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Thunderbird Club

#243,181
JIO said:
Don't know if any of you are into following the NAMM pictorials on the GP thread - personally as much as I look at them to see what is going on there... it all bores me to tears. For basses - nothing new, lots of exotic wood basses, lots of Fender clones, Ibanez clones, and strange versions of Fender clones etc. I attended only one 'trade show' (for bicycles) in the early '80s and it was enough to turn me off to ever attending another trade show. Every year I look at those who pictorally post their days at NAMM and every year I'm struck by the mediocracy of the event. As someone who has flirted with the industry - I know I will never plug-in to NAMM, even as a spectator. I can't imagine anything more boring or unnecessary. (for what I do)
Click to expand...
Lots of coffee table waknkery. Whatever.
 
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#243,182
ThaCoast said:
I feel i've asked this question long ago, but have no recollection :D How useful is the tone control on a thunderbird (mainly epiphone bolt on versions; IV, Goths, & the likes). I guess i could have the Classic Pro in the fold since its gibson bird pickups of the ceramic magnet kind. Been debating if i should add a Master Volume & tone back into my UnGothed Red/tree bird (been sporting a killswitch since 2012).
Click to expand...

Quoting myself; I got to try & do a setup on an epiphone Tbird IV burst model. So I tested out the tone control & how useful it appeared. It's useful in this case, but not worth having again on my own UnGothed Bird. The simple on/off does the trick & running through my Fx board, i can gain clarity from various EQ pedals/preamps. If i were to implement anything back into my own bird, it'd be a blend control - but how often would either pickup be isolated seems pretty rare to me.
 
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#243,183
Gaolee said:
Lots of coffee table waknkery. Whatever.
Click to expand...
I’ve been to plenty of trade shows, shot shows and expos but never a NAMM or Comic-Con. Wouldn’t mind going, just to say I did, but I doubt I’d see anything unique or innovative in the bass guitar line up, maybe something new in the bass cabs or pedals areas but I’m just not seeing any real innovation in the bass guitar world right now.

Seems like most anything that’s new these days is very iterative of something previously built and not really ground breaking, more evolutionary than revolutionary. Where are the basses that are built from impossibly light materials or sustainable composite structures, or the next design in pickups that are wafer thin, or a preamp that is user configurable to sound like any other amp on the market, or an autotune feature built into an onboard preamp that would recognize any song I’m playing and correct any off pitch notes I play.

Fanned Fret basses were innovative when they were first introduced as were Alumatone pickups and Babicz bridges, we need more of that thinking and maybe a bit less focus on how pretty we can make a coffee table with strings look.
 
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#243,184
GBassNorth said:
Keep us posted on how they work out. I still haven’t been able to get comfortable holding a pic (as much arthritis as mental block) maybe these spring things would help.
Click to expand...

I've not had a chance to spend much time with them yet, but I can tell they'll be an adjustment - but I've been using a pick since the early 90s. Learning to play fingerstyle is a work in progress still.....

Anyways, the way I hold a pick has evolved over the years, and is obviously "incorrect" - I hold it primarily between my thumb and middle finger, with that finger nearer the "point", with the index finger sorta half on, at the front? corner. It's apparently a bit weird.....

The BM pick will let me hold it at the same angle, with the same amount of point.... protrusion?, if I use my index finger only. So, an adjustment, but I should be able to manage it with some practice.

I have also noticed, the spring is tight. Finding a comfortable position for the clip will take a bit of work/practice/acclimation, at least for me.

I do like the feel of the pick part so far, and the spring & clip seem well made, not cheap & flimsy.


Still experimenting obviously, but initial impressions & tests are positive :thumbsup:



GBassNorth said:
:hyper::woot::hyper:
Something new, this way comes…
View attachment 5031368
Click to expand...

I would use the past tense of that, but the replies......:nailbiting:


20230415_040300.jpg






:D



JIO said:
Wouldn't work for me. I've tried standard finger-picks to no avail. Pretty much exclusively use Dunlop Max-Grip (textured) 1.14 pics. I've developed a technique where I cup it when playing finger-style and get it in place for a pick attack. Very rarely drop a pick - a light but connected touch is key and the slight texture helps.

View attachment 5031451
Click to expand...

I use 1.14 picks as well, primarily Jim Dunlop U.S.A. "H" - in red, of course.

