Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

could have been any bass - a good test of how pu location sounds

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Mosrite used them.

so did Gibson….

 

[GBassNorth]

could have been any bass - a good test of how pu location sounds

Interesting. I always love these “let’s experiment” type videos. To my ear the only sound I liked was the full five pup in series. Just sounded richer and fuller and had much greater heft in the notes. That’s pretty much what I found with my bling bird test. The three humbuckers (or six single coils) combined offered the boldest fullest range in sound. Any single pup soloed just sounded lacking in comparison.
I do wish that he would’ve added about four more single coils so he could have run the test from the bridge to the neck.

 

[dagrev]

yeah... too many frets...

I saw that too...

 

[GBassNorth]

I don't mind a PJ setup on a Bird body.

That white one with the Status neck is way cool!
Of all your P bass birds, which one is your most frequent go to?

 

[dagrev]

P pickup on a non reverse.
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Were you not playing the same song as the rest of the band?
The lady in the pic seems to have noticed a problem. It's never good to go crazy playing Freebird when everyone else is playing Karma Chameleon or Do You Want To Hurt Me.
Well, on second thought, actually it would help drown them out.

 

[dagrev]

could have been any bass - a good test of how pu location sounds

Location, location, location.
And pickup style.

 

[JIO]

Location, location, location.
And pickup style.

Yah, it's not definitive, but especially switching the split-coils to approximate standard P and reverse P audibly illustrates how minor the difference in tone is. Sometimes it seems makers switched just because they could and it would look different. Maybe if you only played a reverse order P-pu you might be able to discern the difference. It's there, but it very subtle.

 

[Instagator]

Were you not playing the same song as the rest of the band?
The lady in the pic seems to have noticed a problem. It's never good to go crazy playing Freebird when everyone else is playing Karma Chameleon or Do You Want To Hurt Me.
Well, on second thought, actually it would help drown them out.

I went out into the crowd. Probably about 50 feet from the rest of the band on stage.. She's wondering how that Bass can be making sounds without a cord attached

 

[TBird1958]

Chuck Garrick appears to have customized one of his Epiphone VPs

 

[PillO]

Were you not playing the same song as the rest of the band?
The lady in the pic seems to have noticed a problem. It's never good to go crazy playing Freebird when everyone else is playing Karma Chameleon or Do You Want To Hurt Me.
Well, on second thought, actually it would help drown them out.

I thought she was looking at a Thunderbird and was very concerned about not being in the line of fire for a flying headstock.

 

[PillO]

Chuck Garrick appears to have customized one of his Epiphone VPs

I think that was posted a few pages back*. Very bling


* Standard disclaimer on "a few pages"

 

[PillO]

could have been any bass - a good test of how pu location sounds

Interesting. I always love these “let’s experiment” type videos. To my ear the only sound I liked was the full five pup in series. Just sounded richer and fuller and had much greater heft in the notes. That’s pretty much what I found with my bling bird test. The three humbuckers (or six single coils) combined offered the boldest fullest range in sound. Any single pup soloed just sounded lacking in comparison.
I do wish that he would’ve added about four more single coils so he could have run the test from the bridge to the neck.

Location, location, location.
And pickup style.

That was a very interesting demo.

I would like to have seen pickups right up to the neck for additional variety (but I can't complain as I am unwilling to do the work of assembling such a bass).

Having the full variety of locations is probably overkill, but 3 pickups (humbuckers) that could be switched strat style would be cool. Maybe with some gold hardware... Sounds like a good project for someone... Could call it the bling bird...

 

[JIO]

Interesting. I always love these “let’s experiment” type videos. To my ear the only sound I liked was the full five pup in series. Just sounded richer and fuller and had much greater heft in the notes. That’s pretty much what I found with my bling bird test. The three humbuckers (or six single coils) combined offered the boldest fullest range in sound. Any single pup soloed just sounded lacking in comparison.
I do wish that he would’ve added about four more single coils so he could have run the test from the bridge to the neck.

On my 3 single-coil pu GrassRoots/ESP Bass IV I primarily use the middle and bridge setting. Incorporating the neck pu offers a more double-bass tone which comes in handy depending on the song, but I generally prefer more mid-definition. Bottom switch by-passes V&T straight to the jack - a very useful option.

 

[JJR58]

On my 3 single-coil pu GrassRoots/ESP Bass IV I primarily use the middle and bridge setting. Incorporating the neck pu offers a more double-bass tone which comes in handy depending on the song, but I generally prefer more mid-definition. Bottom switch by-passes V&T straight to the jack - a very useful option.

View attachment 4841360 View attachment 4841361

Really love this bass a lot.
It can do soooo many tones.
Quite a unique one in your arsenal.

 

[JIO]

That was a very interesting demo.

I would like to have seen pickups right up to the neck for additional variety (but I can't complain as I am unwilling to do the work of assembling such a bass).

Having the full variety of locations is probably overkill, but 3 pickups (humbuckers) that could be switched strat style would be cool. Maybe with some gold hardware... Sounds like a good project for someone... Could call it the bling bird...

Using split-coil single's (Jazz pu's) as he did for his pu-position demo-bass was the way to go. It gives the most variety options to do a P-configuration (both directions), combinations as buckers, and singles.

 

[JIO]

Really love this bass a lot.
It can do soooo many tones.
Quite a unique one in your arsenal.

I alway liked the way a Fender VI baritone looked so when I saw it I was drawn to it visually. I did a bunch of upgrades but once dialed in it has become my go-to bass.


Continuing with pu position tone options - check out this cool '60s Guyatone with shiftable neck pu.

 

[BklynKen]

For those who use Black Beauties, Fret Nation is having a sale right now.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[KaraQ]

Chuck Garrick appears to have customized one of his Epiphone VPs

Sparkle silver with black pickups & trim rings, and (clear?) Blackbird pickguard

I think that was posted a few pages back*. Very bling


* Standard disclaimer on "a few pages"

That sounds plausibly true

 

[PillO]

For those who use Black Beauties, Fret Nation is having a sale right now.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Available in left-handed??