Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

And they "kinda" sound like a pickup intended to fit the sonic space right between a humbucker and single coil. To me they sound like a fat single coil pickup.

They really are their own thing, but that's a good way to put it. The main way you know they're humbuckers is they're hum-free.

 

[TBird1958]

I found the post that Scott said in Jan '21 that they were to begin shipping in April '21, but seems from other various posts July was more likely the release date. Roughly.

Mine shipped from Sweetwater 8/3/21

 

[Miles_ONeal]

It's really difficult to consistently downstroke an entire song, much less a set. At one point I was reasonably good for a song or two, I'd have to put some time back into it today because I can't do it like this anymore. I've heard it said the one should be able to upstroke/downstroke with the same intensity/speed etc., I can't get it to sound the same, here I'm flogging the E string hard, it was about 95 degrees and excessively humid this day. Warning, if you like the dull thump of flats this not for you, big, clanky angry piano on a '76.

Great job! This is one of my favorites you've posted.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Great playing. And I really like like the vocal on that one.

Ditto!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I've tried that one before with a pick and could last maybe a verse and probably slowed down the band in the process but I've been practising since the pandemic hit with a pick and have gotten considerably better although I still doubt whether I could last through that whole song with all downstrokes but much better. I like both flatwound sound and angry piano, Entwistle was a hero of mine when younger, I think you get a great sound. I have Rotos RS66's on almost all my basses now.
I've always wished I were a better pick player as to me you get a better sound with both rounds and flats with them, much more articulate although I can play pretty clear with my fingers so basically I've been woodshedding over here for two years now and play almost all day so I've improved in several areas and pickstyle is one of them. When I was a kid first learning guitar I used to play for hours too, it got to the point where it just felt natural to have a guitar around my neck, it now feels the same way with a bass.
I was also told that you could make both upstrokes and downstrokes sound the same, I haven't yet. I think all downstrokes sounds a lot better anyway, I'm not a light player, I don't kill them anymore but I think your touch has a lot to do with your sound.

I just play what feels right (pick (variety of ways) vs fingers) for the song, the mood, etc. It means more stuff to work on but I like the results. I'd like 'em more if I played better.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Skeptical canine is skeptical.

"I hate how the poly sticks to the roof of my mouth."

 

[Miles_ONeal]

That’s interesting thanks. I was using “mini” as a size reference rather than any construction reference

Ah. Gotcha. But minihumbucker refers to a specific type of pickup. At least in the Gibson world. Mini pickup has big G energy.

 

[RedVee]

Bu where did they show those? Where did anyone see them back then? One person mentioned seeing multiple such films at theaters as special events - was that it?

That I don’t know, my guess would be at theatres as one of the pre movie ‘shorts’. But that is just a guess.

this is what I’m talking about but they did others afaik, for other songs. There is an artsy film clip for Something from that time which includes the 4 of them and their current lady friend.

 

[JIO]

Paul Martinez with a Reverse II. Mimed performance of course and I assume he used a P-bass in the studio but cool nevertheless. As is his attire too, especially when compared to Percy himself.


I like those first two Plant solo albums. Great players (Robbie Blunt's guitar especially) and good and experimental songs not dwelling on his then not so distant past (not that he does it today either). He did pretty well with drummers. Cozy, Barrie Barlow and Philip Collins who toured also. And when Phil's work load got toooverwhelming with both his dayjobs they managed to get Ritchie Hayward to drum.

Whatever type of bass was recorded sounds great. Flats w/a plectrum for sure. It sounds sorta' like a P but it's different, and not really like a T-bird II.

 

[RedVee]

That I don’t know, my guess would be at theatres as one of the pre movie ‘shorts’. But that is just a guess.

this is what I’m talking about but they did others afaik, for other songs. There is an artsy film clip for Something from that time which includes the 4 of them and their current lady friend.

 

[PhR75]

Whatever type of bass was recorded sounds great. Flats w/a plectrum for sure. It sounds sorta' like a P but it's different, and not really like a T-bird II.

