Single-Pickup Thunderbird variations

[saltymonkey]

I've never owned a IV and a II at the same time but I'd never describe the tone from either of mine as pillowy. Especially the Greco TB-900, that Maxon pickup has its own level of aggressive grind amongst TB pickups. Throaty, full and punchy yes.

 

[Green Knight]

I love Maxons. I have one lying around oddly …

 

[GBassNorth]

Is it possible to get a T-Bird that doesn't neck dive? Maybe medium scale, ultalight tuners, scaled down headstock size and some chambering? They are cool looking basses, but every time I pick one up and it dives... i put it back down.

I have about 25 Tbirds. Three or four of them neck dive while on a bass strap, the vast majority of mine don’t dive at all. The odds are probably better that you’ll get a diver if it has a bolt on neck but even then it’s no guarantee. Also, keep in mind there are many many different manufacturers of Thunderbird type basses (Gibson, Epiphone, Lull, Dingwall, Greco, Sammick, Fernandez, Spector, etc) and some of those brands have zero neck dive history.

 

[davelowell2]

I love Maxons. I have one lying around oddly …

If, by chance you are looking to sell it, please contact me. I’ve heard they’re awesome!

 

[Green Knight]

It’s an EB-O shape though

 

[Miles_ONeal]

My favorites are the Thunderbird IIs, I've been playing them since '76. I have over 30 Thunderbirds, a pretty even mix of IIs and IVs . On my two pickup birds I Don't even use the bridge pickup, some even have empty covers in the bridge position.

I almost never use the bridge pickup, but there's one song I'm playing tomorrow (a set that just screamed for me to use the white Classic Pro) that has a sort of slower punk ethos so I run the bridge at 5 (with neck still on 10).