Thunderbird Club

[hillerup]

Been meaning to ask for a while, what sort of amp/signal processing are you using?

None whatsoever....

I go straight to the computer and use Native Instruments GuitarRig for amp and speaker modelling and have everything mixed and leveled with our backing tracks through Logic/Mainstage - The same applies for vocal effect etc., which are being manipulated live by our keyboard player(s).

My main used plugin for effects, amps and speakers is Rammfire...

 

[wolfkeller]

Interesting to read about the different ways you guys are using a killswitch/tuner to mute between songs.

In my band we have a rack on stage by the keyboard player, which houses all our wireless gear (2 microphone, 1 bass, 1 guitar and dual IE monitoring), sound card , power conditioner, patch bays and rack tuner.

The rack tuner is mounted on the back of the rack, so I can see it all the time. It has two channels (one for bass - the other for guitar) and two switch pedals connected - one for switching channels and one for mute.

So for tuning or switching between instruments I will press the mute and/or channel switch accordingly - Works perfectly for the venues we are playing.

I used all sorts of different ways over the years. Usually a tuner pedal when I used a pedal board. I never thought about the kill til the Sixx basses came along. It works for me really as I don't stage I'm one place on stage. We have back up singers so I don't have to be tied to a mike for back ups and we all will jump to different mikes, jump up with singer or back up singers. Doing a Crue Tribute I have to be always moving. I do remember back in the early 90s Scott Ian of Anthrax has a kill button on his guitar, seemed like a cool idea. Another point, I've tried different switches and some will him like crazy. I try and track down the ones from Sixx basses as they work good. I picked up one from radio shack, a DC auto switch for my new bass, well see.

 

[wolfkeller]

I'll have this in a few days. Broke the bank that's for sure. Lots of scamming to get it but I did. I also have Gibson pickups ( one is the illusive "P" TB+ Larry is making a pickguard and I have a bridge coming from another member. This will be ready to crack heads for our next show in February. Still need flushmount straploks and most of all, gna need a case. These Tokai Thunderbirds have long headstocks. I got BC Rich warlock cases that I gut and put in foam that I cut out. People want way too much for these cases so we'll see how it goes.

 

[Stevis]

I hope that I am not violating TB.com rules here but I am a sucker for a good deal and wanted to give folks a heads up. MF.com has the 2014 Gibson Midtown bass on sale for over $650 off. You might recall @PillO had posted about picking one up earlier this month. I also see that PGShop.com has a one day only 20% off of pedals (12/26). And it appears to apply to brands that are normally excluded from that level of discount (Tech 21). I scored a Tech 21 VT bass DI for less than the retail price of their regular VT V2 pedal. Maybe someone can secretly return the ugly Xmas sweater from Aunt Sylvia and apply the money to some cool bass gear bargains? Happy Boxing Day!

 

[GBassNorth]

I'll have this in a few days. Broke the bank that's for sure. Lots of scamming to get it but I did. I also have Gibson pickups ( one is the illusive "P" TB+ Larry is making a pickguard and I have a bridge coming from another member. This will be ready to crack heads for our next show in February. Still need flushmount straploks and most of all, gna need a case. These Tokai Thunderbirds have long headstocks. I got BC Rich warlock cases that I gut and put in foam that I cut out. People want way too much for these cases so we'll see how it goes. View attachment 1016833

I've had a pint or two but I'm not pissed yet, is that a lefty bass strung righty??? Or am I having a Hendrix flashback from too much acid in my youth? Wolf, you got my head spinnin.

 

[wolfkeller]

I've had a pint or two but I'm not pissed yet, is that a lefty bass strung righty??? Or am I having a Hendrix flashback from too much acid in my youth? Wolf, you got my head spinnin.

The guy I got it from, he plays a lefty but strung righty like alot of older Lefty's. Back in the day before so many lefty basses guys would learn on a righty upside-down. Not ME!

 

[Count Bassie]

Count - you've really got me thinking now. I have dozens and dozens of basses but not one of them has a kill switch. I've never needed one when not gigging (noodling, practice, jam sessions) and when I was gigging I just muted with my tuner pedal between songs if needed. I suppose if you're wireless the kill switch before the transmitter would come in very handy. Am I missing something?

Well, maybe it's not for everyone. As far as signal considerations I don't have a very complex setup... if I use any pedal at all, it's a pre-type thing like a SansAmp VT pedal, if I think I need a little more 'stank' in my sound... I'm not into a lot of signal-chaining most of the time, so that's not an issue. But aside from silence for tuning, etc, I do play a few different gigs which present their respective reasons to use it:

At the reggae band ("Roots Reaction") gigs, our singer/keyboardist stops a lot between tunes to turn around and take a sip of his Guiness (which is annoying, he does it when the dance floor is full of revellers, leaving them to wait...), and sometimes we have technical issues- because that's the laid-back, not-very-together kind of thing that goes with that band. So the killswitch comes into play sometimes. Funny little outfit, but the music is good, and very organic. But I'm ready to quit every other week...

