Oh, I get it. It's moreso an aesthetic rock & blues iconic thing. I'm sure they play decent but can they seriously play as well as a high end bass? I guess there's a reason it appeals more to one group than others.
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Many Just Don't Get IT, Gibson Thunderbird
- Thread starter bluewine
- Start date
First of all, if you've found the bass that gives you the tone in your head, congratulations! Many here at TB, yours truly included, are on a never-ending tone quest which will never be fully satisfied.
Second, the tone in your head is not the tone in my head. Just because you've found what you are after doesn't mean you are better in any way, shape, or form, than I am. Instead of coming off like someone with a superiority complex (i.e. I get it, you don't), just share your happiness with us and everyone here would probably be happy for you.
Myself, I think T-birds are cool, but they are not for me.
Second, the tone in your head is not the tone in my head. Just because you've found what you are after doesn't mean you are better in any way, shape, or form, than I am. Instead of coming off like someone with a superiority complex (i.e. I get it, you don't), just share your happiness with us and everyone here would probably be happy for you.
Myself, I think T-birds are cool, but they are not for me.
I really don't mean to be a "tool". ANd the band is cool, but not without problems and I am struggling with some of the material.
Hey I am old and opinionated and wrong about a lot of stuff.
BTW, the Epi was only undesirable for me.They are not bad, I giged with it several times. As a kid I always had to use crap gear so I am a little jaded.
And to be honest, I think the reason I got the gig was partly due to how I approached and handled the audition. However, I am not sure they had a lot to choose from either. So its not a look at me Im great type of thing.
Actually learning all this material has really put me in my place. I have a more realistic understanding of my abilities.
I don't even know what that is but it sounds about right
The Blackbird is Nikki Sixxx's T'bird signature Epi ;P That IS cool though. It only has an on/off switch. You're either rocking or not >.<
I just couldn't resist the word play.
A friend of mine and me solved the "horrific" neck dive issue a few years ago.
I think I know your "friend" who helped you in this Amazing invention!...
Link Removed
No, not him!...
Okay, I think I'm pretty sure what It is now. And it's not Oxy-C-c-c-c-c-lean.
And look, the above *must* be The Lightest Bass Ever and it has neck-dive. I have no idea what that says about anything, just putting it out there. 
These t-bird/Gibson threads are starting to remind me of the vintage v modern threads (or Mac v PC elsewhere)... and as Double Agent said we don't all share the same ideal tone in our heads -- and I don't see any point in putting down others choices to try to validate my own.
I see some statements put out as absolutes when the instruments are very different through different eras; a '60s reverse is different from a '60s non-reverse and both are different from the '70s version (mainly the bridge and the pickups - some people prefer the '70s pups though I strongly favor the '60s ones). And these are very different from the later ones and from the Epiphone versions.
I currently have one '64 reverse and had one other previously (incidentally, relative to earlier comments in the thread, the prior owner being a black player from "back when dinosaurs roamed the earth" - Tyran Porter used that bass on many of the Doobie Brothers big hits -- Tyran-asaurus Rex...) and I had a '66 Epiphone Embassy. I liked the Embassy but the t-bird had the superior tone to my taste, better neck, and stronger resonance - the multi-lam, neck-through construction is a big factor.
Some of the non-reverses had thicker necks but FWIW my '64 has a very thin and narrow jazz bass type neck that is among the best - to my taste - of the many vintage and modern basses I've had - VERY comparable to a better pre-CBS jazz and the action is as good as any high end modern bass.
No maintenance issues beyond any other bass.
Some say they are tonally "limited" - perhaps controversially, I'd argue no more so than a P-bass (or, more accurately, a jazz bass). With just the neck pickup it sounds very much like a P but stronger. Using the bridge can make harmonics pop, etc but has a thicker - but, despite some comments here, not muddy - character than a standard jazz. Of course they did not have the same level of use on recordings but only a fraction were produced in the '60s relative to Fenders and it is easy to understand why the look is love or hate for many people and that surely reduced their share of the market that much more. As with P-basses (or any other) they really have to be tried out in context to have a full opinion.
