Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

Ugh!!!

Not so bad. Better than no flex.

 

[dagrev]

Does anyone know where to buy a Pbass guard with a Tbird pickup route?

Sounds like a plan is in the works.

 

[PillO]

Have you thought of and tried playing more with a pick? That might make playing much easier. Sounds really difficult as you described it.

It is a fretting hand issue. And I am learning to work with a pick - helps me get my Lemmy on.

 

[Bunky]

Woot! How do you like it so far?

I’m really happy with it. I was eyeing it for a while. I play different instruments and bass isn’t necessarily my best by any means so I grabbed this and sold my stingray to free up cash for other gear. Don’t feel like I’m losing out a ton though the stingray was nice this is cool and sounds really good.

 

[dagrev]

nice F4!

There used to be a cool F4 on a display stand at the Kentucky Air National Guard. They've moved it away from the road along with another plane and you can't get a good look at them now. Maybe they will but it back one day. Looked great when it was out front.

 

[dagrev]

It is rather interesting that Fender went this route considering it has a few perfectly good bass humbuckers in its own lineup, and even more daring considering they put these in one of their most iconic basses, vs a Jaguar or Mustang type bass. It will be very interesting to see if any official Fender press comes out and calls these “Thunderbird” pickups vs Curtis Novack Humbuckers. What’s next, a Strat with P90’s?

Word is they're working on mock-ups of detachable headstocks as we speak.

 

[dagrev]

I think the chair looks OK, too. I made it. But what's really great is the thermostat.

It is. Your design? I can't tell from the pic what kind of wood you used.

 

[dagrev]

View attachment 4617778

I’m finally in the club. Love this machine. Epiphone vintage pro.

Nice! You have a great bass. I like them so much I have two. Be sure and try various strings. Some are a better match than others. You may have done so already, but looks like your intonation needs to be checked.

 

[dagrev]

It is a fretting hand issue. And I am learning to work with a pick - helps me get my Lemmy on.

I saw a guy once who played and only fretted with his index finger. He was a younger guy but made it work just fine. I'm not sure what the reason was for doing so, but he did it well.

 

[Bunky]

Nice! You have a great bass. I like them so much I have two. Be sure and try various strings. Some are a better match than others. You may have done so already, but looks like your intonation needs to be checked.

What strings do you like? I’m aiming for a Tom Peterson vibe.

 

[Stealth57]

There used to be a cool F4 on a display stand at the Kentucky Air National Guard. They've moved it away from the road along with another plane and you can't get a good look at them now. Maybe they will but it back one day. Looked great when it was out front.
View attachment 4617863

The sound that thing made flying low scared the out of a lot of people.

 

[dagrev]

What strings do you like? I’m aiming for a Tom Peterson vibe.

I go for big and punchy, not angry piano.
Strings I've liked on either VP.
GHS Boomers (Round Cores are nice as well and add some bigness and will smooth out the bite a little)
Dean Markley Blue Steels
Rotos (and I'm not going for angry piano at all. A misnomer that this is all Rotos can do.)
Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats (which I liked tone wise but I'm the sensitive type)
GHS Progressives (Alloy52) sounded great, but you can't get them. Roto has a version.
Currently the White has Boomers and the burst Rotos.

But keep in mind, your amp, and even more so your cab will be another factor in finding the best match for you. I've had to ditch strings I liked when using different rigs.

 

[RedVee]

It is rather interesting that Fender went this route considering it has a few perfectly good bass humbuckers in its own lineup, and even more daring considering they put these in one of their most iconic basses, vs a Jaguar or Mustang type bass. It will be very interesting to see if any official Fender press comes out and calls these “Thunderbird” pickups vs Curtis Novack Humbuckers. What’s next, a Strat with P90’s?

I was looking at Stonewall Pickups earlier and they have P90s in both Strat and Tele sizes.

 

[Nocturnal]

It is rather interesting that Fender went this route considering it has a few perfectly good bass humbuckers in its own lineup, and even more daring considering they put these in one of their most iconic basses, vs a Jaguar or Mustang type bass. It will be very interesting to see if any official Fender press comes out and calls these “Thunderbird” pickups vs Curtis Novack Humbuckers. What’s next, a Strat with P90’s?

There are a couple Tele's with P90's in them. The Jim Atkins model for example.

 

[TBird1958]

Friday is date night, of course I was ready early.........Black dresses, I have a fair number of them, there's only one of these......

 

[GonePlaid]

Friday is date night, of course I was ready early.........Black dresses, I have a fair number of them, there's only one of these......

View attachment 4618136

Ya only need one of those.

 

[Border]

Good evening Thunderbird loving sisters and brothers. Glad to relate that I got my new bass back from the tech this afternoon. I was dealing with some serious buzzing and such, and was not fond of the factorystrings. I ordered in a new set of EB Cobalt flats and dropped it off Monday afternoon. Got the call about 3 and decided it was time to start the weekend. My good friend and tech thought it had mismatched strings , with the G being a different type altogether. He set it up with the flats, adjusting both the truss rod and bridge. It has come back greatly improved. The strings sounds good, all the way up the neck, the action is great and the buzzing is gone. I spent all evening in the man cave trying some different settings on the amp and the bass, and generally getting to know it all over again. Looking forward to taking it to rehearsals next week. Hoping it gets even better as the new strings settle in. Thanks much for the good advice.
Have a great weekend everyone.

 

[GBassNorth]

I think the chair looks OK, too. I made it. But what's really great is the thermostat.

Very cool looking chair! The seat almost has an Alembic series one vibe going on…

I’m really happy with it. I was eyeing it for a while. I play different instruments and bass isn’t necessarily my best by any means so I grabbed this and sold my stingray to free up cash for other gear. Don’t feel like I’m losing out a ton though the stingray was nice this is cool and sounds really good.

I’ve been a Stingray user for years, but to be honest, now that I have my thunderbirds the stingrays don’t get that much play time. You’re gonna love that VP. Slap some Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on it and it’ll be about the best bass sound you’ve ever heard.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

It is. Your design? I can't tell from the pic what kind of wood you used.

Walnut, maple, mahogany, rosewood.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Very cool looking chair! The seat almost has an Alembic series one vibe going on…
View attachment 4618148



I’ve been a Stingray user for years, but to be honest, now that I have my thunderbirds the stingrays don’t get that much play time. You’re gonna love that VP. Slap some Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on it and it’ll be about the best bass sound you’ve ever heard.

+1 on the EBCFs.