New Short Scale Non Reverse Thunderbird

[TBird1958]

There's a bit of chat going on the TB Thunderbird club about these.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/thunderbird-club.1056205/page-1008#post-19336534

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=79&v=X6ym9CPP5Wo

[Alanko]

These are making waves on Basschat. It will be interesting to see what they look like in different colours.

[Granny Gremlin]

everything but the bridge.

[OldManC]

Funny how a design that was dead for decades seems to have taken on a new life not long after a bunch of knuckleheads at one website commissioned their own resurrection for sh*ts and giggles.

[Dave W]

I'm not impressed by the tone. Not at all.

Per Jow's website, it's "Designed in the UK." Huh? Translation: it's a cheap Chinese bass that he's trying to tie to the UK. Nothing against copies, but this was designed in Kalamazoo and Fullerton.

Website also says it's the "colour scheme of James Jameson's '59 Fender Precision Bass." Why? What does this have to do with Jamerson?

[Granny Gremlin]

I thought the tone in the vid was pretty good.  Not something I'd want to be stuck with all the time, but certainly a usable growl.

The Jamerson thing is stupid, I'll giove you that.

[dadagoboi]

Latest is he's going the custom option way.  What could go wrong?  A guy in the UK ordering custom options from China with no physical presence there.

Except for the (poorly done) body shape/ pickguard  it's a $150ish retail SX bass at best.  With the Pound tanking it won't be very long before the price has to go up.

Be the first (and maybe the last) on your block, kids!

[FrankieTbird]

From the JOW website:

"...a 'non reverse' Thunderbird bass, in short scale (30"), made famous by legendary players such as John Entwhistle (The Who) and Bill Wymen (The Rolling Stones) in the 60's & early 70's."

When did Wyman play a Thunderbird?  As far as I know, he avoided long-scales whenever possible.

[Chris P.]

I'm quite underwhelmed. Only positive thing I can say is that a non rev looks better in short scale than an rev.

[Alanko]

From the JOW website:

"...a 'non reverse' Thunderbird bass, in short scale (30"), made famous by legendary players such as John Entwhistle (The Who) and Bill Wymen (The Rolling Stones) in the 60's & early 70's."

When did Wyman play a Thunderbird?  As far as I know, he avoided long-scales whenever possible.

Clearly his research skills are right up there with his proof-reading skills. Hopefully his QA skills are a bit sharper once these basses land from China.

Wyman didn't play a Thunderbird. If anything they are the antithesis of his preferred bass types, being not only long-scale but large generally. He might be thinking of Brian Jones' Firebird usage?

[Basvarken]

It is everything I don't want a Non Reverse Thunderbird to be:

Short scale
Maple
Bolt on
Tort pickguard
Jazz burst
Wrong body shape (bottom looks totally straight)
Wrong headstock shape

And that pickup doesn't sound very convincing either.

[Alanko]

It would be interesting to see what pickup they are using, but I wager it will be microphonic poop.

[Granny Gremlin]

It would be interesting to see what pickup they are using, but I wager it will be microphonic poop.

Just like an original 60s Firebird pup?  ... except those weren't poop (microphonic as all heck tho).

[godofthunder]

  One word. Poop.

[exiledarchangel]

I would get one for half the price to make a VI type instrument (it has a 43mm nut, so its ok for 6 strings), but I find it way too expensive for that.