Thunderbird Club

[GonePlaid]

Congratulations Mike!

Thanks.

 

[GonePlaid]

I just rediscovered this while going through some old [stuff]. Thunderbird>EHX Micro POG>Kasino

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

this thing’s been giving me the runaround…
liftoff finally…..
now starts the painstaking task of going through every input, output, scratchy pot…busted pilot lamp etc….actually, it’s the funnest part…thing already works so……
interested to put a T-Bird through it into one of my cabs…

 

[GBassNorth]

Who's he? I haven't seen him here since I joined this thread, I think...

Here, this might help…
NB(asses)D - Dual Japanese Rickenfakers

 

[RedVee]

IIRC @D.M.N. has a Greco Rickenbacker. He might be able to answer your question.

True. I certainly can’t. @PaleAngel_90 My only contribution- and I might be confused - is that I think there are a couple of different model Greckenbackers, one is the PMB which is evidently a Paul McCartney model. Not sure if there are differences though.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I just rediscovered this while going through some old [stuff]. Thunderbird>EHX Micro POG>Kasino

Excellent!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I just rediscovered this while going through some old [stuff]. Thunderbird>EHX Micro POG>Kasino

awesome…

 

[D.M.N.]

Got a question, do Greco basses have the same awful issue with the bridge than Rickenbackers do? I'd like to save up and maybe get a Greco Rickenbacker as my 2nd bass.

IIRC @D.M.N. has a Greco Rickenbacker. He might be able to answer your question.

Yes, the Greco Rick clones can suffer from tail lift, same as the original Ricks. Mine has some very slight lift, not enough to be an issue, but I will eventually replace the bridge with an Allparts model or something else if I can find a design more to my liking.

True. I certainly can’t. @PaleAngel_90 My only contribution- and I might be confused - is that I think there are a couple of different model Greckenbackers, one is the PMB which is evidently a Paul McCartney model. Not sure if there are differences though.

Yep, there were a few different models, and variation to those models over the years. The earliest ones I've seen are the RB-1000, which had an EB-3 style mudbucker at the neck and a humbucker in a weird surround at the bridge, then the RB-650 which were very similar, during the '73-'75 era. Then in '75-'76 they have the RB-700 which is much closer in terms of hardware and looks to a standard Rick. In '77ish they introduce the Project series, which as far as I can tell is sort of like their custom shop/high end equivalent, which includes the TB-900 and the first appearance of the PMB-800 and PMB-1000. From then on there is the standard Rick style bass, the RB (Rickenbacker Bass), and the 4001S style bass, the PMB (Paul McCartney Bass). The numeric value following the letters denoted the cost of the instrument, and so the same model bass could be referred to with a different number depending on the year and the cost of the model, so a PMB-800, PMB70 and PMB-85 are all the same bass, just depended on the price in a given year. That said, at least the first year or two there were two models of the PMB, as mentioned above, the PMB-800 and PMB-1000. As I don't read Japanese, I can't tell what the difference is between the two, might be something with pickups, but they eventually just settled with the one PMB model and one RB model.

 

[GBassNorth]

Yes, the Greco Rick clones can suffer from tail lift, same as the original Ricks. Mine has some very slight lift, not enough to be an issue, but I will eventually replace the bridge with an Allparts model or something else if I can find a design more to my liking.



Yep, there were a few different models, and variation to those models over the years. The earliest ones I've seen are the RB-1000, which had an EB-3 style mudbucker at the neck and a humbucker in a weird surround at the bridge, then the RB-650 which were very similar, during the '73-'75 era. Then in '75-'76 they have the RB-700 which is much closer in terms of hardware and looks to a standard Rick. In '77ish they introduce the Project series, which as far as I can tell is sort of like their custom shop/high end equivalent, which includes the TB-900 and the first appearance of the PMB-800 and PMB-1000. From then on there is the standard Rick style bass, the RB (Rickenbacker Bass), and the 4001S style bass, the PMB (Paul McCartney Bass). The numeric value following the letters denoted the cost of the instrument, and so the same model bass could be referred to with a different number depending on the year and the cost of the model, so a PMB-800, PMB70 and PMB-85 are all the same bass, just depended on the price in a given year. That said, at least the first year or two there were two models of the PMB, as mentioned above, the PMB-800 and PMB-1000. As I don't read Japanese, I can't tell what the difference is between the two, might be something with pickups, but they eventually just settled with the one PMB model and one RB model.

@PaleAngel_90 - Isn’t the bass related knowledge level and the desire to help others with that knowledge wonderful in this club!
@D.M.N. - thanks so much for the insight and quick response. A lot of info there I wasn’t aware of.

