Miles has a lot of respect for just ye.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
Tube Saturday.
Just had my AD200B’s gone through and did a big tube swap in both.
One, a 2011 model, which I got about a month ago for just $700, needed the power transformer taps changed as it was a UK/EU model, with no 120 VAC option on the switch, only 220/230. Now it’s only 120, and the switch is disconnected. Also had a “Power Amp In” setup and put in where the “Active” input jack is located. With all the fancy pedal pre-amps, this allows me to play around with these. For example, I have the Ampeg SGT-DI pedal, which has a B15/SVT setting and cabsim switch with 115/410/810 setting, and a preamp out jack. Now it goes right into the power amp in and I get a 200w B15 or SVT!
This one had JJ 6550’s and “PM” 12AX7’s and a 12AT7 (UK branded Chinese tubes I believe). Now it has a matched set of Sylvania 6550’s (Phillips labeled), an RCA 12BH7 in place of the 12AT7, and two RCA “long black plate” 12ax7’s
2011 model:
View attachment 5233527
View attachment 5233528
And in my other AD200B, a set of GE6550’s and a GE 12BH7 in place of the 12AT7. With (for now) some good JJ 12ax7’s under the covers:
View attachment 5233538
View attachment 5233540
So the way I do this is, one of these stays at the rehearsal space with an OBC115, and gets regular, once a week (at most) use. The other is parked at home with an OBC115 and OBC210 cab. When the band has a show, I load up the amp that’s at home, and either one or both of the cabinets. Then after the show, at the next practice, I swap heads and the one that was parked at home and just used at a show will get regular use at the studio. Also nice to not have to go to the rehearsal space and bring an amp and cabs down stairs on a gig night.
It will be interesting to see if I notice a big difference between these heads.
The one with (now) the GE’s is the one I have had for awhile, and it had “PM” 6550’s in it. My tech did a good “cook and burn” test on them when I got it and they checked out strong. When he put the GE’s in yesterday, he had to bias them up quite a bit from where it was with the PM’s, but he got it putting out a solid 169 clean watts. Since no other changes were made, and this was the amp I used at rehearsal on Thursday, I’ll bring this back to the space on Monday and see if I hear a big change.
I probably won’t, but I’m sure I’ll convince myself that it sounds even more awesome with good old USA power tubes!
Dude! Tubes!
Have you been to a Suzi Quatro show? She’s coming to Australia for the 38th time! She’s on my list of acts to catch live while we both are.
- Jun 30, 2010
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- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Glad to see the BaCH waiting to rock but I need tp see a pic of you playing it.
- Mar 13, 2008
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- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,964
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- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Just watched the Sound of Bond doc and it's awesome - Bond is so much involved with pop history; film, music, iconography and story-telling. Worth checking out. I just wish Radiohead's entry would have been chosen...
She could take me to Devil Gate Drive anytime. I’d certainly come alive! and we could Can the Can.
But seriously…. Yes, I’d love to see her. She is headlining a Festival style tour which is an issues for me as I just can’t stand for 7 bands. I may need to try though. I’m hoping to see her in a more intimate setting, a small club or theatre.
As you can see by the 38 tours… Suzi Q is a real favourite down here, right from the start we’ve been one of her best markets.
Hey guys, so I just got my first T-bird (an Epi 60s T-bird) and I'm surprised that I like it so much, while it is pretty unwieldy (especially the 60s headstock which will not fit in a gig bag :/), I actually like how it sits on a strap and it balanced much better than I though it would. It's currently got flats on it and sings with a nice throaty thump.
In terms of weight I feel like I got pretty lucky with one being 8.5-9lbs. Would it be unreasonable to expect a more recent Gibson thunderbird like a standard T-Bird or Rex Brown Model to weight around the same? I know weight has been one of the historical cons people have slapped over T-birds over the decades.
In terms of weight I feel like I got pretty lucky with one being 8.5-9lbs. Would it be unreasonable to expect a more recent Gibson thunderbird like a standard T-Bird or Rex Brown Model to weight around the same? I know weight has been one of the historical cons people have slapped over T-birds over the decades.
I have SIT Power Flats on mine and love everything about it. A nice suede strap and never even think about neck dive.
While I haven’t put them on a scale, my VP (60s) feels about the same as my 2015 Gibson weight-wise.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
My passport, other than the US one, is the one you have to show to go to the next holler in Appalachia. It might not get you across the border from North Carolina into Tennessee.
I thought that passport was a toothless grin.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
There are a lot of knocks on Thunderbirds that might be a bit overblown. But don't tell anybody. It is our secret. If anybody asks, tell 'em it weighs a ton, dives like a Stuka, sounds like pond bottom mud, and has a broken headstock.
Anything else to add?
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Only really strange people play them…not sure that’s a bad thing.
All three of my Gibson Thunderbirds (2x2013 and one 2018) weigh 8.2 lbs.
All of my modern Birds weigh under 8.5 lbs. My 1977 is definitely heavier, but not sure what it weighs.
Haha yea it seems they’ve got good prices on the the used market for the most part too so I’ll have to keep shush about them
really considering saving up for a Gibson T-bird, not sure if I’d want to go the super bird route like a D-Roc or ESP, only thing about those is they’re kinda only T-birds in looks only, since the pickup configs are different.
Dunable and Lull seem to make nice non T-bird basses with similar electronics packages, but pretty pricey.
My 2011 Gibson is about smack on 4kgs with strap and strap locks. Google says that is 8.8 lbs approx
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,964
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- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Haha yea it seems they’ve got good prices on the the used market for the most part too so I’ll have to keep shush about them
really considering saving up for a Gibson T-bird, not sure if I’d want to go the super bird route like a D-Roc or ESP, only thing about those is they’re kinda only T-birds in looks only, since the pickup configs are different.
Dunable and Lull seem to make nice non T-bird basses with similar electronics packages, but pretty pricey.
I can't speak for the Gen II (late '65-'68) T-bird NR I or II, but as the long-time owner/player of a '64 II - the recent Epi VP IV is the closest you'll get to a vintage "reverse" T-bird in looks and sound for a fraction of the price of an actual vintage example.
There are a couple of gig bags that fit a VP. The one I have doesn’t have a brand on it. There’s a Gator or two that work as well - either Ken or Donnie has one, IIRC.
