• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#252,481
Ringhammer said:
View attachment 5109023

There’s my Thunderbird collection for TT.

‘95 Gibby ‘bird
‘01 Gibby ‘bird
‘22 VP (black)
‘17 VP (white)


Big shout out to @Engle for the really cool 3ply TRC with silver logo on the white VP, the single ply black PG and TRC on the black VP, as well as the 3ply with silver logo set on the ‘01 ‘bird.
Click to expand...
You don’t have enough Thunderbirds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ringhammer, dagrev, Nocturnal and 1 other person
#252,482
Engle said:
Some enterprising person should get the info and start building Thunderbuckers. It would be a cool retirement project!
Click to expand...

Where would one get that info?

I've been meaning to ask for any info on the original 60s pickups. I would like to try to reproduce a few sets.

I would hope to get a side by side comparison once I have some done. Maybe send a loaner set for testing to some members who have originals?

So what info or specs are out there? Wire , bobbin measurements, magnet specs, winding count, resistance, capacitance, hand wound, machine wound?

Ive never seen any specific info anywhere, so I'm afraid no one knows except thunderbucker, or maybe someone else who took one apart. But if anyone has anything, it would help.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dagrev, RedVee, MCF and 4 others
#252,484
stlrocker said:
Where would one get that info?

I've been meaning to ask for any info on the original 60s pickups. I would like to try to reproduce a few sets.

I would hope to get a side by side comparison once I have some done. Maybe send a loaner set for testing to some members who have originals?

So what info or specs are out there? Wire , bobbin measurements, magnet specs, winding count, resistance, capacitance, hand wound, machine wound?

Ive never seen any specific info anywhere, so I'm afraid no one knows except thunderbucker, or maybe someone else who took one apart. But if anyone has anything, it would help.
Click to expand...
Buy a used Thunderbucker and reverse engineer it, make a couple of improvements and offer it in 60’s spec size, Bicentennial three hole spec size, TB+ spec size and Epiphone IV spec size. You’ll have a winner and a much broader market.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dagrev, RedVee, MCF and 2 others
#252,485
GBassNorth said:
So is mine. With flats that sound like they could have been put on in 1977. It’ll be at the GTG.
Click to expand...

I can bring a fresh set of rounds for you, it'll shake the earth!
 
  • Like
Reactions: _Tay_, RedVee, MCF and 4 others
#252,486
Hey Birdpeople, I swapped out the stock Grovers on my 2018 T.Bird for some USA Hipshot Ultralights. To me, the clover style keys look way better than the little Y shaped ones. The weight and (perfect) balance of the bass are unchanged. Super easy to install too.
IMG_0755.jpeg
IMG_0760.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mvf, KaraQ, PhR75 and 11 others
#252,489
GBassNorth said:
Buy a used Thunderbucker and reverse engineer it, make a couple of improvements and offer it in 60’s spec size, Bicentennial three hole spec size, TB+ spec size and Epiphone IV spec size. You’ll have a winner and a much broader market.
Click to expand...
Steve Soar is good about sharing info (prolly more so now), him and I went into some seriously detailed conversations before covid….
 
  • Like
Reactions: dagrev, RedVee, MCF and 6 others
#252,490
MCF said:
The Mesa 115 is the darling of the Subway line. Light and compact. Designed by the same guy, Andy Fields, who designed your head. There are a lot of Genz Benz owners using the lightweight Subway cabs.
Click to expand...

I'll keep an eye out on the local CL, and see if they still make them new...


TBird1958 said:
They don't offer them separately anymore, I discussed it with Spencer and it's his decision not to, which is a change from when Mike was alive. Were I faced with a choice today I'd certainly give Lollars a try, and I like what I got from the Seymour Duncan custom shop very much as well.
Click to expand...

Thumper said:
IIRC, somebody made the PUPs for Lull, I doubt they made them themselves....
Click to expand...

TBird1958 said:
That's correct, TV Jones and Seymour Duncan have made them, SD came in after TV Jones couldn't keep up with demand when Mike was selling them separately.
Click to expand...

Ok, so I have duncans in my exploderbird, are they similar/same/magical?


I honestly can't listen to a recording and tell if it's a jazz/p/ric/bird/greco/ripper/ibanez.... if I don't like the sound on my amp I turn the knobs...
 
  • Like
Reactions: KaraQ, RedVee, MCF and 5 others
#252,491
TBird1958 said:
I can bring a fresh set of rounds for you, it'll shake the earth!
Click to expand...
No thx! The flats on this baby will stay on until they rot away. I don’t have any other bird that sounds like it, and I want to keep it that way. Besides, I have Boomers on my 1990 Greco IV that I can already shake the earth with.

I really wanna hear you or Chucky or Geo or somebody that can actually play with a pic play my Greco along with a classic Motown hit. It has the perfect vibe for that genre.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chucky Stiletti, dagrev, RedVee and 5 others
#252,492
  • Like
Reactions: dagrev, MCF, Nocturnal and 1 other person
#252,493
GBassNorth said:
No thx! The flats on this baby will stay on until they rot away. I don’t have any other bird that sounds like it, and I want to keep it that way. Besides, I have Boomers on my 1990 Greco IV that I can already shake the earth with.

I really wanna hear you or Chucky or Geo or somebody that can actually play with a pic play my Greco along with a classic Motown hit. It has the perfect vibe for that genre.
Click to expand...

Motown's going to take more talent than I have! :laugh:
 
  • Like
Reactions: dagrev, RedVee, MCF and 5 others
#252,495
Albert Ross said:
Hey Birdpeople, I swapped out the stock Grovers on my 2018 T.Bird for some USA Hipshot Ultralights. To me, the clover style keys look way better than the little Y shaped ones. The weight and (perfect) balance of the bass are unchanged. Super easy to install too. View attachment 5109510View attachment 5109508
Click to expand...
A bunch of us have done that. It's a great upgrade, plus they weigh nothing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dagrev, RedVee, MCF and 3 others
#252,497
  • Like
Reactions: Gaolee, Mvf, KaraQ and 8 others
#252,499
stlrocker said:
Where would one get that info?

I've been meaning to ask for any info on the original 60s pickups. I would like to try to reproduce a few sets.

I would hope to get a side by side comparison once I have some done. Maybe send a loaner set for testing to some members who have originals?

So what info or specs are out there? Wire , bobbin measurements, magnet specs, winding count, resistance, capacitance, hand wound, machine wound?

Ive never seen any specific info anywhere, so I'm afraid no one knows except thunderbucker, or maybe someone else who took one apart. But if anyone has anything, it would help.
Click to expand...
See if you can get in touch with Steve Soar. He appears to have dropped the ThunderbuckerRanch domain.
Maybe a group of us could pool resources to buy components for a run of pickups.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thumper, Miles_ONeal, dagrev and 6 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back