Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

On the other hand, nothing wrong with the stock IV pickups. Maybe if that is your only bird and you want more range? I like having all three EPI birds with different strings and pickups. The IV with La Bella black tapes provides a sound that is unique.

I like the IV pickups as well. I have them in four Epis. They sound great in my Pelham Blue Sparkle and Red Sparkle Limited Edition Custom Shops. I do plan to put something different in the red one. I tried, but struck out by a couple of minutes on that set of DeColas a month or so back. Something will come along. The blue one will stay stock because it’s in mint condition and is very rare.

I’m leaving the Goth and the Nikki Sixx Blackbird stock; the latter sounds a bit different with no tone pot or cap.

 

[Engle]

I get the idea(s) of building a bass with exactly the features one wants(tonewood, type-and number-of pups, ergonomics, ?), but I don't have the abilities necessary to build one and I'm not all that certain what features I'd want(OK, has to be mahogany, old growth if possible). I also don't have sufficient funds-especially after I pay the I.R.S. here soonly.
So.
I've found a couple of inexpensive mods that work out very well for me. I adjust the knobs-on the bass(es)and the amps. And switch between fingers and pick.

Realistically that's all you need. But I do get a lot of fun out of rescuing/modding/building.

 

[BklynKen]

IIs are cool but so are IVs….
View attachment 5021480

Indeed. I much prefer a IV for the visual balance. Even if only the one pickup were in the circuit. I'd have visual balance and a thumb rest.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Indeed. I much prefer a IV for the visual balance. Even if only the one pickup were in the circuit. I'd have visual balance and a thumb rest.

you had me at thumb rest…..dig that right hand position the best for fingerstyle….also dig the sound of the bridge pickup for edge and authority….more flexible all the way around…I only play IIs with a pick….don’t like them for fingerstyle where I use both styles with IVs….

 

[BklynKen]

you had me at thumb rest…..dig that right hand position the best for fingerstyle….also dig the sound of the bridge pickup for edge and authority….more flexible all the way around…I only play IIs with a pick….don’t like them for fingerstyle where I use both styles with IVs….

Exactly. I always plays right at the bridge. I like the tension. If I got a II, I'd have to install a thumb rest near the bridge. But being left-handed, fat chance I'd find anything Thunderbird-related beyond what I've already got.

 

[TBird1958]

Exactly. I always plays right at the bridge. I like the tension. If I got a II, I'd have to install a thumb rest near the bridge. But being left-handed, fat chance I'd find anything Thunderbird-related beyond what I've already got.

There was that nice lefty Greco II awhile back. I would have caved in less than a second.

 

[BklynKen]

There was that nice lefty Greco II awhile back. I would have caved in less than a second.

I probably should've grabbed it.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

There was that nice lefty Greco II awhile back. I would have caved in less than a second.

kick myself for not having done more of an a/b comparison between a greco bird and a first gen at the GTG ( typically, one doesn’t really play someone else’s vintage bass too long)…. seems like (aside from the neck) they would feel very close…… unfortunately Greco never made true (only ever saw one) NRs to compare second gen birds against…

 

[GonePlaid]

Realistically that's all you need. But I do get a lot of fun out of rescuing/modding/building.

Indeed. Not knocking it at all, just can't afford the experimentation. I'm happy as a pig in with what I can do with my semi-retired 67(65?)NR, but it's taking a well-deserved break from playing out.
Jury's still out on the Epi Embassy. It's just enuff different that extended playing hurts my fretting hand-some-but them thar 760's sound great.

 

[GonePlaid]

Indeed. I much prefer a IV for the visual balance. Even if only the one pickup were in the circuit. I'd have visual balance and a thumb rest.

My IV is played as a II.

 

[GonePlaid]

Realistically that's all you need. But I do get a lot of fun out of rescuing/modding/building.

Were money no object( ), I'd prolly have someone build a 32" scale NR 'Bird II, all mahogany, 1 1/2" nut, 760 pup, 2 piece bridge/claw in emberglow. But I still gots mufunzalo.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

kick myself for not having done more of an a/b comparison between a greco bird and a first gen at the GTG ( typically, one doesn’t really play someone else’s vintage bass too long)…. seems like (aside from the neck) they would feel very close…… unfortunately Greco never made true (only ever saw one) NRs to compare second gen birds against…

The Greco seemed to be at least 95% there compared to the original, possibly more, but time was limited and there were so. Many. Thunderbirds.
The wider neck and lack of relief cuts are minor annoyances, but at 10% the cost of an original, I can live with those.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

The Greco seemed to be at least 95% there compared to the original, possibly more, but time was limited and there were so. Many. Thunderbirds.
The wider neck and lack of relief cuts are minor annoyances, but at 10% the cost of an original, I can live with those.

