Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

BaCh on left….

 

[Count Bassie]

Second gig on the Epi Embassy tonight. I'm also providing/running the PA, so I may be concentrating mostly on that, plus I'll be using a different amp(R100 instead of R200c). Still, my impression after the first gig-last Saturday-was TBird-y tone for less $$$ and no risk of flying HS.
ADDENDUM:
View attachment 4942199


On another note(B):

That should probably be my next (the other next) bass. Except, yeah, right. I don't want any more "stuff"...

 

[BklynKen]

BaCh on left….
View attachment 4942237
View attachment 4942238

We need a photo of BaCh to BaCh BaChs.

 

[BklynKen]

That should probably be my next (the other next) bass. Except, yeah, right. I don't want any more "stuff"...

When has that stopped you before?

 

[GonePlaid]

Yeah. She seems to really love her Sandbergs, though.

Oh, well. One can hope.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

We need a photo of BaCh to BaCh BaChs.

yes….

 

[dagrev]

Strings! We finally headed back to the rehearsal space after a long break, and I got to test drive my new Non-Reverse. It's still got stock strings, I have no idea which strings Gibson use, and I was slightly underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, it's hot and sounds great, there's a whole lot of treble, but lacking lower mids (I'm guessing). Missing the thickness if you will. It reminded me of what I experienced when putting a set of cheap strings on my P. Turning down the bridge pickup and the treble a bit brought me halfway there. Have you had the same experience? Any suggestions for strings that will bring out the full spectre? And perhaps tame the highs a smidge?

I think some of the lack of thickness you mention is more likely the pickup spacing than string related. I had a similar issue. The neck pickup is closer to the bridge than on the 60s or Epi Vintage Pro Thunderbirds. This does have a significant impact. Closer together the tighter, more thick the sound in my experience.

As for strings...they can make a really big difference, maybe more on this bass than average. I've not run into mine being too bright, but I have warm tube heads. The strings I settled on sounding best for me are: GHS Boomers (round core would be even more warm), SIT Power Wounds (NPS), SIT Foundations (NPS), LaBella Deep Talking Flats. I may be forgetting something, but all of these sound really good and add some thickness to the NR. I'm not sure which one is "best," but mention GHS first because you may have a better chance of getting those than the SITs. I suspect Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats would sound great on a NR.

 

[JIO]

Folks are slow on the uptake. Where’s Marshall when you need him. Said TT surprise in black and no one picks it out of the TTT photos. So, here it is in more obvious fashion. Still has the stickers on the pickups and plastic on the PG and swimming pool cover.

View attachment 4941832

And, yes, it fits in the triangular Epi case that came with my CP.

And a rockin' deal right?

 

[JIO]

LOL - that does seem like an oxymoron doesn’t it. Here’s what’s at the top of the list right now, but could change as the build progresses…
View attachment 4941914
…not as in your face as my Fender pink paisley, and a lot of it will be covered with a parchment pickguard. I had kicked around a vintage NR or Gibson color, or maybe even a distressed relic finish but with the Wenge/Wenge bolt on neck and shiny chrome hardware it didn’t feel right.

It's ok... a tobacco stain with satin clear-coat would work well with the wenge. The slab has nice grain. Maybe with a more opaque tobacco halo.

 

[GBassNorth]

It's ok... a tobacco stain with satin clear-coat would work well with the wenge. The slab has nice grain. Maybe with a more opaque tobacco halo.

I gotta admit, I need another black Tbird like I need a hole in the head, but the same goes for Tobbaco burst as well. I was considering doing another build later in the year utilizing a Fender butterscotch blonde finish which does allow a hint of grain (which this bass does have a nice pattern of) to peek through and would probably coordinate very nicely with the Wenge neck and chrome bits.

 

[Haans]

I think some of the lack of thickness you mention is more likely the pickup spacing than string related. I had a similar issue. The neck pickup is closer to the bridge than on the 60s or Epi Vintage Pro Thunderbirds. This does have a significant impact. Closer together the tighter, more thick the sound in my experience.

As for strings...they can make a really big difference, maybe more on this bass than average. I've not run into mine being too bright, but I have warm tube heads. The strings I settled on sounding best for me are: GHS Boomers (round core would be even more warm), SIT Power Wounds (NPS), SIT Foundations (NPS), LaBella Deep Talking Flats. I may be forgetting something, but all of these sound really good and add some thickness to the NR. I'm not sure which one is "best," but mention GHS first because you may have a better chance of getting those than the SITs. I suspect Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats would sound great on a NR.

Thanks for the suggestions! Boomers are easy to find, I have (or had) them on one or two other basses. I'll look for the SITs. Flats are usually not my first choice sound wise - I play with a good amount of distortion (Verellen Meatsmoke tube head and Bass Buddha in front), and flats tend to sound rather undefined. Maybe they'll work well on this bass, though. I have some lying around, I think.

