• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

How to get my '76 Thunderbird to cut through?

#22
The 70's thunderbirds can be great or horrible. The pickups are wired in series to to gain output, however they also get inductive because of the long wire and this chokes the highs..and they can even go "unstable and/or reactive" and even oscillate (squeal) when you throw in a guitar cable and some capacitance. However, the side-wound pickups can increase the high-end response and the low-end as well to compensate.
When all the adjustments and choices "line up" you get one of the best and most unique sounding basses in the world. They sound really good with flatwounds (I use chromes) and a powerfull amp. These basses can really seem alive.


You could always just change to parallel mode hookup like 99%of all other guitars->many have done this and it will behave better. As an electrical engineer I can appreciate what the folks in kalamazoo were doing.. some of the best designs in the world (from jet fighters to power amps to computers to bridges) are on the proverbial edge.
 
#23
+1 on the series vs parallel wiring. I rewired my '79 to parallel and it's a night and day difference for usable tones. Other than losing some overall output, I don't regret it one bit as this was the missing link. A million times better in a live band setting as opposed to the stock tone.
 
#24
TBird1958 said:
I play 3 '76s in regular rotation at shows and rehearsals I've found they work great and will sit in the mix just fine *if* you eq them correctly. An amp with a useful tone control section is definately required, I prefer a GK 1001RBII along with a Line6 bass pod live to fine tune it - really it's just as KramerbassFan says bump your mids up and leave the bass at unity or slightly less. String choice is helpful here too, Dr's are goodbright and clankey, Ken Smith are very good to with a bit less top zing. And last if you're not using one I'd strongly recommend a Dulop tortex .73 pick.

Here's a good live recording of one of mine -

Click to expand...


What a great coverversion, and amazing good live mix... :)

Love the bassline - much more varied than the original, without overtaking the song. Also your singer's voice seem very fitting for the song - very close to Bon's voice...
 
#25
hillerup said:
What a great coverversion, and amazing good live mix... :)

Love the bassline - much more varied than the original, without overtaking the song. Also your singer's voice seem very fitting for the song - very close to Bon's voice...
Click to expand...



Thank you! Us Thunderbird folks should aways stick together!
I had a similar thread with a buddy on another forum and one thing he mentioned that I did true: In general these basses are going to sound better with a bigger amp that's working a bit. When I first started using mine I had way too much bass cranked on the amp, sounded good in the upstaire bedroom solo rehearsal room, with the band - not so much! Our guitarist really helped me clean up my live tone, backing off the bass and pushing the low mids really helped. :)
 
#26
TBird1958 said:
Thank you! Us Thunderbird folks should aways stick together!
I had a similar thread with a buddy on another forum and one thing he mentioned that I did true: In general these basses are going to sound better with a bigger amp that's working a bit. When I first started using mine I had way too much bass cranked on the amp, sounded good in the upstaire bedroom solo rehearsal room, with the band - not so much! Our guitarist really helped me clean up my live tone, backing off the bass and pushing the low mids really helped. :)
Click to expand...

A good advice... Sounds really great in the mix! :)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back