Thunderbird Club

[Ringhammer]

Wow, that Orange has to sound insane. Is that a Bassman to its right? Does a guitarist use that?

Yes the Orange sounds pretty awesome. The guitarist did use the bassman (which was borrowed) for awhile at rehearsals and then at that one show, but after that show he decided he needed an amp with gain and master volume for more control. He just today picked up a Victory amp.

 

[JJR58]

Found, apparently, the only Ashly SC-40 for sale in the US, and it's winging it's way over from Florida. That's one piece of gear down!

I own one. Cool piece of kit for sure.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

No way, I'd have to share the stage with our keyboards, stage right is all mine, no lurking in the shadows either.

Can't swap with them?

 

[Nocturnal]

I wonder if anyone can help me. I obtained this short scale Thunderbird build and appears to have the initials MRG or Y and the date 9/19 on the back. It has Hipshot hardware and McNeeley pickups in it. Seems to be a total custom build. The previous owner got it as a trade and has no other information on it. Came from Columbus Ohio. Plays great. Any
information on it would be stellar but I’m stabbing in the dark here.

Very cool looking bass!!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I wonder if anyone can help me. I obtained this short scale Thunderbird build and appears to have the initials MRG or Y and the date 9/19 on the back. It has Hipshot hardware and McNeeley pickups in it. Seems to be a total custom build. The previous owner got it as a trade and has no other information on it. Came from Columbus Ohio. Plays great. Any information on it would be stellar but I’m stabbing in the dark here.

Looks really nice. Does it sound as good as it looks and plays? I'm not familiar with those pickups; what do they sound like? Modern-ish placement, which lends itself to a "darker" tone.

 

[Gaolee]

from my experience, most right handed drummers prefer the bassist on their left side…. but then again, who cares what the drummer prefers?…

I only care what the drummer thinks when I'm drooling.

 

[Gaolee]

I wonder if anyone can help me. I obtained this short scale Thunderbird build and appears to have the initials MRG or Y and the date 9/19 on the back. It has Hipshot hardware and McNeeley pickups in it. Seems to be a total custom build. The previous owner got it as a trade and has no other information on it. Came from Columbus Ohio. Plays great. Any
information on it would be stellar but I’m stabbing in the dark here.

I don't know what it is, but it looks like whoever built it was inspired by Epiphone Pro IV active models. Whoever it was appears to do high quality work, too. It looks really worthy of being a Thunderbird. Sounds like it chose you.

 

[JIO]

I own one. Cool piece of kit for sure.
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So you have a separate pre-amp through your Mesa which has a pre-amp? Is that just for more nuanced tone-shaping?

 

[JJR58]

So you have a separate pre-amp through your Mesa which has a pre-amp? Is that just for more nuanced tone-shaping?

Precisely Geo.
Usually a route some don’t go.
But for me it allows much more control over eq.

As some would say, to each their own.

 

[JIO]

from my experience, most right handed drummers prefer the bassist on their left side…. but then again, who cares what the drummer prefers?…

I've always camped there -

 

[JIO]

Precisely Geo.
Usually a route some don’t go.
But for me it allows much more control over eq.

As some would say, to each their own.

For sure, I'd say that! There's all kinds of ways to dial ones personal voice, regardless of how it's achieved. I've got amps ranging from basic/simple to sophisticated and also use pedals - but once set, it's my sound.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

So Nikki was at Ringo’s birthday party. Photos were on social media. How cool is that?

 

[Ringhammer]

from my experience, most right handed drummers prefer the bassist on their left side…. but then again, who cares what the drummer prefers?…

I have also had it where the floor tom or toms would resonate when I would be on the drummer’s right side. Not usually a problem live but in a small space I’ve had it be annoying.

 

[Jaime Poole]

Looks really nice. Does it sound as good as it looks and plays? I'm not familiar with those pickups; what do they sound like? Modern-ish placement, which lends itself to a "darker" tone.

From what the previous owner said they are handmade, I looked everywhere to find them and I found one post about the maker and appears these are a special custom pickups, they have a be lot of warmth and power. Somewhat modern but remind me of a p90 or like the Serek pickup in their short scale basses. It’s a high quality bass, and the maple fingerboard brings out some of the brightness and that short scale tone. It definitely unique and I will be taking it to practice on Monday to see how it does with my band. I may have been crazy but traded my 84 Hamer Blitz for it that I could not get into! I couseem to sell it and didn’t have much into it so it was worth it to me.plus finding a box big enough to ship it was too much of a hassle.

 

[Jaime Poole]

I don't know what it is, but it looks like whoever built it was inspired by Epiphone Pro IV active models. Whoever it was appears to do high quality work, too. It looks really worthy of being a Thunderbird. Sounds like it chose you.

It appears to be high quality, very much like a Drake bass I had years ago when he was still unknown. That bass had passive EMG Jazz pickups in it.

 

[Gaolee]

From what the previous owner said they are handmade, I looked everywhere to find them and I found one post about the maker and appears these are a special custom pickups, they have a be lot of warmth and power. Somewhat modern but remind me of a p90 or like the Serek pickup in their short scale basses. It’s a high quality bass, and the maple fingerboard brings out some of the brightness and that short scale tone. It definitely unique and I will be taking it to practice on Monday to see how it does with my band. I may have been crazy but traded my 84 Hamer Blitz for it that I could not get into! I couseem to sell it and didn’t have much into it so it was worth it to me.plus finding a box big enough to ship it was too much of a hassle.

Sounds like things worked out pretty well. Let us all know your impressions about its sound and how it fits in a mix.

 

[MCF]

So Nikki was at Ringo’s birthday party. Photos were on social media. How cool is that?

Very cool indeed.
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[Stealth57]

Currently:


View attachment 5117859

With a compressor and this:

View attachment 5117870

But up until recently I would take my SVT and an old B40 cab. For I short time I had a V4 head I used as well.

50:50 bar look always works.

 

[Stealth57]

Very cool indeed.
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Obsession or stalker?

 

[MCF]

Precisely Geo.
Usually a route some don’t go.
But for me it allows much more control over eq.

As some would say, to each their own.

When I get a Carbine, I’m sticking with the onboard pre. This and a tuner pedal will be the only accessories.