Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

Gotta build this one first...

Carlo - what a beautiful design and striking colors!
I've never played (or even heard solo'ed) an 8 string bass and really know nothing about them, but I thought the ones I've seen pictures of in the past had the thin (I assume octave up) string on the treble side of each regular sized string. Is there an advantage to the thin string being on the bass side of the normal string?

Edit - just jumped over to YouTube to hear a couple of 8 string solos and noticed in fact that they all have strings set up like yours. I guess my memory must be starting to fail me in my old age (and I'm not even 60 yet!) must have been the drugs. Regardless, it's still a fantastic looking bass and I'd love to hear a sound clip of it when finished.

 

[Christine]

Gotta build this one first...

That's really nice!

 

[Count Bassie]

Though he stayed pretty consistent over the years. I've only rarely seen him use anything else.

Well you end up married to what works for you. But in fairness, they still look cool!

 

[Count Bassie]

So I swapped the GK 1001RB-II for a Trace Series 6... and I'm as happy I did, I still really like that sound and the kind of heft it delivers. And the "black-lit" green graphics are good clean fun. But, for clear, punchy, aggressive throttle down in the bread basket, the Yamaha PB-1 through the old power-sled owns it. That old thrown-to-the-pawn shop rig is ugly, it's heavy. But, dayum! And the funny part is, no one else wants It!

Ok, carry on...

 

[Dadagoboi]

Carlo - what a beautiful design and striking colors!
I've never played (or even heard solo'ed) an 8 string bass and really know nothing about them, but I thought the ones I've seen pictures of in the past had the thin (I assume octave up) string on the treble side of each regular sized string. Is there an advantage to the thin string being on the bass side of the normal string?

Edit - just jumped over to YouTube to hear a couple of 8 string solos and noticed in fact that they all have strings set up like yours. I guess my memory must be starting to fail me in my old age (and I'm not even 60 yet!) must have been the drugs. Regardless, it's still a fantastic looking bass and I'd love to hear a sound clip of it when finished.

Thanks, it's the 'Mardi Gras' Eighter. That's actually a Photoshop job of this picture, the first G8R Eighter that I did a few years ago:

A guy popped up last week saying he wanted the exact bass, including the purple finish. Gonna be a fun build!

As far as the treble strings above the bass, most multis are done that way...except for Rickenbacker. You'll have to ask them why. IMO treble over bass is the way to go.

I'll try to do a sound clip when I'm done.

 

[Count Bassie]

Thanks, it's the 'Mardi Gras' Eighter. That's actually a Photoshop job of this picture, the first G8R Eighter that I did a few years ago:

A guy popped up last week saying he wanted the exact bass, including the purple finish. Gonna be a fun build!

As far as the treble strings above the bass, most multis are done that way...except for Rickenbacker. You'll have to ask them why. IMO treble over bass is the way to go.

I'll try to do a sound clip when I'm done.

Great design. I'd do one like this, Black or Cardinal Red, brass pg...

Ok this color scheme is good too. Fine, I'll take one.

 

[Mosstone]

Also you think they sound bad? Well, I'm sorry my bass tone doesn't match your refined palette then.

Mine did... I was talking about my bass.... Not yours.

And it only works when you use that particular pickup in combination with the others. As soon as you switch to only one pickup, or favor one over the other, that benefit goes away.

So it's better that they not to have noise cancelling at all? Because you don't benefit from it??

My Rickenbackers are about as quiet as my Peavey and T-bird.

Then you better check the wiring on your Peavey and T-Bird.

And if it really bothered you that much, why not get the model with humbuckers?

That must the #1 response whenever someone criticizes a 4003 for its noise (after denying it's noisy, that is).

If I wanted a 4004, I would have bought a 4004. But I wanted a 4003.

Humbuckers don't sound the same as single-coils. I know you don't think the 4003 has its own distinct sound, but it does (don't take my word for it, ask anybody). The 4004 doesn't have it.

Besides, I'd like to know where you can actually lay your hands on one. I'm beginning to think they're a myth.

Quite possibly. I have no idea what your plucking hand technique is like. I have one of my Rickenbackers in BEAD, same tuning as I have my T-bird in, and the lowest strings have plenty of "definition."

I'm not sure you understand what I'm talking about here.

Honestly this sounds a lot like the kind of bashing people usually reserve for T-birds...

Honestly, this sounds a lot like the kind of thin-skinned, defensive reaction that always arises whenever the slightest whisper of criticism is uttered against Rickenbacker. I was just pointing out some very well known issues, using my own bass (not yours) as an example. Maybe you've convinced yourself that these issues don't exist, or they don't bother you, but don't get angry if it bothers someone else. It's not a direct attack on you.