Just guessing from what he seemed to play at that time. At least in live recordings from Plant's first tour in 1983 it sure sounds like roundwounds.

Martinez had a great sound on Paice Ashton Lord's sole album "Malice In Wonderland" in 1977. Live clips show him using Sunn Coliseum amps and Martin bass bins. Which were of course the choice of Glenn Hughes too. Very similar sound and Martin Birch producing so maybe he said "we'll use these cabs".

 

[JJR58]

Yes, especially in CA where paint stripper has been neutered to be ineffective. Just use the heat-gun outside (fumes) and don't leave it in one place too long, as it will start to burn the wood. Otherwise it's the way to go. Also, if your flat-blade is new, file the corners round so it doesn't gouge the wood.

This stuff works like a charm.
You do have to let it sit for a while it does it’s magic, but man, it really works.

 

[dagrev]

Mine shipped from Sweetwater 8/3/21

So yours was likely inspected and left Gibson in July as well. Fortunately mine has all the case goodies, inspection sign-off card and pic of the bass. Looks like the serial numbers 21(yr)xx...x7(month) possibly, or so it looks on mine anyway. I know the year is first, and possibly the month last. Who knows what all the numbers in between might mean. Not that it matters. Just a matter of curiosity. It would be of interest if Gibson later publishes the number manufactured.

 

[WillyW]

IG NR shipped 1/10/22 ordered 3/21
SB NR shipped 10/13/21

I'd have to check the ransom paperwork to find the MFG date.

 

[GonePlaid]

And yet they have the same name

Oops. I was wrong on that one.

 

[TBird1958]

So yours was likely inspected and left Gibson in July as well. Fortunately mine has all the case goodies, inspection sign-off card and pic of the bass. Looks like the serial numbers 21(yr)xx...x7(month) possibly, or so it looks on mine anyway. I know the year is first, and possibly the month last. Who knows what all the numbers in between might mean. Not that it matters. Just a matter of curiosity. It would be of interest if Gibson later publishes the number manufactured.

I just tried running my 9 digit s/n thru a couple different Gibson s/n decoders and none could be more specific than saying the bass was built in 2021 as indicated by the first two digits. I'm not clear on the meaning of the other 7 digits.

 

[dagrev]

I just tried running my 9 digit s/n thru a couple different Gibson s/n decoders and none could be more specific than saying the bass was built in 2021 as indicated by the first two digits. I'm not clear on the meaning of the other 7 digits.

I couldn't find anything either. I'm guessing (badly?) that the last number or two could be the month. My last digit is 7 which corresponds to the month it was finished. But that could be nothing but coincidence and nothing more, yet I would think they would have the month in a serial number to narrow things down a bit. Curious if other's last digit corresponds to inspection month.

 

[GonePlaid]

I couldn't find anything either. I'm guessing (badly?) that the last number or two could be the month. My last digit is 7 which corresponds to the month it was finished. But that could be nothing but coincidence and nothing more, yet I would think they would have the month in a serial number to narrow things down a bit. Curious if other's last digit corresponds to inspection month.

21=year; rest is a random phone number(8675309)

 

[JIO]

This stuff works like a charm.
You do have to let it sit for a while it does it’s magic, but man, it really works.

View attachment 4656158

It works but is nasty stuff. If I had to choose I'd still say a heat-gun. That stuff works well on ornate woodwork/radiators etc with a lot of nooks & crannies.

 

[JIO]

Just guessing from what he seemed to play at that time. At least in live recordings from Plant's first tour in 1983 it sure sounds like roundwounds.

Martinez had a great sound on Paice Ashton Lord's sole album "Malice In Wonderland" in 1977. Live clips show him using Sunn Coliseum amps and Martin bass bins. Which were of course the choice of Glenn Hughes too. Very similar sound and Martin Birch producing so maybe he said "we'll use these cabs".

Do you mean a Martin bass like this? Very cool and rare basses these. It would have been brand new then. (made only 4 years from the late '70-early '80s) Pu placement looks pretty P-bass but it's a bucker. Really cool song too! And yes, very much a round-wound tone there. Not aware of him - thanks for posting!