Mike Lull T-Bird

[In Absentia]

Been YEARS since I posted here, first up: hello! Secondly, has anyone got there hands on one of these beasts? I know they are reported to have less neck dive than originals. Did you guys find that to be the case? What did you like what did you hate?

 

[Gougedeye]

I have played, both the 4 string and the 5 string, and they are really super! I am now scrambling to sell off some gear to raise funds for the 5 string T. There is no noticable neck dive for me, but I don't really notice that on Gibsons either. These Lull basses are generally pretty light weight and are made with incredible attention to detail. top notch construction through and through. The pickups are articulate and thunderous! Really good! If Mike would endorse me, I would play his basses at every show! YMMV.

 

[TBird1958]

I own #1342, it's the first production Thunderbird Mike made after two prototypes, I was part of the project in a small way and had the oppourtunity to be there as the project came into being. Like all of Mike's basses the quality is first rate, he obviously really enjoys his work, the craftsmanship throughout is fantastic. As always I find the "neck-dive" comment amusing, older, pre 1988 production Gibson Thunderbirds do have a large headstock, anything newer (and especially Mike's T Bird) really doesn't have this issue - Mike wouldn't have made a bass that didn't balance. The focus of the project was the pickup, in the '60s Gibson used a very shallow twin coil humbucking design (thought to be based on a lap steel guitar pickup) which worked well, but there was a lot of variation due to the pickups being more or less manually wound. Mike's pickups are based on two originals taken from a '63 Reverse that had "the tone" (He knows T Birds well, having owned at least a dozen '60s 'Birds) and these were carefully deconstructed, and then reproduced by noted pickup maker TV Jones. His pickup covers are made to the exact same dimensions as the originals by the same supplier Gibson used back in the day. While others have also made repros of this pickup Mike's came along first and knowing his penchant for quality.....Well let's just say I endorse them
His take on the body is updated with a very nice arm carve and tummy cut, but it's the heel and backside of the lower 'bout that are beautifully done, cleverly shaped to allow upper fret access and still maintaining the classic Thunderbird shape. Mine was the first single pick up one built, playing live it's hard to beat the simplicity, generally I'm a pick player but occasionally use my fingers as the song demands, this bass has a very warm vintage growl - I love it!

Here are some pics and provenance - In my signature line the video link to Duran Duran's "Hungry like the Wolf" features this bass in a live recording, shameless self promo!


Cheers!

 

[SturmUndDrang]

Will Mike still build a single pickup T bass? Wish he made them neck through instead of bolt on.

 

[TBird1958]

Will Mike still build a single pickup T bass? Wish he made them neck through instead of bolt on.

Yes, since mine was made he's done several, easy enough to do since most of them are "made to order" anyway. The neck thru aspect is something I've always liked but the facility to actually manufacture a bass that way is well past what Mike's shop could manage.

 

[totem]

Oh man, I've got a major jones for his non-reversed T-Bird. Does anyone here have one yet?

 

[TBird1958]

Oh man, I've got a major jones for his non-reversed T-Bird. Does anyone here have one yet?

One member of the T Bird club has the first one Mike made, you're in Bellevue - go by for a visit he probably has one you could try out

 

[dedpool1052]

Will Mike still build a single pickup T bass?

yes

Yes, since mine was made he's done several, easy enough to do since most of them are "made to order" anyway. The neck thru aspect is something I've always liked but the facility to actually manufacture a bass that way is well past what Mike's shop could manage.

what he said.


i was in his shop about a year or so ago and played a single pickup t-bass in trans white over swamp ash with a maple/rosewood neck. it was pretty awesome