Thunderbird Club

[Count Bassie]

Just a note here... I need to reinstate my supporting membership thing, but I'm going to be moving my GK NEOs and my Aria shorty EB-3. Gotta get my kid a car and things are a little tight.

On the plus side, I've got my "Lucky Old Sunn" 215, and.work is going well at least!

 

[godofthunder59]

I just assumed it was a Doors Tribute band.
If you look very carefully you can see the tip of a Fender headstock peeking out from behind the cabs in front of the door. I think our TBird buddy is hiding a bass playing midget friend back there.

Cataldo Fenderbird

 

[Klondike]

Actually, for their recordings they had a bass player. Forget his name though.

Most of their recordings had a bass player however they recorded an entire album, cant remember which one right now, that had no bass at all.

 

[Count Bassie]

Most of their recordings had a bass player however they recorded an entire album, cant remember which one right now, that had no bass at all.

The Soft Parade?

 

[Dadagoboi]

Actually, for their recordings they had a bass player. Forget his name though.

Doug Lubahn

 

[PillO]

Cataldo Fenderbird

Played by a midget?

 

[GBassNorth]

Most of their recordings had a bass player however they recorded an entire album, cant remember which one right now, that had no bass at all.

...and any negative comments about that album are totally baseless.

 

[fjadams]

Doug Lubahn

He played on most of the albums but they had a couple of other guys play on a couple of them. Was offered a full time job with the band but he had his own band, Clear Light, so turned the job down. He really was a very good bass player.

Black Roses from Clear Light.

 

[Larry V]

Rob Halford?

That would be, "Formerly-closeted metal singer."

 

[Mason Nagy]

Why stop with replacing the neck? Why not replace the body as well? Or would that be redundant? Lol j/k

I totally feel that way about it too hahah. I am basically gutting it and leaving the body and pickguard alone hahah. I am going for the Fenderbird thing though, especially since it is a PJ. I want some sort of Tele bass neck with Hipshot lollipop keys and just the pickups left. Those are in the works of being made right now. Blk Tri was an obvious choice for me. They are awesome.

 

[Silas Stingy]

I'm not a Thunderbird owner as yet but I heard a local band playing in a bar this weekend. The bass tone was I think the best I've ever heard in a live setting, thick, defined creamy tone, absolutely solid sound. When I finally caught site of the bass, it appeared to be a red thunderbird, not sure if it was an Epi or Gibson. I'm now scratching my head wondering if I could make one sound that good? I really don't see many in the shops here in the U.K. and certainly don't see many playing them, but my interest is growing!

 

[Count Bassie]

I'm not a Thunderbird owner as yet but I heard a local band playing in a bar this weekend. The bass tone was I think the best I've ever heard in a live setting, thick, defined creamy tone, absolutely solid sound. When I finally caught site of the bass, it appeared to be a red thunderbird, not sure if it was an Epi or Gibson. I'm now scratching my head wondering if I could make one sound that good? I really don't see many in the shops here in the U.K. and certainly don't see many playing them, but my interest is growing!

One is likely to show up. Keep an eye out...

 

[ThaCoast]

Boom....

Click Tree.

 

[Count Bassie]

Sicko.

 

[Klondike]

Boom....

View attachment 975171

Click Tree.

Lookin phat so far Andii

 

[Stevis]

I used to play with two guitarists both running AC30 knock-offs WFO. Just love the sound of melting EL84s to bits.

There are so many variables - circuit design, output transformers, voltage, bias etc etc - and valves are only part of it. Things may have changed but back in the day US amps used 6V6/6L6/6550 (and 6416 in the original SVT), whereas British amps used EL84/EL34 and KT88 output valves. The choice was probably down to price and availability. They all use pretty much the same preamp valves, just for some odd reason, Americans insist on calling ECC81/82/83 12A*7.

I don't have a strong preference either way (6550 or KT88) for bass amps. Guitar amps are different - *always* EL84 or EL34, ideally in a combo with two 12" Celestions (combos and separate heads sound different too).

I am with you on the EL84 sound. I had a VOX AC15 once and stupidly sold it. Those amps offer so much bang for the buck. The British-made Celestians are still good ($$$$) but Eminence and Weber offer some good ALNICO drivers at competitive prices. I love the old school VOX chime (and their grit too).

 

[kat888]

I am with you on the EL84 sound. I had a VOX AC15 once and stupidly sold it. Those amps offer so much bang for the buck.

The only 'effect' required is a jumper from the normal to the brilliant channel.

 

[Gaolee]

I'm not a Thunderbird owner as yet but I heard a local band playing in a bar this weekend. The bass tone was I think the best I've ever heard in a live setting, thick, defined creamy tone, absolutely solid sound. When I finally caught site of the bass, it appeared to be a red thunderbird, not sure if it was an Epi or Gibson. I'm now scratching my head wondering if I could make one sound that good? I really don't see many in the shops here in the U.K. and certainly don't see many playing them, but my interest is growing!

You will be surprised at how versatile they are. I played the 2015 strung with Sadowsky flats and the 2001 strung with DR Sunbeams last night. To a casual observer, they look identical, but they can sound completely different. The 2015 is set up with the pickups lowered a bit, and it can get a soft, open, round sound. Whatever that means. The 2001 is far more aggressive and is quite a bit louder, with the pickups right up under the strings. It's pure aggression. Both played through an Acoustic USA 360M, which has endless clean headroom. No overbaked Ampeg sound for this boy. Set up one way, a Bird can thump with the best of them. Set up another way, a Bird can melt faces.

You probably should think about ergonomics more than sound, since a Bird can be set up to sound all different kinds of ways. It won't hang like a 7ender. Close, if you really want it to, but mostly, it's going to be a bit more neutral, allow you to move it around a bit more, and it's going to be easier to play if you set it a bit lower and swung around onto your hip instead of directly in front of you.

So, now you know everything you need to know to fearlessly buy one sight unseen. If it doesn't work, blame me. I'll be ducking under the nearest big flat rock.

 

[vdub75]

View attachment 973462 Here is a pic of my pedal board, left to right we have soviet era Electro Harmonic Big Muff, Whirlwind "Red" (exact recreation of MXRs early Dynacomp ) Ibanez Bass Tube Screamer, Electro Harmonics Micro Pog and Korg Pitch Black Tuner.

do you use the POG for octave up together with the fuzz? I tried sth like that with a tc Sub n up octave, it works well but I lose a lot of presence doing that.

 

[godofthunder59]

do you use the POG for octave up together with the fuzz? I tried sth like that with a tc Sub n up octave, it works well but I lose a lot of presence doing that.

I don't use the POG with other pedals. Some songs I use it to mimic a eight string other times to cop low notes instead of playing a five string.