Thunderbird Club

[PhR75]

How do you like the EBS OctaBass? I have some EBS pedals and they seem to do good, but I have never had a good octaver, every one I have had seems to cut out, like the effect sound like it’s being switched on/off, especially at lower input levels. I have had a Boss, and now have a RedWitch, and they both seem to do the same….

It's OK. I need it occasionally and sometimes use it for a Taurus -like drones with a chorus pedal. Or if we do Leila K's "Elektrik" as an encore I use it and play the bassline an octave higher, the constant barrage of 16th notes is easier to play with fingers up the neck on lighter strings.
I sometimes use it with a guitar without the dry signal and with chorus and flanger to try to mimic Jan Hammer's synth.

 

[KaraQ]

Not funny....... Finally warmed up to 0.
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That's one of the several reasons I moved to CA from the mountains of E. TN - the lowest temp we've had this year was 27, in Feb.

It doesn't often get below freezing here - I think only like 17 nights/0 days this year (so far?)

 

[PhR75]

It's 0 degrees celsius here but should get below that tomorrow which is good so the snow want melt. There's nothing worse than a black winter.

 

[Butcherboy]

Got a link?

...sorry, reserved (for a club member)…

 

[dagrev]

It's 0 degrees celsius here but should get below that tomorrow which is good so the snow want melt. There's nothing worse than a black winter.

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I clicked "Like" for the dog not the snow! . It is pretty, just a pain to deal with.

 

[TBird1958]

Electric trains, there's just something about them and this time of year.........
Had freezing rain overnight so it's a very bad idea to go anywhere just now, so here's some test shots of models. I gave these a cool filter to suggest a somewhat cloudy day.

 

[GBassNorth]

I've noticed that several of her basses, when she's playing while sitting, look that way.
But that sort of awkward/too big appearance goes away when she's playing while standing.

Maybe the Mayones is the same way?


Two things I noticed that were interesting: based on the pole positions in the pickups, it appears to be a double P configuration; the fret dots, in addition to having her name at the 12th, switch sides.

Low-end dots on the low side, high-end dots on the high side, instead of all just straight up the center.

View attachment 4911444


I like that

I think your right about the sitting vs standing fit. Hadn’t noticed the dot reversal, looks cool. Just noticed the upside down name at the 12th fret, my OCD would kill me on that one. Overall, I love the shape of the bass, kinda along the same lines as a Warwick Fortress or a less edgy reversed Iceman. I’ve looked at other basses from Mayones, high end boutique type stuff, up there with Jerzy Drodz and Warwick Custom Shop in my book.

 

[dagrev]

Electric trains, there's just something about them and this time of year.........
Had freezing rain overnight so it's a very bad idea to go anywhere just now, so here's some test shots of models. I gave these a cool filter to suggest a somewhat cloudy day.

Amazing! Your German is showing! (Attention to detail.)

 

[TBird1958]

Amazing! Your German is showing! (Attention to detail.)

I can't seem to grow up - still plays with trains

 

[GBassNorth]

Humbucker question for the club…

Ceramic magnets or Alnico 5 magnets.
Which is your bass guitar preference and why?

 

[PhR75]

How do you like the EBS OctaBass? I have some EBS pedals and they seem to do good, but I have never had a good octaver, every one I have had seems to cut out, like the effect sound like it’s being switched on/off, especially at lower input levels. I have had a Boss, and now have a RedWitch, and they both seem to do the same….

I made this clip with the EBS Octabass. Holds the notes pretty well. I'm using a passive Stingray -style bass (a humbucker in series)and the octaver is the first pedal in the chain. In the end there's a bit where the tracking fails for a moment but comes back.

EDIT: Actually it's the second pedal in the chain after the envelope filter but that wasn't engaged. And this reminds me to swap their places, the octaver doesn't track well if the autowah is ducking or diving in front of it...

 

[D.M.N.]

Humbucker question for the club…

Ceramic magnets or Alnico 5 magnets.
Which is your bass guitar preference and why?

I guess my preference is for AlNiCO, that's what the vast majority of the pickups I use are. The only ceramics I have are those in the Zebrabird, and I've never loved them, far too dark for my liking. The only ceramics I recall liking are the old Peavey Super Ferrites.

 

[dagrev]

Humbucker question for the club…

Ceramic magnets or Alnico 5 magnets.
Which is your bass guitar preference and why?

The basses I love the tone the most all happen to be Alnico, be they Gibson or Fender. Ceramic can sound good. Liked the Ceramics in my MM SR 5er better than the Alnicos in the SR. There just seems to be a warmth or more full (bigger sound?) with Alnico that tends to be more common with those in my experience. Not that they can't be bright or aggressive. But there are some average sounding Alnicos, that's for sure.

 

[Gaolee]

Yikes! For the non PNW folks this is a prime example of what's called "Frazier River Outflow". Basically arctic air following the river's canyon from east to west and mixing with moisture.
Being a bit south of Irv I have quite a bit less snow here but the cold air is quite present.

And today it's all a sheet of ice. It got down to about 23f or -5c here. And rained. So, I had to drive in it of course. Hold my beer, I'm headed to work.

Yesterday was a day on airplanes to Eugene and back. What could possibly go wrong? (Everything.)

 

[Gaolee]

It's almost thursday so I'll play...
View attachment 4910905

And while I've never liked the song that much it still has a fantastic bass playing from Chris Squire and he used a NR Thunderbird on it. Thankfully also without the Mu-Tron, there's already enough "bowww" on "Tormato".

That green is stunning. Maybe the fretless 'Bird needs to be that color. Hmmm....

 

[Gaolee]

As do I, but that day is not today.

I got a little over two years to reach 65, but I don't expect to retire until about 70. I like my job.

 

[JJR58]

And today it's all a sheet of ice. It got down to about 23f or -5c here. And rained. So, I had to drive in it of course. Hold my beer, I'm headed to work.

Yesterday was a day on airplanes to Eugene and back. What could possibly go wrong? (Everything.)

Heard about SEA-TAC encountering some security issues.
Were you caught up in all that?

 

[Gaolee]

Efffin Hell, Thunderbirds are the BEES KNEES!!



Just got ahold of another 2000 Tbird and it was too dark at first for my taste but dialing in the pickups with new strings and string height really hit it home. Now this thing has a deep growl that makes me smile even more.

I’m infatuated with these basses and I’m curious if you could share how else you guys show your love for them…any bumper stickers, artwork, tattoos, jewelry or apparel to let the world know?

Cheers all and happy holidays!!!

My 2001 is the pixie dust bass. There's just something magical about it. I should play it more, but it isn't Burgundy Mist Metallic. And I'm very shallow.

 

[Gaolee]

Thunderbucker Thursday…

...this one should be my main player…but has the wrong pickups…63 Thunderbuckers…
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…the right ones arrived today….
View attachment 4911015

If you want to sell the ones that you take out, let me know.

 

[Gaolee]

It's Friday already so I was a day late yesterday. And all the birthday wishes in retrospect from me too.

Got a new compressor yesterday:
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It has a blend knob so I can do parallel compression. You can also choose which frequency gets trough when the blend is more in the dry signal area (low, mid or full range).
I like the heavy compression ala Tony Levin a lot but it lends to a certain style of playing. With this I can get the best of both worlds.

Did two clips. First is a King Crimson riff which is a bit of a handfull especially when played with a Wetton attack (=hard). First time it's without and 2nd time with the compressor. Subtle but it evens it out in my opinion.

Second clip is an old Police riff/line played with a pick and clean tone.

I like it better without compression. One more reason to avoid any advice I ever give.