Looking for a Thunderbird Hard Case
- atomic_punk
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Looking for a Thunderbird Hard Case
Anyone know of any places to get one that will fit a Thunderbird bass besides the Musicians Friend type places? Just dont wanna drop a ton of money on one. Thanks!
"They make great f***'n basses". - Lemmy, NAMM 2009
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Hopefully Steve won't mind me chiming in before he does...
He & I have had some off forum conversations about T-birds, I have one & he asked for advice.
I believe that he just scored an Epi model off of eBay.
Here's a cut & paste job from one of my earlier forum raves about the Gibson Thunderbird:
"T-birds are fantastic (IMHO). They are really fat sounding - great low end, but still has enough of that 'punch' that most of us on this forum love. Those ceramic humbuckers scream. I am speaking strictly about the newer ones. Mine is a 2001 - I've never had the opportunity to play a vintage one. The necks are super thin & fast...neck through of course. Very fragile though, I've seen so many ads with the dreaded words "headstock repair".
It's not a Rick, don't get me wrong, but a fantastic bass with thunderous low end & clarity that many don't associate with Gibson basses.
It's the fave bass for all the guys I play with, they love it when I show up with that one.
Unique floating bridge design that takes a little getting used to when stringing it up.
2 things though: due to the cutaway, it's tough to get up high on the neck...especially if you play your bass slung low. Also - some of you have probably had "Rick Rash" at one time or another - the blister/chafing on the inside center of your wrist from the 4001/3 binding. Well, T-birds will give you the same thing, but about an inch to the left!
I got mine direct from the Gibson factory through this guy I knew for an even grand. I'm extremely happy with that bass. The last time we were in the studio I went straight in, dry & got a tremendous tone.
Plus I'm a big Pete Way fan & they look cool as hell - almost as good as a Rick!"
So Lindsay, if you have the itch I say SCRATCH IT. You won't be disappointed - I promise. Fantastic bass...
He & I have had some off forum conversations about T-birds, I have one & he asked for advice.
I believe that he just scored an Epi model off of eBay.
Here's a cut & paste job from one of my earlier forum raves about the Gibson Thunderbird:
"T-birds are fantastic (IMHO). They are really fat sounding - great low end, but still has enough of that 'punch' that most of us on this forum love. Those ceramic humbuckers scream. I am speaking strictly about the newer ones. Mine is a 2001 - I've never had the opportunity to play a vintage one. The necks are super thin & fast...neck through of course. Very fragile though, I've seen so many ads with the dreaded words "headstock repair".
It's not a Rick, don't get me wrong, but a fantastic bass with thunderous low end & clarity that many don't associate with Gibson basses.
It's the fave bass for all the guys I play with, they love it when I show up with that one.
Unique floating bridge design that takes a little getting used to when stringing it up.
2 things though: due to the cutaway, it's tough to get up high on the neck...especially if you play your bass slung low. Also - some of you have probably had "Rick Rash" at one time or another - the blister/chafing on the inside center of your wrist from the 4001/3 binding. Well, T-birds will give you the same thing, but about an inch to the left!
I got mine direct from the Gibson factory through this guy I knew for an even grand. I'm extremely happy with that bass. The last time we were in the studio I went straight in, dry & got a tremendous tone.
Plus I'm a big Pete Way fan & they look cool as hell - almost as good as a Rick!"
So Lindsay, if you have the itch I say SCRATCH IT. You won't be disappointed - I promise. Fantastic bass...
- atomic_punk
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I have scored, and I love it! Great tone, a little heavier low end than a Rick, and once I got the truss rod tweaked, great action. It sounded awesome with my (2) 4x10 cabinets. I got so many compliments on the sound!! It came with a BC Rich gig bag that fits it great, but I always feel better with a hard shell case, for as much as we play out. Here's me trying to do my Chris Poteat / Pete Way pose
"They make great f***'n basses". - Lemmy, NAMM 2009
- atomic_punk
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I echo many of Chris' sentiments. I have never really liked Gibson basses (having owned a Grabber in a previous life) and this one blew my mind. It IS hard to get way up high on the neck, I had to really make an effort to get down to the last dot during a certain Zeppelin song. But it worked out!
"They make great f***'n basses". - Lemmy, NAMM 2009
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- atomic_punk
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They ain't cheap - at least not new...
http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/GCGI-TBIRD.htm
http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/GCGI-TBIRD.htm
- atomic_punk
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- atomic_punk
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- Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2003 5:00 am
- Contact:
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Yeah Lindsay,
I also second what Steve says. All the guys in my bands know my passion for Ricks & do prefer the T-bird. I'm a Rick man through & through, I own a '74 4001, '78 3001, '03 4003, '89 Fender Jazz & the '01 T-Bird. The only 2 basses that are stored in their cases as opposed to wall hangers are the 4003 & the T-Bird. I don't think I could part with either of those.
One of the bands I'm in tunes down to D flat - usually I play the Jazz with them, but took the T-Bird on a whim last week.
Oh - My - God...it sounded like tanks rolling through the rehearsal space. We burned that jam down to CD & it was the most monsterous low end ever.
I also second what Steve says. All the guys in my bands know my passion for Ricks & do prefer the T-bird. I'm a Rick man through & through, I own a '74 4001, '78 3001, '03 4003, '89 Fender Jazz & the '01 T-Bird. The only 2 basses that are stored in their cases as opposed to wall hangers are the 4003 & the T-Bird. I don't think I could part with either of those.
One of the bands I'm in tunes down to D flat - usually I play the Jazz with them, but took the T-Bird on a whim last week.
Oh - My - God...it sounded like tanks rolling through the rehearsal space. We burned that jam down to CD & it was the most monsterous low end ever.
- atomic_punk
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Chris,
I used to play an Explorer (long story, yada yada yada, I broke the neck off of it). Will your T-bird fit in an Explorer case? Doesnt seem it is long enough. Maybe one of those Ibanez X-Series (Destroyer) bass cases would work. I should just shut up and fork it out, but I hate not having any other option.
I used to play an Explorer (long story, yada yada yada, I broke the neck off of it). Will your T-bird fit in an Explorer case? Doesnt seem it is long enough. Maybe one of those Ibanez X-Series (Destroyer) bass cases would work. I should just shut up and fork it out, but I hate not having any other option.
"They make great f***'n basses". - Lemmy, NAMM 2009
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I actually never tried the T-Bird/Explorer swap out. The cases were close to the same length, but (as you may remember) the Explorer sits in a pretty hard angle because of that huge top wing...
I'm trying to think of some generic no-cut out cases that would be long enough.
I've got an old Hurricane case that was given to me a long time ago just sitting in the attic - not sure if it would fit in there. Let me take a look...
I'm trying to think of some generic no-cut out cases that would be long enough.
I've got an old Hurricane case that was given to me a long time ago just sitting in the attic - not sure if it would fit in there. Let me take a look...