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Thunderbird Club

#269,801
Ok... Thunderbird pickups. I'm looking to replace one or both of the pups in my Epi CP. I wasn't something with more clarity, a bit more detail and top end.
I'm using a GK 800RB, into an 8x10 fridge loaded with 50-watt Jensen Mods, or a smallish 215 with Eminence Kappalite 3015s.
I find, after lots of playing time, the Thunderbucker+ in there now don't quite stand up in the mix the way I'd like to hear. They tend to be a little 'dark' to the point of 'blurry'.

Not too worried about $, I'm doing this instead of getting a second 'Bird...

I appreciate your guys' thoughts...
 
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#269,802
Count Bassie said:
Ok... Thunderbird pickups. I'm looking to replace one or both of the pups in my Epi CP. I wasn't something with more clarity, a bit more detail and top end.
I'm using a GK 800RB, into an 8x10 fridge loaded with 50-watt Jensen Mods, or a smallish 215 with Eminence Kappalite 3015s.
I find, after lots of playing time, the Thunderbucker+ in there now don't quite stand up in the mix the way I'd like to hear. They tend to be a little 'dark' to the point of 'blurry'.

Not too worried about $, I'm doing this instead of getting a second 'Bird...

I appreciate your guys' thoughts...
Click to expand...

If you can hang on a bit, hopefully by the time the festive season is done at the latest, I'll have some sound demos of the Armstrong Pickups offerings that I'll put on here?
 
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#269,808
Count Bassie said:
Ok... Thunderbird pickups. I'm looking to replace one or both of the pups in my Epi CP. I wasn't something with more clarity, a bit more detail and top end.
I'm using a GK 800RB, into an 8x10 fridge loaded with 50-watt Jensen Mods, or a smallish 215 with Eminence Kappalite 3015s.
I find, after lots of playing time, the Thunderbucker+ in there now don't quite stand up in the mix the way I'd like to hear. They tend to be a little 'dark' to the point of 'blurry'.

Not too worried about $, I'm doing this instead of getting a second 'Bird...

I appreciate your guys' thoughts...
Click to expand...
Side thought...The Genzler Four On The Floor tightened up my tone and helped the '06 with TB+ sound better. The Labella tapes worked wonders before the 4OTF and will remain on it.
 
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#269,811
dagrev said:
I'm sure it's a weird sensation to look up at the water. Would never live there. Accident waiting to happen. Again.
Click to expand...
I wanna go once-to see/ride the streetcars.
upload_2023-12-8_9-4-3.jpeg
images
images
 
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#269,812
Count Bassie said:
Ok... Thunderbird pickups. I'm looking to replace one or both of the pups in my Epi CP. I wasn't something with more clarity, a bit more detail and top end.
I'm using a GK 800RB, into an 8x10 fridge loaded with 50-watt Jensen Mods, or a smallish 215 with Eminence Kappalite 3015s.
I find, after lots of playing time, the Thunderbucker+ in there now don't quite stand up in the mix the way I'd like to hear. They tend to be a little 'dark' to the point of 'blurry'.

Not too worried about $, I'm doing this instead of getting a second 'Bird...

I appreciate your guys' thoughts...
Click to expand...

I put Lollar's in my T-Bird a long time ago and really love them. To my ear, they do what your asking.

I had also tried the Chinabuckers in a jazz bass/P Bass project but found them lacking in low end comparatively.

I swapped them out with a set of Lollar's and that problem was solved. Its in no way scientific or definitive but I really like the ones I have.

They also pop up used, from time to time, on Reverb.

120AEDE4-638E-457F-95DE-31F006F1E2C1.jpeg
20200118_094356_zpsurnp03f0.jpg
 
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#269,815
Count Bassie said:
Ok... Thunderbird pickups. I'm looking to replace one or both of the pups in my Epi CP. I wasn't something with more clarity, a bit more detail and top end.
I'm using a GK 800RB, into an 8x10 fridge loaded with 50-watt Jensen Mods, or a smallish 215 with Eminence Kappalite 3015s.
I find, after lots of playing time, the Thunderbucker+ in there now don't quite stand up in the mix the way I'd like to hear. They tend to be a little 'dark' to the point of 'blurry'.

Not too worried about $, I'm doing this instead of getting a second 'Bird...

I appreciate your guys' thoughts...
Click to expand...
This is such a hard question to answer Roger.

I’m smitten with the Gibson vintage wind reissues. They are only available with chrome covers. They don’t sound at all dark to me.

I played Dave’s VP last weekend that he put a set of Seymour Duncans in. I was very impressed with them through his vintage 60’s Music Man amp. They have more balls than the stock VP Probuckers and have plenty of mids and top end.

Ask Jeff about his thoughts on Lollars. I haven’t been able to play them, but expect to be getting a set for one of my Epi’s at some point.

All that said, I like the Tbird+ pickups in the basses I have with them just fine. I don’t find them too dark to my ears except for maybe in my Gibson short scale where the neck pickup is located closer to the fretboard than 34 scale Thunderbirds. But bear in mind I pretty much use bright stainless steel rounds on almost all of my basses and usually eq to boost mids and highs more than probably most others here.
 
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#269,818
JJR58 said:
How's that M6 treating you Marshall?
Click to expand...
Like a new bride on her honeymoon. I love the ease and versatility of the set preamp settings. Five distinct sounds with the turn of a knob from way scooped to in your face drive. As I said before, I wanted one for a lomg time. And it hasn't disappointed. And oh my god. It is a loud beast.
 
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#269,819
Count Bassie said:
Ok... Thunderbird pickups. I'm looking to replace one or both of the pups in my Epi CP. I wasn't something with more clarity, a bit more detail and top end.
I'm using a GK 800RB, into an 8x10 fridge loaded with 50-watt Jensen Mods, or a smallish 215 with Eminence Kappalite 3015s.
I find, after lots of playing time, the Thunderbucker+ in there now don't quite stand up in the mix the way I'd like to hear. They tend to be a little 'dark' to the point of 'blurry'.

Not too worried about $, I'm doing this instead of getting a second 'Bird...

I appreciate your guys' thoughts...
Click to expand...

Those are the TB+'s correct?

I dunno, If I replaced mine I can't think what I'd replace them with....

dagrev said:
Cracked me up.

You weren't serious, were you?
Click to expand...

I'm always serious...
 
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