Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

Hey everyone! I'm back, I ruined my computer a few months ago, seems computers and spilled coke don't mix, and I hate using phones so I've just been on hiatus. I've moved back to Mass 3 or 4 months ago, I'm working and starting to -play. I'm trying out for a Bad Company/Free cover band Wednesday. Normally I wouldn't want to do it but the players are good and the bass parts are pretty cool so we'll see. I also get to play my '18 black LE Thunderbird, I forgot how much I like that nice slim neck, that plus the Lull pickups make it a great bass.
Unfortunately I lost all my pictures too so I'll just have to take some new bad photos to replace my old bad photos.

Bout dang time. Welcome home.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

No, I only play at home for my cat these days.

He's not a very enthusiastic audience, generally just falls asleep....

View attachment 5213984

That’s how you know rock music is of the devil. It kills your plants and puts your cat to sleep. At least it’s not the other way around. That’s Muzak.

 

[BklynKen]

Kens playing and tone was awesome.

Thanks, Jeff.

Miles, it sounded really good, especially for that room, but I didn't use the Ampeg's tone section. As usual, I ran my 800RB pre into the FX Return.

 

[KaraQ]

I’ve had to learn to play a variety of charts. Tabs (IMO) are mainly for learning to play something a specific way, or at least a way when you can’t figure it out on your own. When it’s random people on the internet writing these, it can be entertaining. When I first started working on White Rabbit, I looked online out of curiosity. Most of the tabs were clearly off, based on tone. Then I watched videos of JA playing, and I was vindicated. JC played this way up the neck, but the tabbers were all assuming things had to be in the “money frets”. There are probably correct tabs by now.

Tabs are also good for those of us that forgot how read proper notation like....4 decades ago? I think? maybe more? and haven't put in the time to re-learn


They're good for getting "kinda close", then work the rest in by ear, and sometimes by video watching, if you want to really get particular on the left hand part (I usually do)

 

[semiprohooker]

Oh nice!! I've read somewhere on talkbass while browsing late last night, they're similar to Lulls in the sense they are very clean sounding. Not overdrive/distortion prone unless you kick the amp to it (on its own, or with fx). Can anyone confirm?

Well, TV Jones used to make the Lulls. Now I'm told that Seymour Duncan makes them for Lull. So I would assume those two would be in the vicinity (at least the same area code) tonewise.

 

[RedVee]

Tabs are also good for those of us that forgot how read proper notation like....4 decades ago? I think? maybe more? and haven't put in the time to re-learn


They're good for getting "kinda close", then work the rest in by ear, and sometimes by video watching, if you want to really get particular on the left hand part (I usually do)

For rhythm uke and guitar, my teacher does chord charts which I’m now quite used to.
For bass I’ve gone from chord letters amongst/above the lyrics to trying to read notation on the bass clef. At the same time as moving to pick from fingers.
I’m up to the stage where I can’t do anything well it seems like that.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

For rhythm uke and guitar, my teacher does chord charts which I’m now quite used to.
For bass I’ve gone from chord letters amongst/above the lyrics to trying to read notation on the bass clef. At the same time as moving to pick from fingers.
I’m up to the stage where I can’t do anything well it seems like that.

I need to get back to working with Nashville notation. Best chord charts yet.

 

[JIO]

...i think it's something about the pattern or timing that is proving troublesome for some reason...


Maybe I'll just try "sleeping on it", since having been up for almost 24hrs is unlikely to be helping

I occasionally jam with a guitarist/songwriter who will play a song he's working on straight through, sometimes with multiple chord changes and verse/chorus/ABC parts-lengths. I try to get inside his head to anticipate all the changes with hit & miss success. The way I deal with it is to break down different parts (A, B C) and try to keep track of how long each repeats. It keeps you on you toes and once internalized, then you can add expression and attack.

 

[KaraQ]

I occasionally jam with a guitarist/songwriter who will play a song he's working on straight through, sometimes with multiple chord changes and verse/chorus/ABC parts-lengths. I try to get inside his head to anticipate all the changes with hit & miss success. The way I deal with it is to break down different parts (A, B C) and try to keep track of how long each repeats. It keeps you on you toes and once internalized, then you can add expression and attack.

I guess that's generally what I do, when I run into problems - break it down into progressively smaller chunks & work those out, figure out the repeats, then build up to the whole

 

[GBassNorth]

I guess that's generally what I do, when I run into problems - break it down into progressively smaller chunks & work those out, figure out the repeats, then build up to the whole

Ditto
I do find tabs useful as a clue to how the song could be played, or at least the notes and their progression. But I still end up taking those clues with a grain of salt and rely heavily on playing by ear, sometimes with the help of what I can find on YouTube for bass line tutorials for that song…

But breaking it all down into repetitive chunks helps a lot.

 

[MCF]

Think about the new Gibson shop releases of the black ceramic / TB+ style. These might give you what

For rhythm uke and guitar, my teacher does chord charts which I’m now quite used to.
For bass I’ve gone from chord letters amongst/above the lyrics to trying to read notation on the bass clef. At the same time as moving to pick from fingers.
I’m up to the stage where I can’t do anything well it seems like that.

