Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

The cool thing about the 3D printer is it is very easy to change the thickness in the CAD software and print it again.
If it’s not too much trouble, please send me a pic with them sitting on a ruler.

Interestingly enough, they are all the same, but...

...one is a bit shorter in length & more tapered - possibly grabbed from a box of them which were mostly the same but not all exactly the same. (1964) Or maybe there were two sizes and the person assembling it just grabbed three of the larger one. We'll never know.

7/16" tall

A hair over 1/16" thick - rough cut & edges not fussed with (sanded or filed smooth) If one was attempting to do a 'authentic' counterfeit - this detail would have to be there.

1-5/8" long -

 

[MCF]

heck! that’s a lucky bass!!….

Yep! It’s only the best for my forever #1!

 

[JIO]

So I went to plan B on the Precision.
Much more cost effective way to get what I wanted.
Simple, swap out a standard P pick up for Delano’s.
Done.
And it pairs beautifully with the HawkBucker.

View attachment 5323939

Can you hear a big difference?

 

[MCF]

Gibson has used trapezoid inlays before and they do standout compared to the dots.

View attachment 5323801

I agree a few little things to make a good bass more dressed up. Like adding flair to a sports car. It doesn’t take much.

My ‘71 has Gibson engraved in the pickup covers and metal pointers on the vol/tone controls too.
View attachment 5323805View attachment 5323804

Damn! Now I’m wanting an SG!

 

[dagrev]

You know the solution. And it should go without saying. Get another Thunderbird.

Somehow how I figured you might make that suggestion.

 

[dagrev]

OK, this is just a funny song. Don't think I've ever heard of him. This this is hilarious.

 

[JJR58]

Can you hear a big difference?

Massive difference.
I’ve used these before in a custom shop Precision.
Way more dynamic.
Punchy as all get out.
Way better on the lows and low mids.
And the attack is very present.

 

[JIO]

Scott keeps teasing that 60’s will be coming in colors. And NAMM is days away. We’ll see.

I love that period of The Rolling Stones. Love these vids too - here's another...



our version -

 

[SubHuman]

I love that period of The Rolling Stones. Love these vids too - here's another...



our version -

One of my favorite Stones tunes...You almost feel the desolation of deep space!
I think that's Brian Jones playing the Mellotron or maybe Geo? Nice Bass line.

 

[D.M.N.]

Like others have mentioned:

60s birds sound different than 70s, are different than moderns.

60s are seen, & beloved as "the holy grail" thunderbird.

70s, due to their side wind construction, & wired in series (not parallel like 60s & modern birds), they definitely hold their own as a thunderbird. Perhaps more growl/edge. Dont quote me, im going based on video demos & they sound sweet.

moderns are darker still. Ceramic magnet, around 9-10k winds (perhaps bit more). Very rock, low end, with enough top end to bite. But still darker sounding.

then you have most brands doing a 60s repro pickup, others do a modern variant. None do the 70s side wind that ive ever heard about. & the likes of old greco, orville birds which are probably more 60s character but with their own flavour.



If you enjoy your pro as is, dont change it. Instead, try finding an epiphone 60s vintage, or classic pro (60s vs modern bird tones)

With all the 60s options available these days, it'd be nice to see someone do a Sidewinder recreation, I'd be interested in trying some out.

 

[Bent77]

Damn! Now I’m wanting an SG!

Come to the dark side, we have mud!

 

[Engle]

Interestingly enough, they are all the same, but...

View attachment 5323904
...one is a bit shorter in length & more tapered - possibly grabbed from a box of them which were mostly the same but not all exactly the same. (1964) Or maybe there were two sizes and the person assembling it just grabbed three of the larger one. We'll never know.
View attachment 5323905
7/16" tall
View attachment 5323915
A hair over 1/16" thick - rough cut & edges not fussed with (same or files smooth) If one was attempting to do a 'authentic' counterfeit - this detail would have to be there.
View attachment 5323920
1-5/8" long -
View attachment 5323921

Thanks Geo! I thought each bass would have two for the bridge cover and only one for the pickup cover because one side of the cover was on the pickguard.

 

[JJR58]

With all the 60s options available these days, it'd be nice to see someone do a Sidewinder recreation, I'd be interested in trying some out.

Dylan, a Sidewinder is sooooo meant for you.

 

[ectoflanger]

Gibson has used trapezoid inlays before and they do standout compared to the dots.

View attachment 5323801

I agree a few little things to make a good bass more dressed up. Like adding flair to a sports car. It doesn’t take much.

My ‘71 has Gibson engraved in the pickup covers and metal pointers on the vol/tone controls too.
View attachment 5323805View attachment 5323804

Trapezoid man myself, but really knocks me out is body and neck binding-

 

[JIO]

One of my favorite Stones tunes...You almost feel the desolation of deep space!
I think that's Brian Jones playing the Mellotron or maybe Geo? Nice Bass line.

Thanks - Kirstin / Roland VR-09 / M9 (using the last bands drum-kit)

 

[JIO]

Thanks Geo! I thought each bass would have two for the bridge cover and only one for the pickup cover because one side of the cover was on the pickguard.

Good point... I really should only have needed 3. (?) I wish I had a close up shot from when I got it in '78 before I replaced the pg. (another time as far as easy/sharp-focus detail photo's go!) My stollen '63 II didn't have either cover when I bought it in '75. But I still do have the bridge cover (same as the T-bird bridge cover) from my '68 EB-3, so maybe it had the spacers and I lost one.

 

[Stealth57]

OK, this is just a funny song. Don't think I've ever heard of him. This this is hilarious.

He might have been my neighbor in Louisiana.

 

[dagrev]

I love that period of The Rolling Stones. Love these vids too - here's another...



our version -

I like your version better! Nicely done!

 

[Engle]

I managed to get the bottom cover off one of my Orville pickups.
They are potted in epoxy, but the can wasn’t filled and the cover wasn’t soldered to the base plate.
Looks like alnico magnets.
DCR is about 7.8k on both.
It will be interesting to A/B them with the Gibson reissues.

 

[D.M.N.]

Dylan, a Sidewinder is sooooo meant for you.

I've never had a chance to try out a 70s bird. I love the 760s and Greco pickups, do want to try the Gibson ones as well, but the Sidewinders sound interesting, maybe somewhere between the 60s style and the Rickenbacker pickups I've been using most recently.