neepheid

Just cut mine down. Can't stand it when they get too long and get in the way.

Welcome to the club. Watch out for feedback if you stray too close to your backline or your monitors...

Well knock me down with a feather, after explaining my tale of woe a friendly CS guy called Boris has offered to send me a replacement pickup "as a courtesy", which I think means for free, but don't void your warranty by being impatient and taking matters into your own hands again, you silly boy Don't I look daft now? Sowwy, Gibson, wuv ooo!

I stopped buying CDs years before I got into Spotify, probably a getting old thing. Stopped buying music magazines, which used to be my primary source of recommendations. We also lost our local independent record shop, where I used to spend far too much time/money, but obviously not enough. It was a pretty sudden thing, and I'm still at a loss to explain it. At least Spotify is getting be back listening again.

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1422026244' post='2667928'] Sorry! I didn't mean to go over the same "old ground" with the "same old questions", I'm just trying to get to the bottom of why there are so many negative opinions on the Thunderbird, and whether they are justified or not, I thought this is what forums are for. I will try one soon for myself, but an hour or so in a shop playing one doesn't always tell you the whole picture, which is why I was seeking advice from those who has, or still does play one. Thanks for the the comments and advice so far, they are all much appreciated. [/quote] Can no-one help you out on here? Surely it's possible that a friendly BCer will be playing a gig near you with a Gibson Thunderbird who would be willing to give you a shottie of one? I've done that before for people interested in the same gear as I have.

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1422018399' post='2667790'] Isn't it always the same questions though? And time and time again. Neckdive, strap lug position, scale length blah blah blah. It's like looking at hotel reviews on TripAdvisor, no one focuses or reads the positive comments. Christ Neeph, you and me have fought for the positive side Gibson basses for years, both here and on LBO, so you know how it is. Yes, I admit, there is an element of neck dive, but (to me) it's not an issue in the slightest. If it bothers anyone, buy a wider strap or a Fender. I had a degree of diving with the old Lakland DJ5 I used to own, but no one ever goes. 'Ooh, those Laklands, man they're terrible at keeping horizontal.' P [/quote] Hey man, as I said already I'd much rather people asked rather than making assumptions based upon hearsay.

[quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1422010472' post='2667666'] At the age of 36 I've been with my wife 18 years, and married for ten of those. She's fairly confident in my commitment, and by this point I'm so institutionalised I wouldn't know how to get laid elsewhere if i tried! [/quote] I appreciate what you're saying but the OP is just embarking upon married life; my advice was tailored to that situation to be honest. I've been married 6 and a bit years, for reference, and I totally agree with you. My wife's take on the matter - "I wouldn't cheat on you, I'd dump you first". Thanks, darling!

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1422008861' post='2667635'] I think Spotify and what it does with regard to making music accessible to new listeners, and the option to introduce it via network to your friends and family is a great thing, I just wish it paid a sensible royalty to the composers. I'd rather link a YouTube video when sharing a tune, as at least the artist gets a better royalty rate. I can name several independent musicians and composers who have removed their material from Spotify for exactly this reason. [/quote] Spotify has re-invigorated my love and appreciation of music, and as such is likely to lead to increased purchases of music and attendance at gigs (actually getting off my lazy butt and going to see Postmodern Jukebox in February for the first time, for example). I think people take far too narrow a view of it and just look at the money or lack of it trickling through. Spotify is a loss leader, except you're not making a loss. It's not going to make you rich either, but I reckon it's better to be in the mix of how people are listening to music these days rather than being on the outside standing on a soapbox trying to make people give a crap about you and what you're doing independently.

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1421965100' post='2667323'] I'm a little tired of these questions[/quote] I'm bloody glad they were asked. Better that than someone blindly accepting the negative factpinions which get paraded as received wisdom around here when it comes to Thunderbirds and Gibson basses in general.