Yep.

 

[MCF]

Ditto
I do find tabs useful as a clue to how the song could be played, or at least the notes and their progression. But I still end up taking those clues with a grain of salt and rely heavily on playing by ear, sometimes with the help of what I can find on YouTube for bass line tutorials for that song…

But breaking it all down into repetitive chunks helps a lot.

One tool I use for progressions if I can’t get a chart in notion or tab is Chordify for the progressions.

 

[bobyoung53]

Bout dang time. Welcome home.

Thank you, yup, feels good to be back here and in the States.

 

[bobyoung53]

OK, here's the repaired EB3-L and one of it's cousins with the Lulls. Photography deluxe.

 

[Ringhammer]

No, I only play at home for my cat these days.

He's not a very enthusiastic audience, generally just falls asleep....

View attachment 5213984

Mine will usually leave the room (garage). He’s a tough crowd…

 

[Ringhammer]

Thanks for the suggestion! they're relatively accessible at 169$ CAD, & only 40$ more than Gemini UK's pickups. Still tempted by the Dominators he offers, & IDM the nickel cover if that's all that's available - i'd just use some metal specific paint to go black. (or i may do red, & draw more roots).

Well, I get the feeling they’re a good place to do business, I just emailed them yesterday to inquire if they would sell me a couple of the trim rings only in black nickel and they replied this morning that they would be happy to. I should expect an invoice soon.
Nice!

Definitely check with them to see if they offer black nickel covers. If they are made to order, they may have no problem doing this.

 

[Gaolee]

Ditto
I do find tabs useful as a clue to how the song could be played, or at least the notes and their progression. But I still end up taking those clues with a grain of salt and rely heavily on playing by ear, sometimes with the help of what I can find on YouTube for bass line tutorials for that song…

But breaking it all down into repetitive chunks helps a lot.

The fingering in tabs is often not how I end up playing things. Whoever wrote the tabs might have bigger or smaller hands than me, and it makes a difference.

 

[Ringhammer]

The fingering in tabs is often not how I end up playing things. Whoever wrote the tabs might have bigger or smaller hands than me, and it makes a difference.

I think some of the songs in the tab apps (I use Songsterr regularly) are possibly made up via computer algorithm or AI or something, because I find easier ways to play the notes than what they are showing.

Never learning how to read notation, the tab is helpful when learning by ear is tricky. I’ve never been great at learning by ear, but also I’ve never been in a cover band so most of the music I have played is stuff I either wrote, had a hand in writing, or witnessed being written. I have taught myself a number of covers for fun, and occasionally in whatever band I’ve been in, we all will decide on a fun one to drop in a set. This is where tab has helped me find the notes I’m not sure of and get good at the song quickly.

Lately my learning by ear has improved, as my new(er) band will do a lot of sending recordings of ideas around and I’m needing to figure what I’m hearing from the guitar recording, and then either play along with what it’s doing (if that’s what feels right), or try to come up with a part that will be interesting and go well with the guitars.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Ditto
I do find tabs useful as a clue to how the song could be played, or at least the notes and their progression. But I still end up taking those clues with a grain of salt and rely heavily on playing by ear, sometimes with the help of what I can find on YouTube for bass line tutorials for that song…

But breaking it all down into repetitive chunks helps a lot.

This.
Tabs are also helpful when you can't suss the fingering to make something specific happen, whether as exact fingerings or as clues/starting points.

Ahem?

 

[MCF]

George and I had a nice visit yesterday. And I can’t thank him enough for taking the time to help me. It was a great day.

He gave a great soldering lesson. We with through basics of temp, cleaning the tip, tinning, wiring pot lugs and onto the back of the pot, and using clips for heat sinks when wiring caps. I learned what a pain soldering braided wire is. I’ve asked Santa for a soldering station and assorted accessories.

George was able to wire the new Gibson Vintage reissue pickup into the BaCH II.

Final installation will be coming. I hope before the end of the year. The pickup route needs to be lengthened by a tiny amount. V reminded me of the depth that needs to be accounted for. I forgot that she also had to tweak the opening a bit for the Lull she installed in hers. Anyway, the existing wiring was “interesting.” Someone had been mucking about in there before. The job was a bit primitive with scorching on the tone pot. But all works well.

As A result of the current route, the pickup is mounted basically straddling the top of the route. The pickup won’t be adjustable until the route is tweaked. But it sounds awesome as is. We compared it with the ‘21 NR neck pickup soloed and they are definitely the same pickups. There is maybe a very subtle difference with mids/highs being slightly more perceptible due to pickup placement. I haven’t played it through the Mesa or Ampeg rigs yet so I’ll have a better idea in a few weeks.

The Gibson reissues are awesome. At $129, these should be on the short list for someone looking for a “vintage” Alnico V tone. Gibson is doing right by us gang. As V said recently, “there’s a lot going on with the Gibsons.”