Thunderbird Pickups- What position are they best in and where can I get them?

tweezed · #1 06-18-2011, 09:05 PM

I'm planning on undertaking a custom bass project and I've heard good things about thunderbird pickups. Problem is, I can't find jack on them! Does anyone know if they're good in a bridge position and where I can find a faithful reproduction?

Budbear · #2 06-18-2011, 09:36 PM

Here's one option:

RS Guitarworks Online Store : RS/Fralin Bassbuckers - RSFRABASSBUC

Thunderbucker · #3 06-19-2011, 09:46 PM

I make two varieties of repro vintage Gibson Thunderbird pickups, in a 63 version and a 66 version.

ThunderBucker Ranch pickups

You're starting from scratch on a new project?

walterw · #4 06-19-2011, 10:56 PM

shouldn't you at least try a T-bird in a store to see if you like it at all before building one from scratch?

they're not for everyone (personally, i think they sound like ass).

tminus10 · #5 06-19-2011, 11:38 PM

Do yourself a favor and contact Mike Lull
T Bass Parts

TBird1958 · #6 06-19-2011, 11:55 PM

I have Mike's Thunderbird pickups in 4 basses ( Lull T Bass, 2 BaCH's and a Gibson), they're reverse engineered from 1963 'Bird pickups and faithful to the original in every way. If you're buying in pairs he matches them up as an 8k and 9k set.
Additionally, Jason Lollar makes them, and Gibson, thru the years has produced a minimum of 7 distinct variations that I've found.

Good luck on your project.

SGD Lutherie · #7 06-20-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderbucker

I make two varieties of repro vintage Gibson Thunderbird pickups, in a 63 version and a 66 version.

ThunderBucker Ranch pickups

You're starting from scratch on a new project?

Hey, that press for stamping out your own covers is impressive!

I need one of those!

Nice work.

Thunderbucker · #8 06-20-2011, 09:22 AM

Thanks, the press is easy, the tooling, is how you say, fussy. I have a small trash can of junk nickel silver that I destroyed before I got usable results. I got the idea from jonson over at MEF, talking about his dearmond pickups and showed a picture of his tools. That inspired me "Hey I might be able to do that!"

SGD Lutherie · #9 06-20-2011, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderbucker

Thanks, the press is easy, the tooling, is how you say, fussy. I have a small trash can of junk nickel silver that I destroyed before I got usable results. I got the idea from jonson over at MEF, talking about his dearmond pickups and showed a picture of his tools. That inspired me "Hey I might be able to do that!"

Oh, you have to come over there and show some photos! You know I'm the mod there. Jonson did some cool work with those. Inspired me asa well.

Thunderbucker · #10 06-20-2011, 11:03 AM

Thanks, I will pop in at MEF and do that in a day or so, got pickups to build!

tweezed · #11 06-22-2011, 07:01 AM

lol, looks like I should have been more clear. I wasn't going to build a replica thunderbird (although that's a great idea for the next project!). What I'm working on is along the lines of an EB-3, but neck through. More on it later, maybe in the luthier's corner when I get the first supplies.

Thanks for the input, guys. I was expecting the thunderbird pickups to be totally woofy and deep like the EB-0, but they're almost piano like. I'm definitely going to try one in the bridge position. Thanks for the wishes of good luck, I'll need them...

tweezed · #12 06-22-2011, 11:56 PM

btw, Thunderbucker. Thanks for your response, you're pickups look like the ticket. When money isn't so tight and I can start this project, I'll be using your pickups,

stiles72 · #13 06-23-2011, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderbucker

I make two varieties of repro vintage Gibson Thunderbird pickups, in a 63 version and a 66 version.

ThunderBucker Ranch pickups

You're starting from scratch on a new project?

Thunderbucker - what are the output measurments for the '63 vs the '66? I checked out your sound clips, and the difference betweent the two is remarkably close to the kind of difference I notice between my '00 Gibson Blackbird and my '07 Gibson Thunderbird IV. One has more output and is a little "fuller" sounding - while the other is more refined without as much output. Personally I prefer the "in your face" and "ballsier" tone of your '66 pups. Have you tried the hotter '66 bridge pup in a neck position? Curious how that would work.

ctmullins · #14 06-23-2011, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tweezed

btw, Thunderbucker. Thanks for your response, you're pickups look like the ticket. When money isn't so tight and I can start this project, I'll be using your pickups,

Yes, those pickups look very intriguing! It's a little hard to tell from the pictures, but are they two-wire or four-wire?

Thunderbucker · #15 06-23-2011, 09:11 AM

Thanks for the interest.
There is a pretty big output difference between the 63s and 66s. It is audible in the clips, where the recording settings, pickup heights, and playing (dead simple) were as similar as I could make them. It shows up on the meters as about a 1-2dB delta in peak amplitude. Electrically, the 66 has about 10-20%% more of everything (R and L).

And each bridge pup has a little more mojo than its corresponding neck to help out the balance.

And, they are 2 wire. I assume by 4 wire, you mean a pickup that can be coil split. I think the coils in the TBs are wimpy enough, that in coil split mode, they would be too thin sounding. They are quite bright in tone for a humbucker with both coils engaged normally.

Experimentation and custom winds: I'm very open to it, right now I'm shipping as fast as I can build, am just a little one man shop and I make everything except bobbins for my pups. All the metal bits are hand made at this point. Slow, but If I had to buy tooling, I could not do this at all.

jumbodbassman · #16 06-23-2011, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stiles72

Thunderbucker - what are the output measurments for the '63 vs the '66? I checked out your sound clips, and the difference betweent the two is remarkably close to the kind of difference I notice between my '00 Gibson Blackbird and my '07 Gibson Thunderbird IV. One has more output and is a little "fuller" sounding - while the other is more refined without as much output. Personally I prefer the "in your face" and "ballsier" tone of your '66 pups. Have you tried the hotter '66 bridge pup in a neck position? Curious how that would work.

check with Scott AKA God of thunder. I beleive he has done that twice...

Thunderbucker · #17 06-23-2011, 09:18 AM

Sorry, missed this one. It works fine, for a single pickup bass, I think it would probably be the way to go.

jumbodbassman · #18 06-23-2011, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctmullins

Yes, those pickups look very intriguing! It's a little hard to tell from the pictures, but are they two-wire or four-wire?

2

jumbodbassman · #19 06-23-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budbear

Here's one option:

RS Guitarworks Online Store : RS/Fralin Bassbuckers - RSFRABASSBUC

string spacing could be an issue with the fralins...

SGD Lutherie · #20 06-23-2011, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budbear

Here's one option:

RS Guitarworks Online Store : RS/Fralin Bassbuckers - RSFRABASSBUC

I also make chrome cover guitar size neodymium bass pickups.

Both in full size and mini humbucker (like an EB-3 bridge pickup).

They are voiced like my full sized neo pickups and have 4-conductor wiring. String spacing works up to 2".