I think Andy is in the shadow of the Chick Magnet.I love this picture (Thank you, Dave!) and that we all could be together for a little while and just relax and enjoy the moment. It's a very fond memory.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- club thunderbird
So, I’m actually really surprised at the difference these made:
I’ve been playing this amp with the same cabinet, same two basses, in the same room with the same people, doing the same songs, and new, for the last few months. I purchased the GE 6550’s and swapped them with the “PM” Chinese tubes that were in it. The PM’s did test good and strong, and I was getting 170w clean watts. I just wanted good USA tubes in it, and a set of matched pairs of GE’s came up, so I bought them. My tech swapped them out, and had to “bring up the bias” (I think is what he said) quite a bit to get the GE’s to put out, ultimately, 169 clean watts. I honestly didn’t expect to hear a big difference, but given the above parameters/situation with all the same conditions, it turned out to be a good chance to A/B something like this. When I powered it up and plugged in I immediately noticed it sounded way better (and it was already good), but I kinda kept my thoughts to myself. Then I made the sarcastic joke that my vintage tubes seem to make my amp sound $450 dollars better. Each of the guys seriously said they noticed that it sounded really good and “tighter”, which was a good description of what I heard. I had been sorta struggling with boomy-ness in our rehearsal space and with the 1x15 before.
Feels good that the expense of these tubes made such a truly noticeable difference.
I’ve been playing this amp with the same cabinet, same two basses, in the same room with the same people, doing the same songs, and new, for the last few months. I purchased the GE 6550’s and swapped them with the “PM” Chinese tubes that were in it. The PM’s did test good and strong, and I was getting 170w clean watts. I just wanted good USA tubes in it, and a set of matched pairs of GE’s came up, so I bought them. My tech swapped them out, and had to “bring up the bias” (I think is what he said) quite a bit to get the GE’s to put out, ultimately, 169 clean watts. I honestly didn’t expect to hear a big difference, but given the above parameters/situation with all the same conditions, it turned out to be a good chance to A/B something like this. When I powered it up and plugged in I immediately noticed it sounded way better (and it was already good), but I kinda kept my thoughts to myself. Then I made the sarcastic joke that my vintage tubes seem to make my amp sound $450 dollars better. Each of the guys seriously said they noticed that it sounded really good and “tighter”, which was a good description of what I heard. I had been sorta struggling with boomy-ness in our rehearsal space and with the 1x15 before.
Feels good that the expense of these tubes made such a truly noticeable difference.
Since I can't afford that great bourbon, how about something like this?
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,587
- 221,942
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Sorry to hear of your MIL's health issues - be strong.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,587
- 221,942
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
If it was fireproof, I could see NASCAR drivers wearing it...
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,587
- 221,942
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I love this picture (Thank you, Dave!) and that we all could be together for a little while and just relax and enjoy the moment. It's a very fond memory.
That pic sez' it all. (thanks again Chucky, & Frank!
)
They should require plea deals to be reached a few days before court dates to not waste time and money.
I have the extended weekend off with no gigs.
I got shanghaied by my commercial crabber buddy. He needed an extra mate for the day and knew I was hanging around..it’s a workout loading and hauling bushels around the boat.
Didn’t get a chance to talk to them about Thunderbird Basses.
I got shanghaied by my commercial crabber buddy. He needed an extra mate for the day and knew I was hanging around..it’s a workout loading and hauling bushels around the boat.
Didn’t get a chance to talk to them about Thunderbird Basses.
I wish there was another way to acknowledge a post aside from liking it. I don’t like this.
Like I've said before, good tubes matter. If you have crappy tubes the sound doesn't bounce around inside the tubes as well with crappy tubes as with good ones.
Seriously though. I believe you are hearing a difference and don't doubt it for a minute. Every tube won't make that as much difference as others it seems, but some clearly make a noticeable difference. I'm thrilled about your results!
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Better that you can't see my face!
Thanks guys. I appreciate it.
If we ever get to meet, I expect we could spend hours talking music.
I posted this in Bassists, but it deserves a place here too: Kevin Scott is a monster. In this video, he plays a Thunderbird, a Ripper, a Rick, multiple P basses, and a Jazz. He really fits the band concept of Gov't Mule.
thx Marshall, hard to tell if they are the coke bottle type like these….
you still at the mountain house?….
