Thunderbird Club Pt.IV

[wvbass]

I don't know the answer, but from watching them for 35 years it seems that they don't usually have a reason for things they do.

Too funny. Surely there is a method to the madness, though. Anybody else care to chime in?

 

[Dadagoboi]

I don't know the answer, but from watching them for 35 years it seems that they don't usually have a reason for things they do.

Hard to argue with that.

I just measured my '64 II, '65 IV and '77 RI. The 60's and Bicentennial neck pickups are within 1/4" of the same location. They moved the bridge pickup on the Bicentennial closer to the bridge approx 1/2". That gets more treble response. The Bicentennial is a completely different design, "sidewinder" pickup with almost a single coil Fender sound to my ears.

BTW Fender also moved the bridge pickup on the Jazz closer to the bridge, I think in the late 60s. Maybe Gibson was following their lead.

 

[Showdown]

Hard to argue with that.

I just measured my '64 II, '65 IV and '77 RI. The 60's and Bicentennial neck pickups are within 1/4" of the same location. They moved the bridge pickup on the Bicentennial closer to the bridge approx 1/2". That gets more treble response. The Bicentennial is a completely different design, "sidewinder" pickup with almost a single coil Fender sound to my ears.

BTW Fender also moved the bridge pickup on the Jazz closer to the bridge, I think in the late 60s. Maybe Gibson was following their lead.

That could be it. I know with roundwound strings and slap bass coming about in the '70s a lot of bass players wanted more treble. Personally I prefer the '60s Jazz pickup spacing, but I don't know about the Tbirds. I have two Bicentennial birds and they sound great, but I've never played a '60s bird.

 

[wvbass]

Hard to argue with that.

I just measured my '64 II, '65 IV and '77 RI. The 60's and Bicentennial neck pickups are within 1/4" of the same location. They moved the bridge pickup on the Bicentennial closer to the bridge approx 1/2". That gets more treble response. The Bicentennial is a completely different design, "sidewinder" pickup with almost a single coil Fender sound to my ears.

BTW Fender also moved the bridge pickup on the Jazz closer to the bridge, I think in the late 60s. Maybe Gibson was following their lead.

That was unexpected! But, am I crazy or do the current era Gibson Thunderbirds have the neck pickup shifted forward a good bit? And did the pickup locations change on the non-reverse birds?

BTW- thanks for the input!

 

[TBird1958]

It looks like one of mine is a '77 with a decal based on what you said, the first two numbers are 06. It looks like it was built shortly before Castagnier's. I wonder when in '77 they changed to stamped.

My other one (the one in my avatar) is a '76 because the number starts with 00 (and I knew that anyway because I bought it new in '76).

Gibson is vague about an exact date, evidently in part because the workforce at Kalamazoo resisted the idea of stamping.
However, by the 255th day of 1977 they were in the swing of it, mine was the 87th instrument that day.

 

[TBird1958]

That was unexpected! But, am I crazy or do the current era Gibson Thunderbirds have the neck pickup shifted forward a good bit? And did the pickup locations change on the non-reverse birds?

BTW- thanks for the input!

Interesting! I measured a '76. '89 and an '09

From the end of the neck to the front edge of the pickup it's
3" for the '76, 2 3/4" for the '89 and 2 1/2" for the '09.

Pickup tectonics!

 

[wvbass]

Interesting! I measured a '76. '89 and an '09

From the end of the neck to the front edge of the pickup it's
3" for the '76, 2 3/4" for the '89 and 2 1/2" for the '09.

Pickup tectonics!

Thanks! I spent some time looking; I really don't think there is an online source for this kind of info. Out of curiosity, do you feel like the neck pickup is bassier as the model year progresses?

 

[Dadagoboi]

That was unexpected! But, am I crazy or do the current era Gibson Thunderbirds have the neck pickup shifted forward a good bit? And did the pickup locations change on the non-reverse birds?

BTW- thanks for the input!

All 60s 'Birds have same pickup position and improper bridge placement (impossible to intonate unless you move the bridge or get a Badbird).

 

[TBird1958]

Thanks! I spent some time looking; I really don't think there is an online source for this kind of info. Out of curiosity, do you feel like the neck pickup is bassier as the model year progresses?

