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Thunderbird Club

#224,702
JIO said:
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. :thumbsup: :bassist:


Continuing with pu position tone options - check out this cool '60s Guyatone with shiftable neck pu.
View attachment 4841392 View attachment 4841393
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That's cool, I thought briefly that I'd like to make a ripper type pickguard for a thunderbird, but then I realized I don't care that much about pickup placement... still might do it for fun...
 
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#224,705
GBassNorth said:
That white one with the Status neck is way cool!
Of all your P bass birds, which one is your most frequent go to?
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Currently it would be the red Spector, maybe because it's the newest of the group with that pickup setup. The black Hamer is a MONSTER and it is my favorite of them all. The Status neck is mounted on a Lowe body and that thing looks, feels, and sounds incredible. Very comfortable to play. The Nocturnal/Warmoth bass holds its own with them all and I could be happy with just that one, if I had to lose the rest.
 
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#224,706
I had a compressor GAS for a few days but I got cured by the stuff I already own. Since I got the Stingray I realized I love it's sound with a compressor and started to look for ones with blend so I could do the parallel compression thing. Carl Martin Honeycomp, Seymor Duncan Studio Bass etc. Not duper expensive like Cali76 and the likes but not very cheap either. I have the DOD Milk Box which sounds great but I had used it only as an effect for Tony Levin type things and didn't think I could use it as an "always on" device. Well, I was wrong and so was Yngwie since sometimes less is indeed more. I played my 4003 through the pedalboard and the Suncoast Harmonic Driver and EQ acting as a preamp. Driver on slight overdrive and while it sounded good there was a bit too much farty stuff in the low end and the high end was a bit harsh at times. I switched on the compressor and added a very small smount of compression (compress at 9:00, slow attack) and it did the trick. Cleaned the lows, made highs smoother and still didn't kill the dynamics. Don't laugh, I know most people use comp pedals like this all the time but since I had used them only for squeezing effect stuff this was a revelation to me.
20221012_223755.jpg


Also, with the level control I can fine tune between the different output basses if I have to swap on gigs (the Ric is hotter than the VP for example) and also I can turn down the signal so the Harmonic Driver doesn't get overdriven so easily.

Of course I made a clip. It's a Ric, second one is the 'Ray so let's call this a Wrong Bass Wednesday. Both clips have riffs from some obscure Canadian bassist, first without the Milk Box, then with it. It's a subtle change but for the better. Listen with headphones if possible.
 

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#224,712
Engle said:
Is your Explorer an Epi? I know you’ve posted about it before, but I have forgotten.
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Yes, it is.It's one of the early ones. I replaced a few parts on it.Shaller roller bridge..ChinaBuckers and GB7 tuners with a Hipshot drop D.. I must say that its every bit as good as a Gibson.
Thats part of the reason that I had no hesitation investing in the VP Thunderbirds..As well as the Embassy that I pre-ordered before they came out.
 
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