Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

And when Ken has been revealed as Batman, we now know Geos side gig.

Ken is Batman? I knew it. Those strange powers are evident.

 

[GonePlaid]

So it's "jazz" until your problem is resolved.

Sumpin' like that. All 4 of us have jazz backgrounds. A thought occurred to me: I played a gig once with a keyboard man who used some tracks, which included bass. I just turned my bass's volume off and practiced scales.

 

[dagrev]

Sumpin' like that. All 4 of us have jazz backgrounds. A thought occurred to me: I played a gig once with a keyboard man who used some tracks, which included bass. I just turned my bass's volume off and practiced scales.

That's funny and anger-inducing at the same time. If only you could have pulled a Geddy and played the keyboard parts with pedals. (To indicate, I got you covered too.) It's baffling how many adults can't think beyond themselves and grasp the concept that an action has consequences, intended or otherwise.

 

[Engle]

I was originally planning to get some Lollar pickups for my classic pro and throw the modern gibson pups into this one, but I'm pretty happy with the way the active epiphone pickups sound

I don't have one, but the Pro IV I have played sound good to me.

 

[Engle]

I really need to play with my settings for that bass. I find the low end is thin, even through the Ampeg.

I used my VP for most of the tunes on the DJB EP. Haven't needed to add low end to the bass tracks so far. I'll see what Alex says when he gets into the serious mixes, but he likes it.
He added grind for a little more high end on one track.

 

[uOpt]

Are Thunderbucker pickups still being made or sold? Can't find their website right now.

 

[MCF]

Are Thunderbucker pickups still being made or sold? Can't find their website right now.

Nope. He closed and sold off his equipment a couple or so years ago.

 

[GBassNorth]

My biggest problems with my VP: the neck is sticky; the neck’s a bit beefy near the body (as is my CP); needs more low end.

Glossy necks can get that way. My first year Ebony VP neck isn’t grippy fortunately. As for low end, I’d classify my ebony VP as aggressive sounding, which is to say - enough lows but a bit more low mid focused than many of my other birds.
Ya want fat bottom - cap a Goth or buy a CP or one of the black plastic trim ring limited edition Eppi birds.

Interesting - none of those are issues for me with my VP. Any neck with a shiny finish can get sticky at times.
And I never would have characterized it as lacking in low end. When recording, I always roll off the low end at some point below 100Hz anyway. I have a 68 EBO. Everything thing else has less low end

My first year run VP isn’t low shy by any stretch but my new Purple Sparkle VP does have more bottom and less grit. I like both sounds a lot.

Haven’t had time to do formal shoot outs yet but I plan on a side by side comparisons of…

All Original first year run Ebony VP Reverse with 760ProBuckers and Fender round wound nickel strings
——— Vs ———
My custom built ‘66 NR VP Tribute with the same pickups (in vintage locations), same strings but a Wenge neck



Modified White BaCH IV Non Reverse with ChinaBuckers and Fender round wounds
——- vs ———
Modified Blue BaCH IV Non Reverse with Gibson brand Reproduction pickups and the same strings



Modified Blue BaCH NR with Gibby pups in vintage locations and Fender round wounds
——- vs ——-
All original 2022 Gibson NR reissue with stock Gibson pups in modern locations and Fender round wounds



All original 2024 Purple Sparkle VP reverse with 760ProBuckers and Fender round wound strings
——— vs ——-
All original first run Ebony VP reverse with the current 760ProBuckers and the same strings


I don’t have any way to record and post the shoot outs unfortunately, but should be fun and enlightening anyway.
Probably will happen in the next week or two.

 

[GonePlaid]

That's funny and anger-inducing at the same time. If only you could have pulled a Geddy and played the keyboard parts with pedals. (To indicate, I got you covered too.) It's baffling how many adults can't think beyond themselves and grasp the concept that an action has consequences, intended or otherwise.

I took the $ and ran.

