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Thunderbird Club Pt 6

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#601
What is everyone running for strings?

I just got my T Bird, and it's currently strung with Rotosound RS66's. It has a very flabby, undefined sound to it. I'm not digging it at all. I'm trying to decide if it's the strings or if it's just the way they sound.

I'm thinking about putting a set of nickel's on it, but it don't want to "waste" them if it's not really going to help.

Otherwise, it's pretty cool. Light, no dive, plays very well. It just does not sound the way I expected.
 
#602
Member 306 checking in really late with my Spectorbird (sans the Subaru). Still looking for the perfect true Tbird for my collection but until then this will just have to do. Play on!
REX1.jpg

PS - Elixer nanos are a killer string on this bass. Try em, you'll love em.
 
#603
hillerup said:
Thanks a lot Andy!!!

Your link was really interesting to read, and basically answered all my questions... :)

Your modded Goth really looks stunning with that grey and black colour scheme! :)
Click to expand...

Glad it helped. Thanks for the compliment! I am really happy with how it turned out.


And BassGod, I use either DR Hi-Beams or Black Beauties on my Birds.
 
#606
bassgod0dmw said:
What is everyone running for strings?

I just got my T Bird, and it's currently strung with Rotosound RS66's. It has a very flabby, undefined sound to it. I'm not digging it at all. I'm trying to decide if it's the strings or if it's just the way they sound.

I'm thinking about putting a set of nickel's on it, but it don't want to "waste" them if it's not really going to help.

Otherwise, it's pretty cool. Light, no dive, plays very well. It just does not sound the way I expected.
Click to expand...

I was wondering about your description of the sound of the Roto's, which normally sound really bright and zingy...

Have you checked the silk windings don't extend over the bridge saddles, as this would give them a rather dull and dead sound?
 
#607
I like DR Stainless 45-105 and Ken Smith RockMasters, either are brighter and much longer lasting than Rotos - I know they have their Legions of fans, but for me they've always gone "dead" after sounding good for a week.
 
#609
hillerup said:
I was wondering about your description of the sound of the Roto's, which normally sound really bright and zingy...

Have you checked the silk windings don't extend over the bridge saddles, as this would give them a rather dull and dead sound?
Click to expand...

I'll take a look when I get home but I don't believe they go over the saddles. I've got Roto's on at least 5 other basses and they sound all sound great. I realize a T bird isn't going to sound like a J bass, but if this is what they are supposed to sound like this tone just isn't going to work for me. :(

I'll try some different strings tonight and see what happens. If that doesn't work I'll consider getting different pickups or putting 500K pots in it (assuming Gibson uses 300K pots like all their guitars these days).
 
#610
I went with EBS titanium classic mediums last week, i'm quite fond of them! Theyre still a bit zingy, but they feel and sound awesome, a bit less dark than the stock strings that came with my tbird, but still growly!
 
#611
I'm just about to restring mine for the first time. I'm going to try a set of Dean Markley Blue Steel Nickels 45-105. I've never used the nickel ones before, so I'll let you know what I think of them on the Lull T4.
 
#612
bassgod0dmw said:
I'll take a look when I get home but I don't believe they go over the saddles. I've got Roto's on at least 5 other basses and they sound all sound great. I realize a T bird isn't going to sound like a J bass, but if this is what they are supposed to sound like this tone just isn't going to work for me. :(

I'll try some different strings tonight and see what happens. If that doesn't work I'll consider getting different pickups or putting 500K pots in it (assuming Gibson uses 300K pots like all their guitars these days).
Click to expand...



Don't know what other basses you have, but I'd start at square one, bass, cord, amp - eq'd flat. Go forward from there, no two of my 'Birds are the same, even same year production. Generally, using a GK 700RBII, I have bass at noon or slightly less, low mid at 1:00, hi-mid at noon, treble at noon.
 
#613
TBird1958 said:
Don't know what other basses you have, but I'd start at square one, bass, cord, amp - eq'd flat. Go forward from there, no two of my 'Birds are the same, even same year production. Generally, using a GK 700RBII, I have bass at noon or slightly less, low mid at 1:00, hi-mid at noon, treble at noon.
Click to expand...

