Hello!!
I have been a long time lurker (creepy, breathy laugh) and finally signed up, I usually hang on talkbass but if you like gibsons (read:not a fender fanboy) then this seems the place to be!! I know a lot about what you guys play and collect and it's really encouraging as a younger player to get all this info about thunderbirds in particular from more experienced players!
I have owned 3 thunderbirds, first was a Pelham blue with a badass 1 bridge, chrome hardware and Greco pickups. I was young, silly and most likely stoned and sold that beautiful bass. But I will get back to that.
The second was a Nikki sixx mik.II. Beautifully made bass and the only tb plus pickups I have ever liked. Amazing feeling finish, I just couldn't connect to it or identify with it as really being "mine".
So I moved on to rickenbackers which I do still use and love! I have a 4003 in midnight blue and a 4003 in jetglo with rick hum buckers.... That bass is called "The Dog". But there was still that itch...that desire for the girth and fatness I knew was possible from only one bass.
It took me a few years but I have finally got myself a new thunderbird. A 2014 walnut bird, beautifully built and a real player of a bass.
I just can't deal with the black hardware and it's pickups (sorry Uwe). So nickel is the way! Currently being retrofitted with clover tuners, new bridge. The pickups is where I am currently standing and unsure where to go. I am more than likely going to be ordering some thunderbucker 66' but I may also be able to acquire some nickel covered Greco pickups from up the road.....the ones that were in that Pelham blue thunderbird. Has anyone compared thunder buckers to Greco?
I will most likely get both and put the phatter pickups in my bird and the other set in my jazz (suck it, fender).
TLDR; thunderbirds rock and I'm happy to be here.
