Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

Just noticed best bass gear has the babicz chrome 3 point bridge on sale for $105 if anyone is in the market.

I am, thanks! I'll look there for one for the BumperBird. If they have 3 points on sale, they ought to have the 7ender replacements on sale, too.

 

[kat888]

I don't like the overbaked Ampeg sound. It sounds like it needs a glass of water to cool off it's throat. Acoustic Control amps sound big and meaty by comparison. You can do the scratchy Jaco sound with it, but you can do a whole lot better, too. Saying that ought to upset a few people.

Upsetting people? More fun that way. The nice thing about the Traynor is the passive FMV tonestack. You can change the mid frequency range (from warm to ganky) and there's a Scoop control ... which is firmly OFF. Oh and there's a Resonance control, which controls damping. You can get it sounding really big and bloomy if you want to - would depend on the room.

 

[hillerup]

My left hand technique is just different enough that it feels like someone else is doing it.

That could very well become handy, when you're feeling lonely...

 

[hillerup]

You'd be amazed what I can do with my stubby index finger!

Now that right there is about the best tagline material I've ever seen on Talkbass

I'm drinking ice tea right now, and I'm very glad I have an iPad with a touch screen, if I had been on the computer you'd have ruined my keyboard with that comment. As it is, I need to go put on a clean shirt now!

You guys are killin me!!!

Mark hit the nail on the head!!

No pictures, please.

Appears I was late to the party with my previous comment...

Keep it up guys!

 

[kat888]

Just noticed best bass gear has the babicz chrome 3 point bridge on sale for $105 if anyone is in the market.

Its a pity the Babicz doesn't come in nickel.

 

[Gaolee]

Upsetting people? More fun that way. The nice thing about the Traynor is the passive FMV tonestack. You can change the mid frequency range (from warm to ganky) and there's a Scoop control ... which is firmly OFF. Oh and there's a Resonance control, which controls damping. You can get it sounding really big and bloomy if you want to - would depend on the room.

I think if I ever give up the Acoustic Control stuff, I would go with Traynor or Ashdown. They are different, but they both sound really good. There's tube, then there's tubes and there's solid state, then there's solid state.

And if it doesn't upset anybody, you are doing it wrong.

 

[Gaolee]

Its a pity the Babicz doesn't come in nickel.

They have a lower cost one that comes with a nickel finish, but it goes on Bumper bodies, not 3-point.

 

[kat888]

They have a lower cost one that comes with a nickel finish, but it goes on Bumper bodies, not 3-point.

Cuz if I put a Babicz on a future EB-3, I'd have to chrome the rest ... simple enough for the tuners, but a pain in the arse for the pups.

 

[Klondike]

And if it doesn't upset anybody, you are doing it wrong.

Not offended but also don't understand what you intend/meant to say.

 

[Gaolee]

Cuz if I put a Babicz on a future EB-3, I'd have to chrome the rest ... simple enough for the tuners, but a pain in the arse for the pups.

Ah, just put covers on 'em! Or ashtrays over 'em or something. There's a solution to everything if you are enough of a hack!

 

[Gaolee]

Not offended but also don't understand what you intend/meant to say.

Playing back and forth with Kat, mostly. But, I'm offended that you aren't offended.

 

[Stevis]

And therein lies the rift - if you're a meat and potatoes kind of guy with a plain vanilla approach to life and focused on the anus of the lead dog then a Fender is probably the right choice for you. But if you fancy yourself as a bit of an outlier with a different tune in your head and a desire for a touch of flair and excitement in your playing then a thunderbird may be your better bet. Either bass can deliver most of what you need from a sound standpoint but like a farm tractor or a Ferrari, you decide which one you'd rather be seen in.

If one happens to like 7enders AND Thunderbirds, does that mean we are less focused on the anus of a dog?

I agree that the very first model of precision basses (similar to the Sting or Mike Dirnt signature models) do seem a bit dated (but still kinda cool). However, I don't think that it holds true with the newer P bass (with maple fretboard). I think it is like looking at a Telecaster versus a Stratocaster.

I also agree with @kat888's characterization of the Thunderbird as a product of the 60s vision of modernity (in much the same way as I see the 7ender Jaguar design). But I see the lines (and headstock) on current 7ender P bass as modern too. For some reason I see the Jazz as a bit more dated. I don't know where I would put Rics in this mix?

Everyone is different in their sense of asthetic but I find it interesting that the design of most electric guitars and basses is an attempt to recapture the past. The bodies and the pickups are geared to revisiting something from 50 or more years ago. There seems to be little innovation. Most companies copy the Strat, Tele, Les Paul or P-bass body style and pups configurations, with a tweak here and there (and a headstock shape that won't get them sued). Most pickup makers also try to offer vintage sounds (tossing in cloth-covered wires for good measure). So, it is like most instruments are all old pickup trucks or farm tractors. And it is not like we are buying a Stradivarius. And I have never understood the "relic" finish thing. Would we pay a premium for a classic car and ask that some dents and scratches be added for effect?

It does seem to me that there is a little more innovation in bass amps and cabs relative to guitar amps. Most of this seems about making gear lighter and easier to schlep. I share your love of the tube tones. But this stuff where people want to have a particular NOS tube for their guitar amp seems like this Quixotic quest for "discernable" tones of yesteryear.

