Thunderbird Club

[JJR58]

I was always a Gamera fan.

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Gotta love a rocket-powered turtle.

An absolute classic!!!
How could anyone not love a rocket-powered turtle??!!!!

 

[BklynKen]

Like so......

Here's an interesting thread I found on those.

Three pickup thunderbird

 

[PillO]

Actually, I think those are the goth kids from down the street.

 

[PillO]

That's a real toe-tapper! Can hear the Motown influences...

 

[PillO]

What about Thunderbird with 3 pickups?

View attachment 4748721

Bridge
Middle
Very close to neck (like Gibson EB-0, Epiphone EB3)

These would be my position choice.

I hate the terms "back" and "front" pickup. | TalkBass.com

I don't recall what the consensus was on the pickup naming convention, but I like fore, aft, and bridge.

 

[PillO]

Just for play that video with the sound down on one browser, and open up a second and play the audio from "The Banana Splits Show" over the top of it. It all starts to make sense.

I loved that show and I can't recall why. I do remember thinking that the lion was a bit dodgey.

 

[Engle]

I'm playing "dark side of the moon" and the "wizz" right now....

I'll try that after I get back from the dispensary....

You guys still call them “dispensaries”?

 

[JJR58]

I hate the terms "back" and "front" pickup. | TalkBass.com

I don't recall what the consensus was on the pickup naming convention, but I like fore, aft, and bridge.

I’d start to be concerned if we start hearing port and starboard.

 

[PillO]

My taste in death metal is more culinary...

 

[PillO]

I’d start to be concerned if we start hearing port and starboard.

 

[dagrev]

I was always a Gamera fan.

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Gotta love a rocket-powered turtle.

So it's not a flying farting turtle after all.... Somehow it's less cool now.

 

[Gaolee]

I like running them both with the sound up

At the same time? You are a genius!

 

[TBird1958]

Here's an interesting thread I found on those.

Three pickup thunderbird

I'm playing the Black prototype Jon Maye mentions in the pic I posted.

 

[BklynKen]

I'm playing the Black prototype Jon Maye mentions in the pic I posted.

Did it sound as bad as they say?

 

[Stealth57]

you too? why do hispanics always think skull figurines are related to mexican “day of the dead”?…..in this case it’s Baron Samedi and his wife Manman Brigitte from haitian creole (voodoo) folklore….
View attachment 4749367

Hmmm, not what I saw

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Hmmm, not what I saw

View attachment 4749511

.. not 1 but 2 of Manman B lol….beware or the Ton ton Macoute will wait for you to fall asleep….

 

[GBassNorth]

What about Thunderbird with 3 pickups?

View attachment 4748721

Bridge
Middle
Very close to neck (like Gibson EB-0, Epiphone EB3)

These would be my position choice.

Been there, done that! And it did come out very good….

I went el cheapo on the pickups (Chinabuckers) because this was just a proof of concept. But in experimenting around with pup locations I found this spacing gave the broadest spread in tonal range. Neck soloed is darn near a Gibson Mudbucker (with an over wound pup it would be spot on). Center pup follows the Fender split P location for that nice deep round tone and bridge pup follows the Fender Jazz location for a bit of burp and grind. Here’s the spacing template laid over a Telecaster, a FSO PJ and a Greco…


I went with a dedicated tone pot for each pup to maximize the differences, so turn on all three pups and adjust the tone pots to where you want them and it’s nearly like having 2 or 3 bass players all tracking at the same time. Very interesting sound, very hifi with all three on. The next step will be to replace each pup with a purpose built unit (30k Gibby Mudbucker copy in a Tbird can if possible + a Lull Tbird bridge pup in the center spot and a special hot wound splittable humbucker in a Tbird can for the bridge (so I can maximize that Jazz bark if wanted). Will probably run north of about $800 for the set if I go that route, that’s the problem with 3 pup basses, they ain’t cheap, and add to that Gold cans and rings and the options disappear quick while the price goes up even more. But certainly a fun build.

 

[JJR58]

Been there, done that! And it did come out very good….
View attachment 4749513
I went el cheapo on the pickups (Chinabuckers) because this was just a proof of concept. But in experimenting around with pup locations I found this spacing gave the broadest spread in tonal range. Neck soloed is darn near a Gibson Mudbucker (with an over wound pup it would be spot on). Center pup follows the Fender split P location for that nice deep round tone and bridge pup follows the Fender Jazz location for a bit of burp and grind. Here’s the spacing template laid over a Telecaster, a FSO PJ and a Greco…
View attachment 4749514 View attachment 4749515 View attachment 4749516

I went with a dedicated tone pot for each pup to maximize the differences, so turn on all three pups and adjust the tone pots to where you want them and it’s nearly like having 2 or 3 bass players all tracking at the same time. Very interesting sound, very hifi with all three on. The next step will be to replace each pup with a purpose built unit (30k Gibby Mudbucker copy in a Tbird can if possible + a Lull Tbird bridge pup in the center spot and a special hot wound splittable humbucker in a Tbird can for the bridge (so I can maximize that Jazz bark if wanted). Will probably run north of about $800 for the set if I go that route, that’s the problem with 3 pup basses, they ain’t cheap, and add to that Gold cans and rings and the options disappear quick while the price goes up even more. But certainly a fun build.

Makes me wanna do it to my burst Bird.

 

[JJR58]

.. not 1 but 2 of Manman B lol….beware or the Ton ton Macoute will wait for you to fall asleep….

Facts!!!

 

[PhR75]

The next step will be to replace each pup with a purpose built unit (30k Gibby Mudbucker copy in a Tbird can if possible + a Lull Tbird bridge pup in the center spot and a special hot wound splittable humbucker in a Tbird can for the bridge (so I can maximize that Jazz bark if wanted). Will probably run north of about $800 for the set if I go that route, that’s the problem with 3 pup basses, they ain’t cheap, and add to that Gold cans and rings and the options disappear quick while the price goes up even more. But certainly a fun build.

Hmmm, the 30k mudbucker copy would be quite overwhelming when used with the others. If the neck pickup sounds good now I'd leave it as it is.
Unless you wire an additional input for it.