Thunderbird Club

[Nocturnal]

A little background first: 1, at 70, I'm no spring chicken. 2, due to genetics my L5 disc is thinner than normal. 3, after 35 years playing soccer, my L5 is half as thick as my other discs and is also bulging. The bottom line is I'm no stranger to back issues and only have so many Bend-overs left in my back.

The best tone I've ever had was when I was running an Eden WT 300, which ran a Tube pre-amp (never cared for my 16 tube Mesa 400+). While I've always liked my Markbass (since 2005), it never sounded the same since I removed the Markbass Compressore (also tube driven) due to its large footprint and 15v power requirements.

Enter SushiBox, tube pedals that add that tube grit, sheen, sparkle, but need a boost to really shine. Enter TC Sparks, they drive the SushiBox pedals wonderfully. The Sparks have a mini toggle with 3 settings, fat, mids, and clean and I use all 3 (fat for EB-O/P with flats tone, mid for Pbass with rounds/Jazz bass, Clean for Tbird). I use all 3 running both PUPs at 10, tone wide open. Using the SushiBox pedals I can also get pick tones, wenge neck Warwick vibe, or Stingrayish tones. By running 3, I can toggle the tones I want without having to bend over or mess with my bass settings.

I Have the SushiBox Dr Wattson, the Hiwatt style preamp. I like it so far but really need to spend more time with it. I think it can give me the grit I want without going to far into overdrive or distortion.

 

[bylar13]

A little background first: 1, at 70, I'm no spring chicken. 2, due to genetics my L5 disc is thinner than normal. 3, after 35 years playing soccer, my L5 is half as thick as my other discs and is also bulging. The bottom line is I'm no stranger to back issues and only have so many Bend-overs left in my back.

The best tone I've ever had was when I was running an Eden WT 300, which ran a Tube pre-amp (never cared for my 16 tube Mesa 400+). While I've always liked my Markbass (since 2005), it never sounded the same since I removed the Markbass Compressore (also tube driven) due to its large footprint and 15v power requirements.

Enter SushiBox, tube pedals that add that tube grit, sheen, sparkle, but need a boost to really shine. Enter TC Sparks, they drive the SushiBox pedals wonderfully. The Sparks have a mini toggle with 3 settings, fat, mids, and clean and I use all 3 (fat for EB-O/P with flats tone, mid for Pbass with rounds/Jazz bass, Clean for Tbird). I use all 3 running both PUPs at 10, tone wide open. Using the SushiBox pedals I can also get pick tones, wenge neck Warwick vibe, or Stingrayish tones. By running 3, I can toggle the tones I want without having to bend over or mess with my bass settings.

I replaced the Darkglass Vintage Microtubes tubes pedal with Spark.The Spark does a great job driving the front section on my HiWatt 200, without getting too distorted or too fizzy.

 

[WillyW]

Uh oh.............. I did a bad thing.

I saw that on Facebook, very nice price! AND bonus feets in the pic!

 

[TBird1958]

Big Lake Bar & Grill, near Mount Vernon. It's my local bar & grill, so it was a 'home game' for me. Jan 21 playing at Quarter Mile Bar & Grill in Yelm, and Jan 28 playing JP's in Renton.

So one of the locals brought his harmonica. We invited him on stage, where he proceeds to blow harps and minds.
https://youtube.com/shorts/ElOKeqENGQQ?feature=share

Might be able to make the 28th in Renton - Not sure yet, may be out of town.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I'll buy a Lull for it - I already know how great it will sound as I used to have one, I foolishly sold it. This is redemption of a past stupidity on my part.

yeah but it probably worked out for the best….that blue finish is stunning….thought it was a Cataldo at first…,

 

[bobyoung53]

I saw that on Facebook, very nice price! AND bonus feets in the pic!

I was just going to ask if Willy sold that.

 

[JIO]

Get thee behind me!

 

[JIO]

Enabler alert - seems like a good price w/Epi HSC included if in the market (no affiliation)

Epiphone thunderbird vintage pro ebony with new Epi Case | eBay

 

[PaleAngel_90]

After using a Line 6 for quite a few years I have gone completely away from pedals of any kind, I really enjoy hearing the various components - pick, fingers, strings, pickup, bass, (PG screws) amp. So, I'm kind of working the KISS notion.

Nothing like clean audio?

 

[PaleAngel_90]

The replacement Epi Embassy arrived @ 0920 EST. In talking to Jeff @SW, he recommended I wait the 24 hours b4 opening, so further report manana-or tomorrow, whichever happens first.
Epi Embassy-beautiful finish.
View attachment 4930135
(kinda cardboard-y)

Why wait 24 hours? What is the reason behind that?

 

[PaleAngel_90]

Yeah, close to, except that the pickups are wound more on the newer ones making them louder and which changes the tonal character somewhat, I just unhook the cap in 4001s and early 4003's and drop the pickup down to make them approximately equal in volume. I did look for a switch for it like the newer ones have but when I looked Rickenbacker was out of them, because I do like the 'cap' sound sometimes too. I do have a new one though and it sounds good, is easier to set up and probably fits in modern music a little better.

How do you deal with two trussrods?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Did Greco ever make white Thunderbirds?

 

[PaleAngel_90]

Did Greco ever make white Thunderbirds?

Sunburst, black and natural wood yes, but I've never seen an original white, modded where the former owner "ruined" the former finish in a strike of "inspiration" yes.

 

[bobyoung53]

How do you deal with two trussrods?

I try to set them about equal tension, the E side usually seems to need to be a little tighter though, at least on my 4001, people say this is not true but I believe within reason you can compensate for neck twist a little. I like them. They each do half the work.

 

[Gaolee]

Uh oh.............. I did a bad thing.

A bad thing?

 

[Gaolee]

What frequency do you keep the HPF at?

It depends. I don't remember numbers so much as locations. For the Thunderbird, very low unless the room is boomy. For the upright, much higher to tame low end feedback rumble. The upright has a more mid and overtone heavy sound anyway.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I do find white Grecos on Reverb, eBay, etc. Not quite sure if the white is original on any of them or not. None of them are a new, bright white.

 

[Gaolee]

In the TB Classifieds:

For Sale - 2006 Gibson Thunderbird - Babicz/Loller/Hipshot

All chromed out, too. Somebody will be happy with that one. He's already done the things I would do (except maybe covers).

 

[Stealth57]

Why wait 24 hours? What is the reason behind that?

Likely temperature and humidity stabilization. Any wood product usually wants to sit in its new environment for at least 24 hours before messing with it. Thermal and humidity expansion and contraction.

 

[Gaolee]

Had a great time Saturday night with my new-to-me Lull. Dance floor was active all night long. View attachment 4930213

A Lull is one of the few things that might pry the 2001 and 2015 Thunderbirds away from me. Congratulations on landing that one. They are fantastic. But you already know that.