Thunderbird Club

[JJR58]

Got that parts bass I bought in the classifieds. Man, this Thunderbucker Ranch 66n is a fantastic pickup. Too bad they are out of production.

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You just need another to put in the bridge position.

 

[JJR58]

You know, if you don’t want to haul the 322 overseas and Ken or Roger passes on it, we can maybe work something out.

It’s gotta go in November.
And for a blow out price.
So if Ken or Roger don’t want it by that time.
I’ll need to move it, fast.

 

[dagrev]

Not that I don’t think there are players and owners of Fretless instruments here- but I occasionally respond to new threads asking for thoughts and opinions on the subject-

We were practicing a new song last night and I was wishing I had one. A fretless would really sound ideal given the tone and feel of the song. I think I would have to have a Pbass for a fretless. A Pbass fretless and a touch of the old Phase 90 would sound fantastic.

 

[dagrev]

I still consider keeping the SVT head, and there's a Hartke HD115 a friend will let go for pretty cheap...

I'm an avowed Ampeg guy (heads mostly). Love the creamy warm tone. If looking at something smaller and lighter I would look into Ashdown. I had one yrs ago and bought a Rootmaster RM-300EVii used when I
ran across a good deal. I'm very happy with it. Nice and warm, similar in some ways to Ampeg. I keep it for fun and as a quick backup if needed. Would have no problem using it live. The little sucker is LOUD. But would likely get an Ashdown up the food chain in price if I were going to using as my main head. (Pic from seller.)

 

[dagrev]

And you would get all the frets back as keepsakes.

 

[dagrev]

You’re forgetting I still have my 371 in my bedroom

And I’m still looking for a Mesa 412

That's a unique way to change the sheets. Or at least blow them off.

 

[dagrev]

Some don’t understand this in my bedroom. Including my wife.
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Love for any or all of that to be in my bedroom.

I'm allowed an Ampeg head and cab (the v-4b AV) in the TV room next to the Baldwin. I do have the old Classic V4-B and Fender 115 in my office upstairs. Anything in the bedroom would be a bridge too far. But after the divorce I could have one in every room.....

 

[dagrev]

I like Frank too. But if the life insurance is paid up….

That's not legal advice is it?

 

[dagrev]

I’m actually selling my 1973 SVT and 810. I believe this is the best vintage SVT one could hope to find. Still has many original USA pre-amp tubes. A 12AX7 conversion was done so they can be used in place of hard to find 12DW7 tubes, but the small tubes in the bottom chassis are still vintage original. Now, the power tubes! These 6550’s look to be the original Magnavox branded Tung-Sol’s and recent testing show them still strong. I’m told these Tung-Sols from back then are some of the best 6550’s you could ever get. It’s still getting a strong 300 clean watts. A convenient mod to move the standby switch to the front where the now unnecessary polarity switch was, was also done.

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Original transformers and so on.

I don’t actually think it will ever sell around here, so I plan on keeping it covered in my garage, and will power it up, get it warm and play through it a bit, at least once a month.

I’m only selling it because I know at this point I’ll never use it other than if I kept it at my studio, where it would get used up to twice a week, but at this point I know it’s in great condition and I can sell it knowing I’m selling a good, clean and perfectly functioning vintage amp. If I left it at the studio and it continues to be used, it will eventually need servicing again, and my tech no longer wants to work on SVT’s. He’s in his early’70’s and they are just too heavy.

Have mercy Miss Percy! Kind of don't know what to say looking at that. Wow! I would not lug that monster around, but sure would love to have it to play through.

 

[Rickplaysbass]

We were practicing a new song last night and I was wishing I had one. A fretless would really sound ideal given the tone and feel of the song. I think I would have to have a Pbass for a fretless. A Pbass fretless and a touch of the old Phase 90 would sound fantastic.

Owned a Tony Franklin fretless PJ for awhile. That was a fantastic bass.

 

[Ringhammer]

Yes, can be split. It’s the same cab Chuck has in his garage.

You say this as if I have been there. Not yet, but hopefully someday!

ouch….can’t like…if you need your SVT looked at I can help.

Appreciate that. Since I’m not likely to use it, and is just had a going through and a clean bill of health, my hope is it will eventually move into the hands of someone that will bring it out in the wild and play that b/+€# the way it was made to be played. Just need to find that person that can seen how special this one is. However, I’m not letting it go cheap. If I sit on it too long, then it just may go back to my rehearsal space and live out its days being used to fill a room that is far below it’s capabilities to fill.

 

[MCF]

I have a fantastic amp for that 1540. It is a split cab, right, can run top and bottom separately at 8 ohms each?

SVT5Pro, 1100watts bi-ampable. I’m currently running into an SVT48E (4x8” drivers) and an SVT212AV. Running the crossover at roughly 250hz, and balancing a bit more to the low cab(212). Has a really nice overdrive channel and subtle octaver built in. Channel switch, combine, octave and mute on a 4 button foot switch. Pretty fun, but will be selling it soon.