Those are my observations. I am going to run off now and find some dog butts!

p.s.
I had never seen a 7ender-bird prior to joining this list. I have to say that the maple P-bass neck on a bird body, which some of you have built/are building, is hands down one of the coolest looks going.

 

[Korladis]

Findings on the VT Bass DI for @Stevis and any other interested parties.

After spending some time with it plugged into GarageBand, it's fair to say it is a very useful little box. The passive tonestack on the Traynor is set more less flat with a low end boost (bass and mid @ 100% and range and treble at 0%) - set and forget. The VT sounds near enough with treble and mid @ noon and bass at around 1 or 2 o'clock and bite and speaker sim on. Drive was set at noon and the Character knob around 10 o'clock. Tried the character at noon (B15 emulation) but ended up with it back in the SVT range (10 o'clock). 'Sunshine of Your Love' sounded pretty decent. There's a bit of (good) clank but also fat Gibsonesque girthy-ness.

It does sound better with the compressor off. With the Traynor, the comp makes everything fat and shiny, running into the VT it kills dynamics. When I first had the VT plugged in the other day it was going into the Traynor and sounded pretty horrible actually. Must say I don't get how people do multiple dirt staging with bass.

Conclusion: I wouldn't run the VT as a preamp/OD in my usual signal chain. However as a backup or as a 'flyrig' it is more than acceptable. It's about 85% of the way there, but lacks the 3D 'present' quality of my 19kg valve head with 29kg speaker cabinet, but that's maybe just me - I'll put my hands up and freely admit to being a valve snob.

**NB: apologies for blathering on about control settings and 'signal chains' outside of the amps and pedals forums - I won't do it again**

I use the VT Bass that way as well. It's a backup, or something to bring when I'll be going through an amp that isn't mine. I usually keep the character around 10:30. Bass, mid, treble fairly close to noon for some things, mids cranked to 3:00 for some other things I do. Same with drive.

Upsetting people? More fun that way. The nice thing about the Traynor is the passive FMV tonestack. You can change the mid frequency range (from warm to ganky) and there's a Scoop control ... which is firmly OFF. Oh and there's a Resonance control, which controls damping. You can get it sounding really big and bloomy if you want to - would depend on the room.

The FMV tone stack is the thing I like least about my Mesa D-180. Played through a friend's SVT at my last show, and honestly maybe I should have gotten that instead. I hate the cut only mid control on my amp. Utterly useless. May as well not even be there. Honestly probably wouldn't use it if it weren't for the graphic EQ's ability to boost the mids a bit.

I wish Ampeg made a 200 watter. But they don't.

 

[Stevis]

Some of you might have seen this. I will warn you that the video is rated P-bass 17, with content that some might find offensive given the over-representation of a certain brand of bass guitar. I thought that the concept was funny.

 

[Gaolee]

I use the VT Bass that way as well. It's a backup, or something to bring when I'll be going through an amp that isn't mine. I usually keep the character around 10:30. Bass, mid, treble fairly close to noon for some things, mids cranked to 3:00 for some other things I do. Same with drive.

I use a ToneHammer for that. I originally got it to make the upright sound like itself through the little Carvin rig I use in small venues when a big ol' Acoustic 360 stack is such overkill that the stage might collapse. Now, I use it all the time to tweak things around to what I want. It doubles as a DI, but the problem is that if you are going DI, it kills the output to the amp. So, I go DI off the Carvin amp or Grexa Acoustic 360 preamp head if I need to go DI and still have amp output. Settings depend entirely on venue and whether I'm playing BG or DB. It's got a dirt circuit, too, but I haven't spent a whole lot of time messing with that.

 

[Korladis]

I use a ToneHammer for that. I originally got it to make the upright sound like itself through the little Carvin rig I use in small venues when a big ol' Acoustic 360 stack is such overkill that the stage might collapse. Now, I use it all the time to tweak things around to what I want. It doubles as a DI, but the problem is that if you are going DI, it kills the output to the amp. So, I go DI off the Carvin amp or Grexa Acoustic 360 preamp head if I need to go DI and still have amp output. Settings depend entirely on venue and whether I'm playing BG or DB. It's got a dirt circuit, too, but I haven't spent a whole lot of time messing with that.

It's mainly for times when I'll be using someone else's rig.

I only really have one rig, and it's the overkill one.

 

[GBassNorth]

Some of you might have see this. I will warn you that the video is rated P-bass 17, with content that some might find offensive given the over-representation of a certain brand of bass guitar. I thought that the concept was funny.

Amen brother!

PS - note that there weren't any TBird players in need of that support group.

 

[Bent77]

It's mainly for times when I'll be using someone else's rig.

I only really have one rig, and it's the overkill one.

Ive never gotten on with that FMV either. Many a good amp ruined with cut only mid control

 

[Korladis]

Ive never gotten on with that FMV either. Many a good amp ruined with cut only mid control

I mean, don't get me wrong, it works great on guitar.

But on bass I can't think of any time when I wanted less mids.

 

[Bent77]

I mean, don't get me wrong, it works great on guitar.

But on bass I can't think of any time when I wanted less mids.

Right? You must have the same ears as me.

I typically run the mids at 2 o'clock to 4. On an Ampeg no less...