If they all had the same pickup I would say yes to this. However, as Carlo notes the '76s have a unique design pickup that was not repeated after 1979, post '88 production models have used at least four different variation of the "TB Plus" pickup, earlier variants are similar to the '76 design, later ones are twin coil types without and with large magnets on the bottom which made the bodies have a deeper rout for the pup.
My '89 has two different pups in it an early and later version, both have had their outer plastic shells removed and replaced with '76 chrome covers. The '09 has Lulls, which are exact reproductions of the early '60s design.

Early post '88 and later with the large magnet TB Plus in '76 chrome covers

A Lull, note how thin it is.

A '76, quite a bit taller, very different.

A pair of TB Plus from my '09, note the large magnet and while it's difficult to see there is a long metal strip embedded in the plastic running alongside the coils.

 

[Nocturnal]

Well I was hoping to join you all with a new Epi pro IV for the last two weeks but some thing or some one doesn't want me to get one. The 1st one showed up last sat. chipped and with a messed up bridge, back it went. Yesterday the 2nd arrives, in a crushed box with the head stock poking out! ( gotta love Fedex...NOT) Head stock is beat up, top wing looks like somebody took a hammer to it. and last but not least, a 3 inch crack in the neck from the nut down. Soooo waiting on a 3rd one. But! I will join with my 96 non-revers Epi bird for now if thats alright? Found it in a pawn shop for a little bit of nothing a few years back, a small set up and some flats and she plays awsome! Hopefully I will post with the pro IV this week sometime. Lol.

I have one of these as well. Mine doesn't have the pearloid pickguard tho. I put a Dimarzio P pickup in it and it sounds great!!

 

[wvbass]

Tbird1958: very educational and much appreciated.

 

[TBird1958]

Well I was hoping to join you all with a new Epi pro IV for the last two weeks but some thing or some one doesn't want me to get one. The 1st one showed up last sat. chipped and with a messed up bridge, back it went. Yesterday the 2nd arrives, in a crushed box with the head stock poking out! ( gotta love Fedex...NOT) Head stock is beat up, top wing looks like somebody took a hammer to it. and last but not least, a 3 inch crack in the neck from the nut down. Soooo waiting on a 3rd one. But! I will join with my 96 non-revers Epi bird for now if thats alright? Found it in a pawn shop for a little bit of nothing a few years back, a small set up and some flats and she plays awsome! Hopefully I will post with the pro IV this week sometime. Lol.

So Cool!

Haven't seen one of these in a while, it's sweet!
I used to have a fiver version - it was a bit much for me!
This one sure looks great too, welcome here you are # 272 and hopefully the third time will be the charm for your new Epi Pro IV. Thanks for the pic and lets see the new one too



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[Jirishman]

Spent the whole day recording with this:

 

[stiles72]

Recently switched to GHS Precicion flats on my Thunderbird IV. I was a little leary at first, because I was afraid the thin neck would need a lot of adjustment under the extra tension of the flats but they are working out great. I used a little foam under the strings to act as a mute, and am loving the old school thump. We just did a double header with my oldies/classic rock project and in two nights - I only picked up the P-bass once.

 

[cmassa]

All 60s 'Birds have same pickup position and improper bridge placement (impossible to intonate unless you move the bridge or get a Badbird).

I can attest to that my '67 had to have the bridge moved back then, it sports two wooden plugs.

 

[TBird1958]

Spent the whole day recording with this:

I am jealous, I spent the day at work - obviously you had a much better day

 

[SlingBass4]

Subscribed.

Waiting for feedback on the new Epi Classic

 

[Gaolee]

When the Epi turns up sometime next week, it will be interesting to measure pickup location and see if it is any different from Gibson pickup location. Based on the evidence so far, I'm going to guess it will be more consistent among Epiphone Pro models than among Gibson models, but who knows.

 

[fordkisskrazy]

Thanks for the kind words and # Tbird1958!
Tender Prey, I was thinking about getting both the p and the j pick ups from Dimarzio, I do have a SD bassline 3 p pick up, thought about buying the SD jazz pick up and put them in, not sure which ones would sound better though. Seymor Duncans would be cheaper since I would just need the jazz pick up.
What do you all think?

 

[Nocturnal]

I don't think you could go wrong either way between the Duncan or Dimarzio. I got the Dimarzio for $35 shipped and it was basically brand new. I didn't change the Jazz because I don't really use it on this bass much, and if i do the original adds enough change for me.