 

[PaleAngel_90]

Yes, the Greco Rick clones can suffer from tail lift, same as the original Ricks. Mine has some very slight lift, not enough to be an issue, but I will eventually replace the bridge with an Allparts model or something else if I can find a design more to my liking.



Yep, there were a few different models, and variation to those models over the years. The earliest ones I've seen are the RB-1000, which had an EB-3 style mudbucker at the neck and a humbucker in a weird surround at the bridge, then the RB-650 which were very similar, during the '73-'75 era. Then in '75-'76 they have the RB-700 which is much closer in terms of hardware and looks to a standard Rick. In '77ish they introduce the Project series, which as far as I can tell is sort of like their custom shop/high end equivalent, which includes the TB-900 and the first appearance of the PMB-800 and PMB-1000. From then on there is the standard Rick style bass, the RB (Rickenbacker Bass), and the 4001S style bass, the PMB (Paul McCartney Bass). The numeric value following the letters denoted the cost of the instrument, and so the same model bass could be referred to with a different number depending on the year and the cost of the model, so a PMB-800, PMB70 and PMB-85 are all the same bass, just depended on the price in a given year. That said, at least the first year or two there were two models of the PMB, as mentioned above, the PMB-800 and PMB-1000. As I don't read Japanese, I can't tell what the difference is between the two, might be something with pickups, but they eventually just settled with the one PMB model and one RB model.

No I meant the issue with the bridge, where parts fall off and intonation issues.

 

[MCF]

A bit on the loose side here as well.
A spacer of some sort will raise the pick up, and keep it stable.
And thicker foam.
I haven't done either as of yet.

I posted this a few months back. Someone didn’t like how Jason used blocks. I like V’s idea to use mahogany and springs.

 

[MCF]

Milestone birthday - I just turned a ripe old 65 years today! Other than waking up to aches and pains in places I didn’t even know I had, I’m hanging in there still vertical and most importantly still pluckin away.

As a little present to myself I snagged an interesting wenge/wenge Jazz bass neck for the eventual NR build (if I find a suitable body). Love the look, feel and open pores of an unfinished wenge neck along with the low mid focus they usually have. I do now have a line on a suitable NR body, so if it materializes later this week I might be back in business on a unique NR build for 2023.

Happy Birthday George! I’ll be at that milestone in six weeks. I really need to retire.

 

[MCF]

And Happy Birthdays to Miles and Donnie Too!

 

[MCF]

It’s 21st Dec here so Happy Gravy Day to you all.

I’m sure Marshall loves this so I’ll tag him so he gets it next time he comes through. @MCF

Enjoy this Aussie Christmas song folks, from the inimitable Paul Kelly.

Thanks for that Geoff! Oz’s poet laureate, at least he should be. Here’s a favorite he co-wrote with Kev Carmody.

 

[MCF]

I'm guessing you won't be sending the '67 NR to any of us. Sure would make a nice present. Shipping would likely be cheaper to me, if that's an issue....

Shipping? You could road trip it.

 

[MCF]

All very similar sounding. Wish he’d list which years they are.
And at the end he played through yet another preamp.

I liked the second one.

 

[GonePlaid]

this thing’s been giving me the runaround…
liftoff finally…..
now starts the painstaking task of going through every input, output, scratchy pot…busted pilot lamp etc….actually, it’s the funnest part…thing already works so……
interested to put a T-Bird through it into one of my cabs…
View attachment 4910291

Wouldn't it be easier to convert it to solid state?

 

[dagrev]

I just rediscovered this while going through some old [stuff]. Thunderbird>EHX Micro POG>Kasino

Nice! My EBS just has lower octaves (3 settings), but I can see where a higher octave would really be handy as well, especially when a guitar drops out to do a lead. I use mine for that a little as well, but the higher wold work better than the lower--unless I play higher, which I don't think I ever do. My lowers sound more artificial than the octaver on the cheap Ashdown head. Go figure. Your's sounded good from what I could hear.

 

[dagrev]

@PaleAngel_90 - Isn’t the bass related knowledge level and the desire to help others with that knowledge wonderful in this club!
@D.M.N. - thanks so much for the insight and quick response. A lot of info there I wasn’t aware of.

I'll chime in and say, indeed it is. Just outstanding.

Even if the whole "life-coaching" thing is a little sketchy at times.

 

[dagrev]

Happy Birthday George! I’ll be at that milestone in six weeks. I really need to retire.

And Happy Birthdays to Miles and Donnie Too!

I hope your retirement isn't too far over the horizon. I've very fortunate and love what I do (but wouldn't wish it on anyone) and retirement isn't of interest for me. At least not right now.

Thanks, sir!