Got a new experiment I’m gonna try with bi-amping that involves these two cabinets I mentioned, an Ampeg V2 that has been modified to use 6550’s by adding an additional transformer for the (filament, heater, screens??? I don’t remember exactly what….) and an Ampeg V4BH (AV model) with all new tubes. Pictures and impressions to follow in a couple weeks.

Yep. But that amp may be too much for it. Particularly the 15” driver.

 

[GonePlaid]

You say this as if I have been there. Not yet, but hopefully someday!





Appreciate that. Since I’m not likely to use it, and is just had a going through and a clean bill of health, my hope is it will eventually move into the hands of someone that will bring it out in the wild and play that b/+€# the way it was made to be played. Just need to find that person that can seen how special this one is. However, I’m not letting it go cheap. If I sit on it too long, then it just may go back to my rehearsal space and live out its days being used to fill a room that is far below it’s capabilities to fill.

The more I read about y'all's various adventures with SVT/fridge rigs, the more I'm fairly certain that my dislike for mine was 'cos it never was 'cranked'. That just wasn't needed-or necessary-for the room it was used in for ~2 1/2 years.
Under the circumstances, I'd've been better off saving the $$$ and using my Kasino, with which I was already familiar/comfortable. And now, with what I do/am likely to do, I sure as shootin'* don't need anything that large.
Side note: I heard a UB played through a fridge at a concert hall. Nice.

*are we allowed to mention "shootin'" even though it's an expression, not a suggestion?

 

[Ringhammer]

1350 Watts Mono-Bridged @ 4 Ohms (1000 Watts Continuous) 840 Watts

Mono-Bridged @ 8 Ohms (680 Watts Continuous)

2 x 675 Watts @ 2 Ohms (500 Watts Continuous)

2 x 420 Watts @ 4 Ohms (340 Watts Continuous)

2 x 255 Watts @ 8 Ohms (205 Watts Continuous)


When bi-amping, you’ll only get 255 (max) at 8ohms, per channel, so actually probably a good fit. Im running into two 4 ohm cabs, and it’s a pretty sweet sound for an all SS amp.

 

[Engle]

I still like those. Never had one fail.

Yes, with my Lull's dedicated strap - they've be perfect since 2008.

Thanks guys! I’d never seen the design before, so good to know they are solid.

They’ll go on the Ripper. And it will get its own strap

 

[MCF]

And that's it right there. The sounds that you won't really get anywhere else. I hear every note clear and full, it pushes like a pet baby rhino, and the rest is like trying to describe the taste of milk.
That's the balk-factor for selling it.

They really do have that unique sound. It is hard to describe, but we know it when we hear it. I sometimes get annoyed with Gen Pop posts like “I just bought this TH750. How do I make it sound like a SVT?”

 

[Ringhammer]

They really do have that unique sound. It is hard to describe, but we know it when we hear it. I sometimes get annoyed with Gen Pop posts like “I just bought this TH750. How do I make it sound like a SVT?”

Sell it and buy an SVT.
Preferably mine.

 

[MCF]

1350 Watts Mono-Bridged @ 4 Ohms (1000 Watts Continuous) 840 Watts

Mono-Bridged @ 8 Ohms (680 Watts Continuous)

2 x 675 Watts @ 2 Ohms (500 Watts Continuous)

2 x 420 Watts @ 4 Ohms (340 Watts Continuous)

2 x 255 Watts @ 8 Ohms (205 Watts Continuous)


When bi-amping, you’ll only get 255 (max) at 8ohms, per channel, so actually probably a good fit. Im running into two 4 ohm cabs, and it’s a pretty sweet sound for an all SS amp.

From what I understand, full range the 1540 is rated 400 watts at 8 ohms. Bi-amped is 200watts at 4ohms.

 

[MCF]

Sell it and buy an SVT.
Preferably mine.

That’s usually my response. For some reason, it doesn’t go over very well.

 

[dagrev]

View attachment 5464059 The more I read about y'all's various adventures with SVT/fridge rigs, the more I'm fairly certain that my dislike for mine was 'cos it never was 'cranked'. That just wasn't needed-or necessary-for the room it was used in for ~2 1/2 years.
Under the circumstances, I'd've been better off saving the $$$ and using my Kasino, with which I was already familiar/comfortable. And now, with what I do/am likely to do, I sure as shootin'* don't need anything that large.
Side note: I heard a UB played through a fridge at a concert hall. Nice.

*are we allowed to mention "shootin'" even though it's an expression, not a suggestion?

There is something special when (power) tubes are pushed. The below sounds fantastic (and better) when cranked. The breakup and natural compression is wonderful. Problem is it's very loud at that point. Likely more loud than most of my rock band uses. (Never needed to play ungodly loud, except once in a while and generally for the fun of it.)

They really do have that unique sound. It is hard to describe, but we know it when we hear it. I sometimes get annoyed with Gen Pop posts like “I just bought this TH750. How do I make it sound like a SVT?”

Well, there goes my question about how to get my Ampegs to sound like a Mesa question.

Agree. I only understand that for someone starting out and figuring out the amp and tone thing. After that, once you know what you want to sound like, get that amp/cab. Of course, now there are some great pedal options for a power amp and pre for the flavor you want. No exact equivalent for sure, but pretty efficient way to get close.