If you like your Ric and can overlook what many perceive to be its shortcomings, then great! But Ric fans always try to tell everyone else that their negative experience of Rickenbackers is erroneous or invalid.

It's like you ate at their favorite restaurant and got a bad meal, but they try to convince you that your meal was actually delicious and you don't know what good food tastes like.

You can't negate or argue another person's experience.

 

[Mosstone]

I did not pick up a bass until 38. I am 41. I am so PO'd at myself for not doing this sooner. I envy the playing years you all have under your belts (or skirts).

Better late than never... And it's never too late.

 

[hillerup]

Carlo - what a beautiful design and striking colors!
I've never played (or even heard solo'ed) an 8 string bass and really know nothing about them, but I thought the ones I've seen pictures of in the past had the thin (I assume octave up) string on the treble side of each regular sized string. Is there an advantage to the thin string being on the bass side of the normal string?

Edit - just jumped over to YouTube to hear a couple of 8 string solos and noticed in fact that they all have strings set up like yours. I guess my memory must be starting to fail me in my old age (and I'm not even 60 yet!) must have been the drugs. Regardless, it's still a fantastic looking bass and I'd love to hear a sound clip of it when finished.

Bill Laswell was my introduction to the 8-string back in the 80's:



This song made me go out and order one soon after (Ibanez Musician neckthrough 8-string Bass), and I had to wait 3 months for the shop to get it from Japan...

 

[willsellout]

Every Rickenbacker I've ever encountered was especially noisy. They were also very susceptible to picking up surrounding noise. They also all had definition issues on the E string. Every single one of them. That is just part of the charm(?) and design. It is what it is. Rickenbacker has shown that they have zero F's to give about the perceived shortcomings of the 4003's.

As far as Ric's having a distinctive sound...I find current 4003's somewhat bland. I don't think they have "that" Ric sound that people think of. I had to replace the pickups on mine to get it to sound like what I thought a Ric should sound like. It still probably could have become even more "Ric-like" if I had rewired the electronics with the vintage spec'd pots.

With all that said, when my T-bird arrived I completely forgot about the Ric. I love this bass. At some point I would love to get a vintage 4001 but Im incredibly happy with my T-bird.

 

[hillerup]

...With all that said, when my T-bird arrived I completely forgot about the Ric. I love this bass. At some point I would love to get a vintage 4001 but Im incredibly happy with my T-bird.

And so you should be...

 

[D.M.N.]

Whipped up some photoshop mock-ups of the LPJr. 8, with an accompanying 4 string version as well. As much as I love the visuals of Gibson pickups, I'd likely opt for single coils under the covers of some sort, maybe a Darkstar if I went with the neck position, and possibly a Tele-style pup under a thunderbird cover in the middle position or a '63 Thunderbucker.

 

[GBassNorth]

A string question for very specific players...

Looking to replace the string set on my TBird for the first time but before I do I thought it would be interesting to hear from other Bird brains on what they use.

However, I'm only looking for feedback from a very specific type of player...

If you own a Gibby or Eppi TBird and play mostly finger style, and don't really slap pop or tap, and don't like fret buzz but do like nice low action and clean clear deep bass notes with a present but not prominent mid range and a slightly low key top end that's clear and smooth not harsh or overly crisp, and you have a tendency to favor the neck pickup, and you typically position your right hand near the neck pup or even up to the neck heel while playing classic/progressive/alternative rock through a tube rig with 10" or 15" speakers - I'd like to hear what strings you use.

The reason for all the qualifiers is I've found just about every one of those factors to have a significant impact on the strings one chooses to play. If I were a pic player over the bridge pup with the neck pup off and playing acid metal I'd choose completely different strings than a finger player over the neck pup playing smooth jazz.

So how 'bout it, anyone out there in Birdland fit the outline above???

 

[Mike A]

A string question for very specific players...

Looking to replace the string set on my TBird for the first time but before I do I thought it would be interesting to hear from other Bird brains on what they use.

However, I'm only looking for feedback from a very specific type of player...

If you own a Gibby or Eppi TBird and play mostly finger style, and don't really slap pop or tap, and don't like fret buzz but do like nice low action and clean clear deep bass notes with a present but not prominent mid range and a slightly low key top end that's clear and smooth not harsh or overly crisp, and you have a tendency to favor the neck pickup, and you typically position your right hand near the neck pup or even up to the neck heel while playing classic/progressive/alternative rock through a tube rig with 10" or 15" speakers - I'd like to hear what strings you use.

