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Many Just Don't Get IT, Gibson Thunderbird

#361
Basshappi said:
I read somewhere that the 60s pups are actually the same ones that Gibson used in its steel guitars they just put them in a metal cover. Is this correct Mark?
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You got me here Dan, I *think* so, I've certainly read that and have heard it elswhere too - I wouldn't doubt it! if true, by some kind of happy accident they created a legendary pickup! :)
 
#362
beebassdude said:
david, what is the difference between the II and the IV in regards to the pickups?
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Some people like the single pickup II better (I assume because of some kind of loading with the 2 pickup wiring) but I've not used one of the IIs enough to really know though I've liked the ones I've checked out in the past (just in stores, etc but never gigged with one).


tbird1958's post of the photos really does show how much they've changed over the years and that trying one is not representative of them all.
 
#363
I guess my Lull could be considered a II, and I have Greco II and 2 BaCH's (with single Lull pups), they are quite different from the IV's. Thru a tube amp.....watch out!
 
#365
Blue - Cool, stand by your feeling. I have played the Gibsons before and they have a great feel.

I personally prefer the Fender P-Bass. Many tell me, why the "old man's bass?" I tell them first, I love the tone; second, it's only a year old; third, I'm an old man.

Go brother. Peace.
 
#366
davidprice said:
I agree entirely. It's a provocative, flame-baiting statement.
And Rob makes a good point, too.

Not much to add to that...

Yet you list Entwistle, who did some of his most influential work on a t-bird and, later, his "Fender-birds" and probably did more to popularize the t-bird than anyone, as an influence -- as well as Squire who also used them. And your profile pic is with one of those Mark Hoppus basses - which look a bit lame to me - but if it works, which I'm sure it does, then cool -- but I'm not going to say you can't play just because you choose to play a bass that I wouldn't (at least, I wouldn't right now, maybe I'll change my mind at some point just like I did with thunderbirds).

Here's a bird pic I took from the stage this summer - he was playing and sounding great:

Let's see, beyond Nikki Sixx and other big hair bands, off the top of my head, and a very incomplete list, t-birds have been/are played by:

John Entwistle
Tom Petersson
Walter Becker
Chris Squire
Mike Watt
Jeff Ament
Krist Novoselic
Dusty Hill
Kim Deal
Adam Clayton
George Chambers (Chambers Brothers)
Kim Gordon
Leon Wilkeson
Allen Woody
Martin Turner (Wishbone Ash)
Tyran Porter (Doobie Brothers)
Shavo Odadjian
Horace Panter (The Specials)
Overend Watts
Tom Hamilton
Dave Pomeroy
Simon Gallup (The Cure)
Jerry Flowers (Keith Urban - country!)
Justin Meldal Johnson
Glenn Cornick (Jethro Tull)
The woman in Silverspun Pickups
Honorable mention to Chris Solberg with Santana using an Embassy.

A lot of the comments on this thread remind me of the kind of conservative mind-set that 'greeted' the electric bass when it was first introduced and dismissed it as an "inferior" toy and not a 'real' instrument.
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Thanks for sharing that list. I wonder how many of them played them out of endorsement? And how many of them play them exclusively. I almost never see people playing items they endorse. Actually shocked to see a couple people on this list.

As for Entwistle I wouldn't agree he did his most influential work with one. He and guys like JMJ don't count as they easily have 40+ basses and at some point were bound to own one. A lot of the guys on this list probably don't play them exclusively rather it is just another tool in the tool box. And that's fine.

I'll give you Squire, he was a monster on those things.

I'm not even a Hoppus fan but I've never got a lame comment on my bass before. I like the jazz body on the pbass and the thing plays great. To each his own. I still don't get IT.
 
#367
Tom Petersson has played a T Bird off and on for over 36 years. He swears by them. Presently, he plays his signature Mike Lull T Bass with Lull PUs, he also obviously plays 12 string basses, but you can still see him using Gibson T Birds and Lull T Birds in Cheap Trick's Sgt. Pepper's shows and Dream Police shows they just did in Wisconsin.
 
#368
davidprice said:
The main differences are the bridges and the pickups. The pickups are very different - Mike Lull makes very good reproductions now (if I were to buy a new bird, I'd buy a Lull, not a Gibson). That is not to say the 70s pups are bad but the '60s ones sound much stronger and with great clarity to my ear. The original bridges can be a problem to intonate with roundwounds (they originally came with flats) but godofthunder59 on this thread makes a great direct retrofit (very high quality - that uses the existing studs and tailpiece). Of course, best if you can try them to see which you like best (or if you like them at all). Easier said than done, I know...
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David - out of curiosity, does yours still have the original mute installed in front of the bridge, and if so - do you ever use it?
 
#377
By '79 production was winding down on them, Gibson wasn't advertising them. Instead they were busy with the RD........I want one!

Best thing I could say about the various vintages is that the pups are the difference, in construction they are very similar, I've never had a problem getting a nice usable warm growly tone from my '76s thru my GK rig. But some prefer the single coil design used in the '60s Birds, I use Mike Lull's as retrofits in 3 of my 'Bird, they're magic!
Ask other TBer's Rob Martinez or JohnK10, they use them as well, which might take you to the idea of buying a post '88 (modern) 'Bird and retrofitting it as well.
 
#378
TBird1958 is right. The Llull T Bass PUs are amazing, clear, punchy, deep with presence! I am saving gig money to get another set for my white 2006 Gibson Thunderbird IV I am fitting with chrome hardware.

I have decided to keep the modern vibe, ie modern chrome tuners, chrome three point bridge, jackplate, etc and putting in the Lull PUs without the pick up rings. I think it will look great!

I have a black Thunderbird Studio bass, so I am switching out all the chrome elements I can and putting them on my white TBird, except for the chrome bridge on the Studio bass. That black Bird will be black! I decided, for now, to keep the stock TB+ PUs on the black Studio, they are HOT, but sound really cool.
 

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