Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

Have you tried a HPF? I don’t recall if you use one. You run through Ampegs, correct?

I used the one on the Genzler (overdrive signal only, but that is most of what I'm using). It helped some, like on the E, but also seemed to thin out the upper strings. I've lowered the E side of the neck pickup to kind of tame the E a bit. I notice on some sets of strings, the E is more dominant than other sets. One of the obvious downsides of pickups with the only adjustments being on either end is a lack of fine tuning. One think I like about Pbasses, Dimarzio's and G&L pickups is individual string adjustments.

 

[dagrev]

Buy Richard’s. Or mine.

I look to you for good advice.



And you give it. Timing just isn't ideal right now. I would get the wife eye roll + stare if I got a third one right now. Maybe one day I'll run across one at a ridiculous price. And I would not want buy one at a crazy low price from anyone here. GC, etc, is another matter.

Your's is black, correct? (Previously Will's?) If it is, that's the color I don't have and I hate black. (Or so I'm telling myself.)

 

[dagrev]

Oh, to be young, fearless and strong.
Now I’m just old and stupid

Wow. I keep finding more things we have in common.

 

[GBassNorth]

Dang, it’s been almost a year since I got my T.Bird.
So far, I’ve had 3 different types of Ernie Ball round wounds on it: Cobalt Super Slinkys, Nickel Super Slinkys and Nickel Extra Slinkys. I also briefly tried a set of Cobalt Flats. I love Cobalt Flats on my P.Bass,, but to my ears my T.Bird sounds best w/ something round wound.
The Extra Slinkys are my favorite so far. I’m on my second set of those, but they need to be changed, and I wanna break out of my Ernie Ball rut and try something new.
This being the Thunderbird Club, I’m ignoring the search function and putting it out there for what is prolly the millionth time…
What kinda rounds are your favorite?

Just put a set of these on one of my three point equipped birds and they sound fantastic!

They had one of these in Nederland a few years back

Went to high school in Nederland, don’t remember any music stores back then, but a fun place to grow up in.

Wed I worked on getting the NR to sound better (more in the direction of the gold standard next to it). I jacked the neck pickup up as far as possible and used the HPF (on the Genzler) to partially cut back on the lows. It kind of helped, but made the upper strings sound a little thin. Trying some La Bella flats for rehearsal in hopes of thickening while not thinning. The La Bella Olinto strings were also recommended. I don't recall anyone here trying those. La Bella also has a Gold Flat and the E is tapered. According to La Bella, they are a little brighter but have more mids. Another option. The Black Nylons got my '06 sounding good, but I'm not really wanting black strings on the NR. But if that's what it takes, that's what it takes.
I think one issue I'm having is the E can sound boomy and the rest of the strings less beefy. Get those right and the E is boomy. Get the E right and the other are get thin. I have liked exposed cores for Es because that seems to tighten it up. I'm not out of options yet.

If some strings boom on the E and others don’t, and some strings sound rich and full vs thin on the GD and A - have you considered mixing string sets? Take whatever string sounds best in each position, as long as the output is balanced and the look and feel are similar it might solve the problem.

Getting lots of great ideas. So, where do you buy these finishes?

I value my time (a lot) so I don’t buy finishes, I buy finishers. Pat Wilkins can nail any request you can give him at about $400 for a bolt on body (includes strip, sand, seal and paint) and it’s done to perfection. I don’t have the right space or equipment to do a pro level finish job and certainly don’t have the time or patience to do it right.

Now if you want a rattle can finish you can try reranch, but if you thought sanding was a monotonous job just wait until you do a nice seal job followed by multi layers of a proper paint job followed by multiple layers of a proper clear coat job with tons of critical sanding in between and polishing at the end.

 

[dagrev]

If some strings boom on the E and others don’t, and some strings sound rich and full vs thin on the GD and A - have you considered mixing string sets? Take whatever string sounds best in each position, as long as the output is balanced and the look and feel are similar it might solve the problem.

Good thought, and I was considering that and what strings I might shoot for this morning. Hopefully I have a few more options I can try first. And if I sell it, it might justify a steal on a VP!

 

[GBassNorth]

Good thought, and I was considering that and what strings I might shoot for this morning. Hopefully I have a few more options I can try first. And if I sell it, it might justify a steal on a VP!

I forgot you were stringing a VP. In that case, my favorite round on the VP (and also on the new NR, both have similar pickups) is the Fender set…

They sound great right out of the box, very even no boom on the low end and no lack of detail on the top. As for feel, they are incredible, a very fast very effortless string, my ‘21 NR darn near plays itself. I can easily pull off runs with these strings that I find much more difficult with other rounds. Reasonable price as well.

 

[BklynKen]

I forgot you were stringing a VP. In that case, my favorite round on the VP (and also on the new NR, both have similar pickups) is the Fender set…
View attachment 5453614

They sound great right out of the box, very even no boom on the low end and no lack of detail on the top. As for feel, they are incredible, a very fast very effortless string, my ‘21 NR darn near plays itself. I can easily pull off runs with these strings that I find much more difficult with other rounds. Reasonable price as well.

Looks like you're having a memorial for it.

 

[GBassNorth]

Looks like you're having a memorial for it.

sitting at the breakfast table and happened to have the string set box nearby for a repeat purchase. Thought about cropping the flowers out of the pic but figured what the heck, it’s Monday, everybody needs a ray of sunshine.

