Greco Birds...

[angrymatt]

I'm putting a fair amount of wear and tear on my Thunderbird, and since I cracked the headstock to my Heritage bass, my only other back up bass is a terrible Aria that was an impulse buy a few years ago (it's not a bad bass, I just don't care for it, it doesn't enthuse me in any way).

What are the opinions of other posters about Greco Birds?  I remember from the old site TBird1958 had some positive things to say about them, but... well you know.

Would a decent old greco bird be a good beater bass until the BaCHBird comes out, or my broke ass saves enough cash for another real one?

[TBird1958]

 Heya

I really do like my Greco TB II quite a bit, it's a good player, the pick up absolutely roars. To my mind the average going $$$ on ebay makes them a very attractive alternative to Gibson, I'd also say its way better than an Epiphone for playing and sound. Scott (BassIV) also has a couple if I recall, The neck profile is different from a Gibson and the scale is about 1/2" shorter, thus I always think of mine as the "little" Bird.
 

[Basvarken]

I have a Greco Thunderbird too. I has a real powerful growly tone.
The (set) neck is a bit chunkier than a Gibson Tbird, but other than that it's pretty close to the real thing.
I bought it in 2003 from Takahiro Nasu in Tokyo through Ebay.

I used it on one of the songs of our new album.
Here's a short sample.








And I've been using it in another band that I'm helping out till they've found a new bassplayer.
I found out it goes really well with the Orange AD200. The Greco Tbird wakes up the beast inside the AD200.

[MattK]

My Greo T-Bird looks exactly like Rob's. As others have stated, the pickups are excellent. I also like the neck profile.
I've been thinking about selling it, though. I've been on a short-scale kick lately and it isn't getting much love. Plus, I just bought one of those $699 SG Supremes.

[angrymatt]

Thanks for all the insights guys.  I'm hoping to pick one up somewheres around Marchish.

[Johnny Crab]

The pickups look to be the same as in this RVL Special:





They do sound excellent and do the T-Bird sound a whole lot better than my Orville does(even thinking swapping the middle pickup to my Orville's front pickup for a test).

There's a black one on evilBay that looks like it was left outside near saltwater for a year(massive amounts of corrosion). I would seriously avoid that one. If the hardware is that hosed, the wood and esp the neck may be questionable.

[OldManC]

I LOVE my Greco II. I had a IV but sold it. I'd buy another one though. I never noticed it being slightly shorter in scale, but I do notice the neck meeting the body at a higher fret than the Gibsons (one fret later). It makes the bass feel longer in the first position because it's a long stretch to begin with. Not that big a deal unless you're sensitive to that already with a Gibson. The nut width is more P bass than Jazz, but it doesn't feel clubby to me. My '77 II sounds really nice and has the same character as my '65 II (which, alas, I sold). I can't say it sounds exactly like it because no two Thunderbirds sound exactly alike to me. It sounds closer to the '65 than my newer Gibsons though.

 

[Dave W]

Mark and George, would you please measure the scale length of your Grecos (inside edge of nut to center of 12th fret x 2)? I remember someone did this at DPv.3 but that info is gone. I'm curious, just wondering if all Greco birds are the same scale length.

[Lightyear]

Don't rule out a Studio Tbird.  I got mine about a year ago for a little under $600 - in new condition.  I haven't seen the flood gate open on Studio birds like the GOW week stuff and Monkey basses but since they've been discontinued you might find a deal on one.

[gweimer]

One of the guys that we get together with at the FDP Ohio jams brought a Studio T-Bird V last summer.  It sounded awfully nice.

[angrymatt]

That one on ebay with all the corrosion appealed to me a little, as with it as beat up as it is I wouldn't stress over abusing it too much.  But you're right, too risky.  I'd have to play it first before I would hand over any cash.

I've long been a four string devotee, but lately for some reason I've been flirting with some of those more stringy types.  If I could get my hands on a fiver t-bird studio I'd be in minor heaven.

And one more question.  What about the Epi elitist birds?  I assume since they're Japanese their much better than the standard epi birds.

[rockinrayduke]

http://cgi.ebay.com/GRECO-86-THUNDERBIRD-BLACK-Japan-Made-Bass_W0QQitemZ320217954749QQihZ011QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Here's one going for real cheap.....

[MattK]

Mark and George, would you please measure the scale length of your Grecos (inside edge of nut to center of 12th fret x 2)? I remember someone did this at DPv.3 but that info is gone. I'm curious, just wondering if all Greco birds are the same scale length.

Mine measures 33 3/4" (16 7/8" x 2).

[Lightyear]

http://cgi.ebay.com/GRECO-86-THUNDERBIRD-BLACK-Japan-Made-Bass_W0QQitemZ320217954749QQihZ011QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Here's one going for real cheap.....

HOLY CRAP!! 

That is some kind of corroded!    This dude must be some type of bass playing super villain that sweats suphuric acid.

[gweimer]

Unfortunately, the unmagic words were there - "neck has a slight twist"

He was honest about it, though, and pics seem to verify it.