Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

That's the thing, isn't it. In my rig I don't even consider the TB+ dark.

I don’t either. Some of it may be due to our preference for Stainless Rounds and some due to our amp settings. I think you and like a similar tone.

 

[TBird1958]

Bond Girl?

I wish!

 

[dmac1961]

Question for those that might have an answer or opinion…

Do these…
View attachment 5059491

Sound anything like these…
View attachment 5059490

Those transformers look pretty small on the new model.

Question for those that might have an answer or opinion…

Do these…
View attachment 5059491

Sound anything like these…
View attachment 5059490

Those transformers look pretty small on the new model.

I have both, well my B15 is ‘65-66. I’d say they compare very well. I run my PF-50T with one or two SVT-210AV, and it cops a very similar vibe to the B-15. No personal experience with the PF cabs however. The cool thing about the PF-50T (and the 20) is that you can also run it without a cab, as a DI, for recording or into an IEM mix.
I highly recommend the PF-50T, and it’s louder than you may think.

 

[JIO]

I wish!

If Cherie can claim to be a Bond Girl, then so can you! It's Cherie's B-day today!

 

[JJR58]

View attachment 5059956 Happy Thursday !

Not sure Hollister can handle this action.
I know I’m looking forward to it.

 

[BklynKen]

I don’t either. Some of it may be due to our preference for Stainless Rounds and some due to our amp settings. I think you and like a similar tone.

Yup! All of the above.

 

[BklynKen]

TT

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Not sure Hollister can handle this action.
I know I’m looking forward to it.

your avatar’s killing me lmao..

 

[Stealth57]

TT

View attachment 5059987

Leaning tower of amps. Not California earthquake safe.

 

[GBassNorth]

Leaning tower of amps. Not California earthquake safe.

Yikes!
If that Mesa and SVT both hit the floor at the same time it would probably register as an after shock!

 

[GBassNorth]

I have both, well my B15 is ‘65-66. I’d say they compare very well. I run my PF-50T with one or two SVT-210AV, and it cops a very similar vibe to the B-15. No personal experience with the PF cabs however. The cool thing about the PF-50T (and the 20) is that you can also run it without a cab, as a DI, for recording or into an IEM mix.
I highly recommend the PF-50T, and it’s louder than you may think.

Thanks so much for chiming in! This opens up lots of options. I think I know where one is to demo.

 

[JIO]

Thanks so much for chiming in! This opens up lots of options. I think I know where one is to demo.

Even my 30watt B15N is plenty loud, at least for small clubs/bars. Tube watt #'s are always louder than a corresponding SS amp, besides - you don't want to blow-up the speaker by pushing it too hard with a lot of watts. That's what a FoH mic/d.i. is for.

 

[RedVee]

I have both, well my B15 is ‘65-66. I’d say they compare very well. I run my PF-50T with one or two SVT-210AV, and it cops a very similar vibe to the B-15. No personal experience with the PF cabs however. The cool thing about the PF-50T (and the 20) is that you can also run it without a cab, as a DI, for recording or into an IEM mix.
I highly recommend the PF-50T, and it’s louder than you may think.

Is there an advantage, apart from power, to the PF-50T over the PF-20T? I believe there are some differences between them.

 

[RedVee]

I rode behind this fellow from Paris to Frankfurt, SNCF's trackwork was glass like, and we travelled at 160MPH across France. Deutsche Bundesban's track wasn't nearly as nice and once across the border we slowed considerably, still the trip was only four hours and once in Frankfurt I was within 4 blocks of Uwe Hornung's office and the greatest collection of Gibson basses on the planet.

It (a TGV ride) is on my bucket list, hopefully in the next 2 years or so.

 

[dagrev]

…and therein lies the dilemma…
There’s not a single B-15 for sale west of the Rockies, nearly every thing I find is local sale only and it’s been that way for years. If I were on the East coast I’d easily have a half dozen prime examples to choose from. But, California has one and only one. It’s in Santa Barbara and is a guitar amp not a bass amp. Guess I’ll just need to continue to keep my eyes peeled.

I did find a B-18 in CA for a decent price, but I suspect an 18” would be awfully boomy in my large high ceiling room.

You know, the 18 might sound more like a 15 in a decent gig size room. Depends on several factors, but it might sound pretty good. Big and warm.

 

[JIO]

You know, the 18 might sound more like a 15 in a decent gig size room. Depends on several factors, but it might sound pretty good. Big and warm.

It really is about how you want your sound... to sound. I've had a 2x15, 4x10, 2x10, 1x15 and 1x18 and they all have a distinct character. Find the amp configuration that delivers your 'sound' (the sound you want to hear) and that will be your sound. I know I feel that way about the B15N & 1x18 cab - it's the sound I want to hear.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I typically go to Andersons website to get the full rundown on a new basses capability, options and cost. They are in the business of marketing what they sell, so I’d never go there for a balanced review.

Lobster has his schtick (the claw) and it is what it is, I can get beyond that. His reviews seem fairly balanced with a few exceptions. One exception is that anything that has a three point bridge automatically gets two strikes against it. He needs to get over it, it’s a perfectly functional bridge that doesn’t have any more or less flaws than any other mass built stock bridge. It is what it is, he needs to either quit harping on it or start harping on all the design flaws most Fender bridges have. The bridge issue is a preference thing and should not warrant a negative or positive comment unless it’s not functioning as designed.

To his credit, he did note the headstock tuning peg finish flaw that isn’t uncommon in the 2021 NR (mine has it as well, and I’ve seen plenty of others that did and even more that didn’t). Certainly worth a mention as a heads up of what to look out for when buying one. And if yours does have that problem, don’t take the tuners off and it’ll never be an issue. I have basses that are over a half century old and have never had the tuners off, it’s no big deal.

To brand the entire NR product line as a poor purchase because of a potential finish flaw in a small percentage of early released basses and a bridge that he doesn’t like but many others do is rather irresponsible. One could argue that he’s just reviewing the bass that he received, fine, then make it perfectly clear that if you want to buy the specific bass he’s holding in his hand here’s what’s good and bad about it, and specifically say that none of that may apply to any other NR on the market, in which case, what’s the point of his review.

I haven’t listened to his Newport review because I felt he did somewhat of a hack job on his NR review, he may have plenty of other perfectly balanced reviews out there, the NR review wasn’t one of them, and I don’t go out of my way for his advice because of it.

Note: for the record, I bought (actually my wife bought) my NR long after I saw his review on them, so I’m not being defensive of something I purchased before he did his review. I knew what I was getting and got it at a very good price. I would not have paid full retail for it, likewise I wouldn’t pay full retail for any bass currently offered by Fender or any other manufacturer that I’ve seen. I want every single bass I buy at or below street value, and I’m usually perfectly comfortable waiting for them to hit the used market for further cost reductions before purchasing.

We’re on the same page here.

 

[dagrev]

If Cherie can claim to be a Bond Girl, then so can you! It's Cherie's B-day today!

View attachment 5059982

Nice Epi!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

You were a lawyer? And you are dead?

IANAL (ahem), but I have been dead at least as often as you’ve downplayed your playing.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

The one for sale claiming to be from a Gibson NR ‘bird is advertised as:

“Gibson USA Non Reverse Thunderbird Bass Guitar Pickup Nickel Bridge”

maybe it’s not a Gibson? Or are newer ones nickel?

Or they don’t know nickel from chrome- a common problem.