 

[bobyoung53]

You've been banned before?

I have to exercise restraint of pen and tongue here once in a while. Thank God for the ability to delete posts. A few days ago I had to delete a couple of posts and report someone, I don't think it would have led to a ban but probably would have riled up the thread. I like it here too much to get banned. I've had trouble with that particular poster before so I finally 'ignored' the second person here in eighteen years, my first I un-ignored and we get along fine, this one will stay blocked.

 

[JIO]

The T-bird Club welcomes @GBassNorth to the 'Most Likes' roster of tb members top 20 list. We now have 9 of our members on that list!

I guess that means...

 

[BklynKen]

I have to exercise restraint of pen and tongue here once in a while. Thank God for the ability to delete posts. A few days ago I had to delete a couple of posts and report someone, I don't think it would have led to a ban but probably would have riled up the thread. I like it here too much to get banned. I've had trouble with that particular poster before so I finally 'ignored' the second person here in eighteen years, my first I un-ignored and we get along fine, this one will stay blocked.

Some people I just find too toxic not to set on ignore. It's too bad that the forum software here deals so poorly with the ignore feature. Posts out of context that are replies to ignored people and if an ignored person is the last to post in a thread, it won't simply show no new posts; it will actually show the ignored post (you have to click to expand it).

 

[Gaolee]

I have a 1930's phone with a separate ringer box, it's actually much clearer than cell phones and the ring is really pretty, you don't mind the phone ringing, it's like being in an old movie.

We have an ancient wall phone in the basement. It works and has a crank. You talk to a speaker that is on the front of the wooden box and listen through a separate piece that's attached to the box with a brown cloth covered cord. We also have a 1930s phone like in a Bette Davis movie and a later Western Electric dial phone. Those are all left over from when you didn't actually own the phone. You had the phone service, and the phone company would put one in your house. As I recall, the one in the house where I grew up had a big four prong jack, not a clip like they have now. When touch tone came out, it was an additional expense, so of course we didn't go for it.

All of the old phones we have work just fine, except we don't have a land line any more. I might get one put back in someday, just to be ornery.

 

[JIO]

I gotta admit, I need another black Tbird like I need a hole in the head, but the same goes for Tobbaco burst as well. I was considering doing another build later in the year utilizing a Fender butterscotch blonde finish which does allow a hint of grain (which this bass does have a nice pattern of) to peek through and would probably coordinate very nicely with the Wenge neck and chrome bits.

Because it is mahogany and not ash or alder, 'butterscotch blond' wouldn't look the same as on a Fender body. It might work well with the wenge - but testing would need to proceed finishing.

 

[bobyoung53]

Some people I just find too toxic not to set on ignore. It's too bad that the forum software hear deals so poorly with the ignore feature. Posts out of context that are replies to ignored people and if an ignored person is the last to post in a thread, it won't simply show no new posts; it will actually show the ignored post (you have to click to expand it).

Yes, I have a high tolerance I guess as it's only the second time I've used it. I try to avoid contentious threads too. There are some you just know.............

 

[GBassNorth]

Have you given details on this before. Body is? Neck is (make, heel size, nut width, radius)?

Solid mahogany NR body. Fender Jazz spec Wenge/Wenge neck (headstock will be reshaped to my standard design). Parchment pickguard with tug bar. Nickel or chrome hardware. Epiphone 760probucker pickups and two piece bridge (from VP/Embassy donor). Tonal goal is “punch and crunch” which is opposite of my 22NR (it’s more smooth and groove) so I’ll be moving both pickups closer to the bridge. It’ll likely be a slow build due to some critical health issues that just surfaced in the family that will obviously take financial and time priority.

 

[bobyoung53]

We have an ancient wall phone in the basement. It works and has a crank. You talk to a speaker that is on the front of the wooden box and listen through a separate piece that's attached to the box with a brown cloth covered cord. We also have a 1930s phone like in a Bette Davis movie and a later Western Electric dial phone. Those are all left over from when you didn't actually own the phone. You had the phone service, and the phone company would put one in your house. As I recall, the one in the house where I grew up had a big four prong jack, not a clip like they have now. When touch tone came out, it was an additional expense, so of course we didn't go for it.

All of the old phones we have work just fine, except we don't have a land line any more. I might get one put back in someday, just to be ornery.

Wow, those are old.

Mine is a Western Electric, I bought it restored a few years ago, it's just like this, there was a landline in my father's house where I left it and we have one out here but don't know if the system is the same and don't feel like dragging it out here either.

The ringer box can go on the floor or where ever you want.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

We had a 4 way, then 3. It was cheaper. Single parent and all that. One lady was just down the street and she also liked to talk, or leave the phone off the hook so she could use it later. Had to go down there a few times to tell her we needed to use the phone. When my mom married my non-bio, but real dad when I was finished HS he said that crap has got to go!

Many ahems!