Thunderbird Club

[kyral210]

I've been thinking about coil split options for one of my Thunderbirds, might be I need to pickup a spare EY pickup and experiment for myself...

I’m selling a set of splittable Thunderbird pickups if you’re interested. PM me

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Sounds like you guys are saying is it's worth grabbing this.
I need to find out how much trouble it is crossing the border with gear, if you're not playing gigs or selling.

grab it!…

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

@Chucky Stiletti I got a round to taking a pic of the '76 cap. Even with a bright light I can't make anything out on it.
View attachment 5217818View attachment 5217818

Thx Donnie! so, take it the pot is 500k?..
thx again Dude….

 

[kyral210]

Have you ever played a Thunderbird? There is nothing unappealing about the tone. There are a multitude of tones in Gibsons, Epiphones, Grecos, etc if a player knows what they are doing with the volume and tone knobs, string choice, and amp eq. I can make my 2015 sound like a JBass if I want to. I don’t, but that’s my personal preference. I can get all of my Thunderbirds sound like a Pbass if I want to And I sometimes do. But I also have Pbasses.

I’m new to the flock. Please instruct me on how to tone shape a thunderbird to sound like (e.g., a p bass)

 

[Engle]

I why aren’t thunderbirds more popular?

they look awesome in a way that commands the stage in a way that a gender just can’t. Is the tone that unappealing?

A few factors:
They are Gibsons/Epiphones and Gibson has never really concentrated on marketing their basses.
The angled headstock without a scarf joint is more likely than a Fender to crack or break if the bass falls.
The ergonomics aren't for everyone.
There is a misconception that Gibson/Epiphones all have muddy sounding pickups.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

@Miles_ONeal ….
a warm “howdy” from the weird coast….
BRISKET….

 

[Gaolee]

The pickups in my EB4 with the exposed pole pieces are splittable, AND it's the first and last time I thought split coils actually sounded good....

Those are the same DeCola pickups as in a '15 Thunderbird. I have a 2013 EB with those pickups and a '15 Thunderbird. The EB is just a hair brighter than the Thunderbird, which goes to show that the wood the bass is made of does have some minor influence on the tone. It's not enough to be worth thinking about much, though. I really like those pickups. If anybody ever gets an chance to grab a set, it's worth doing.

 

[The EDP]

The Dicola pickups, available in a Thunderbird for 2015 only, are what make the ‘15 a desirable addition to any Thunderbird flock.

Those pickups are installed into the Rex Bird, I know because they put a pair into mine that they'd not potted into the covers and they still have the labels. The shop eventually got an answer from Gibson saying those were the correct units but that they were supposed to be properly potted so at some point a new pair will turn up. I'm'a try n buy the loose pair and have them potted into a pair of gold covers like @TBird1958 suggested!!!
So, if you like Birds with those pups then they are still available but only in Black with Gold hardware. But they come with full Hipshot hardware. Which is great!

 

[Engle]

Those are the same DeCola pickups as in a '15 Thunderbird. I have a 2013 EB with those pickups and a '15 Thunderbird. The EB is just a hair brighter than the Thunderbird, which goes to show that the wood the bass is made of does have some minor influence on the tone. It's not enough to be worth thinking about much, though. I really like those pickups. If anybody ever gets an chance to grab a set, it's worth doing.

EB has a maple neck?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Have you ever played a Thunderbird? There is nothing unappealing about the tone. There are a multitude of tones in Gibsons, Epiphones, Grecos, etc if a player knows what they are doing with the volume and tone knobs, string choice, and amp eq. I can make my 2015 sound like a JBass if I want to. I don’t, but that’s my personal preference. I can get all of my Thunderbirds sound like a Pbass if I want to And I sometimes do. But I also have Pbasses.

dunno…..this one makes that Acoustic rig (never a fan) sound ok…
https://youtube.com/shorts/20UF-D7DcxE?si=hW8-0RDbwuSsIB3q

 

[Gaolee]

I why aren’t thunderbirds more popular?

they look awesome in a way that commands the stage in a way that a gender just can’t. Is the tone that unappealing?

Shhhh... Don't tell anybody.

Actually, it's because a Thunderbird has to choose you. If it doesn't, it won't behave at all. It will neck dive. It will be muddy. It will force you to wear cargo pants and flip-flops on stage. It will make bacon taste like tofu.

