Thunderbird Club

[RedVee]

Actually, I’d assume a mule has more “torque” or pulling power than a typical horse, possibly somewhere between a standard horse and a draft horse (like a Clydesdale or Percheron)

Aussie version. We don’t need no stinkin’ mules

Called “Bullock Drays” and the ‘driver’ was known as the “Bullocky” of course.

 

[TBird1958]

Should have made a poll for the pickup shoot-out. ;-)

@TBird1958 which one is your pick?

Some of these are so close that I think they're a dead heat..........

1 Original '60s Gibson
2 Mike Lull
3 Thunderbucker Ranch
4 Greco
5 Gibson - the current ones
6 '76 Gibson
7 Seymour Duncan Custom Shop
8 Epiphone 760
9 TB Plus
10 EY Guitars

To me the first 5 are all excellent with minimal differences between them except for the Greco, it has a very pronounced bass/lo-mid. It is literally splitting hairs, and with other differences like strings or pickup placement it's a lot of conjecture to say which really is best. But, if the real deal is the starting point, '60s Gibson takes it. '76 Gibson are unto their own, nothing else like them, TB Plus are Ceramic, so a bit darker, but in the right bass, like a Studio Bird they're very good. 760's and EY are similar but the Epi's have more zing and top end to them.

 

[Basvarken]

Some of these are so close that I think they're a dead heat..........

You're dodging the question Mark

A or B

 

[GBassNorth]

Going back and listening with headphones, the second clip didn't sound as dark and the first set was thinner. Which I guess indicates what is being played through can make almost as much difference as the pickup itself. Said Capt. Obvious. Kind of like playing at home verses a big room makes things sound very different.

I didn’t have time earlier, but later today I should be able to play the clips through my bass amp, that’ll highlight any differences much more so than my iPad speaker. We’ll see if it causes me to change my mind.

 

[GBassNorth]

Thanks V. I forgot that. We’ll at least get the wiring done then.

I probably have enough dense foam we can use to raise the pickup to the correct height, it should work ok and allow you to play the bass until a later date when you put a block in.

 

[JJR58]

I probably have enough dense foam we can use to raise the pickup to the correct height, it should work ok and allow you to play the bass until a later date when you put a block in.

But wouldn’t a block prevent adjusting height if one desires to do so?
I prefer dense foam, soft rubber.

 

[MCF]

I probably have enough dense foam we can use to raise the pickup to the correct height, it should work ok and allow you to play the bass until a later date when you put a block in.

Thanks George. That’ll be great! I may just order three of the Lollar 1/8 inch Tbird pickup shims and stack them if I don’t end up doing a block.

 

[BklynKen]

Thanks George. That’ll be great! I may just order three of the Lollar 1/8 inch Tbird pickup shims and stack them if I don’t end up doing a block.

If it's cheaper, Fender makes foam specifically for this purpose.

 

[Engle]

But wouldn’t a block prevent adjusting height if one desires to do so?
I prefer dense foam, soft rubber.

I think the suggestion is a block + foam.

 

[GBassNorth]

But wouldn’t a block prevent adjusting height if one desires to do so?
I prefer dense foam, soft rubber.

Dense foam with some soft foam on top is what I’d use permanently. I’m not a fan of the wood block method but that’s just me.

 

[TBird1958]

You're dodging the question Mark

A or B

I say B is the Gibson, on my speakers it sounds fuller, A is the EY.

 

[TBird1958]

I probably have enough dense foam we can use to raise the pickup to the correct height, it should work ok and allow you to play the bass until a later date when you put a block in.

The rout is too deep, it really needs a wood shim at least 1/2" thick with a wire rout.

I think the suggestion is a block + foam.

Yes, then you can adjust the height.

 

[Basvarken]

Okay. I enjoyed waiting on your verdict.
I'll post the sound clips here again so you don't have to scroll back

Recording A: https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/test_ey_vs_gibson_-_a.mp3


and


Recording B: https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/test_ey_vs_gibson_-_b.mp3


Recording A = Gibson
Recording B = EY

So Mark, your top 10 is upside down?

And @GBassNorth you may want to re-write your advice about using EY on a TBird II?


They are obviously very close to each other, since you guys have a hard time deciding which is which.

 

[MCF]

The rout is too deep, it really needs a wood shim at least 1/2" thick with a wire rout.



Yes, then you can adjust the height.

Or block and the springs included with the pickup.

 

[MCF]

Okay. I enjoyed waiting on your verdict.
I'll post the sound clips here again so you don't have to scroll back

Recording A: https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/test_ey_vs_gibson_-_a.mp3


and


Recording B: https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/test_ey_vs_gibson_-_b.mp3


Recording A = Gibson
Recording B = EY

So Mark, your top 10 is upside down?

And @GBassNorth you may want to re-write your advice about using EY on a TBird II?


They are obviously very close to each other, since you guys have a hard time deciding which is which.

This was a fun exercise Rob. Thanks for taking the time with this.

 

[MCF]

Or block and the springs included with the pickup.
View attachment 5210946

Oh. And the little foam blocks that also came with the pickup.

 

[Basvarken]

Oh. And the little foam blocks that also came with the pickup.
View attachment 5210959

yeah complete rubbish these little foam blocks. The foam pad covering the pickup to prevent it from rattling around in the box is better!

 

[TBird1958]

Okay. I enjoyed waiting on your verdict.
I'll post the sound clips here again so you don't have to scroll back

Recording A: https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/test_ey_vs_gibson_-_a.mp3


and


Recording B: https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/test_ey_vs_gibson_-_b.mp3


Recording A = Gibson
Recording B = EY

So Mark, your top 10 is upside down?

And @GBassNorth you may want to re-write your advice about using EY on a TBird II?


They are obviously very close to each other, since you guys have a hard time deciding which is which.

Interesting, but the pickups weren't at all close in my basses, through my rig. being not too expensive the new Gibson are the ones I like between the two. That said, I know Scott feels that the Epi 760 is the better over Gibson, I feel that some of the difference we hear are imparted by our choice of rig too.

 

[TBird1958]

Or block and the springs included with the pickup.
View attachment 5210946

Use some dense foam and the springs together, by themselves the springs don't create enough tension.

 

[Basvarken]

I feel that some of the difference we hear are imparted by our choice of rig too.

I think you just want the USA made Gibson pickup to be better ;-)