Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

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.

I’ll blame it on the iPad speaker (which I said wasn’t a good way to listen to bass pickup differences). That said, I did hear a distinct difference on the bottom end between the two samples, not even close on my iPad, spotted it three notes into the sample. So the learning for me is, I like the EY pickup sound (sample #2, the one I thought was a Gibson) better on my iPad.

Unfortunately I haven’t had time today to plug into my bass amp and play the sound clips, that would be a much more accurate test since that’s how I would normally hear how my bass sounds. I’ll still do it later today, may stick with my original assessment, may not, we’ll see, wish I could have done it before the big reveal.

 

[MCF]

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

Some here may not know. Rob is the author of the Gibson Bass Book as well as a bass builder extraordinaire. Ping him for info on how to get a copy. Highly recommended.

 

[Engle]

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.

I think many of these pickups are close enough that a slight shift in plucking/picking hand position or change in EQ can make more difference.

 

[GBassNorth]

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

Hopefully they gave you screws that are plenty long enough, that one spare part I’m short on right now.

 

[MCF]

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

Agreed. I was just thinking the same thing.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

hmmmm.....too late for White Wed?......TT instead?.....

 

[MCF]

Hopefully they gave you screws that are plenty long enough, that one spare part I’m short on right now.

I may have two slightly longer ones. But I think they’re at the other house. And they’re black. It’ll get sorted in due course. I’m thrilled to get the wiring done. And relearning how to solder. I have an ancient Weller soldering gun that I haven’t used in at least 35 years. I know I’ll need to get a decent modern kit.

 

[TBird1958]

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

Nope, I'm not that much of a Nationalist Rob, I had the Ey's in my Orville for about two years, they just didn't cut it, playing them with the band it was quite apparent to my ears that certain frequencies in the bass lo/mid mids were missing, much the same as the Epi 760s. Having replaced the EYs and the Epi 760 with SD and Gibson I hear much more, going on, fuller, richer. Ultimately my ears made the choice for me.

 

[Engle]

Has anybody tried these?
Thunderbird Bass for Original Epiphone,With Gibson Thunderbi

 

[MCF]

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.

And strings. And our hearing.

 

[TBird1958]

hmmmm.....too late for White Wed?......TT instead?.....

You're sending that up to Seattle when it's done, yes?

 

[MCF]

Has anybody tried these?
Thunderbird Bass for Original Epiphone,With Gibson Thunderbi

I have considered trying them in the Goth. Once I retire from the clampdown, I’ll have time to really do it.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

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.

A all day long….

 

[MCF]

A all day long….

And you’re going to tell us that you listened to them on your phone. Aren’t you.

 

[Basvarken]

Nope, I'm not that much of a Nationalist Rob, I had the Ey's in my Orville for about two years, they just didn't cut it, playing them with the band it was quite apparent to my ears that certain frequencies in the bass lo/mid mids were missing, much the same as the Epi 760s. Having replaced the EYs and the Epi 760 with SD and Gibson I hear much more, going on, fuller, richer. Ultimately my ears made the choice for me.

Yeah but still you chose the wrong one to be the EY
So the difference can’t be all that big.

Personally I think the Gibson has a little bit more punch. And a bit more top end.
Which comes across better in the fingerstyle part that I played.
The EY sounds a liitle more “airy”. Less compressed.

My customer chose the Gibson after some deliberation. So I’m going to have that wired to the pots.

 

[BklynKen]

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

Most of the difference, in my experience. Incredible how minimal the difference was between the Thunderbuckers and TB+ on my usual GK-based rig. Much more significant difference through the B-15.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

You're sending that up to Seattle when it's done, yes?

you mean this?……
of course Your Highness!

 

[MCF]

you mean this?……
of course Your Highness!
View attachment 5210991

Nice!

 

[JJR58]

hmmmm.....too late for White Wed?......TT instead?.....

DUUUUDE!!!!!!!

 

[TBird1958]

Yeah but still you chose the wrong one to be the EY
So the difference can’t be all that big.

Personally I think the Gibson has a little bit more punch. And a bit more top end.
Which comes across better in the fingerstyle part that I played.
The EY sounds a liitle more “airy”. Less compressed.

My customer chose the Gibson after some deliberation. So I’m going to have that wired to the pots.

Let me know when you need some more Gibson pickups, happy to send them across the pond!
I think you'll just have to fly to Seattle for the next GTG and hear things my way