They are more fragile than a Fender but that's a choice and doesn't bug me - I play upright too, so an instrument being somewhat fragile doesn't seem too alien to me - much the same as a guitar player opting for a hollowbody rather than the durability of a tele (and it is certainly true that Gibson guitars are more fragile than Fenders in general).
It is true that fret access above the 17th fret is tight - which is a pity as it has the best sounding upper register of any bass I've owned.
Neck dive. No big deal.... relocation of the neck strap button and a wide, suede backed strap and it's a non-issue. I let the neck go and it stays in the same place.
All that said, I've been underwhelmed with the pickups on any of the newer Gibson t-birds I've tried (I've never tried the Epiphone birds)
Myself, I like the look - though I like the tone and feel more - but certainly understand it's not for everyone and that the look rather than the sound could make it seem out of place - it could sound great for country or jazz but, admittedly, would look odd.
Anyhoo... here's mine:
Same bass in use - yes, pretty much sticking to roots but it's what the song called for....
I will say I get a lot more comments on it than any other bass I've used on gigs both from audience members and other musicians (and the sound guys always seem to really like it, too).
BTW saw Pearl Jam over the summer and Ament was playing a lot more than root note pounding on his.
I see some statements put out as absolutes when the instruments are very different through different eras; a '60s reverse is different from a '60s non-reverse and both are different from the '70s version (mainly the bridge and the pickups - some people prefer the '70s pups though I strongly favor the '60s ones). And these are very different from the later ones and from the Epiphone versions.
I currently have one '64 reverse and had one other previously (incidentally, relative to earlier comments in the thread, the prior owner being a black player from "back when dinosaurs roamed the earth" - Tyran Porter used that bass on many of the Doobie Brothers big hits -- Tyran-asaurus Rex...) and I had a '66 Epiphone Embassy. I liked the Embassy but the t-bird had the superior tone to my taste, better neck, and stronger resonance - the multi-lam, neck-through construction is a big factor.
Some of the non-reverses had thicker necks but FWIW my '64 has a very thin and narrow jazz bass type neck that is among the best - to my taste - of the many vintage and modern basses I've had - VERY comparable to a better pre-CBS jazz and the action is as good as any high end modern bass.
No maintenance issues beyond any other bass.
Some say they are tonally "limited" - perhaps controversially, I'd argue no more so than a P-bass (or, more accurately, a jazz bass). With just the neck pickup it sounds very much like a P but stronger. Using the bridge can make harmonics pop, etc but has a thicker - but, despite some comments here, not muddy - character than a standard jazz. Of course they did not have the same level of use on recordings but only a fraction were produced in the '60s relative to Fenders and it is easy to understand why the look is love or hate for many people and that surely reduced their share of the market that much more. As with P-basses (or any other) they really have to be tried out in context to have a full opinion.
They are more fragile than a Fender but that's a choice and doesn't bug me - I play upright too, so an instrument being somewhat fragile doesn't seem too alien to me - much the same as a guitar player opting for a hollowbody rather than the durability of a tele (and it is certainly true that Gibson guitars are more fragile than Fenders in general).
It is true that fret access above the 17th fret is tight - which is a pity as it has the best sounding upper register of any bass I've owned.
Neck dive. No big deal.... relocation of the neck strap button and a wide, suede backed strap and it's a non-issue. I let the neck go and it stays in the same place.
All that said, I've been underwhelmed with the pickups on any of the newer Gibson t-birds I've tried (I've never tried the Epiphone birds)
Myself, I like the look - though I like the tone and feel more - but certainly understand it's not for everyone and that the look rather than the sound could make it seem out of place - it could sound great for country or jazz but, admittedly, would look odd.
Anyhoo... here's mine:
Same bass in use - yes, pretty much sticking to roots but it's what the song called for....
