Thunderbird Club

[JJR58]

Just got this wicked beast a few days ago.
A Levinson Blade J.

Highly underrated bass.
And for the money, it’s a whole lotta bass.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Just got this wicked beast a few days ago.
A Levinson Blade J.

Highly underrated bass.
And for the money, it’s a whole lotta bass.
View attachment 4878223

gorgeous……
always wanted one…

 

[JJR58]

gorgeous……

You'd love it Chuck.

 

[Thumper]

You'd love it Chuck.

How about a review? Are they humbuckers or single coil, etc

 

[Nocturnal]

Hey Thunderbird Club!

I have a 2004 Gibson Thunderbird in need of a new wiring harness. Can anyone recommend an awesome quality option in the states? Something like this maybe?
(Gibson) Thunderbird Bass Wiring Harness, Treble Bleed, No Load Tone, 50’s or Modern Wiring | Reverb

please and thank you!

I have a friend that has purchased a couple of Tbird harnesses from Starr Guitar. he swears by them.

Harnesses for Gibson Basses

Also on Reverb.

Gibson Thunderbird Bass "PRO" Wiring Harness! CTS, Switchcraft, Gavitt Wire, & Mallory Cap!! | Reverb

I believe he lists the harnesses on eBay as well.

 

[PaleAngel_90]

I have a friend that has purchased a couple of Tbird harnesses from Starr Guitar. he swears by them.

Harnesses for Gibson Basses

Also on Reverb.

Gibson Thunderbird Bass "PRO" Wiring Harness! CTS, Switchcraft, Gavitt Wire, & Mallory Cap!! | Reverb

I believe he lists the harnesses on eBay as well.

What differences are there between the Epiphone T-Bird IV and these harnesses? Are the Gibson ones better? Please I need an objective answer.

 

[Engle]

I’m replacing the pickups because they were faulty and the input jack is junk so I though I might as well upgrade the rest of the harness. I know about the side jack and I can solder but I’m having a luthier give it an install and setup anyway.

Looking for domestic options for pre built harnesses with great parts and caps for a T bird. Can anyone share their experience?

Sorry I can't help on the harness, but I am curious how both pickups could be faulty. Was there water damage or something?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I have a friend that has purchased a couple of Tbird harnesses from Starr Guitar. he swears by them.

Harnesses for Gibson Basses

Also on Reverb.

Gibson Thunderbird Bass "PRO" Wiring Harness! CTS, Switchcraft, Gavitt Wire, & Mallory Cap!! | Reverb

I believe he lists the harnesses on eBay as well.

thanks for being such an excellent resource Andy.

 

[AlexMG]

Sorry I can't help on the harness, but I am curious how both pickups could be faulty. Was there water damage or something?

It’s known that there were microphonic and non humbucking humbucking pickups around 2004 models. Gibson replaced them under warranty but I bought it used recently

 

[JJR58]

How about a review? Are they humbuckers or single coil, etc

Quick rundown.
12" radius.
Ebony fretboard.
1-1/2 at the nut.
Body two piece ash.
Bass weighs somewhere around 8.5

Not original to the bass.
The EMG RipTides, wired passive, VVT.
Kill switch.
Gotoh GB640 Res-O Lites.
Bent Fender vintage style bridge.

And i love it!

Tonally, its a massive barking dog, rabid infested growler.
Plus my rig is perfect for this bass.

 

[Gaolee]

What differences are there between the Epiphone T-Bird IV and these harnesses? Are the Gibson ones better? Please I need an objective answer.

The obvious difference is where the jack is located. Gibson puts it on the side, Epiphone puts it on the front. As far as quality, as long as it works, the quality of the pots isn't all that relevant. Some may find Gibson pots have finer adjustments or hold up better. The cap value seems a lot more important to me than whether it is this or that cap. So really, as a functional matter for most of us, it is only jack location.

 

[bobyoung53]

FenderBird Friday at casa da Mike's.

Pieces for the 2nd Fenderbird got in this week, darkened the fingerboard, changed the bridge (Bass Xtender coming in next week) and now ready to bring this to the luthier for a refinn, still thinking of going white and keeping the black PG. Tone cap change also in the plan.

View attachment 4877531

I bought a black headstock J neck for my black Fender P/J some months back, haven't seen it yet though, went to my brother's house in Mass. The lettering is gold though and it had regular dots on the neck, American neck.

 

[Gaolee]

It’s known that there were microphonic and non humbucking humbucking pickups around 2004 models. Gibson replaced them under warranty but I bought it used recently

Do you need to replace the whole harness or just the pickups and the jack?

And on to much more interesting questions - what pickups are you putting in?

 

[bobyoung53]

So I don't smoke anything while running 2 amps and 2 cabs, here is a diagram of what I think I heard. Save for Chuck mentioning effects loop out on the MM, which I don't seem to have on the Sixty Five. Do I have this right?

Only other question is there is a toggle on the ground for the MM that is just either in the left or right position. Anyone have any idea what that does? It is currently toggled to the right when looking at the back of the amp.

View attachment 4877834

First, do both heads have three prong ground plugs on them? If they do set the ground switch to the way of least hum or you could get a nasty shock but otherwise that looks OK to me. If you can't hear a difference with a bass plugged into the head when you switch the ground switch, turn the volume all the way down and unplug your bass, gradually turn up the volume so you can hear hum then set it, you'll definitely hear the difference then. MM set to 8 ohms with that 8 ohm cab, but you already knew that.

 

[AlexMG]

Do you need to replace the whole harness or just the pickups and the jack?

And on to much more interesting questions - what pickups are you putting in?

Pickups and jack but I thought what the heck, I may ‘upgrade’ everything. Anyway my luthier recommended to go with Puretone jacks instead of Switchcraft. I had not heard of them before.
Going with Lollars for the pickups.

 

[WillyW]

Jazz base Tuesday….

 

[dagrev]

Just got this wicked beast a few days ago.
A Levinson Blade J.

Highly underrated bass.
And for the money, it’s a whole lotta bass.
View attachment 4878223

Wow! That looks great Jeff! But only one pic? What's up with that?

 

[Stealth57]

First, do both heads have three prong ground plugs on them? If they do set the ground switch to the way of least hum or you could get a nasty shock but otherwise that looks OK to me. If you can't hear a difference with a bass plugged into the head when you switch the ground switch, turn the volume all the way down and unplug your bass, gradually turn up the volume so you can hear hum then set it, you'll definitely hear the difference then. MM set to 8 ohms with that 8 ohm cab, but you already knew that.

Yes, 3 prong. I’ll check for hum a few ways and go with the best.

 

[Engle]

It’s known that there were microphonic and non humbucking humbucking pickups around 2004 models. Gibson replaced them under warranty but I bought it used recently

I was not aware of that, but good to know. Thanks!

 

[dagrev]

I have a friend that has purchased a couple of Tbird harnesses from Starr Guitar. he swears by them.

Harnesses for Gibson Basses

Also on Reverb.

Gibson Thunderbird Bass "PRO" Wiring Harness! CTS, Switchcraft, Gavitt Wire, & Mallory Cap!! | Reverb

I believe he lists the harnesses on eBay as well.

Glad you posted this. Remember seeing some that looked good but couldn't think of the name or seller, but this is the person.