Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

Maybe it's already been answered, but I didn't find the answer in the search tool: among latest models which one is closest to the Gibson Thunderbird of the 60's and 70's tone?

IV
Classic Pro
Vintage Pro
Other?

The Vintage Pro gets you closest to a '60s Thunderbird, I think Epiphone calls it a " '60s Thunderbird". Nothing else is like a '70s Bird.

^^^ This.

The Probuckers in the above VP and 60s Epis have something of that special mid thing going on. (But part of why they sound good is because the PUPs are close to the original/correct locations.) The original '60s sound bigger and thicker. VPs/60 Epis don't have the depth of the originals. This is why I like GHS Boomers on VPs. They kind of bring some of the depth back that can be lacking. Not only are the closest in tone, they are great basses. Worth way more than what they sell for.

 

[BklynKen]

My takes is that EYs are not near as good as Lulls or the originals in Veronica's '64. Lulls are very similar to the '64.

The other part of the evening was comparing neck shapes and sizes. The Lull 'Bird has a 7enderish feeling neck. It isn't an aircraft carrier deck like my P, but it feels wider and flatter than a Gibson. The NR has a neck I liked very much. Must resist....

I'm not sold on the pickups in my VP. They are more similar to EYs than the other pickups. Blasphemy of course, but I may sell the VP.

That was a whole lot of fun.

Interesting stuff! Curious where the Thunderbuckers all into all these pickup comparisons.

When you say "aircraft carrier deck," do you mean neck thickness or fretboard flatness?

 

[GonePlaid]

No problem. Just let me know if you want me to look around to see what strings might be of interest and work for you. May be none at all.

I put my weakening 50-105 EBCFs back on(I don't cut strings off). I had the E through G 7ender 9050s I took offa my EpiBird 5er, but when I went to put them on, I realized no way since the tuners on it were bass-ackwards(G was closest to the nut),so the D and G were way too short for the 67.
I don't have any TBird gigs for awhile, so I'll mull(not Martin)it over. Might go w/ 45-100 EBCFs.
Or not.

 

[Gaolee]

Interesting stuff! Curious where the Thunderbuckers all into all these pickup comparisons.

When you say "aircraft carrier deck," do you mean neck thickness or fretboard flatness?

My Precision is wide and flat. It is also thin front to back. 7ender road-kill flat. I prefer some heft. That is the complaint with that bass, for me anyway.

Thunderbuckers are still languishing in my basement office waiting for me to yank the thumbs out and put 'em into the Flamingo. So no Thunderbuckers to play with and compare. Veronica endorses Lull pickups so those are the aftermarket pickups she uses anyway.

The other joker in the deck aside from strings is putting the hot pickup at the neck and using the bridge pickup as a modifier or minor balancer, as I typically do.

 

[GBassNorth]

^^^ This.

The Probuckers in the above VP and 60s Epis have something of that special mid thing going on. (But part of why they sound good is because the PUPs are close to the original/correct locations.) The original '60s sound bigger and thicker. VPs/60 Epis don't have the depth of the originals. This is why I like GHS Boomers on VPs. They kind of bring some of the depth back that can be lacking. Not only are the closest in tone, they are great basses. Worth way more than what they sell for.

So if you could move the VP pups to match the vintage bird locations, how far would you need to move each pup and in what direction (i.e. move VP neck pup 3/4” closer to the neck…)?

 

[BklynKen]

My Precision is wide and flat. It is also thin front to back. 7ender road-kill flat. I prefer some heft. That is the complaint with that bass, for me anyway.

Thunderbuckers are still languishing in my basement office waiting for me to yank the thumbs out and put 'em into the Flamingo. So no Thunderbuckers to play with and compare. Veronica endorses Lull pickups so those are the aftermarket pickups she uses anyway.

The other joker in the deck aside from strings is putting the hot pickup at the neck and using the bridge pickup as a modifier or minor balancer, as I typically do.

I've never played a P, but I thought they were supposed to be like baseball bats. My BC Rich sounds like that. Thin front to back, but wider. The 2013 Reverse is pretty perfect for me, and from what I gather, the "classic" Thunderbird profile. Quite similar to my Carvin's, which I also love.

 

[PillO]

Well there’s aesthetics and functionality. As long as you have solid solder joints and nothing is in danger of shorting, it’s all good!

Aesthetics count for something (beyond the obvious). Dull (in colour) solder joints are generally 'cold' and can cause all kinds of problems.

