Thunderbirds by Mike Lull

[TBird1958]

Hey All,

Here's what Mike has as of 1/08/2009.
These are the first two prototypes, and as you can see the as yet unchromed pup covers. The pick ups themselves are due today or tomorrow being held up by Washington's absymal weather. The last shot is of my single pick version 
They're off to NAMM!

[Basvarken]

They look beautiful!

Can I ask how much the pickup covers cost?

[sniper]

those body curves show up a lot better here Mark. i like that a lot.

[gearHed289]

Nice of him to add one more unreachable fret. 

[OldManC]

Beautiful...

[uwe]

Bolt on necks? 

Pricey Epis these then will be. (ducking ...)

[TBird1958]

I kinda doubt they'll sound like Epi's...............I'm throwing a shoe!
There's alot of pride in those two basses, it's pretty cool to see how excited both Mike and Roger are about them, especially the pick ups. But you're right about them being pricey, I  could buy a '76 and alot (I mean alot) of girly clothes for the price of this bass.

[godofthunder]

They look sharp Mark, it's so cool you are in on the ground floor of these ! Is that my bridge I see in the pile 'O parts ?

[Barklessdog]

Nice Mark, you should get yours in Sea Foam Green

[drbassman]

If the price is right, they'd be a good deal IMHO.  For my money, I still like the look of Gibson TBs a little better, except for the black plastic pups!   

[lowend1]

I have trouble with the headstock, which is always a huge deal for me. Somehow a Thunderbird, even the latter day Gibsons, just doesn't look right to me without that big ol' paddle. That's why the Fenderbirds are acceptable - the size of the headstock makes it look okay. Not crazy about the contours either, but that 'stock is the deal breaker. At least he used the big shaft tuners...

[uwe]

I'm sure this will be an excellent instrument and I don't have issues with the look at all, BUT: A bolt on neck with a TBird is like a neck thru-bass in P Bass shape. It just doesn't go together. The way sustain develops relatively attackless on a TBird (which is of course also due to the maho content) is its key characteristic just like you need snap attack on a Fender.

[lowend1]

I was going to mention the neck-thru thing, but I figured that alone would make the bass more expensive to build - and sell. One question though, Uwe - Taking that into account, are you less enamored with the construction and resultant sound of the NRs?

[Dave W]

I'm sure this will be an excellent instrument and I don't have issues with the look at all, BUT: A bolt on neck with a TBird is like a neck thru-bass in P Bass shape. It just doesn't go together. The way sustain develops relatively attackless on a TBird (which is of course also due to the maho content) is its key characteristic just like you need snap attack on a Fender.

But aren't these supposed to be Fenderbirds in concept anyway? I mean, he obviously can't call them that, but I thought the whole idea here was to build a high-end Fenderbird, not a high-end Thunderbird.

Maybe I'm remembering wrong. Mark?

[uwe]

I was going to mention the neck-thru thing, but I figured that alone would make the bass more expensive to build - and sell. One question though, Uwe - Taking that into account, are you less enamored with the construction and resultant sound of the NRs?

Generally, all my set neck TBirds (the sixties Non-Revs, the Orville, the Epi Elitist and the Gibson Studio) all have enough sustain that you won't miss anything in 99 % of all playing situations. But there is something inherently sweet in the sustain development of the neck-thrus, especially in the upper registers.