The heavy gauge BM pick, conveniently (for me) the ones with the red finger-clip, are the same shape, size & thickness, as far as I can tell.

20230415_042704.jpg


20230415_042739.jpg




One area of adjustment for me, is the slight texture that you mentioned - on the Jim Dunlops, I keep the writing (textured) under my thumb. The BM writing (textured) is on the opposite side I'm used to, under the index finger.....

But for me, that cupping technique you're talking about, aggravates the problem with my hand that is causing me problems with holding a pick.

So, atm at least, I've got to adjust to these new picks (if they help), or be stuck with only being able to play *maybe* one song with a pick....:(
 
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#243,187
ThaCoast said:
Quoting myself; I got to try & do a setup on an epiphone Tbird IV burst model. So I tested out the tone control & how useful it appeared. It's useful in this case, but not worth having again on my own UnGothed Bird. The simple on/off does the trick & running through my Fx board, i can gain clarity from various EQ pedals/preamps. If i were to implement anything back into my own bird, it'd be a blend control - but how often would either pickup be isolated seems pretty rare to me.
Click to expand...

Hi Andy,
Missed your original post. I'm familiar with Epi Goth Birds, one of my FenderBird's body is a refin'd Goth, but I kept the stock pick-ups and controls.
Before I pitch in my 2 pennies on the tone control, what's the nature of the unGoth-ing ?
 
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#243,189
JIO said:
Don't know if any of you are into following the NAMM pictorials on the GP thread - personally as much as I look at them to see what is going on there... it all bores me to tears. For basses - nothing new, lots of exotic wood basses, lots of Fender clones, Ibanez clones, and strange versions of Fender clones etc. I attended only one 'trade show' (for bicycles) in the early '80s and it was enough to turn me off to ever attending another trade show. Every year I look at those who pictorally post their days at NAMM and every year I'm struck by the mediocracy of the event. As someone who has flirted with the industry - I know I will never plug-in to NAMM, even as a spectator. I can't imagine anything more boring or unnecessary. (for what I do)
Click to expand...
I have attended many trade shows. BIO in the US is held mid-summer and is a huge party. I have had samples of fine bourbon, scotch, beers... Just a great time on the trade floor (but business in the meeting areas). And many great (boozy) meals afterwards. The BIO conferences outside the US are far more business focused.
 
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#243,191
PillO said:
I have attended many trade shows. BIO in the US is held mid-summer and is a huge party. I have had samples of fine bourbon, scotch, beers... Just a great time on the trade floor (but business in the meeting areas). And many great (boozy) meals afterwards. The BIO conferences outside the US are far more business focused.
Click to expand...
My new job includes working at our booth at trade shows. And attending the evening social events.
I’m not much of a drinker, thankfully you don’t need to be in business these days.
 
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#243,192
Engle said:
Headstock mod is progressing on my Gold JC. More pics in the Casady club thread if you’re interested:
View attachment 5031909 View attachment 5031910
Click to expand...
Small amount of wood removed. Does it change the neck heaviness in any meaningful way?*


* I describe mine as neck heavy - not enough for dive but left to its own devices will slowly head for the ground.
 
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#243,194
PillO said:
Small amount of wood removed. Does it change the neck heaviness in any meaningful way?*


* I describe mine as neck heavy - not enough for dive but left to its own devices will slowly head for the ground.
Click to expand...
I think the fiber/poly overlay weighed more than the wood I removed!
My black JC is a diver. This will be better balanced when I’m done.
 
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#243,196
Bassmike62 said:
Recently asked to good chorus pedals to complement a Thunderbird...


Hi Andy,
Missed your original post. I'm familiar with Epi Goth Birds, one of my FenderBird's body is a refin'd Goth, but I kept the stock pick-ups and controls.
Before I pitch in my 2 pennies on the tone control, what's the nature of the unGoth-ing ?
Click to expand...

bird-front-jpg-jpg.4298426
bird-back-jpg-jpg.4298427

^^^This is the fruit of the UnGoth-ing. Represents me a bit more. This was a long time coming, & i've had this done for good in 2020. Paint & art work by me.

Pickups are DeepSixx ones since my originals sadly got destroyed (broken wire) from being out of the body through every single mod. New Bone nut, Tuning keys (originals got too loose & flimsy). Real loud, & angry bird xD
 
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#243,200
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