff, and is quite corrosive. I'm the same with all my kit, and you won't catch me on stage with crackling jack sockets and pots, dodgy leads, etc. Look after your tools, and they will last a lifetime. That's my moto anyway

She looks way better built than my '09 bird Loving the Maple Glo beauty in the back ground too! :brow: In fact we have the same taste in basses.....'Bird, Ricky, Jazz, Stingray

The '90's Epiphone Rivoli can be had for quite sensible money. It was a reissue that was made in Korea? I wound up losing about an hour last night on the flyguitars website In the end, I had to stop, as the sofa was absolutely soggy with drool!!