Love it. Nothing to me sounds as good as GK. That grit. All three of my amps are GK.

What is it that varies so much with the Thunderbirds?
 
#614
bassgod0dmw said:
What is everyone running for strings?

I just got my T Bird, and it's currently strung with Rotosound RS66's. It has a very flabby, undefined sound to it. I'm not digging it at all. I'm trying to decide if it's the strings or if it's just the way they sound.

I'm thinking about putting a set of nickel's on it, but it don't want to "waste" them if it's not really going to help.

Otherwise, it's pretty cool. Light, no dive, plays very well. It just does not sound the way I expected.
Click to expand...

DR Black Beauties on all of mine. +1 to what Mark said about no two soundign the same- my Blackbird sounds deep and thumpy while my standard IV sound bright and mid rangey (even after swapping pups).
 
#616
BklynKen said:
Love it. Nothing to me sounds as good as GK. That grit. All three of my amps are GK.

What is it that varies so much with the Thunderbirds?
Click to expand...


I'd say first would be the pickups.
My 3 '76's use the same design but the out ranges from 7 to 13k on the meter.
Post 1988 production Gibson 'Birds have used at least 5 different variations of pickups that I've been able to document. In general, neck thru construction with Humbuckers are going to give a wider, slower decaying note than your typical Fender type bass. Thus, a different eq setup than what would work for a Fender.
 
#617
TBird1958 said:
I'd say first would be the pickups.
My 3 '76's use the same design but the out ranges from 7 to 13k on the meter.
Post 1988 production Gibson 'Birds have used at least 5 different variations of pickups that I've been able to document. In general, neck thru construction with Humbuckers are going to give a wider, slower decaying note than your typical Fender type bass. Thus, a different eq setup than what would work for a Fender.
Click to expand...

Oh, ok. Sorry, I was thinking two Thunderbirds of the same era/model. I have nothing to compare my 2013 to. But I really like the sound.
 
#618
I have been using D'addario stainless steel strings on my Gibson T-bird. Really like them.

As far as tone, well, I have to e.g. my T-bird way different than any of my others, especially a Jazz bass. To me, it's one of those basses that you really don't hear how good they sound til there in the mix. That's where they shine to me.
 
#619
TBird1958 said:
Don't know what other basses you have, but I'd start at square one, bass, cord, amp - eq'd flat. Go forward from there, no two of my 'Birds are the same, even same year production. Generally, using a GK 700RBII, I have bass at noon or slightly less, low mid at 1:00, hi-mid at noon, treble at noon.
Click to expand...

Basically everything. J's, P's, PJ's, Stingray, Ric, a few with soaps, a few with humbuckers. They all sound phenomenal through my rig.

My amp settings are pretty much the same as yours, and it's all GK stuff too.

TBird1958 said:
In general, neck thru construction with Humbuckers are going to give a wider, slower decaying note than your typical Fender type bass.
Click to expand...

I've got a few basses with piano like sustain, and they also sound great with my normal settings. The T bird is just kind of thuddy and dull in comparison to any of them, other than a P with completely dead flats on it. With that said, the Roto's are not dead at all and it's got a decent setup. I'll still try changing the strings to see what it sounds like tonight, and I'll give it a new setup just because.

I hear the pickups should be relatively close to the strings?
 
#620
bassgod0dmw said:
Basically everything. J's, P's, PJ's, Stingray, Ric, a few with soaps, a few with humbuckers. They all sound phenomenal through my rig.

My amp settings are pretty much the same as yours, and it's all GK stuff too.



I've got a few basses with piano like sustain, and they also sound great with my normal settings. The T bird is just kind of thuddy and dull in comparison to any of them, other than a P with completely dead flats on it. With that said, the Roto's are not dead at all and it's got a decent setup. I'll still try changing the strings to see what it sounds like tonight, and I'll give it a new setup just because.

I hear the pickups should be relatively close to the strings?
Click to expand...

I do have to put my P/U's pretty close to the strings. Gives a real responsive tone to it to me. I do have to turn up the highs a bit more with my T-bird.

I have also found that I don't like all my amps with the T-bird. However, my Hartke lh1000 sounds better with this bass than any other of mine. It just seems like its opposite of everything else I have. LOL! Which I love!!
 
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