Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

Mine’s up at the mountain. I’ve looked everywhere for the article I had that gave a description of how they work. And I can’t find it googling. They are supposedly different from classic coil tapping.

The wife and I just wrapped up at the infusion center. I should be home in about an hour and can post a tap test result from my 2015 then.

 

[GonePlaid]

Interesting, looks like they were copping @ChuckyStiletti

I coulda done without seeing that-since it's almost exactly the color I'd have one done. Thankfully, the knobs aren't lined up so I wouldn't really be interested. (and if you believe that, I have some high ground for sale offa Alligator Alley)

 

[KB5]

Only a scuff on the top of the headstock. That will polish out fine.

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Nice! Is that the one that was recentlynlisted in the GC used section? If so I came very close to pulling the trigger on it. Great sounding basses.

 

[Stealth57]

Nice! Is that the one that was recentlynlisted in the GC used section? If so I came very close to pulling the trigger on it. Great sounding basses.

Yes, GC in Mcallen, TX.

 

[Stealth57]

Hope a 10 day snooze will be enough.

 

[GBassNorth]

Hope a 10 day snooze will be enough.

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Does the “x” mark the bottle with a shot of whiskey mixed in?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Only a scuff on the top of the headstock. That will polish out fine.

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how much do those go for?…

 

[Stealth57]

how much do those go for?…

It was $1,449. At that price, it better sound like everyone else's 2015. Not sure it does right now.

 

[Stealth57]

Does the “x” mark the bottle with a shot of whiskey mixed in?

Just a mark to know which two bottles were the first filled. A bit of OCD to compare if the priming sugar got fully incorporated.

 

[Engle]

Both switches down is full humbucking.

If I remember correctly, my Les Paul Tribute has a resistor in the coil tap wiring. They used a push/pull pot instead of a separate switch. I'll sketch out the wiring next time I have it open and then we should compare it to a 2015 Bird.
It definitely changes the tone when it's switched.

 

[MCF]

It was $1,449. At that price, it better sound like everyone else's 2015. Not sure it does right now.

And that’s a great price. They are getting hard to find. The only one available now is listed for 3K at a shop in Jordan. The ask on Dave’s was $1650 and that was a good price.

I can bring mine to compare.

 

[MCF]

If I remember correctly, my Les Paul Tribute has a resistor in the coil tap wiring. They used a push/pull pot instead of a separate switch. I'll sketch out the wiring next time I have it open and then we should compare it to a 2015 Bird.
It definitely changes the tone when it's switched.

This is the 2015 wiring:

 

[poochiecheeks]

Hello All,
I've read that some Gibson pickups, especially those on the Grabber/Ripper are "humbuckers but voiced to sound like single coils", whether its from a sidewinder design, how it's wound, or what have you. Does anyone have a reccomendation for a passive humbucker fitting that description that fits in an EMG 40 shape? I never liked active EMGs and I'm looking to approximate that sound in a passive pickup. My 91 Tbird has the best neck pickup sound I've ever heard, everything else pales in comparison.
Thanks

 

[GBassNorth]

If I remember correctly, my Les Paul Tribute has a resistor in the coil tap wiring. They used a push/pull pot instead of a separate switch. I'll sketch out the wiring next time I have it open and then we should compare it to a 2015 Bird.
It definitely changes the tone when it's switched.

Just checked out my 2015 for @Stealth57, No odd wiring, just a standard coil split, no caps other than on the tone pot and no resistors anywhere. Marshall is correct, the switches function as a coil split with full humbucker mode in the down position and single coil mode in the up position. There is a noticeable volume difference between the two switch settings, with humbucker mode being fuller and louder and single coil mode being thinner and quieter as you’d expect.

While I had it open I did notice the tone cap hot leg was nearly touching the pot housing so I spaced that out a bit. I will also note, I have EBCF strings on mine and even with the tone knob maxed out as bright as it’ll go it’s still very dark sounding - if and only if - the volume knobs are at 8 or less. If you turn either volume knob past 8 or 9 there’s a drastic jump in treble regardless of the tone knob setting. My EB13 with the similar pickups and coil switching method does the same thing, not quite as drastic though.
Some of my other Gibson birds do take a significant non linear volume jump from 8 or 9 to 10 but the tone knob is still largely functional. On the 2015 it’s as if the tone knob is removed from the signal path at volume settings above 8 or 9. No big deal, you just have to remember it when you adjust tone or volume. Still sounds great.

