Thunderbird Club Pt.IV

[Gringo Starr]

sweet bass nubs!

 

[TBird1958]

Here's my ebony 1976 Thunderbird!

Pure badass!

Looks like it's in much better shape than my '77. Welcome, and thank you for the pic - I've put you on the roster at #267

 

[TBird1958]

I had a bottom of the line Epi Thunderbird. It sounded great and was comfortable. But I gave it to my son. I missed it, so I just bought a Pro IV with a case. Back to owning a Thunderbird. If a Thunderbird claims you, you have to play one. Lesson learned.

We'd love a picture when you get the chance - I've added you as #268.


I'm quoting you here for truth

" If a Thunderbird claims you, you have to play one. Lesson learned"

 

[TBird1958]

Odd question perhaps, but has anyone here had chrome pickup rings crafted for their Epi Elite 'bird?

Long story short, I have repurchased my old Elite bird that I sold to Poman (the box is waiting for me at home to unwrap as I type) and I want to dress it up a bit. I did reach out to Dave at fretsonthenet.com but he hasn't ever done the surrounds for an Elite Tbird.

Thanks in advance,

Stephen

Need a picture of your bass, but I have the feeling the pups on this bass are not the same size as most used in T Birds.
This came up not too long ago and the only solution was some custom work.......

Pics please

 

[TBird1958]

what i have here it the Cataldo REV52 (reverse tbird 5string 2 thunderbucker).....this is the prototype built by Carlo, i saw it on the Cataldo Basses web site, and we started conversing, and this is what Carlo created and sent my way, more reviews soon to follow but this is simply amazing i played it a bit and its incredible!! the thunderbucker MAXs are out of this world........WOW is and understatement all around with this BADBOY!

Love the color! It's lookin' fantastic in the sunlight - beautiful bass, congratulations

 

[TheLarch]

Need a picture of your bass, but I have the feeling the pups on this bass are not the same size as most used in T Birds.
This came up not too long ago and the only solution was some custom work.......

Pics please

Here is a link to a photo of the pickups:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=269430&d=1338246921

Thanks for your help!

I may look at simply buying chrome rings to replace the black ones although I love the look of the metal surrounds from the old Tbirds so much more.

 

[TBird1958]

As I thought, those look almost guitar sized, the typical rings are not likely to fit around them neatly. It may take a bit looking but this has come up before, give me a day or so.

BTW it's lovely Thunderbird do I have you on the roster?

 

[TheLarch]

As I thought, those look almost guitar sized, the typical rings are not likely to fit around them neatly. It may take a bit looking but this has come up before, give me a day or so.

BTW it's lovely Thunderbird do I have you on the roster?

Not yet as I just rejoined the family today after a 4-year hiatus.

 

[TBird1958]

Not yet as I just rejoined the family today after a 4-year hiatus.

How does #269 sound

I'm posting your bass here so we all can enjoy it - plus get some ideas for the rings. Welcome

TBird1958 #1
Godof Thunder59 #2
Funkster#3
Gibenbackerbass #4
Sidd Laroy #5
Jazzbo58 #6
Tender Prey #7
Showdown #8
The Mojo Hobo #9
Doctorpunch #10
Stiles72 #11
Brenner182 #12
Baird6869 #13
Poorbassist15 #14
PWV #15
Mr Typhus #16
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Aditya #18
amimbari #19
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Nitrofix #21
Atoz #22
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Kalik #31
winterburn69 #32
Walter Vega 33
Carlos 840 #34
Shadowtippy #35
Saltymonkey #36
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Low Sound Love #40
BrianKrashpad #41
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BenEd #43
Bassmachine2112 #44
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Vaider #52
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Redstrand #57
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Rob Martinez #65
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lowend1 #69 Mopar or no car!
Basvarken #70
s mcsleazy #71
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Matty H #73
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muzukman7 #85
3rdcurve #86
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Lucas G #148
NOT #149
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D Bopp #156
CDRhom #157
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Thebassman2011 #178
DaM13N # 179
LanOsb133 #180
Lowner #181
Frankiebass59 #182
Justice #183
tiger rich #184
spunkadizzle #185
quadrogong #186
Wolf C Red #187
guitarded #188
ledzep5296 #189
aussiebasshero #190
trackskinz#191
guns N rosesguy #192
Jamyi #193
Thunderbird90 #194
Cobra314 #195
Ric5 #196
ApocalypseDream #197
Gougedeye #198
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NOLA Bass #200
AdamR #201
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ben0099 #212
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brotondo #215
HIaWATTha #216
Zerstorte Zelle #217
MrNecroVol #218
Freddy-G #219
Regininblood #220
ejaggers #221
gregoire1 #222
thundereagle #223
Geezer79 #224
cubanbass #225
Silverwolf1 #226
Mikaelbass #227
BruceBass3901 #228
Chris V #229
Mikaelbass #230
JayBassD #231
JMPeat #232
Phildogger #233
beebassdude #234
MrGotBass #235
2nd Wind #236
butter_fingers #237
Chumbly #238
roycroft 88 #239
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recycled rocker #241
wolfmancharlie #242
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GregBummer #244
penguineman #245
TheOnlyJuan #246
nubs #247
Gringo Starr #248
PhR #249
georgestrings #250
cajunbass1985 #251
Wagz #252
armedmonkey #253
RedNeckBBQ #254
faviobarrio #255
PhantomApex #256
cmassa #257
vbass_2000 #258
MrMcHaggis #259
Linchpin72 #260
whitee96 #261
edpal #262
Ibanez Bassist #263
21petro #264
CiceroProfundo #265
Willncarolina #266
theweirdoid #267
Gaolee #268
TheLarch #269
Castagnier #270
diskovolos #271

 

[Nocturnal]

I have those guitar sized TB Plus pickups inside 70's TBird pickup covers and there is a gap at each end of the cover inside. The typical pickup rings for TB pickups will leave a gap for sure. Maybe Carlo has an idea? He seems to come up with good solutions for Tbird parts.

