- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,206
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Hey Matt,
Congratulations on your new bass! I've added you to our club! Welcome here, you are #393
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
- Status
Hey Matt,
Congratulations on your new bass! I've added you to our club! Welcome here, you are #393
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 79
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Really glad you're happy with the bass, Matt! It's #51 overall. #52, its twin, goes to Japan on Monday.
Try "10" on the neck and "9+" on the bridge for maximum output. Humbuckers have a tendency to slightly cancel each other out when both are dimed. Just the nature of the beast!
- Nov 12, 2006
- 2,224
- 1,699
- 52
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist:Ernie Ball / mike lull
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,206
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
From our guitartist' side of the stage, from a couple weeks ago playing U-2's "I will Follow" with my single pick up Lull 
- Nov 12, 2006
- 2,224
- 1,699
- 52
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist:Ernie Ball / mike lull
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,206
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
@ WVbassYou have a little time in with the Non-Reverse, still enjoying it? I'm thinking it sounds like the Studio Thunderbirds done several years ago.
That is my Epi Non-Reverse that I had refinished. I had a Dimarzio Model P installed (which sounds killer!!!), and ABM style bridge, and a new pickguard. I bought it with the typical sunburst, but it had huge chunks out of the finish. I wanted a white Bird so this one got a refin.
That bass if funny. Even though it is one of my most comfortable, best playing four strings, I just don't love its tone when I practice. But then I gig with it, and it just works. Punchy and present when I want, and as big and full as I want. So, yeah, I like it. My Lakland ThunderJazz beat it out for my last gig, but that was only because it was a big outdoor crowd, I knew I'd be walking quite a ways with the bass, and the NR is way too long to fit in my gig bags with shoulder straps.
I can't really compare to the studio models, though. I will say I certainly have gained an understanding and appreciation of the ergonomics of both bird bodies. My birds drove me to finally build some decent skills with a pick, too.
- Nov 12, 2006
- 2,224
- 1,699
- 52
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist:Ernie Ball / mike lull
Hey Matt,
Congratulations on your new bass! I've added you to our club! Welcome here, you are #393
We're you able to make it by mike lull? Wished I could see my NRT5 being constructed...
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
Well, I guess it's about time to post a picture of the nice transparent black Epi Pro-5 I picked up from my local classifieds a few weeks ago:
I'm the 3rd owner, and it''s in a pretty decent shape - except from quite a few superficial scratches on the upper part of the body, left by the original owner who played the bass with a studded wristband:
I'm pretty sure these scratches could be buffed away, but I have no experience in doing this - So any advice in what I should use for this would be most welcome...
This is my first 5'er and I have really mixed feelings about it:
The bass is absolutely stunning with really good QC through and through...
That being said, I do have quite a few issues with it:
At first I didn't like the set-up on it, which paired with the really wide neck made it uncomfortable to play - However adjusting the truss rod and action helped a lot. But the neck is really really wide, being used to 4 stringers for ages.
The B-string - I don't think I'll ever get used to that...
The strings that came with the bass, has a really thick B-string (130) that doesn't quit fit in the slot on the bridge.
Also the B-string feels like a flappy rubber band and completely lacks sustain, punch and definition - This may change when I switch the strings for a set of Rotosound Swing Bass strings with a slightly smaller B-string (125) - And if that doesn't do it for me, I could always try tuning it EADGC instead.
The Bridge - That's one massive piece of metal!!! Although nice and solid, I do wish it had adjustable string spacing, as I prefer slightly narrower string spacing than it offers.
Electronics - That totally blows and gotta go...
I really don't care for the active electronics on this thing, and I'm not overly impressed by the tone of it - It sounds nowhere near as growly as my Classic Pro and becomes annoyingly noisy when boosting the treble EQ.
I'll be re-wiring it passive with 500K pots with a VTVT configuration in a couple of weeks - Hopefully this will help tonewise.
Also, I'm not too fond of the configuration of the controls, as I like the classic 3 knobs in a row better. I might consider adding a 3-way toggle and maybe just rewire it VVT instead.
I've noticed the pick-ups have a 3rd wire which is taped off - assuming this is a coil tap, I'm wondering what impact/benefit it would have to the tone, if I were to add a switch for this as well?
Although I'll be making all of the above changes in a couple of weeks, I'm pretty sure I will never get used to playing it as a 5'er, and will most likely have it converted to 8 strings in near future as originally planned.
I'm the 3rd owner, and it''s in a pretty decent shape - except from quite a few superficial scratches on the upper part of the body, left by the original owner who played the bass with a studded wristband:
I'm pretty sure these scratches could be buffed away, but I have no experience in doing this - So any advice in what I should use for this would be most welcome...
This is my first 5'er and I have really mixed feelings about it:
The bass is absolutely stunning with really good QC through and through...
That being said, I do have quite a few issues with it:
At first I didn't like the set-up on it, which paired with the really wide neck made it uncomfortable to play - However adjusting the truss rod and action helped a lot. But the neck is really really wide, being used to 4 stringers for ages.
The B-string - I don't think I'll ever get used to that...
The strings that came with the bass, has a really thick B-string (130) that doesn't quit fit in the slot on the bridge.
