Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

File this one under - whose the moron that thought they strung this bass correctly - OR - whose the lazy arse Guitar Center employee that couldn’t be bothered to take 15 minutes to make this bass more presentable before taking a sales picture.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
(scroll to the headstock pic for a serious laugh)
…warning - don’t have any liquid in your mouth at the time or you’ll spray your keyboard!

I'm thinking April Fools joke. Click to zoom and the image gets smaller.

 

[PillO]

I’m gonna ask a question I should know the answer to but what is “Resonant frequency” and how does it come into play for us bass players with regards to our instruments and the speaker’s we may select to use?

Sure, but it’s more complex than that because the pot affects the Q factor. If tone is rolled off (bleeding highs to ground), the Q is very low, so low peak and wide impact. But with tone set “up”, you have a very high Q, for a high peaked, extremely narrow resonance.

Assuming a tone cap, as you say. Without the cap, you only have the coil’s self resonance.

In non-technical terms, it’s the frequency that’s easiest for the pickup or speaker to produce, it’s happy place. That means that it’s the frequency that’s loudest out of that device. Your speakers and pickups almost certainly have different resonant frequencies (a neck and bridge pickup usually have slightly different resonances, too). This means you hear certain notes or sets of notes louder at each of those resonances. Depending on other factors, these resonances may be very sharp and clear in a narrow range, or less noticeable and smeared across a wider range. A good design and implementation can enhance or reduce the impact of these resonances.

Thank you @Miles_ONeal for saving me from torturing my brain into releasing 40 year-old information. Your explanation is much better than my "it causes humps and dips in frequency response".

 

[PillO]

Android sucks. And yeah, it probably will be something they bring up since I can barely use it. I’m 65. I really don’t give a poopie. Go ahead, fire me. Sort of like Clint Eastwood. “ Go ahead. Make my day.” Then I can do more important things. Like play Thunderbirds.

Ask for "phone training". Then if it is raised on your review, it is your boss's fault for failing to provide the training.

 

[PillO]

Android sucks. And yeah, it probably will be something they bring up since I can barely use it. I’m 65. I really don’t give a poopie. Go ahead, fire me. Sort of like Clint Eastwood. “ Go ahead. Make my day.” Then I can do more important things. Like play Thunderbirds.

You may need one of these:
Link Removed

 

[BassToGoGo]

Saw this on ebay. I never knew that Samick made a TBird.
Electric Bass Guitar Meriken by Samick Brown Color Perfect Condition | eBay

 

[MCF]

Just read that Gentle Giant bassist Ray Shulman has passed away.
Amazing player with a great sound.
R.I.P.
This single track wasn't the band's fav as they were "forced" to try to write a hit but ain't that a bassline:

So sad. I have most of the vinyl. He was a great player.

 

[godofthunder59]

So this Joyo British Sound pedal more than impressed me last night. I bought it to carry with me just incase I'm faced with a clean S.S. backline I can't work with. I was asked to sit in for a few songs last night and as I feared the rig was just that. So when called up and handed the bass players cord I just plugged it into my Joyo British Sound pedal (I had my own cable plugged into the other side) and presto instant stack all the sustain and just the right amount of distortion it worked exactly as I hoped and I got lots of compliments on my tone. I will be buying another. I took my P bass build in a gig bag along because walking in with my stenciled Thunderbird case is like carry a billboard. I didn't think it would be particularly cool. I love this pedal so much I'm buying another

 

[JIO]

Recording day today (yay!) - starting in a couple hrs. This will be TSC's 4th session in 5 yrs (skipped one due to Covid) of 4 songs each session. The goal is an LP, so once these 4 songs are done, all 16 (8 to a side) will be mastered and put in the cue to be cut. I've heard it takes a while due to supply-chain issues, so maybe have a product by early next year.

Three originals by guitarist Paul, and one fun French pop song from the late '60s by Ye'-Ye' girl Annie Phillip. Guitar, bass, keys, vocals and over-dubbed horns. The LP will have 7 originals, 9 renditions (2 being French pop songs) and two instrumentals - one original. We'll need to get album art started which will be fun.

I'll be bringing my '76 Ampeg Porta-Flex which will be isolated, mic'd and d.i.'d through my effect board. The bass dujour will be my Teiscobird. Last session I brought and used 3 basses - this go around I want to keep it simple.