 

[BklynKen]

sitting at the breakfast table and happened to have the string set box nearby for a repeat purchase. Thought about cropping the flowers out of the pic but figured what the heck, it’s Monday, everybody needs a ray of sunshine.

Even the recently deceased strings. Good on ya.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

My fingers hurt.

Sad face

 

[Miles_ONeal]

You ought to hear it! Sounds fantastic with GHS flats. The other VP has SIT Power Steels. The white one also sounded fantastic with GHS Boomers. I need another VP......

No, I don't need another VP.
No, I don't need another VP.
No, I don't need another VP.
No, I don't need another VP.
No, I don't need another VP.
No, I don't need another VP.

I might have a VP for sale soon.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Oh, to be young, fearless and strong.
Now I’m just old and stupid

Neither. Also niether.

 

[dagrev]

I forgot you were stringing a VP. In that case, my favorite round on the VP (and also on the new NR, both have similar pickups) is the Fender set…
View attachment 5453614

They sound great right out of the box, very even no boom on the low end and no lack of detail on the top. As for feel, they are incredible, a very fast very effortless string, my ‘21 NR darn near plays itself. I can easily pull off runs with these strings that I find much more difficult with other rounds. Reasonable price as well.

Sorry for the confusion. I was talking about the '21 NR I can't get happy with. The VPs are are likely one of the most tolerable/accepting of any string I've ever had on a bass (pickups in the magic positions?). They don't seem to be too picky.

I used to really love the old Fender Super Bass strings--the one's with the tapered E. Those were fantastic. The one's you suggested were the same string minus the tapered E, I believe. They still make the SUper Bass string, but after it was almost universally condemned after D'A seems to have begun making them, I haven't had the heart to try them. (In part because I've never met a D'A string I've liked.)

I may have to try them before thinking of selling the NR. Worth a shot if things don't improve. It's such a beautiful bass.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Looks like you're having a memorial for it.

Or a shrine to worship it. Or sacrificing the strings to ... ?

 

[dagrev]

I might have a VP for sale soon.

Not you too!

I just can't justify it. Not unless you want to buy the NR!

 

[GonePlaid]

Yah, my well-played '63 T-bird II in 1974 was $150 w/OHSC, mute & covers. After it was stollen in '78, my very clean '64 II was $750 w/OHSC, with mute & covers. I still have both brass mute plates (one with original felt-pads, from the '64) that I removed as most players did.

I bought an '86 Kubicki Factor in '94 for $750 (no case) - they currently are selling for thousands of dollars. Different times...

The plate's still there. The felts? Long gone(fell apart).

 

[GonePlaid]

Good thought, and I was considering that and what strings I might shoot for this morning. Hopefully I have a few more options I can try first. And if I sell it, it might justify a steal on a VP!

I know yer not a EBCF fan, but my #2814(45/65/80/100-medium tension)set is really working on the 67 NR. I played a gig Saturday night and even using the R200c(15"), E wasn't at all 'boomy' and D and G still had plenty of 'oomph'. I've thought about trying a LPF/HPF, but I'm already running too many wires underfoot, especially when I provide PA. I see Broughton makes a battery powered one, but, TBH, I don't have an 'extra' $165* laying around. Guess I'll stick with EQ'ing the amp.

* mufunzalo. Still.

('course I'd have the $ if I sold the NR for anywhere close to what it should be worth, but that would kinda defeat the purpose)

 

[JIO]

Still got that Kubicki???

No, sold years ago for double what I paid, still cheap by today's asking prices. Speaking of trans-finishes, I stripped the original beat-up black finish and custom mixed an orange using Jéld stain and hand applied multiple coats of Tung-Oil to seal it. I owned 3 Ex-Factors at one time but now have two basses with the Fender/Kubicki 9v pre and my fretless Factorbird using a Kubicki tuner/bridge and Ex-Factor lined fretless neck that I bought new from Phil in '94

'93 Fender (Gen1) American Standard Jazz bass - Kubicki/Fender 9v pre - otherwise highly modified

Saundersbird - Epi T-bird body, Saunders P-neck, Kubicki/Fender 9v pre, Wilkinson buckers... R&R bass

Factorbird fretless - G&L L-2000 pu's & 9volt pre

 

[Rickplaysbass]

No, sold years ago for double what I paid, still cheap by today's asking prices. Speaking of trans-finishes, I stripped the original beat-up black finish and custom mixed an orange using Jéld stain and hand applied multiple coats of Tung-Oil to seal it. I owned 3 Ex-Factors at one time but now have two basses with the Fender/Kubicki 9v pre and my fretless Factorbird using a Kubicki tuner/bridge and Ex-Factor lined fretless neck that I bought new from Phil in '94

View attachment 5453678
'93 Fender (Gen1) American Standard Jazz bass - Kubicki/Fender 9v pre - otherwise highly modified
View attachment 5453718
Saundersbird - Epi T-bird body, Saunders P-neck, Kubicki/Fender 9v pre, Wilkinson buckers... R&R bass
View attachment 5453725
Factorbird fretless - G&L L-2000 pu's & 9volt pre
View attachment 5453729

All very cool. VERY COOL.

 

[PillO]

The most funny thing was how it visibly ranked Lars & Co.

Jethro Tull had their heavy moments alright. Barrie Barlow was fond of his double bass drums (Yngwie did take a note) and some of the trio instrumentals on the "A" tour featuring Martin Barre, Dave Pegg and Mark Craney were quite metallic. Without an 'a' in the end.

It taught me that if there is no flute, it ain't metal!