If your wife doesn't go to the gigs, I wouldn't advertise the fact that you're going to take your wedding ring off to go play music in public. Sends the wrong sort of signal, I fear

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1421973866' post='2667426'] Not at all. I'm just saying that the various iterations don't have that much in common beyond the name on the headstock and the body shape. [/quote] Well, it's evolution I guess. I can't really help the OP much. I have a 2012 Non-reverse Thunderbird and I suspect you're only talking about Reverse bodied Thunderbirds here. Therefore I'm out for questions 1 and 2. 3. I don't find it one dimensional - it's a two pickup bass. Solo one or the other you're going to get different tones. Furthermore, I have had three basses with TB+ pickups in them and what I have found is that more often than not they have been plug in and play basses in the live context, very little fussing with EQ other than a bit of mid emphasis (sad face graphic) to get a usable tone you can hear along with the rest of the band. 4. They do seem a bit "long" to me. I don't have an issue with that. That's because the bridge isn't near the bottom of the body, so everything's a bit to the left as you hold it. The NR is probably worse for this than the Reverse. Whether or not it's a problem for you, only you can tell when you try to play one. 5. Today's Reverse Thunderbird nut width is 1.5" (38mm) - Jazz bass territory. NR neck is thicker - 1.6" (40.6mm).

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1421966277' post='2667342'] Which Gibson Thunderbird are you interested in? There have been several quite major changes to the instrument since it first appeared in 1963, and the 2015 model has little in common with the original other than the body shape. [/quote] I get the feeling you always say that like it's a bad thing.

I'm a big fan. Recently made the move to my own premium subscription after borrowing my wife's one for a while, the 99p for three months offer hooked me in. I'm listening to music more than I have been for years, enjoying making up playlists and generally having a nice time. Haters gonna hate.

No problems here. Depends upon your technique I suppose.

Nail in the coffin for the MIM Fender Dimension basses, I reckon.

Simple solutions. Put something heavy on top of it? Sit on it? You did ask for simple solutions, not good ones

Currently thinking about stuff to sell, actually. Am trying to get back together with an old flame. In case my wife is reading this, old flame == bass.

I never measure, I set up all my basses by feel and by ear. Basically as far as action goes, I wind each string down until I get fret buzz, then raise it gradually until it goes away. Amount of relief? "Some". As long as there's a gap and it isn't ridiculous (ie. it's less than a mm) then it'll be fine. Sorry, that doesn't really answer the question.

OB1 Kenobi? These are the heads you're looking for... Sorry.

[quote name='Thor' timestamp='1417551187' post='2621678'] I always struggled with ER20's as I have smallish ear canals too! Found them really painful after an hour or so so opted for ACS Pro 17's and an additional set of -20db filters for the metal band I dep for, they are so comfortable to wear, I certainly wont gig or attend gigs without them now. Money well spent. [/quote] There are two sizes, a regular ER20 and a small ER20S. I too had issues with comfort with the regular ER20, but got a set of ER20S and they feel great, and do the job admirably for me.

The Inevitable Teaspoons get their 2015 kicked off with a gig at Aberdeen's premier dive bar, The Moorings on Friday 30th Jan. Sharing the stage with Alphas, live music kicks off with us at 9pm. Free entry before 8.45pm, £4 thereafter. Come on down for some dirty R&B and an exquisite selection of drinks to make us look prettier with.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1421675274' post='2663801'] ... and..? [/quote] Asked me for all the usual warranty stuff - where bass purchased, serial number, date of purchase, proof of purchase, etc. It's a start

Yas, jinxed 'em, they just replied

That's top notch. File them with Schaller and whoever does Hartke's UK stuff (Korg?) from whom I have received similar, no questions asked replacements for broken/missing stuff on products they've made despite it being second hand/out of warranty. I think I'd die before Gibson replaced the pickup in my EB bass for free (one of the coils is dead). Actually, I'd probably die before they bothered to reply to the message I sent to them about it last week. Gibson don't even let their UK dealers buy replacement pickups from them to sell to end users. I love/hate Gibson so much.

I will be travelling down from Aberdeen for the weekend. I have a spare seat available in my car if anyone wants to head down from my neck of the woods. Not a lot of spare room for basses though