- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,236
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
If ever there was a bass meant to played loud, through a big amp, with a pick, it's a '76-79 Bird, those pickups are it!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
-
- Tags
- club thunderbird
If ever there was a bass meant to played loud, through a big amp, with a pick, it's a '76-79 Bird, those pickups are it!
That reminds me. Nikki Monninger: Beauty[1] and the Beast[2].
1. of a person
2. of a bassist
Where better than deep in the Southwest desert?
Thunderbird’s great for playing while s*tting.
General Sales Tax and Perverse Sales Tax?
It’s made of holly with a phoenix feather hair, and it once killed a pinball wizard in self defence.My goodness. Was it the one Jimmy Page used?
You obviously did the right thing
If we only went by what we needed, we'd all be playing '51 p-basses
View attachment 4968303
Nah. I’d be playing my white CP.
yeah, thought we were going to see something like this….then, reading “10k for prints” reminded me we’re at the TBird club……….
View attachment 4968542
I like this. A ‘54 Holden with a ‘56 Camper painted to match
Yeah..... I'm not really a p-bass, of either variety, sort of person. Not really a huge fan of P/J either, honestly.
But, if we only were playing what we needed....... nobody would have designed & built anything past Leo's first.
Fortunately, humans don't really seem to stick with only things we need very well
The distance from the 12th fret to the leading edge of the pickup (the edge closest to the neck) is…
VP neck pup = 10-1/8” , bridge pup = 14-1/16”
Embassy neck pup = 9-3/4” , bridge pup = 14”
…and just for the fun of it…
2022 Gibson NR neck pup = 9-1/2” , bridge pup = 13-3/4”
Gibson 2013 anniversary and Gibson 2015 neck pup = 9-3/8” , bridge pup = 13-3/4”
Greco neck pup = 10-1/16” , bridge pup = 13-3/8”
Epiphone Goth neck pup = 10” , bridge pup = 13-3/4”
My WiP NR neck pup = 10” , bridge pup = 13-3/4”
The neck pickups that fall approximately into the vintage Tbird location are the VP, Greco, Goth, my WiP
The neck pickups that fall approximately into the modern Tbird location are the 2013, 2015, 2022NR
The vintage neck pup location has a more aggressive tone, more grit, growl and snarl
The modern neck pup location is more creamy, smooth and deep
That said, there’s plenty of overlap in tone and general sound between the two locations.
Currently Fender 7250 strings, they’re a great round wound fit for the VP. Had Cobalt flats on it and they were great as well.
So, what preamp did you go with? Looks like a lot of wires to deal with, but still looks orderly.
Sadowsky.
It's actually not bad, mostly pre-wired. But, they're largely intended to be mostly a drop-in unit, so I'm having to re-arrange a bit of the wiring to better suit my application.
The bass itself has a couple of extra wires, grounds from the pickup cavities for the shielding paint.
The worst part is I can only work on it in little bits at a time, because of the whole going to work thing
That pesky little going to work thing, always a fly in the ointment, until you retire.Sadowsky.
It's actually not bad, mostly pre-wired. But, they're largely intended to be mostly a drop-in unit, so I'm having to re-arrange a bit of the wiring to better suit my application.
The bass itself has a couple of extra wires, grounds from the pickup cavities for the shielding paint.
The worst part is I can only work on it in little bits at a time, because of the whole going to work thing
I’ve heard good reviews on that preamp, haven’t tried one. Be sure to keep us posted on how it sounds when done.
This video was very helpful for my install, as the bass he's using doesn't use a control plate, same as mine......
...... it's also nice being able to watch someone who's a legit expert do the thing, ahead of having to do it myself
...... it's also nice being able to watch someone who's a legit expert do the thing, ahead of having to do it myself
I like them. Not as much as the '60s, but way better than the 88 versions on for my tastes. To me they kind of sound like weaker '60s versions. Not a slam, just that they are more polite. (But neither the old Thunderbird or Epi are what I would call aggressive sounding. The 760s are more of that.) However, to me they do have something of the 60s characteristics that the 760s don't have. Some of it might be a greater depth of tone. I can't really explain it well, but there is something similar. But some do hate them. I don't doubt that they sound better with a lot of volume, but I'm not having a problem in non-loud settings.
I'll take the old one with weird serial numbers that no one knows what it is. No point in it collecting dust.I'm enjoying my Embassy, especially now that I have the SIT Power Flats on it, but I kinda wish the Newport had been released sooner. Methinks the pairing of 'up against the neck' Mudbucker and 760 bridge pup(s) plus V-B-T would be perfect-for me.
And, no, I don't need a 6th bass. The 5 I have aren't getting enuff use.
Last edited:
