Pedulla Thunderbolt--Should I?

[FishDub]

Never tried one but they look sweet. We all know looks dont equate to great sound or feel right? Anyone out there have anything positive or negative/meh to share about the 4 string version? I see some have the Thunderguts switch and some dont. I dont play out anymore so it would be a bedroom bass..Ive seen pricing from 1300 all the way to 3k..

 

[CTW68]

I've been playing my ThunderBolt 4 for 25 years now. Great bass. Very ergonomic. It has a fairly polite Bartolini soapbar sound in normal mode but can get more aggressive when the Thunderguts switch is engaged. One caveat, though: the Thunderguts circuit significantly boosts output, possibly overdriving whatever comes next in the signal chain.

It truly is a special instrument. It feels just right on a strap, and I get compliments on its sound frequently. It sits in a mix without needing much fiddling.

The one big thing to check when looking at one is if the truss rod turns smoothly. Mine has frozen up, and it's a not-uncommon problem with Pedullas. It's fixable, but I'm leaving it alone because it's set up perfectly for Hi-Beams, and those strings are ideal on this bass.

You can see where thousands of hours of playing have worn a groove in the top. That bass is mine forever.

In short, Yes, you definitely should if the truss rod functions.

 

[MrLenny1]

I don't have a Thunderbolt but have a similar Pedulla Series II.
It's a bolt on and think it was available before the Thunderbolt came out.
I got it in 1991 and has been my main gigging axe since then with no issues.
Recently got an Audere preamp for more tone control. Sounds great.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

If you can get a Thunderbolt at good price, I say go for it. I remember really liking their sound when playing them at GC when they carried Pedulla.

 

[coreyfyfe]

I had one long ago, got it used at a guitar center for like $800. Since they’ve gone out of production those prices are long gone, but if you can find one for a good price they’re great players. I really didn’t like the sound of the bartolini pickups and stock preamp, swapped the pickups for some nordstrand big singles which were much better. Sold it during a downsize at one point.

 

[Semi Actuated]

Got one back in November for about $1200. Mine is a 1997 based on the serial number. I would concur with CTW68 and Dr. Cheese's opinions about this bass. Quite happy with it, especially for the price. String-spacing is tighter than any other bass I've owned, but I got used to it. Neck is thin, shallow and very smooth, which I like. Was set up very well for low action.

Mine is a blue-green color. Gold hardware. In the pics I have attached it looks bluer than in real life where it looks a lot more green than blue. To my eyes anyway.

All the pics I have seen of Pedullas in this specific color make it look more blue than it looks in person, so if you are looking at this bass in that color, I would take that into account. I love it, (green is my favorite color) but maybe not everybody does.

 

[coreyfyfe]

Got one back in November for about $1200. Mine is a 1997 based on the serial number. I would concur with CTW68 and Dr. Cheese's opinions about this bass. Quite happy with it, especially for the price. String-spacing is tighter than any other bass I've owned, but I got used to it. Neck is thin, shallow and very smooth, which I like. Was set up very well for low action.

Mine is a blue-green color. Gold hardware. In the pics I have attached it looks bluer than in real life where it looks a lot more green than blue. To my eyes anyway.

All the pics I have seen of Pedullas in this specific color make it look more blue than it looks in person, so if you are looking at this bass in that color, I would take that into account. I love it, (green is my favorite color) but maybe not everybody does.
View attachment 4995793 View attachment 4995794

I had the same color but black hardware. Also mid to late 90s I believe.

 

[Rabidhamster]

I had the neck thru version and it was amazing, absolutely no complaints about playability, tone or balance. Neck reminded me of a pro pool cue in a good way. It's well described above, sort of like a shredder Jazz neck. It's so comfortable your hand wont tire out to restrain you from overplaying.
If you like the way they look and prefer a bolt on, then you should absolutely treat yourself, they're that good. The build quality is something you can examine for hours.

 

[Semi Actuated]

I had the same color but black hardware. Also mid to late 90s I believe.

That's pretty cool. My first quality bass guitar was a black Gibson G-3, with a maple board, only difference is mine had a white pickguard and an ashtray over the bridge, if I recall correctly. Purchased in 1979. Traded it four years later for a Music Man Sabre. Gigged that Gibson a lot but didn't have the cash to keep both in those days.

 

[perfektspace6]

Had a thunderbuzz. It was a great instrument. Pedulla made excellent basses. I would say go for it.

 

[kevmac]

I say go for itbut Wonderful bass.

 

[AudioTaper]

Never tried one but they look sweet. We all know looks dont equate to great sound or feel right? Anyone out there have anything positive or negative/meh to share about the 4 string version? I see some have the Thunderguts switch and some dont. I dont play out anymore so it would be a bedroom bass..Ive seen pricing from 1300 all the way to 3k..

I've been playing my ThunderBolt 4 for 25 years now. Great bass. Very ergonomic. It has a fairly polite Bartolini soapbar sound in normal mode but can get more aggressive when the Thunderguts switch is engaged. One caveat, though: the Thunderguts circuit significantly boosts output, possibly overdriving whatever comes next in the signal chain.

It truly is a special instrument. It feels just right on a strap, and I get compliments on its sound frequently. It sits in a mix without needing much fiddling.

The one big thing to check when looking at one is if the truss rod turns smoothly. Mine has frozen up, and it's a not-uncommon problem with Pedullas. It's fixable, but I'm leaving it alone because it's set up perfectly for Hi-Beams, and those strings are ideal on this bass.

You can see where thousands of hours of playing have worn a groove in the top. That bass is mine forever.

In short, Yes, you definitely should if the truss rod functions.
View attachment 4995524

They're great basses, I used to work at a Pedulla dealer so I got to compare many different models. I bought a Rapture RB4 due to the pickup placement and lower price (still expensive for a high school kid in the late 90's) and having the switch really brought the aggressive fingerstyle sound up a notch or three.
Remember that Pedulla truss rods turn backwards from the industry standard (so clockwise if you are looking at the truss rod nut will loosen it) Also, they take a special square truss rod key - which is basically just a piano tuning key.

Post more details if you get it!

 

[djmay]

I have a 1996 Thunderbass ET-6, the neck-through version. Fantastic instrument with great workmanship. I use TI Flats on it.

Go for it.

 

[jimmydean]

If you want it and you can get your hands on one........buy it , Mike won't be building any more of them .

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Never tried one but they look sweet. We all know looks dont equate to great sound or feel right? Anyone out there have anything positive or negative/meh to share about the 4 string version? I see some have the Thunderguts switch and some dont. I dont play out anymore so it would be a bedroom bass..Ive seen pricing from 1300 all the way to 3k..

‘This is TB. The rule here is if you have to ask, buy it.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I had the same color but black hardware. Also mid to late 90s I believe.

Good looking family! Congrats!

 

[coreyfyfe]

Good looking family! Congrats!

I think about 15 year old pictures at this point. Only one I still have is the jazz bass.

 

[sanray]

If you want it and you can get your hands on one........buy it , Mike won't be building any more of them .

Is there anyone else building the body shapes?

 

[CaptainLeisure]

1200 - decent price; 3k - look elsewhere. As mentioned, check the truss rod. It's a square rod, and the corners can get rounded off if adjusted with the wrong tool (like a socket wrench). Also as mentioned above, "Mike won't be building any more of them." Unfortunately, this also means Mike won't be FIXING any more of them. Super high-quality basses if the neck and electronics are in good shape.

 

[bgartist]

You know my opinion!