NancyJohnson Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I look at a lot of Thunderbirds - it's a curse. This just looks all wrong, despite the 'custom shop' malarkey. Front jack socket, machine heads, finish, the upper bout is wrong, the strap pin on the side of the body, the control knobs don't even seem to look lined up! It just reeks of an Ali-Baba import. P http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-Thunderbird-bass-guitar-/271428347177?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f3263e529 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 What is it about Thunderbirds? I have always thought of them as stunning looking basses, but every time I play one I am disappointed. Yet still I look at them and lust after them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) Personally, I just love them (well, once I've swapped out the stock bridge), they play well, sound (and look) amazingly good. I'm up to six now in different guises (five Gibson, one Hamer) and my only regrets are, i) that I played so many other brands before finally settling on them and, ii) that I didn't pull the trigger on a cardinal red Twiggy Ramirez prototype that was on sale in the US a couple of years ago. I've never had itchy feet with them either; never this clawing in my mind that I need to sell on for a change. I posted elsewhere that I'm a slightly overweight guy in my 40s, I pull on a Thunderbird and I feel like a skinny guy in my 20s. They're like magic. P Edited March 20, 2014 by NancyJohnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howdenspur Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) Glad it's not just me suffering from the curse, though not (yet) put it to bed by actually getting one! The problem has been finding the right type - I like the old chrome look and the old school sound, so you either a) splash out on a 60's or 70 bicentennial Gibson (expensive and a lot of neck breaks out there) get a Lull or Cataldo re-interpretation c) get a Greco (hmmmm) or d) get an modern Epi/Tokai to tart up (not cheap and possibly a sow's ear to start??). Those B&ch NRs are tempting tho. This one (in the OP) is a bit odd...I also think he has dropped the price from ~£1950. Rod Edited March 20, 2014 by howdenspur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/214884-fsft-greco-thunderbird-price-drop/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/214884-fsft-greco-thunderbird-price-drop/page__fromsearch__1[/url] if you really want an old school kick arse T-bird, get this from Cosmo (of this parish) it looks bloody marvellous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 [quote name='howdenspur' timestamp='1395320842' post='2401033'] Glad it's not just me suffering from the curse, though not (yet) put it to bed by actually getting one! The problem has been finding the right type - I like the old chrome look and the old school sound, so you either a) splash out on a 60's or 70 bicentennial Gibson (expensive and a lot of neck breaks out there) get a Lull or Cataldo re-interpretation c) get a Greco (hmmmm) or d) get an modern Epi/Tokai to tart up (not cheap and possibly a sow's ear to start??). Those B&ch NRs are tempting tho. This one (in the OP) is a bit odd...I also think he has dropped the price from ~£1950. Rod [/quote] I'm interested to see how Sean's Bach NR turns out. I like the look of the Lull but the prices are a definite put off. I like some of Carlo's stuff. The REV and NRBird are nice takes on the design, but I think the necks are AllParts or something - he just buys them in them reworks the headstocks. Just get a Gibson! P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassmonkey Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Picked this up recently. Lovely. I like Nancy's view around how it makes you feel, its long, feels properly rock n roll but plays really well and sounds great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howdenspur Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1395328073' post='2401195'] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/214884-fsft-greco-thunderbird-price-drop/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.u...__fromsearch__1[/url] if you really want an old school kick arse T-bird, get this from Cosmo (of this parish) it looks bloody marvellous. [/quote] Yeah, been gazing at that one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howdenspur Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) [quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1395329886' post='2401219'] I'm interested to see how Sean's Bach NR turns out. I like the look of the Lull but the prices are a definite put off. I like some of Carlo's stuff. The REV and NRBird are nice takes on the design, but I think the necks are AllParts or something - he just buys them in them reworks the headstocks. Just get a Gibson! P [/quote] But then again, Carlo's take on a chromed up Pro iv looks nice... [url="http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/THUNDERBUCKER/P1010477.jpg.html"]http://s976.photobuc...010477.jpg.html[/url] I'm also keen to see Sean's NR! Edited March 20, 2014 by howdenspur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidlovellbass Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 Three Greco birds on t'bay. I have the same model as all three but in white and the sound is classic and full Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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