Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

I prefer this to a Picasso.

 

[Engle]

all this fiddlin and fussing over “toán” and the audience only cares if it goes thumpity thump thump….

Truth! I often have a few friends that notice bass tone at gigs, but 90%+ have no idea.

 

[BklynKen]

Truth! I often have a few friends that notice bass tone at gigs, but 90%+ have no idea.

However, if you like what you hear from your bass, you'll play better.

 

[Engle]

I prefer this to a Picasso.
View attachment 5464128

Nice shot - love those patterns in nitro!

 

[Engle]

However, if you like what you hear from your bass, you'll play better.

Oh for sure. I was watching video from my last show and I was smiling much more than normal - because I was using in ears and the bass sounded awesome!

 

[MCF]

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.)
View attachment 5464120



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.

I’d tell you to get this and run through an effects loop. But they are like unobtanium now. No word on future availability. They were (gulp) $399 new. They are going for more than that when one comes up used.

It really is a fun time to be into bass. Ken’s buddy at Master Effects makes some highly regarded pre-amps in various flavors. Including an Ampeg.
https://www.mastereffectspedals.com/superthreehundred

 

[Ringhammer]

However, if you like what you hear from your bass, you'll play better.

THIS is why I have gone through so much $$$$ on bass gear. Searching for the ever elusive “perfect” tone.

 

[JJR58]

I’d tell you to get this and run through an effects loop. But they are like unobtanium now. No word on future availability. They were (gulp) $399 new. They are going for more than that when one comes up used.
View attachment 5464137It really is a fun time to be into bass. Ken’s buddy at Master Effects makes some highly regarded pre-amps in various flavors. Including an Ampeg.
https://www.mastereffectspedals.com/superthreehundred

I love that Mesa-pre.
Lots of flexibilty.
And agreed, they just don't show up anymore used.

 

[MCF]

THIS is why I have gone through so much $$$$ on bass gear. Searching for the ever elusive “perfect” tone.

Perfect is so different for each of us. And is the result of so many variables it can be overwhelming. Player technique, the bass, the pickups, the strings, the amp, the cab, pedals, and some even believe the cables that connect it all make a difference.

There is a guy in the GP these days with a lot of posts who keeps wanting to change things up because he isn’t happy with what he hears through a GK Legacy. I doubt he bothered to read the manual before deciding to move on.

If you have the time, tone chasing is a fun hobby. I’ve learned a lot through trial and error. But it can be expensive. And it takes time away from becoming a better player.

 

[MCF]

I love that Mesa-pre.
Lots of flexibilty.
And agreed, they just don't show up anymore used.

If Andy knows about the future status of them, he ain’t talking about it. We understand. But they could probably do a run of 500 of them and they would be gone in nothing flat. The production capacity in Petaluma is limited and a lot also depends on parts availability. I think their near term goal is to get enough of the core products built to catch up with pent up demand in Europe which didn’t receive anything in recent years due to the pandemic.

 

[Gaolee]

Here's a little example riff with the Carvin. I'm 99% sure the single coil pickups in here are Carvin's J99, which are ceramic. The Thunderbird is my #1, but I'm having a renewed love affair with the Carvin. It's 7.2 lbs., balances perfectly, has my favorite neck, and actually sounds better than I remember. I'm digging these D'Addario ProSteels. Mid scooping seems to suit single coils. I'm excited to bring it to band practice tomorrow. It's over 10 years since I played it with a band or gigged it.

That does sound great.

 

[JJR58]

That does sound great.

Ken is turning me into a SIT convert.

 

[Gaolee]

my SVT refuses to leave the living room…
View attachment 5463785

My wife has banished music stuff to the basement, for the most part. I even bought a guitar that I had hoped to leave upstairs so I would play it more, but that's downstairs, too. Ah, well. I have my subterranean realm, she makes sure it doesn't leak out. She's probably got a point, since the house would be overrun with my toys if she didn't make me put them away when I'm done.

 

[Gaolee]

all this fiddlin and fussing over “toán” and the audience only cares if it goes thumpity thump thump….

It makes us happy. And the dirty little secret is that we always have more fun than the audience. Gotta keep it that way.

 

[Gaolee]

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.

That reminds me, I have to strip the hardware and electronics from my fretless Thunderbird and get it off to the refinisher. That was supposed to happen this month, but like always, I don't get things done as soon as I though they would happen.

 

[Gaolee]

Perfect is so different for each of us. And is the result of so many variables it can be overwhelming. Player technique, the bass, the pickups, the strings, the amp, the cab, pedals, and some even believe the cables that connect it all make a difference.

There is a guy in the GP these days with a lot of posts who keeps wanting to change things up because he isn’t happy with what he hears through a GK Legacy. I doubt he bothered to read the manual before deciding to move on.

If you have the time, tone chasing is a fun hobby. I’ve learned a lot through trial and error. But it can be expensive. And it takes time away from becoming a better player.

That's one of the reasons I like the upright. It sounds like it sounds, although there is tone chasing with string choice. I have gut G and D strings on mine, and wound synthetic A and E strings. Steel strings have more bite, but don't last very long before they sound awful. The strings on my bass have been there for years, and I still like the way they sound. Good thing too, since upright strings are ungodly expensive.

 

[Ringhammer]

If you have the time, tone chasing is a fun hobby. I’ve learned a lot through trial and error. But it can be expensive

And then when you get all dialed in, your band mates show up and your tone is not what it was when played alone.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I prefer this to a Picasso.
View attachment 5464128

hmmm…..dunno, kinda favor his Blue Period…..

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

who says we don’t have a following….

 

[dagrev]

Nice shot - love those patterns in nitro!

Thanks. Checking is very cool when you look at it closely. Natural art AFAIC.