I will say I get a lot more comments on it than any other bass I've used on gigs both from audience members and other musicians (and the sound guys always seem to really like it, too).
BTW saw Pearl Jam over the summer and Ament was playing a lot more than root note pounding on his.
I find the modern Gibson T Bird IV pick ups to be HOT and less defined than my Lull pick ups. That is why I will put Lulls on my white T Bird, they sound just right to me.
I don't even know what that is but it sounds about right
The Gibson Blackbird was the first edition "Nikki Sixx Signature Bass" . Stock, they came with both pickups wired together to a kill switch. No volumes, no tone. Here's mine modded with a V/V/T/T and three way toggle. Best bass for live playing I have ever owned, and second in tone only to an old '68 (?) Guild Starfire that I had a chance to try out years ago. Serious thump from the neck pickup with the tone rolled off, and good mid range definition from the bridge pickup with the tone up. I set the toggle in the middle- and it's the perfect tone for me. Nikki's name is nowhere to be found on the bass - and that's cool with me since I'm not really a fan. I play the bass based solely on it's playability and tone.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,232
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
@ David Price, that Thunderbird of yours is simply beautiful!
Personally I play what I like, and think that's all anybody should do, mine make me happy - I hope everybody else's basses do the same for them, regardless of what company made them
Personally I play what I like, and think that's all anybody should do, mine make me happy - I hope everybody else's basses do the same for them, regardless of what company made them
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
I don't get playing a bass with such terrible ergonomics.
I'm also just not a big fan of the look, but it's really the balance that irks me.
I'm also just not a big fan of the look, but it's really the balance that irks me.
<--snip--->
Anyhoo... here's mine:
Same bass in use - yes, pretty much sticking to roots but it's what the song called for....
I will say I get a lot more comments on it than any other bass I've used on gigs both from audience members and other musicians (and the sound guys always seem to really like it, too).
BTW saw Pearl Jam over the summer and Ament was playing a lot more than root note pounding on his.
That sounds really nice.
@ David Price, that Thunderbird of yours is simply beautiful!
Personally I play what I like, and think that's all anybody should do, mine make me happy - I hope everybody else's basses do the same for them, regardless of what company made them
Thanks! And totally agree with your comment.
It is quite possible to get it dialed in. I find it very comfortable to play but it took a bit of experimentation.
To me, the T-bird shape is en ergonomic nightmare. I have a friend with a 5-string, and I just can't play it. The fingers on my right hand tingle and my palm goes numb. The only thing that has to do with the bass is that its shape forces a hand-position that aggravates my screwed up right hand.
My primary player gets a lot of hate based on its looks too, but when I plug it in and start playing it, they stop talking.
if a bass doesn't balance well when worn then...it's a total deal breaker
if a bass doesn't sit well in the mix when playing live...it's a total deal breaker
if a bass doesn't look as sexy as it sounds...deal breaker
IMHO and IME the tbird is 100% Fail in the above mentioned.....I guess I just don't get it....LOL
if a bass doesn't sit well in the mix when playing live...it's a total deal breaker
if a bass doesn't look as sexy as it sounds...deal breaker
IMHO and IME the tbird is 100% Fail in the above mentioned.....I guess I just don't get it....LOL
It's been said many times before, but this is a great collection!
T-Bird, do you have any clips of your band (which rocks, btw) where you're using your LullBird or a Gibson equipped with the Lull pickups? (My recollection is you have at least one Gibby set up this way.) The clips on Mike's site sound great, but it would be really cool to hear those pups in a mix.
T-Bird, do you have any clips of your band (which rocks, btw) where you're using your LullBird or a Gibson equipped with the Lull pickups? (My recollection is you have at least one Gibby set up this way.) The clips on Mike's site sound great, but it would be really cool to hear those pups in a mix.
@ David Price, that Thunderbird of yours is simply beautiful!
Personally I play what I like, and think that's all anybody should do, mine make me happy - I hope everybody else's basses do the same for them, regardless of what company made them
