Thunderbird Club

[Engle]

Anyone here have any right-angle instrument cable adapters they trust? I have a Hosa one that works fine at home, but not sure how much I'd trust it for live use. I have Whirlwind cables that I've used and trusted for many years, but only one end has a right angle. Since pedal order is made for right-handed players, I run my cable around the back of the board so it comes out on the left side. Makes a lot more sense to have it go straight back from the tuner's side jack then out to the right and then a sharp bend to the left.

For your live rig, I would avoid adapters if you can. I’ve been using this brand of instrument and mic cables for a long time. Never had one fail.
NGP Tour Series Instrument Cables - Right Angle

 

[Miles_ONeal]

So my dilemma: I converted the hardware on my 2001 to all nickel, and I do have the rings and spacers. My plan is to keep the 1995, with the black hardware, and it will have a black 1 ply PG. In the ‘95, pickups sit high enough that I don’t need the spacers or rings so it will pretty much look stock.

The bridge pickup in the ‘01 will I think need the spacer (although I haven’t had time to spend setting it up after installing the Babicz), which involves using the rings. Since I converted it to nickel, it now has a vintage look, so using the rings will just add to that, but, that means holes in the body for the rings, so no going back.

View attachment 5060819

…sorry, Fender in the mix…

Lotsa folk hereabouts use double sided tape to install rings.

 

[GBassNorth]

Nice City. I like it. But that’s pretty much a two day drive one way. Even if I did a Cannonball Run, it would take three days there and back. They’re too heavy to ship. So count me out as a prospective buyer. For now anyway. If you still have them in 2025, we can revisit the conversation.

Marshall, you need to work on that right foot.

I drove from Tucumcari NM (near the texas border, much further away than ABQ) to Camarillo CA (north of Los Angeles) in one day. And that included stopping for lunch at Chick Filet in Flagstaff while getting a flat tire fixed (had to buy and install two new tires because the spare was flat too) and had to let the car cool off for about an hour in 115 degree heat in Needles before we crossed the Mojave Desert because the head gasket was starting to fail and the engine was smoking like a chimney. I think we even stopped for a fast food drive thru bite once we got near LA. We left NM around 8:00 in the morning and arrived at our Camarillo CA hotel before midnight. It was about a 900 mile day.

We were sweating big time as we approached the CA state line and saw the Highway Patrol check point open. They flagged us by, so we kept moving otherwise we would have had a lot of explaining to do. I had the Cayenne stacked to the gills with things I didn’t trust to the shippers (about 15 of my most valuable basses, several large pieces of very valuable artwork, silver and gold, and thousands of dollars in cash among other things). The things you do when you’re young and stupid (that was a whole 10 years ago, I’m much smarter now).

 

[GBassNorth]

I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a Bergantino around here. I also like most GK gear.

Can’t speak for their amps, no experience with those. But their cabs are second to none in my book.

 

[GBassNorth]

So my dilemma: I converted the hardware on my 2001 to all nickel, and I do have the rings and spacers. My plan is to keep the 1995, with the black hardware, and it will have a black 1 ply PG. In the ‘95, pickups sit high enough that I don’t need the spacers or rings so it will pretty much look stock.

The bridge pickup in the ‘01 will I think need the spacer (although I haven’t had time to spend setting it up after installing the Babicz), which involves using the rings. Since I converted it to nickel, it now has a vintage look, so using the rings will just add to that, but, that means holes in the body for the rings, so no going back.

View attachment 5060819

…sorry, Fender in the mix…

No drilling!
Just cut the heads off of the trim ring screws and crazy glue them into the trim ring, then use double back tape to hold the ring on to the bass. Looks and works as good as drilling and is completely reversible. I’m not a big fan of the screwless trim ring or pickguard look.

 

[Engle]

So my dilemma: I converted the hardware on my 2001 to all nickel, and I do have the rings and spacers. My plan is to keep the 1995, with the black hardware, and it will have a black 1 ply PG. In the ‘95, pickups sit high enough that I don’t need the spacers or rings so it will pretty much look stock.

The bridge pickup in the ‘01 will I think need the spacer (although I haven’t had time to spend setting it up after installing the Babicz), which involves using the rings. Since I converted it to nickel, it now has a vintage look, so using the rings will just add to that, but, that means holes in the body for the rings, so no going back.

View attachment 5060819

…sorry, Fender in the mix…

This ring has screw heads glued on and the ring is held on with double sided tape:

 

[GBassNorth]

It’s Fender Friday!
This is on its way here from the UK, hopefully will arrive in one piece late next week.

 

[MCF]

I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a Bergantino around here. I also like most GK gear.

Berg is a small company. Their cabs are great (I have one via Gaorge). I went back and forth before I bought my Mesa tt800. No regrets at all. But if I come across a used Forte’ at a good price , I’ll likely snatch it up.

 

[MCF]

And then you took a nap. Right? I sure would have.