So, interesting visit with Armstrong Pickups today. Pics to follow, much learned:
Looks like some Greco pups do indeed have ceramic magnets (as was suggested in that Tokai forum thread) as the pair in my IV are -
Neck - 9.89KΩ
Bridge - 9.85KΩ
So not different units, just two of the same but he was taking Gauss readings as well, in order to get more insight into which type of magnet and wire were most likely used:
Neck - 54.7
Bridge - 54.6
Apparently that means that the magnets are most likely ceramic with 42AWG wire. But this is not 100% certain just most likely - only way to tell beyond doubt would be to dissemble the pups.
Also, I asked him to check out the chrome-covered pups on my '22 NR, and they are different units at neck and bridge, so the one on sale on the Gibson site is solely the bridge unit:
Neck - 7.34KΩ
Bridge - 8.37KΩ
Gauss:
Neck - 28
Bridge - 31.2
His thoughts were alnico with 42AWG, I showed him the spec on the site and he was happy to see it listed alnico 5.
The EB pups were:
Neck - 9.98KΩ
Bridge - 15.12KΩ
Both very close to the published data.
Got a little work to do with Tone pros locking bridge/tailpiece studs on my Greco, and some jiggery-pokery with my RexBird and it's newly potted pups - in gold covers . . .
Looks like some Greco pups do indeed have ceramic magnets (as was suggested in that Tokai forum thread) as the pair in my IV are -
Neck - 9.89KΩ
Bridge - 9.85KΩ
So not different units, just two of the same but he was taking Gauss readings as well, in order to get more insight into which type of magnet and wire were most likely used:
Neck - 54.7
Bridge - 54.6
Apparently that means that the magnets are most likely ceramic with 42AWG wire. But this is not 100% certain just most likely - only way to tell beyond doubt would be to dissemble the pups.
Also, I asked him to check out the chrome-covered pups on my '22 NR, and they are different units at neck and bridge, so the one on sale on the Gibson site is solely the bridge unit:
Neck - 7.34KΩ
Bridge - 8.37KΩ
Gauss:
Neck - 28
Bridge - 31.2
His thoughts were alnico with 42AWG, I showed him the spec on the site and he was happy to see it listed alnico 5.
The EB pups were:
Neck - 9.98KΩ
Bridge - 15.12KΩ
Both very close to the published data.
Got a little work to do with Tone pros locking bridge/tailpiece studs on my Greco, and some jiggery-pokery with my RexBird and it's newly potted pups - in gold covers . . .
excellent!, sounds like a productive meeting…does he measure inductance and/or capacitance as well? If we can do this then we would have a reliable, repeatable metric from which to pick our favorite responses leading us to our ideal pickup choice…..this trek has been going on for awhile…..So, interesting visit with Armstrong Pickups today. Pics to follow, much learned:
Looks like some Greco pups do indeed have ceramic magnets (as was suggested in that Tokai forum thread) as the pair in my IV are -
Neck - 9.89KΩ
Bridge - 9.85KΩ
So not different units, just two of the same but he was taking Gauss readings as well, in order to get more insight into which type of magnet and wire were most likely used:
Neck - 54.7
Bridge - 54.6
Apparently that means that the magnets are most likely ceramic with 42AWG wire. But this is not 100% certain just most likely - only way to tell beyond doubt would be to dissemble the pups.
Also, I asked him to check out the chrome-covered pups on my '22 NR, and they are different units at neck and bridge, so the one on sale on the Gibson site is solely the bridge unit:
Neck - 7.34KΩ
Bridge - 8.37KΩ
Gauss:
Neck - 28
Bridge - 31.2
His thoughts were alnico with 42AWG, I showed him the spec on the site and he was happy to see it listed alnico 5.
The EB pups were:
Neck - 9.98KΩ
Bridge - 15.12KΩ
Both very close to the published data.
Got a little work to do with Tone pros locking bridge/tailpiece studs on my Greco, and some jiggery-pokery with my RexBird and it's newly potted pups - in gold covers . . .