 

[Tommygun_ted]

Anybody have any tips for getting a bit more travel out of these pro saddles? I need a hair more on the E and A to get the intonation right, but they're wide open. It's close, I really don't want to move the bridge. In my mind the easiest solution would be to shorten the bolt and spring, but I have no idea how I would clean the threads up on those tiny bolts.

 

[Stealth57]

So who has the Midas touch...too easy for a Saturday.

 

[Engle]

Anybody have any tips for getting a bit more travel out of these pro saddles? I need a hair more on the E and A to get the intonation right, but they're wide open. It's close, I really don't want to move the bridge. In my mind the easiest solution would be to shorten the bolt and spring, but I have no idea how I would clean the threads up on those tiny bolts.

They look like they should be able to go back further (away from the headstock). Are the screws corroded?

 

[Tommygun_ted]

They look like they should be able to go back further (away from the headstock). Are the screws corroded?

No, but the threaded part in the saddle doesn't go all the way through, so they're as far in as they can go. If anyone knows what the size is on these I could probably source some shorter ones.

 

[MCF]

Glossy necks can get that way. My first year Ebony VP neck isn’t grippy fortunately. As for low end, I’d classify my ebony VP as aggressive sounding, which is to say - enough lows but a bit more low mid focused than many of my other birds.
Ya want fat bottom - cap a Goth or buy a CP or one of the black plastic trim ring limited edition Eppi birds.

My first year run VP isn’t low shy by any stretch but my new Purple Sparkle VP does have more bottom and less grit. I like both sounds a lot.

Haven’t had time to do formal shoot outs yet but I plan on a side by side comparisons of…

All Original first year run Ebony VP Reverse with 760ProBuckers and Fender round wound nickel strings
——— Vs ———
My custom built ‘66 NR VP Tribute with the same pickups (in vintage locations), same strings but a Wenge neck



Modified White BaCH IV Non Reverse with ChinaBuckers and Fender round wounds
——- vs ———
Modified Blue BaCH IV Non Reverse with Gibson brand Reproduction pickups and the same strings



Modified Blue BaCH NR with Gibby pups in vintage locations and Fender round wounds
——- vs ——-
All original 2022 Gibson NR reissue with stock Gibson pups in modern locations and Fender round wounds



All original 2024 Purple Sparkle VP reverse with 760ProBuckers and Fender round wound strings
——— vs ——-
All original first run Ebony VP reverse with the current 760ProBuckers and the same strings


I don’t have any way to record and post the shoot outs unfortunately, but should be fun and enlightening anyway.
Probably will happen in the next week or two.

If I can get organized and decide on what the best iPad interface is and get it, I can come down and we could record a shootout. As it is, I’m way overdue for visit. And there is something I can finally pick up from you. I’m beginning to feel like Will.

 

[MCF]

So who has the Midas touch...too easy for a Saturday.
View attachment 7007811

Nice work @JIO!

 

[MCF]

No, but the threaded part in the saddle doesn't go all the way through, so they're as far in as they can go. If anyone knows what the size is on these I could probably source some shorter ones.

Huh. That’s odd. I don’t know that bridge well enough to help. Is that really as far back as the E and A saddles go? Sometimes lighter gauge strings can get you there for intonation if it’s only a little off. But that’s odd.

 

[MCF]

Anybody have any tips for getting a bit more travel out of these pro saddles? I need a hair more on the E and A to get the intonation right, but they're wide open. It's close, I really don't want to move the bridge. In my mind the easiest solution would be to shorten the bolt and spring, but I have no idea how I would clean the threads up on those tiny bolts.

Had to do it.

 

[Stealth57]

Huh. That’s odd. I don’t know that bridge well enough to help. Is that really as far back as the E and A saddles go? Sometimes lighter gauge strings can get you there for intonation if it’s only a little off. But that’s odd.

Sounds about right when I had a Pro IV. The saddles don’t go all the way to the end.

 

[Engle]

No, but the threaded part in the saddle doesn't go all the way through, so they're as far in as they can go. If anyone knows what the size is on these I could probably source some shorter ones.

A washer or two under the screw heads might bring them back enough until you can find the right screws.

 

[Stealth57]

Saturday Epi IV love