Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

But it looks wonderful going down.

AHEM!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Amazon?

Optimus.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

…

If I do #1, I find the harmonic is slightly sharp. Which is correct? Clearly, there isn’t much difference.

From the manufacturer’s handbook: “It is not recommended to urinate on on the instrument while adjusting or playing it.”

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I came for the looks and the sound, and I stayed for both.

OK, I also stayed for the feel and playability.

 

[Stealth57]

Optimus.

Willy is Mr. Hello Kitty and Mr. Transformer.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

You're thinking of Jeff, Will's normal.........

For those that don't know, that's the Fremont Troll, a famous Seattle landmark.

Somewhere we have a photo of me sticking a wand up its nose, a la Harry Potter.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I don't think any y'all are normal

Thank you!

 

[JIO]

I have a couple of nice basses that are just too heavy, so they don't get picked up.

For sure - excessive weight is a deal-breaker for me no matter how nice they are. My current ceiling is 9lbs - anything over that is admired from a distance.

 

[The EDP]

Intonation is commonly a compromise - I've only ever had one bass (out of lots) that I could set the bridge saddle from the 12th fret note/harmonic and every note on the fingerboard was bang in tune. I add 2 or 3 more fretted notes to my checklist and adjust until all 5 (or 6) checks look close enough on my strobe and clip on - I'll check the 15th/17th fretted notes and the 7th fret. On both my tuners (Peterson Strobostomp 2/TC Electronic clip on) I've found I've a little wiggle room back and forth with the saddle once it's "in tune" and it'll still be in tune - so I concluded that to mean "in tune" is a wider parameter than I expected so I use the other notes/frets to get it finely tuned. And I definitely hear the difference from all my instruments since I started doing it this way - much more detailed checking - which was only in the last year.
There is also the possibility that the slotting of the fingerboard was not as precise as it could have been, that will also have an effect on intonation. Fret job could do too - but you'd likely see that, if the frets look squiffy!

Octave harmonics are not normally that far from the open. I usually compare the harmonic and 12th fret. Keep in mind you should press down as much as you would when playing and make the neck is supported so the action is the same as when you're playing.

Good point - I forgot to mention that I only ever set up my intonation with the bass on a strap in playing position.

 

[Count Bassie]

I played in the basement last night for an hour or so, CP 'Bird into the 800RB into the old version of a Hartke 4.5XL, mid driver disconnected.
Ran the hpf>SansAmp board to the input of the GK, used the -10dB toggle, the hot output of the Thunderbucker+ and the live signal from the SansAmp was overwhelming the poor Hartke.
Anyway, with both p'ups all the way up I got a huge deep tone, and there was a lot of 'ornery' in there, very wooly. Pulling the neck vol back a notch made it less bassy, more Flea-like, if you will. The difference was pretty impressive. I am generally intrigued by the way pickups interact dynamically...
Unbelievably, I forgot that I usually have the bridge p'up dialed back quite a bit. I'm having overload/burnout/stress issues, and I don't think a vacation is coming, so I'm trying to just see my life a little differently, trim down and simplify everything, from attitude, to what I pay attention to, to material possessions... The bass gear thing is subject to that idea, so I'm trying to decide what to keep and what's ok to lose.
But that was interesting to discover at any rate. I'm glad to have my 'Bird back home. And with the GK I'm hoping to find the definitive clarity and punch I think I've been missing with most of the other amps I've been using. So far I'm hopeful. I know this pairing has some advocates around here.

GK note: I'm really liking the Master vol around 9 o'clock, the Boost at about 3 o'clock, and the Input Gain as the volume control. Pulls the 'wooly' out, is clean and punchy, and the character of the bass is still present.

 

[JJR58]

I'm of the same camp as you Roger, clean clear and punchy is what i'm always after.
Got another piece of gear coming that will greatly add to "my tone".

 

[Count Bassie]

I'm of the same camp as you Roger, clean clear and punchy is what i'm always after.
Got another piece of gear coming that will greatly add to "my tone".

And?...

 

[JJR58]

And?...

More to come, soon.

 

[GonePlaid]

I tried one o' these. Didn't help...

 

[Engle]

For sure - excessive weight is a deal-breaker for me no matter how nice they are. My current ceiling is 9lbs - anything over that is admired from a distance.

I won't buy a bass body without knowing the weight.

 

[Ringhammer]

I have decided I like having trim rings when using vintage style pickups on a thunderbird:

before:

After:

…and chrome on black is pretty too:

 

[Thumper]

I've got a Pbass that comes in around 9.8 lbs, and ranks in the top 2 P's I've ever owned tonewise, the other being a '76. The '76 was at least 10 lbs, coincidence? I think not. It sounds so good, I won't sell it anytime soon, I'll just play it seated at home.

 

[Blazer]

Well, I completed my Rhoads.

 

[TBird1958]

I have decided I like having trim rings when using vintage style pickups on a thunderbird:

before:

View attachment 5230308

View attachment 5230309

After:

View attachment 5230318

View attachment 5230320


…and chrome on black is pretty too:

View attachment 5230322

Chrome is the Bomb, love it!

 

[TBird1958]

Excessive amounts of chrome, yum!