 

[BklynKen]

 

[PillO]

from last night….man that place was packed!…..don’t like taking my Birds there……clearly this lineup never practices……

I'm loving the guitar player's beard! I had that going for most of 2021. A little shorter, but much the same. Long enough that I could braid it if desired.

 

[PillO]

Got me some limited edition beer!

 

[dagrev]

So if you could move the VP pups to match the vintage bird locations, how far would you need to move each pup and in what direction (i.e. move VP neck pup 3/4” closer to the neck…)?

The neck PUP would move towards the bridge to approx. 10 7/8 from the 12 fret to the center of the neck PUP. The bridge would move toward the neck to 14 1/4 to the center of the PUP.

Even the VPs are not correct--but are more so that most I'm aware of. I think some 90's Gibsons might have been close to correct as well, but I may be incorrect on this.


Wait.... Found this. Some really clever guy compiled this from pics we posted (and shoed up!)...
Measurement from 12th fret to the Centerline of each pickup
1990 Greco IV 10-7/8” and 14-1/8” (note 33.5” scale)
Gibson 2013 Tbird 10-1/4” and 14-5/8”
BaCH II 10-5/8”
1977 Greco II 11” (note 33.5” scale)
Epiphone VP 11” and 14-7/8”
Epiphone Goth 10-3/4” and 14-5/8”
Gibson 1964 Tbird 10-7/8” and 14-3/8”
Gibson 2015 Tbird 10-1/4” and 14-1/2”
Spector Rex5 Pro 12-3/8” and 15-3/8” (note 35” scale)
2019 Epiphone CP 10-1/4” and 14-1/2"
1988 Greco TB-70 10-7/8” and 14-3/8”
1960’s Gibson NR 10-11/16" and 14-3/16"

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I'm loving the guitar player's beard! I had that going for most of 2021. A little shorter, but much the same. Long enough that I could braid it if desired.

you’re a cool dude PillO….

 

[dagrev]

Watched an interesting Rock Doc called "What Is Classic Rock?" Pretty interesting. Some bass player named Suzi something or other was it in often. Wasn't fond of popular music. Too much Twisted Sister for me while many others were unmentioned, but I suspect he was fan. One general thought was classic rock was from 1964 (Beatles) to 1977 (Skynyrd plane crash--he didn't say that but I will. ).

 

[WillyW]

I’m not sure if I have seen this channel before, I liked the review and subscribed, but they sure have a poopie ton of Metallica crap…. I definitely prefer prog rock to Metallica.

 

[PillO]

you’re a cool dude PillO….

I like to think so, but I am probably not.

 

[dagrev]

I like to think so, but I am probably not.

"Cool" is really context driven. Here you are.

 

[BklynKen]

Watched an interesting Rock Doc called "What Is Classic Rock?" Pretty interesting. Some bass player named Suzi something or other was it in often. Wasn't fond of popular music. Too much Twisted Sister for me while many other were unmentioned, but I suspect he was fan. One general thought was classic rock was from 1964 (Beatles) to 1977 (Skynyrd plane crash--he didn't say that but I will. ).

There's a Twisted Sister documentary called “We Are Twisted F*cking Sister!” that's pretty great. Even if you're not a fan. I know it's available off Amazon Prime.

 

[PillO]

Watched an interesting Rock Doc called "What Is Classic Rock?" Pretty interesting. Some bass player named Suzi something or other was it in often. Wasn't fond of popular music. Too much Twisted Sister for me while many others were unmentioned, but I suspect he was fan. One general thought was classic rock was from 1964 (Beatles) to 1977 (Skynyrd plane crash--he didn't say that but I will. ).

In any genre/era, there is a lot of dreck and some real gems. As time passes we remember and celebrate the gems and let the sands of time cover over the dreck. As kids now listen to 'classic rock' they are listening from anything from late 60s/early 70s through to about 2000. In 20 years we forget about a lot of crappy music...

 

[PillO]

Got me some limited edition beer!
View attachment 4677833

 

[MCF]

I've never played a P, but I thought they were supposed to be like baseball bats. My BC Rich sounds like that. Thin front to back, but wider. The 2013 Reverse is pretty perfect for me, and from what I gather, the "classic" Thunderbird profile. Quite similar to my Carvin's, which I also love.

It depends on the version of the P bass. I’ve got a Deluxe Precision Bass Special (they’ve called them different names over time) with a J neck. A MIM Standard I have has a 1.625 nut and a 9.5 radius. They call it a modern c shaped neck. Not really like a baseball bat. A more traditional P neck has a standard c shape with a 7.5 radius and a 1.75; noticeably rounder.