I think I just took a shot and carried on. I did a lot that day. And paid for it the next two days.

 

[MCF]

It’s Fender Friday!
This is on its way here from the UK, hopefully will arrive in one piece late next week.
View attachment 5060852

I need to come by and try that.

 

[BklynKen]

Just curious - do you have a preference for which end to use them on?

Not sure if that was for me, but I do. I always use right angle at the guitar end. Especially now running the cable around the back of the board, ideal would be right angle at both ends. I haven't looked for a long time, but I'll have to see if Whirlwind now makes that.

 

[MCF]

So my dilemma: I converted the hardware on my 2001 to all nickel, and I do have the rings and spacers. My plan is to keep the 1995, with the black hardware, and it will have a black 1 ply PG. In the ‘95, pickups sit high enough that I don’t need the spacers or rings so it will pretty much look stock.

The bridge pickup in the ‘01 will I think need the spacer (although I haven’t had time to spend setting it up after installing the Babicz), which involves using the rings. Since I converted it to nickel, it now has a vintage look, so using the rings will just add to that, but, that means holes in the body for the rings, so no going back.

View attachment 5060819

…sorry, Fender in the mix…

That looks awesome. And the Babicz will let you achieve the lowest action possible sans the shim.

I had to decide to drill holes in my BaCH to install a ring. It turned out great, no regrets. If you’ll be keeping it, don’t give it a second thought. Ju#t make it yours.

 

[TBird1958]

Happy Non Reverse Friday!

 

[JJR58]

Nice City. I like it. But that’s pretty much a two day drive one way. Even if I did a Cannonball Run, it would take three days there and back. They’re too heavy to ship. So count me out as a prospective buyer. For now anyway. If you still have them in 2025, we can revisit the conversation.

Wait and see what this years GTG brings to the table.

 

[JJR58]

So my dilemma: I converted the hardware on my 2001 to all nickel, and I do have the rings and spacers. My plan is to keep the 1995, with the black hardware, and it will have a black 1 ply PG. In the ‘95, pickups sit high enough that I don’t need the spacers or rings so it will pretty much look stock.

The bridge pickup in the ‘01 will I think need the spacer (although I haven’t had time to spend setting it up after installing the Babicz), which involves using the rings. Since I converted it to nickel, it now has a vintage look, so using the rings will just add to that, but, that means holes in the body for the rings, so no going back.

View attachment 5060819

…sorry, Fender in the mix…

Ok, i'll ask.
Cause i'm a 7ender fan boi.
What's the deal on that rig?

 

[JJR58]

Mesa, IMO, make the best bass amps these days. My TT 800 is the best amp available today IMO. But also consider, GK and Bergantino. It is a great time to be a bass playing enthusiast. It’s all in the tone you want and can hear.

ThunderFunk is as killer.
Did you get to play through @GBassNorth's?

 

[JJR58]

Can’t speak for their amps, no experience with those. But their cabs are second to none in my book.

Their amps are great.
But a whole different flavor from the previous ones mentioned.

 

[GBassNorth]

I need to come by and try that.

If I can get it to and from the finisher in time, and if I can make it to the GTG, I plan on bringing it with me. Hopefully, by that time it will be transformed into the ThunderCaster - guaranteed to be the most non thunderbird NR in the room.

If that doesn’t happen, feel free to stop by anytime for some of the deepest darkest earth pounding noodling you’ve ever had.

 

[GBassNorth]

ThunderFunk is as killer.
Did you get to play through @GBassNorth's?

Marshall may have briefly played through it, at the time we were more focused on auditioning the SVT/Berg610 rig.
I’ve had Ashdown, Aguilar, Ampeg, GK, Musicman and Eden amps. All had their good points, but I like my bass to be thick, full bodied and smooth - the Thunderfunk did more of that than all the others. The Aggie DB750 was almost as good but the tone shaping on the TF is just incredible and the timbre knob is magic at instantly adjusting to any oddball room dynamics. Unfortunately, I think Thunderfunk is no longer in business. I should probably snag another one as a spare while I still can. It is a beautiful match for the Berg HT322 (1x12, 2x10s, and a horn in a high SPL ported cab).

 

[JJR58]

Marshall may have briefly played through it, at the time we were more focused on auditioning the SVT/Berg610 rig.
I’ve had Ashdown, Aguilar, Ampeg, GK, Musicman and Eden amps. All had their good points, but I like my bass to be thick, full bodied and smooth - the Thunderfunk did more of that than all the others. The Aggie DB750 was almost as good but the tone shaping on the TF is just incredible and the timbre knob is magic at instantly adjusting to any oddball room dynamics. Unfortunately, I think Thunderfunk is no longer in business. I should probably snag another one as a spare while I still can. It is a beautiful match for the Berg HT322 (1x12, 2x10s, and a horn in a high SPL ported cab).

Gotcha.
ThunderFunk def no longer in business.
But once in a while they show up in the classifieds here, they sell fast.