The reason for all the qualifiers is I've found just about every one of those factors to have a significant impact on the strings one chooses to play. If I were a pic player over the bridge pup with the neck pup off and playing acid metal I'd choose completely different strings than a finger player over the neck pup playing smooth jazz.

So how 'bout it, anyone out there in Birdland fit the outline above???

I've said this several times here, and still maintain that TI Powerbass are very close to what you describe (and my playing style sounds similar to yours.)

 

[wolverine9002]

I did not pick up a bass until 38. I am 41. I am so PO'd at myself for not doing this sooner. I envy the playing years you all have under your belts (or skirts).

I didn't start till I was 41.

Better late than never... And it's never too late.

Exactly

 

[EdO.]

A string question for very specific players...

Looking to replace the string set on my TBird for the first time but before I do I thought it would be interesting to hear from other Bird brains on what they use.

However, I'm only looking for feedback from a very specific type of player...

If you own a Gibby or Eppi TBird and play mostly finger style, and don't really slap pop or tap, and don't like fret buzz but do like nice low action and clean clear deep bass notes with a present but not prominent mid range and a slightly low key top end that's clear and smooth not harsh or overly crisp, and you have a tendency to favor the neck pickup, and you typically position your right hand near the neck pup or even up to the neck heel while playing classic/progressive/alternative rock through a tube rig with 10" or 15" speakers - I'd like to hear what strings you use.

The reason for all the qualifiers is I've found just about every one of those factors to have a significant impact on the strings one chooses to play. If I were a pic player over the bridge pup with the neck pup off and playing acid metal I'd choose completely different strings than a finger player over the neck pup playing smooth jazz.

So how 'bout it, anyone out there in Birdland fit the outline above???

I fit almost all your criteria, except for the tube amp thingie, but not sure how much help I'll be so certainly interested in the responses. Right now I use GHS Boomers on the Classic IV (my long time go to) and DR Hi-Beams on the Pro V. They're both "OK" but not sure they're optimal. As I said, not a lot of help.

 

[Korladis]

Mine did... I was talking about my bass.... Not yours.

You said every one you ever tried sounded like yours. My 4003S sounds about like other 4003s I've tried. The logical conclusion is that it sounds a lot like yours, which you think is "bad."

So it's better that they not to have noise cancelling at all? Because you don't benefit from it??

Just explaining why I don't care about RWRP.

Then you better check the wiring on your Peavey and T-Bird.

So before you said you were only talking about your bass, but now you're saying that there must be something wrong with two of my other basses because my bass couldn't possibly not be noisy? Which is it? Are you talking about your bass or mine?

That must the #1 response whenever someone criticizes a 4003 for its noise (after denying it's noisy, that is).

If I wanted a 4004, I would have bought a 4004. But I wanted a 4003.

Humbuckers don't sound the same as single-coils. I know you don't think the 4003 has its own distinct sound, but it does (don't take my word for it, ask anybody). The 4004 doesn't have it.

Besides, I'd like to know where you can actually lay your hands on one. I'm beginning to think they're a myth.

The 4004 sounds darker than the 4003, true, unless you do some knob twiddling. Like a stock T-bird, even. And given that you're on the T-bird thread, seems like it would be more up your alley.

I'm not sure you understand what I'm talking about here.

I guess that makes two of us. Because I don't think any bass I've ever owned lacked "definition." What does that even mean? Difficulty in telling what note you're playing? Because for me that's usually a matter of EQ rather than the actual bass (mostly midrange).

Honestly, this sounds a lot like the kind of thin-skinned, defensive reaction that always arises whenever the slightest whisper of criticism is uttered against Rickenbacker. I was just pointing out some very well known issues, using my own bass (not yours) as an example. Maybe you've convinced yourself that these issues don't exist, or they don't bother you, but don't get angry if it bothers someone else. It's not a direct attack on you.

If you like your Ric and can overlook what many perceive to be its shortcomings, then great! But Ric fans always try to tell everyone else that their negative experience of Rickenbackers is erroneous or invalid.

It's like you ate at their favorite restaurant and got a bad meal, but they try to convince you that your meal was actually delicious and you don't know what good food tastes like.

You can't negate or argue another person's experience.

I just get annoyed because this forum likes to bash two of the basses I own, constantly.