If one chooses you, it balances perfectly. It has all kinds of sounds in it and you can play anything with it and it will sound great. It will march through a mix like Sherman went through Georgia if you want it to, but it won't if you ask it politely not to. It will make everything taste like bacon, dogs will love you, cats will actually acknowledge your presence, and your preferred groupie configuration will suddenly discover that you are far more interesting than the lead guitarist.

So, don't give away the secret. It stays in here.

 

[JJR58]

@Miles_ONeal ….
a warm “howdy” from the weird coast….
BRISKET….
View attachment 5217881

And that was some damn fine brisket at that!
Oh wait, we had tri-tip that day.

 

[Gaolee]

EB has a maple neck?

Yes, and ash body.

 

[Gaolee]

I’m new to the flock. Please instruct me on how to tone shape a thunderbird to sound like (e.g., a p bass)

I experiment with it until I like it. Sometimes it's a bit of a roll-off of the lowest frequencies and a slight mid boost, sometimes a bit of a scoop when I'm in that kind of mood, but usually nearly flat. I like the way Thunderbirds sound, so not a whole lot of tone shaping necessary. Precisions are generally low-mid heavy, depending on the strings.

 

[_Tay_]

Have you ever played a Thunderbird? There is nothing unappealing about the tone. There are a multitude of tones in Gibsons, Epiphones, Grecos, etc if a player knows what they are doing with the volume and tone knobs, string choice, and amp eq. I can make my 2015 sound like a JBass if I want to. I don’t, but that’s my personal preference. I can get all of my Thunderbirds sound like a Pbass if I want to And I sometimes do. But I also have Pbasses.

A lot of people think they sound too muddy while failing to think of adding/changing EQ to make it sound like whatever they want. It's the beauty of the thunderbird pickup, like you say you can get it to sound like almost anything. I'd rather start with the darker sounding pickup foundation and build a sound from there. Personally I prefer (at the minute) a brighter/snappy/funky bass sound and my NR gives all the grunt/balls I need

 

[JJR58]

dunno…..this one makes that Acoustic rig (never a fan) sound ok…
https://youtube.com/shorts/20UF-D7DcxE?si=hW8-0RDbwuSsIB3q

Now that's a real bass.

 

[Engle]

Yes, and ash body.

Makes sense it will be a bit brighter. I'm thinking of trying the Decolas I have in my Jolana Discobass.

 

[dagrev]

Anyone got any info on the SIT Power Wound Nickel strings - same gauges? Dark or bright or muddy - or maybe dreadful tension/break all the time? Found some at an absurd price over here, thinking it's either because they are sh*te or they're now out of production but have ordered a couple sets to try them out! For less than one set of D'addarios or two thirds of a set of GHS boomers!!

I love them. In my experience they are bright for NPS, but in a good way. Nice clear top end, great mids and solid not hallow lows. They made my Jazz basses enjoyable to play. They are very close in tone to Boomers, which I also like on certain basses. Great strings. Their Power Steels are nice also. Not spiky bright. The Power Wounds seem to have more mids--or the mids stand out more for some reason. Way better to my ears than D'addarios, which are possibly one of the worst sounding strings made by a well known company. But that's just my take. I've tried many times, but have yet to find a D'A string that sounds good to me.

 

[The EDP]

I love them. In my experience they are bright for NPS, but in a good way. Nice clear top end, great mids and solid not hallow lows. They made my Jazz basses enjoyable to play. They are very close in tone to Boomers, which I also like on certain basses. Great strings. Their Power Steels are nice also. Not spiky bright. The Power Wounds seem to have more mids--or the mids stand out more for some reason. Way better to my ears than D'addarios, which are possibly one of the worst sounding strings made by a well known company. But that's just my take. I've tried many times, but have yet to find a D'A string that sounds good to me.

Thanks ever so much, they turned up a couple of hours ago, looking forwards to trying them!!

 

[MCF]

Those pickups are installed into the Rex Bird, I know because they put a pair into mine that they'd not potted into the covers and they still have the labels. The shop eventually got an answer from Gibson saying those were the correct units but that they were supposed to be properly potted so at some point a new pair will turn up. I'm'a try n buy the loose pair and have them potted into a pair of gold covers like @TBird1958 suggested!!!
So, if you like Birds with those pups then they are still available but only in Black with Gold hardware. But they come with full Hipshot hardware. Which is great!

Interesting info about the Rex. Do you have pics without the covers or take some? And of the control cavity?