From our 1st session - an original by Paul playing this bass -

 

[Engle]

Saw this on ebay. I never knew that Samick made a TBird.
Electric Bass Guitar Meriken by Samick Brown Color Perfect Condition | eBay

Something is out of alignment:

 

[JIO]

Something is out of alignment:
View attachment 5019128

This is one of those 'Meriken's I found a pic of. Yes - being a set-neck and that the pu's are centered on the center section - the bridge will need to be moved toward the G-string. And being a three-point... it would require filling the three holes, repositioning the bridge and drilling three new holes. Totally negates the 'perfect condition' description and only would be worth it if the buyer had skills to do it and for a much lowered asking price. I can imagine a luthier charging at least $350-$500 to correct it.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Recording day today (yay!) - starting in a couple hrs. This will be TSC's 4th session in 5 yrs (skipped one due to Covid) of 4 songs each session. The goal is an LP, so once these 4 songs are done, all 16 (8 to a side) will be mastered and put in the cue to be cut. I've heard it takes a while due to supply-chain issues, so maybe have a product by early next year.

Three originals by guitarist Paul, and one fun French pop song from the late '60s by Ye'-Ye' girl Annie Phillip. Guitar, bass, keys, vocals and over-dubbed horns. The LP will have 7 originals, 9 renditions (2 being French pop songs) and two instrumentals - one original. We'll need to get album art started which will be fun.

I'll be bringing my '76 Ampeg Porta-Flex which will be isolated, mic'd and d.i.'d through my effect board. The bass dujour will be my Teiscobird. Last session I brought and used 3 basses - this go around I want to keep it simple.

View attachment 5019084

From our 1st session - an original by Paul playing this bass -

A Doors vibe

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Something is out of alignment:
View attachment 5019128

My Tbird Pro V was worse.

 

[Nocturnal]

Here's the Richard Sinclair*/Lee Sklar** -Frankenjazz I talked about earlier, now with pickups wired.
View attachment 5018898
The offending holes will be covered later.

1st. soundclip features noodling with these pickup combinations:
1. neck
2. neck&bridge
3. bridge
4. bridge&middle
5. all three
6. middle&neck

2nd clip has neck&bridge with overdrive

*J-style humbucker in approx. Rickenbacker 4001/3 bridge pickup location
** two reversed P-pickups in Lee Sklar's Frankenstein bass positions

That sounds really good!!

 

[Nocturnal]

Something is out of alignment:
View attachment 5019128

This is one of those 'Meriken's I found a pic of. Yes - being a set-neck and that the pu's are centered on the center section - the bridge will need to be moved toward the G-string. And being a three-point... it would require filling the three holes, repositioning the bridge and drilling three new holes. Totally negates the 'perfect condition' description and only would be worth it if the buyer had skills to do it and for a much lowered asking price. I can imagine a luthier charging at least $350-$500 to correct it.

That bridge looks pretty arched in the middle. That might account for part of the alignment (At least on the G string side) but not the only cause IMO.

 

[Nocturnal]

There is a much cheaper Meriken Bird on Reverb with what appears to be better pickup alignment.

Used Meriken by Samick THB-2H bass | Reverb

 

[GBassNorth]

Something is out of alignment:
View attachment 5019128

I saw that too. Probably why the seller never posted a full frontal shot, then you’d probably also be able to see the E string much too close to the edge of the fretboard as well. Because it’s a set neck there’s not much you can do about it except reposition the bridge. If you’re going to do that it would be cheapest to buy a Hipshot that allows for some string spacing adjustment while the solid full contact footprint bridge design would most likely cover the three point holes that would need to be plugged and re-drilled. You’d be out the cost of the Hipshot but probably cheaper than repositioning and reusing the three point and then having to repair the visible finish as well. It’s a strong “Pass” in my buying book.

 

[GBassNorth]

There is a much cheaper Meriken Bird on Reverb with what appears to be better pickup alignment.

Used Meriken by Samick THB-2H bass | Reverb

Now that one is tempting! I’m not in the market for any new gear right now, but if I were looking for a unique Tbird with what looks like a wide nut I’d be all over that one. @Thumper IIRC was looking for something closer to a P bass or Jazz width.

I know nothing about these basses but always just assumed Samick was very much an entry level budget bass, maybe a rung below Epiphone or Squier. If not, I stand corrected.

 

[Stealth57]

Someone asked about nut width while I was in India. All my Tbirds are 1.5”. 2018 IV, 2014 CP, and 2021 VP.

 

[Engle]

Someone asked about nut width while I was in India. All my Tbirds are 1.5”. 2018 IV, 2014 CP, and 2021 VP.

Speaking of nut width, I started my goldtop Casady project:
JACK CASADY BASS PLAYERS CLUB!

 

[Engle]

Now that one is tempting! I’m not in the market for any new gear right now, but if I were looking for a unique Tbird with what looks like a wide nut I’d be all over that one. @Thumper IIRC was looking for something closer to a P bass or Jazz width.

I know nothing about these basses but always just assumed Samick was very much an entry level budget bass, maybe a rung below Epiphone or Squier. If not, I stand corrected.

I think Samick builds for other brands. I have repaired a Samick PJ for the local high school a few times. It's OK, but not finished as nicely as most Epiphones and Squires.