• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

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...
Last show I used a friend's SVT, and ran the mids at about 3:00.

On my D-180, since it's an FMV tone stack, the mid knob has been all the way up for years, because at least for me, there is no other useful setting.
 
Like this?


Works best with the mid switch on 800, then at 3 o'clock like @Sartori said.

My female spousal unit advised me against having the Gain at 100% if the Master is already at 1 o'clock. At least thats what i think she said. The look on her face as her lips were flapping and door was slamming suggests thats what she said....
 
Aha. I guess the Eminar is probably the same; and the Traynor?

I've seen post about how to set a 'Fender Tone Stack' to flat. So guessing this is in the same pond as that?

Flat confuses me. Why flat? Wouldn't it be better to know how to set it to be how you want it?

They're all more or less the same. Marshall copied the Fender tonestack, etc. Fender, Marshall and other schematics are all easily found online if you are interested.

I think part of the thing about setting a 'flat' passive tonestack is many people assume that 'flat' is the midpoint on any given control, and either side of that you are boosting or cutting, whereas with passive tone controls, it's all cutting.

update: and also what @Sartori says below about knowing where your starting point is.
 
Last edited:
Like this?


When he turns the amp up with 800hz boosted all the way, yes.

Works best with the mid switch on 800, then at 3 o'clock like @Sartori said.

My female spousal unit advised me against having the Gain at 100% if the Master is already at 1 o'clock. At least thats what i think she said. The look on her face as her lips were flapping and door was slamming suggests thats what she said....
Maybe only at shows....

Aha. I guess the Eminar is probably the same; and the Traynor?

I've seen post about how to set a 'Fender Tone Stack' to flat. So guessing this is in the same pond as that?

Flat confuses me. Why flat? Wouldn't it be better to know how to set it to be how you want it?
Yes, FMV = Fender tone stack.

It's good to know what the flat settings are, because flat is a good starting point for adjusting the sound.

It also helps you know what the amp will do, and what it won't do. As you can see, a FMV circuit is incapable of producing an actual boost in the midrange. So if that's what you want, you may want a different kind of preamp circuit.
 
I found another video clip from my t bird debut show. I had the contour button on on the rumble, and I forgot to do my 91% isopropyl soaked rag pinch and drag on my strings after the last rehearsal, so my strings were a little dead too, so the tone is um, well, boomy. Which is OK for system of a down I guess. Xlr out of the back of the amp straight to PA. Can actually see the bird a few times too. I kinda want to put a white pickguard on it.

 
well this worked out great... My friend went to Japan for Christmas and returned with thunderbird pickups (64 reissue im guessing). I was very skeptical about this cause the thunderbird I had was a soapbar style instead the "rounder" more thunderbird looking pickup.
 

Attachments

  • File_003-1.jpeg
    File_003-1.jpeg
    43 KB · Views: 66
  • File_002-2.jpeg
    File_002-2.jpeg
    20 KB · Views: 57
  • File_000-1.jpeg
    File_000-1.jpeg
    35.8 KB · Views: 63
The thing about tone shaping is that every speaker cabinet and every amp has specific overtones, cancellations, and all kinds of other stuff that goes into the sound. Same with rooms, instruments, and everything else. You can take an Ampeg and EQ it all you want, and I'll probably still not like it all that much. Unless it's a 1965 fliptop or something, but you get the point. The angry piano sound isn't just EQ. It's all the overtones that stack up on top of the EQ. I get everything from mud to really clear angry piano out of the 'Bird and 360 stack. The only drawback is that it's directional, which makes it somewhat difficult to hear on stage at times. Or completely overwhelming. But those are a different issue to deal with. I have had the same problems in some rooms with the little Carvin combo, too.
 

Latest posts