The quasi-jam-band/rock gig ("Angry Farmer") is a little like it in approach, but not nearly as awkward! Which is, you know, great. But it's still a tad quirky, and little interruptions happen, which are worked into our performances. It's kind of a party band.

The rock-band-in-earnest ("Project Alice") is just starting up, but I find that for rehearsals the Killswitch is a great way to make sure I don't generate any distracting noise between tunes or while others are discussing a part, etc. I really hate when you're trying to deal with a bit and someone (the guitar player!) has a fit of right-hand-Tourettes syndrome -- "BRRRRAAAANNNGGGG!!!". So for me, it's a handy way to make sure that at least I can shut up! It's an easy reach to the killswitch...

I had a Peavey T-40 years ago that I did some severe remodeling to (ok, we'll just let that go... ), and one of the coolest parts of that hack-job was the killswitch I put in. I'd forgotten, until recently, after running across this Blackbird of mine, what a good idea I thought it was at the time. Mister Sixx was thinking on my page! Well, for a second...

 

[Count Bassie]

You really don't like that Blackbird neck, do you?

I do like the neck! But not the decor so much... I'm just a plainer dude than that, don't have many direct-lines to the heavy metal thing. Except for Lemmy, which might mean I should just get on with it! And I do.

Except for the occasional opportunity to wince at those things.

 

[Count Bassie]

I do like the neck! But not the decor so much... I'm just a plainer dude than that, don't have many direct-lines to the heavy metal thing. Except for Lemmy, which might mean I should just get on with it! And I do.

Except for the occasional opportunity to wince at those things.

Besides, our Gracious Queen has a tattoo of such, I understand. So I now have two good reasons to be ok with it...

 

[hillerup]

I used all sorts of different ways over the years. Usually a tuner pedal when I used a pedal board. I never thought about the kill til the Sixx basses came along. It works for me really as I don't stage I'm one place on stage. We have back up singers so I don't have to be tied to a mike for back ups and we all will jump to different mikes, jump up with singer or back up singers. Doing a Crue Tribute I have to be always moving. I do remember back in the early 90s Scott Ian of Anthrax has a kill button on his guitar, seemed like a cool idea. Another point, I've tried different switches and some will him like crazy. I try and track down the ones from Sixx basses as they work good. I picked up one from radio shack, a DC auto switch for my new bass, well see.

Kill-pots are a nice alternative - I have those in my stage guitars for stuttering effects....

 

[RedVee]

I do like the neck! But not the decor so much... I'm just a plainer dude than that, don't have many direct-lines to the heavy metal thing. Except for Lemmy, which might mean I should just get on with it! And I do.

Except for the occasional opportunity to wince at those things.

A bit extreme but you could have the fingerboard replaced. A nice piece of ebony perhaps ???

 

[kat888]

I do like the neck! But not the decor so much... I'm just a plainer dude than that, don't have many direct-lines to the heavy metal thing. Except for Lemmy, which might mean I should just get on with it! And I do.

Except for the occasional opportunity to wince at those things.

You could go for a bleached maple fretboard on the Gothbird - call it the 'Johnny Winter' ... [update] or 'Winter is Coming'

 

[hillerup]

A bit extreme but you could have the fingerboard replaced. A nice piece of ebony perhaps ???

Or do a swap with my spare Gothic neck...

 

[kat888]

 

[Count Bassie]

A bit extreme but you could have the fingerboard replaced. A nice piece of ebony perhaps ???

I have thought about that. Time will tell...

You could go for a bleached maple fretboard on the Gothbird - call it the 'Johnny Winter' ... [update] or 'Winter is Coming'

Nice thought there.

Or do a swap with my spare Gothic neck...

I've gotten somewhat used to the neck now, it would have to be an effortless transition... but maybe we should chat?...

 

[hillerup]

I've gotten somewhat used to the neck now, it would have to be an effortless transition... but maybe we should chat?...

Sent you a PM...

 

[marko57]

Merry Christmas to all of you wonderful people from all over our world, thank you all for making this such a great place to hang out and discuss all manner of things. Enjoy the Holidays with your loved ones and family!

A belated Merry Christmas wish to you and yours as well Mark! Thanks for creating and maintaining the best TB group!

 

[Christine]

Hope everyone had a good and safe Christmas, I'm just surfacing enough to face doing anything.

 

[Christine]

Hmm. If you still have it in a few weeks... just now saw it, don't know if I'm sticking my face in unceremoniously, but hey. I'm sitting back down now... lol

Just put it in the post to @wolfkeller , sorry Count

 

[Gaolee]

In a way I'm here by chance as well. Australia was a stop off on the way to the UK. The warm weather, thunderstorms and garage rock were so distracting it took me around 20 years to get to my intended destination. After a few years of miserable Scottish weather, enough was enough and I came back.

Sydney is one of the very few places on earth that I have been to where I could actually imagine living. It is like a warmer Seattle in a lot of ways.