 

[MCF]

Just checked out my 2015 for @Stealth57, No odd wiring, just a standard coil split, no caps other than on the tone pot and no resistors anywhere. Marshall is correct, the switches function as a coil split with full humbucker mode in the down position and single coil mode in the up position. There is a noticeable volume difference between the two switch settings, with humbucker mode being fuller and louder and single coil mode being thinner and quieter as you’d expect.
View attachment 5137986

While I had it open I did notice the tone cap hot leg was nearly touching the pot housing so I spaced that out a bit. I will also note, I have EBCF strings on mine and even with the tone knob maxed out as bright as it’ll go it’s still very dark sounding - if and only if - the volume knobs are at 8 or less. If you turn either volume knob past 8 or 9 there’s a drastic jump in treble regardless of the tone knob setting. My EB13 with the similar pickups and coil switching method does the same thing, not quite as drastic though.
Some of my other Gibson birds do take a significant non linear volume jump from 8 or 9 to 10 but the tone knob is still largely functional. On the 2015 it’s as if the tone knob is removed from the signal path at volume settings above 8 or 9. No big deal, you just have to remember it when you adjust tone or volume. Still sounds great.

Interesting. The pics I just posted are from the Gibson brochure. Different caps. And different switches. What cap is in your EB?

Since mine isn’t here, I can’t take pics today. Hopefully this weekend. Caruthers was in it some months ago to replace the input jack. AFAIK, that’s all he touched.

 

[Bruce Pete]

If I remember correctly, my Les Paul Tribute has a resistor in the coil tap wiring. They used a push/pull pot instead of a separate switch. I'll sketch out the wiring next time I have it open and then we should compare it to a 2015 Bird.
It definitely changes the tone when it's switched.

Here is a picture of the Les Paul Jr Tribute DC's wiring ....... totally different.

 

[RedVee]

Thanks for the info, George. I've seen all but the last one, but saw another one about pre-oilers. Those are about $400 from what I saw, and like you said, buys you some time. What I saw was that the warranty Ford put out was up to 90k and I'm well over that, so unless that has changed it would be on me or the ASC warranty supplied by the seller to resolve it. If I had to pay for it I likely would. The rest of the truck is great. Literally not a ding on the body. Must have been garaged when not on the highway.

It's such a big job the guy I go to won't even do it. Small shop and would take up a lot of their time. (You also need special tool to hold the phasers in place.)

I'm just going to have to break down and go a dealer and see what they say. If I can't get them to fix it (because they consider my amount of noise normal), I'll treat the engine (much of that junk I know is snake oil), and it will still likely last as long as I want it to. Some people have said their's does it every day and has done if for years with no problems other than the noise on a cold start. If it progresses there is a ticking sound that continues after the rattle. That can actually be adjusted out with the proper computer, but is not a fix.

Have you tried banana peels? Or are they just used on diffs?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Goggled Claude Russo and this came up - are you sure you didn't mean Rene Russo?

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Quite. You need to watch Revenge of the Pink Panther!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I got my Epiphone thunderbird 60s in and I absolutely love it! Super low fast playing, balances great on a wide strap. My only real gripe would be a better higher fret access buts its completely managable, and if it came in cardinal red, phelam blue, or any of the fun colors thats the Jack Cassady Epiphone gets.

I know it gets said often you can't eq it like you would a fender, so curious how everybody tends to set their amps<I generally have most things set noon/flat but playing with settings now.

I tend to run my amps (Fender Rumbles) pretty flat (though tuned to room / situation as needed) and handle my EQ with an EQ pedal and the preamp (last pedal on the board).

 

[Miles_ONeal]

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1975 opening for Cheap Trick with my ‘66/67. Chicago area.

Well, that's cool. And you did it solo!