Also the B-string feels like a flappy rubber band and completely lacks sustain, punch and definition - This may change when I switch the strings for a set of Rotosound Swing Bass strings with a slightly smaller B-string (125) - And if that doesn't do it for me, I could always try tuning it EADGC instead.
The Bridge - That's one massive piece of metal!!! Although nice and solid, I do wish it had adjustable string spacing, as I prefer slightly narrower string spacing than it offers.
Electronics - That totally blows and gotta go...
I really don't care for the active electronics on this thing, and I'm not overly impressed by the tone of it - It sounds nowhere near as growly as my Classic Pro and becomes annoyingly noisy when boosting the treble EQ.
I'll be re-wiring it passive with 500K pots with a VTVT configuration in a couple of weeks - Hopefully this will help tonewise.
Also, I'm not too fond of the configuration of the controls, as I like the classic 3 knobs in a row better. I might consider adding a 3-way toggle and maybe just rewire it VVT instead.
I've noticed the pick-ups have a 3rd wire which is taped off - assuming this is a coil tap, I'm wondering what impact/benefit it would have to the tone, if I were to add a switch for this as well?
Although I'll be making all of the above changes in a couple of weeks, I'm pretty sure I will never get used to playing it as a 5'er, and will most likely have it converted to 8 strings in near future as originally planned.
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
So... I'm about to rewire my Pro-5 and mod it with reflector knobs and maybe a toggle switch as well. However I am having a hard time deciding on what looks best, and would love to get some feedback before taking the plunge...
This is what it looks like originally:
Mod #1: Original knobs replaced with 4 black/silver reflector knobs (VTVT):
Mod #2: Original knobs replaced with 3 black/silver reflector knobs (VVT) and a toggle switch:
Mod #3: Original knobs replaced with 4 black/silver reflector knobs (VTVT) and an added toggle switch:
Mod #4: Original knobs replaced with 4 black/silver reflector knobs (VTVT) and an added toggle switch (alternative):
I think Mod #1 is a little plain looking, and Mod #2 looks kinda wierd - My favourite one is currently Mod #4...
What do you guys think looks best?
This is what it looks like originally:
Mod #1: Original knobs replaced with 4 black/silver reflector knobs (VTVT):
Mod #2: Original knobs replaced with 3 black/silver reflector knobs (VVT) and a toggle switch:
Mod #3: Original knobs replaced with 4 black/silver reflector knobs (VTVT) and an added toggle switch:
Mod #4: Original knobs replaced with 4 black/silver reflector knobs (VTVT) and an added toggle switch (alternative):
I think Mod #1 is a little plain looking, and Mod #2 looks kinda wierd - My favourite one is currently Mod #4...
What do you guys think looks best?
I like the Mod 4 the best, followed by Mod 3. Is the toggle a pickup selector or is it a kill switch?
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,206
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
I did mine this way......didn't want a switch where my hand would intuitively go for a knob.
The toggle is fun, but really, using it to solo the bridge pick up results in a very thin nasal tone. So mine is either in the mid or forward postion and not as easily reached on purpose. I like the reflector knobs
The toggle is fun, but really, using it to solo the bridge pick up results in a very thin nasal tone. So mine is either in the mid or forward postion and not as easily reached on purpose. I like the reflector knobs
I placed the kill switch at the far end of the control layout on my Goth rebuild. But I wanted it out of the way so I didn't hit it while playing. For some reason in Hillerup's pics the switch looks better to me in the first position. No logic behind that opinion tho.
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
I was hoping you would chime in...
I was thinking of adding a 3-way pickup selector and wire it like a Les Paul/Ric 4003...
I'll probably won't be using it much, but at least it will cover one of the holes from the knobs.
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
I did mine this way......didn't want a switch where my hand would intuitively go for a knob.
The toggle is fun, but really, using it to solo the bridge pick up results in a very thin nasal tone. So mine is either in the mid or forward postion and not as easily reached on purpose. I like the reflector knobs
Interesting knob layout, Mark...
What does the 4th knob do (the one where the output used to be)?
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
I placed the kill switch at the far end of the control layout on my Goth rebuild. But I wanted it out of the way so I didn't hit it while playing. For some reason in Hillerup's pics the switch looks better to me in the first position. No logic behind that opinion tho.
I've said it before, Andy - That modified Goth of yours is really nice...
I totally agree with you about the switch looking better in the first position - I can see why you did this the other way on your Goth. I would probably do the same, if the knobs had been in a straight line and I were to rewire it the way you did.
In my eyes the original placement of the knobs on the Pro have always looked wrong... I think the placement on Mod 4 looks more natural, and are better aligned with the body shape.
On a side note, I've been planning to move the jacks to the side on all my other Epi birds, and add 3-way toggles in place of the old jacks.
I also thought about doing kill switches on them insted, but figured the holes from the output jacks would be too large for the usual small on-off toggles. So instead I'd put regular 3-way switches in there, as they seem to fit the bigger holes better.
Is your toggle a 3-way, wired as a kill switch?
Also did you mount your pickup rings directly to the body, or did you have to add some kind of spacer underneath to get the pickups close enough to the strings?
- Status