 

[Showdown]

How does #269 sound

I'm posting your bass here so we all can enjoy it - plus get some ideas for the rings. Welcome

If those are guitar humbucker size (and they look it) it will not be hard to find rings for them.

There are some on this page:

Link Removed

The "CHROME LOW PROFILE METAL HUMBUCKER RING" looks good.

 

[Dadagoboi]

I have those guitar sized TB Plus pickups inside 70's TBird pickup covers and there is a gap at each end of the cover inside. The typical pickup rings for TB pickups will leave a gap for sure. Maybe Carlo has an idea? He seems to come up with good solutions for Tbird parts.

Guitar rings should work. How do they sound compared to other TBird pickups? Doesn't look like they're wide enough to cover all strings equally.

 

[Nocturnal]

On the humbucker-sized pickups I don't notice any weaker strings at all. Had the same pickups in my LP Standard and both the LP and my Epi are super loud and agressive. I don't think they sound exactly the same as the black TB Plus, but you can tell they are related.

 

[TheLarch]

On the humbucker-sized pickups I don't notice any weaker strings at all. Had the same pickups in my LP Standard and both the LP and my Epi are super loud and agressive. I don't think they sound exactly the same as the black TB Plus, but you can tell they are related.

+1

The Epi Elite Tbird that I just (re)purchased does not lack for volume or grit across all 4 strings.

Some have said that they find the Elite Tbird's to sound more in line with the vintage birds as compared to the newer ones with the black pickups. Having owned neither, I can't say one way or the other, but I definitely like how the Elite Bird sounds.

 

[RedNeckBBQ]

 

[Castagnier]

My 76 recently bought on Gbase, and I love it!!!!

Link Removed

 

[diskovolos]

hey everybody ! Although I've been reading the forum for quite a while , this is my first post . I am a happy owner of an EPI TBird Pro 4 (pics soon to come) .
this thread totally kills . all these great basses gathered ... me likey ! the way I see it , the most beautiful bass posted is the chrome beast below ...

TBird1958 , dude your collection kicks ass !

anyhow , I would like to order some gibson control knobs for my bass . (Invalid Link Removed) the guy at the store told me that they wont fit my bass . is that so ? I would not like to get stuck with them in case i won't be able to use them properly ...

anyhow , rock on .

PS. Has anyoned layed his/her hands on that new Epi classic pro ? the alpine white looks killer (and it would look even better with a black pickguard) . I am so fond of those passive US pickups .

 

[CiceroProfundo]

As promised pictures of my Westfield TBird and the body for my Fenderbird build.


CiceroProfundo #265

 

[RedNeckBBQ]

hey everybody ! Although I've been reading the forum for quite a while , this is my first post . I am a happy owner of an EPI TBird Pro 4 (pics soon to come) .
this thread totally kills . all these great basses gathered ... me likey ! the way I see it , the most beautiful bass posted is the chrome beast below ...



TBird1958 , dude your collection kicks ass !

anyhow , I would like to order some gibson control knobs for my bass . (Invalid Link Removed) the guy at the store told me that they wont fit my bass . is that so ? I would not like to get stuck with them in case i won't be able to use them properly ...

anyhow , rock on .

PS. Has anyoned layed his/her hands on that new Epi classic pro ? the alpine white looks killer (and it would look even better with a black pickguard) . I am so fond of those passive US pickups .

you can make your T-bird pro passive to man. i did that.
i like it way more now, more of a vintage sound.

and the knobs wont work. the stock volume and tone potentiometers were the knobs are stuck on, are to small.
you need to find knobs with the little screws in them. those will work.
cheers man

 

[TBird1958]

hey everybody ! Although I've been reading the forum for quite a while , this is my first post . I am a happy owner of an EPI TBird Pro 4 (pics soon to come) .
this thread totally kills . all these great basses gathered ... me likey ! the way I see it , the most beautiful bass posted is the chrome beast below ...



TBird1958 , dude your collection kicks ass !

anyhow , I would like to order some gibson control knobs for my bass . (Invalid Link Removed) the guy at the store told me that they wont fit my bass . is that so ? I would not like to get stuck with them in case i won't be able to use them properly ...

anyhow , rock on .

PS. Has anyoned layed his/her hands on that new Epi classic pro ? the alpine white looks killer (and it would look even better with a black pickguard) . I am so fond of those passive US pickups .

Ahhhh.....my gaudy stage bass, been playing it quite a bit at home lately, I'm working up a new amplifier and this bass has Lull pickups - nice tone!
I've added you the the roster above along with Castagnier, you are #'s 270 and 271.
You could also replace the pots on your Epi Pro which would then allow you to use the Gibson knobs. The Epi classic now looks like an Aug/Sept shipping date, I'll have one to review and am quite looking forward to comparing it to my Gibson/Orville and Burny Thunderbirds.


@ Castagnier, beautiful Bicentennial, what year is it?