I think V is the only member to own one of each…

 

[TBird1958]

kick myself for not having done more of an a/b comparison between a greco bird and a first gen at the GTG ( typically, one doesn’t really play someone else’s vintage bass too long)…. seems like (aside from the neck) they would feel very close…… unfortunately Greco never made true (only ever saw one) NRs to compare second gen birds against…

I think V is the only member to own one of each…

Well, the '64 liked Hollister a lot, so much that it'll come along again this year - The Greco II, Lull and MPC to keep it company

 

[JIO]

I owned the very rare '63 II (bought in '75) until it was stolen in '78, and then got my '64 II which I still own. I installed a Seymour Duncan "Hawkbucker" in the (exact) IV bridge position (in '86) because I wanted more definition out of it as a player after playing live & recording with the Eddie Taylor Blues Band in Chicago from '79-'85. Never regretted it for a second. (as in, screw the vintage market collectors "worth")
Everyone hears what they want out of any bass - but as far a a T-bird goes - a IV is what I want to hear and I respect all players who prefer a II - at the end of the day it's a win-win.

 

[PhR75]

I owned the very rare '63 II (bought in '75) until it was stolen in '78, and then got my '64 II which I still own. I installed a Seymour Duncan "Hawkbucker" in the (exact) IV bridge position (in '86) because I wanted more definition out of it as a player after playing live & recording with the Eddie Taylor Blues Band in Chicago from '79-'85. Never regretted it for a second. (as in, screw the vintage market collectors "worth")
Everyone hears what they want out of any bass - but as far a a T-bird goes - a IV is what I want to hear and I respect all players who prefer a II - at the end of the day it's a win-win.

Even 'though I started with an Aria XRB (Jackson style) P/J bass I usually used the P-pickup only since I hated the P/J sound and when I bought the Ric 4003 I usually used the bridge pickup only but after that I mainly have used two pickup basses and as it happens they seem to be more or less modelled after the T-Bird pickup configuration. Two humbuckers in Jazz Bass -style locations.
The good thing is that I can also solo the neck pickup and it works and sounds good (to my liking) with the same setup.

I just counted that I now have 5 basses with T-bird pickups. There must be something there that I like, can't be just this club can it?

 

[Formula73]

The search function has failed me.

Can somebody give me a good idea of the tonal differences between normal TB+ and those big pole A5 EB buckers? Since these eyguitar tbuckers are fairly close clones kf the originals, I want to know what to expect before I throw down $70/ea on these ‘eric custom’ versions on a whim…

I am very curious.

 

[Engle]

Were money no object( ), I'd prolly have someone build a 32" scale NR 'Bird II, all mahogany, 1 1/2" nut, 760 pup, 2 piece bridge/claw in emberglow. But I still gots mufunzalo.

Did you read my mind?

 

[Engle]

The search function has failed me.

Can somebody give me a good idea of the tonal differences between normal TB+ and those big pole A5 EB buckers? Since these eyguitar tbuckers are fairly close clones kf the originals, I want to know what to expect before I throw down $70/ea on these ‘eric custom’ versions on a whim…

I am very curious.

There's a search function?

 

[TBird1958]

I owned the very rare '63 II (bought in '75) until it was stolen in '78, and then got my '64 II which I still own. I installed a Seymour Duncan "Hawkbucker" in the (exact) IV bridge position (in '86) because I wanted more definition out of it as a player after playing live & recording with the Eddie Taylor Blues Band in Chicago from '79-'85. Never regretted it for a second. (as in, screw the vintage market collectors "worth")
Everyone hears what they want out of any bass - but as far a a T-bird goes - a IV is what I want to hear and I respect all players who prefer a II - at the end of the day it's a win-win.

As time goes on I'm finding that I prefer my single pickup Birds, II's be they from Gibson, Lull, Greco or BaCH, the IVs have a place as well, not like I'm going to quit playing them anytime soon.

RAWR!