And "you're thin-skinned, blah blah blah, well known issues" is the same line of crap that Fender purists use when T-bird fans object to their tired exaggerated bashing ("they're muddy!" "the reach is long!" "they're brittle!" "they neck dive straight for the floor if you don't constantly hold them up, it's like they want to break!" "I don't have as good of access to the upper frets which I'm going to use oh so very often!" "the body edge hurts my arm!" "the bridge is so terrible it explodes if I touch it!" "it looks wrong for my lame band!" "it doesn't say Fender on the headstock!" "I can't shim the neck!" "how come it doesn't immediately sound like my P-bass/J-bass?!" etc.). After a while, I get ****ing tired of it. You say I'm telling you that your negative experience is erroneous or invalid? Well, to me, on this subforum of talkbass, I've come to feel like everyone is telling me that my positive experiences with 4003s and T-birds are erroneous or invalid. And I had thought this particular thread was above that.

 

[Mosstone]

Every Rickenbacker I've ever encountered was especially noisy. They were also very susceptible to picking up surrounding noise. They also all had definition issues on the E string. Every single one of them. That is just part of the charm(?) and design. It is what it is. Rickenbacker has shown that they have zero F's to give about the perceived shortcomings of the 4003's.

As far as Ric's having a distinctive sound...I find current 4003's somewhat bland. I don't think they have "that" Ric sound that people think of. I had to replace the pickups on mine to get it to sound like what I thought a Ric should sound like. It still probably could have become even more "Ric-like" if I had rewired the electronics with the vintage spec'd pots.

With all that said, when my T-bird arrived I completely forgot about the Ric. I love this bass. At some point I would love to get a vintage 4001 but Im incredibly happy with my T-bird.

Thank you. That's exactly the experience I had with mine, and whenever I asked people on the Ric forums about these issues, the most helpful responses I got told me that it's all part the "legendary Ric tone". But mostly people just told me that my bass was perfectly fine, and there must be something wrong with me.

Rickenbackers have more problems than just being noisy, too, but John Hall doesn't care. He calls it "tradition" as he laughs all the way to the bank. From what I'm told, running RIC isn't even his primary gig.

I picked up a beautiful Fireglo 4003 in Sam Ash just last weekend, and it sounded exactly like the one I owned with all the same familiar issues (I bought mine over 8 years ago). I put it down after about a minute and a half. So much for it being "all in my head".

I too had those exact thoughts when I got my Classic IV T-bird. That it was everything I wanted the Ric to be (and more).

 

[Mosstone]

Whipped up some photoshop mock-ups of the LPJr. 8, with an accompanying 4 string version as well. As much as I love the visuals of Gibson pickups, I'd likely opt for single coils under the covers of some sort, maybe a Darkstar if I went with the neck position, and possibly a Tele-style pup under a thunderbird cover in the middle position or a '63 Thunderbucker.

I like where you're going. Do you plan to extend the upper horn a little to counter the large (and heavy) headstock?

 

[Mosstone]

A string question for very specific players...

Looking to replace the string set on my TBird for the first time but before I do I thought it would be interesting to hear from other Bird brains on what they use.

However, I'm only looking for feedback from a very specific type of player...

If you own a Gibby or Eppi TBird and play mostly finger style, and don't really slap pop or tap, and don't like fret buzz but do like nice low action and clean clear deep bass notes with a present but not prominent mid range and a slightly low key top end that's clear and smooth not harsh or overly crisp, and you have a tendency to favor the neck pickup, and you typically position your right hand near the neck pup or even up to the neck heel while playing classic/progressive/alternative rock through a tube rig with 10" or 15" speakers - I'd like to hear what strings you use.

The reason for all the qualifiers is I've found just about every one of those factors to have a significant impact on the strings one chooses to play. If I were a pic player over the bridge pup with the neck pup off and playing acid metal I'd choose completely different strings than a finger player over the neck pup playing smooth jazz.

So how 'bout it, anyone out there in Birdland fit the outline above???

I pretty much meet that criteria, except for the tube amp. I've got DR Lo-Riders (my go-to, all-purpose rounds for years) on my bird, but lately I've been really digging EB Cobalt flats. I put them on my custom Jag (a very aggressive sounding bass with rounds) and they sound fantastic and the bass hasn't lost any of its aggressive character. So when I built my P, I put Cobalt flats on that as well (a natural choice) and they sound great on that bass too, without sounding at all like the Jag. I've thought about putting them on the T-Bird, but I can't shake the feeling that flats would hold this bass back too much, even though they don't seem to hamper the Jag. So I'm just as curious to see what other people recommend.