Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

Yep, with a ‘73 V2 on top They made the V4B-AV in 2005, right at the end of the SLM era. It’s just a V4BH in silverface. The V4B (maybe re-issue is a better description?) is not exactly like the early ‘70’s V4B, but it is a different animal than the V4BH, as I’m sure you know. Specs show a total gain at flat of 59db for the V4BH compared to 64db for the V4B re-issue.

Cool. I didn't know they did the BH in silverface. Love the look better than black.
Mine below is a 2005. I also have one from '95 that is the Blue Line (just called V-4B Classic). Exact same head. My silverface '70s "reissue" is a different animal. Like I mentioned, more mids and aggressive--and a lot louder that the others! The more you push it the better it sounds.
The other two are basically bigger and cleaner sounding.

 

[Ringhammer]

I was worried I was going to regret getting the V4B-AV (V4BH) after reading about yours in some previous posts. You noted the V4B reissue was notably louder. Luckily the one I have serves the purpose I am using it for, and it matches the vintage V2 it sits under (I put vintage V2/V4/V4B aluminum knobs on the V4B-AV to further make them match).

However, I will always be thinking about getting a V4B reissue. I bet it would sound great on its own with the SVT212AV or a SVT610HLF. Maybe if I ever get my SVT and 810e sold I’ll try to find one for a good price.

 

[JIO]

Are Tsunami’s a concern with California earthquakes?

Absolutely - in Pacifica, there's less than a mile from the ocean to hills/small mountains, with HW1 between. Parts of HW1 are sub-level and would act as a gutter for some of the water, but all buildings on the coast and up to those hills/mountains would be under water. All it would take is a substantial quake just off-shore. It's not a matter of 'if', it's when. Many times over the years the tide has been so high (in January) that it overlaps the frontage road and starts moving up the street I used to live on.

The Pacifica Pier coffee-shop - a half block from where I used to live during King Tide.

 

[JIO]

I can understand. I would be tempted to grab one if one came up very reasonable. Had a former drummer and sound guy comment yesterday on how improved my sound with with the ABM head. Said he could simply hear me better--and it sounded good. From where I was standing, I think I may slightly prefer my Ampeg all tube head with the '64 Pbass I used yesterday.

When I saw what become my amp on eBay (from Canada), I did research on it and watched this vid on YouTube demo'ing it. It had simple controls and a warm tube-tone (twin tube pre) and 550watts is more than enough for my needs. It's funny you mention your standing impression - on stage Sat night playing through the Markbass rig (I didn't note wattage or speakers - it was a tilt-back cab) it sounded big and loud. Sound-tech said everything sounded good/balanced so I assumed it only sounded loud to me. Maybe it was the combination of it being a tilt-back and those combo-amps are pretty heavy. My rig never sounds like that on stage but sounds great from the audience; loud enough and tonally flavorful.



Is this the one you have?

 

[TBird1958]

Lots of evidence of Tsunamis here in Washington, even in the far reaches of Puget Sound, there are fault lines running thru downtown Seattle , it'll happen again. Some Native America villages on the coast are being moved inland by their Tribes as precaution to being overwhelmed by a Tsunami
I remember this one very well as I was 7 at the time.
1965 Puget Sound earthquake - Wikipedia

I was around for this one too.........

2001 Nisqually earthquake - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[BklynKen]

Saipan

 

[dagrev]

I was worried I was going to regret getting the V4B-AV (V4BH) after reading about yours in some previous posts. You noted the V4B reissue was notably louder. Luckily the one I have serves the purpose I am using it for, and it matches the vintage V2 it sits under (I put vintage V2/V4/V4B aluminum knobs on the V4B-AV to further make them match).

However, I will always be thinking about getting a V4B reissue. I bet it would sound great on its own with the SVT212AV or a SVT610HLF. Maybe if I ever get my SVT and 810e sold I’ll try to find one for a good price.

My Blue Line is more quite than my '05 BH. The V-4B reissue is way more loud than the other two by a good bit. Matching the pre tubes seems to help the BH style. This was done to my louder BH right after I got it. I'm no clearly no tech, but have heard this and what the great tech here (I can't find now) said he did. Whatever it was, it worked.

I like mine with the 212. Very nice cab. But for more beef, the Heritage 410 sounds a little bigger and more smooth.

 

[Ringhammer]

Lots of evidence of Tsunamis here in Washington, even in the far reaches of Puget Sound, there are fault lines running thru downtown Seattle , it'll happen again. Some Native America villages on the coast are being moved inland by their Tribes as precaution to being overwhelmed by a Tsunami
I remember this one very well as I was 7 at the time.
1965 Puget Sound earthquake - Wikipedia

I was around for this one too.........

2001 Nisqually earthquake - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Not that tsunami isn’t a risk here, but since the faults are slip(?) faults that run parallel with the coast down here, I’ve heard that it’s a bigger concern for the northern coast because they have subduction faults there.

Don’t know if there was any tsunami during 1906.

 

[GBassNorth]

It sounded pretty much like the B15 to me. Check the Portaflex sub as there are folks that have played seriously through both.

Do you know the year or serial number?

I played my 66 EB-3(Mudbucker only)through a guy's B-18. Unbelievable tone/fullness. It was for sale. Unfortunately-for me-he knew what he had. Only 'peg I've liked.

Awesome George! If you look up "more bass" in the dictionary, it shows a picture of a B18.

That’s all very encouraging! Can’t wait until it gets here. If it’s a keeper I’ll probably sell my Epafini 212 cab which sounds great but I already have that sound covered with my Bergantino HT322.
Anybody looking for a potentially good deal on a very sweet mint condition high end cab?

So I finally got one of these, 2011 Short Scale Gibson Thunderbird (for a great price too!):
View attachment 7013347

But it needed to be made to be mine, so step by step:
View attachment 7013349
I “de-satin’ed” it, oiled the fretboard, and changed the first piece of black hardware for nickel, using an AllParts direct replacement 3point. **

Then:
View attachment 7013351
I installed some nickel Gemini “Devastators” (P-90 like humbuckers) that I had and wasn’t using, along with nickel Hipshot extender and matching USA ultralights.

Then the final touches needed to be made and I was finally able to wrap it all up yesterday:

View attachment 7013353

View attachment 7013354

View attachment 7013355

Thanks to Irv (again!) for making the custom fit 3-ply B-W-B pickguard and TRC! The pickguard is cut out just enough to accommodate the rings. And perfectly fit! He made a few for me, including another TRC/PG set in single ply black and also a 3-ply parchment one that can be used with the rings. Also a couple of TRC/PG sets in 3-ply and single black, that could be used if one was to go back to the stock TB+ pickups(I don’t ever see myself doing that, but one never knows. If I ever sell it-also don’t see that ever happening- I can add the extra TRC/PG’s to the sale).

All this was done with no changes to the bass that can’t be reversed. Only two extra pickguard screw holes were made, for the modified PG for the rings, and those would be covered if the stock or stock matching black PG’s were used. The rings are stuck on with double sided tape, the tuners use the stock holes.

Now I just need to find the ideal strings.

**I’d like to actually have a genuine Gibson 3-point bridge. If anyone has a nickel one from a Ripper, Grabber or any other old bass that Gibson put them on, and they don’t want it, please let me know.

Absolutely stunning! Beautiful upgrades very tastefully done. Just needs some purple silks to be perfect.

It came up on Reverb and after letting a couple go I decided to give this one a shot, made an offer of $1800 and he took it. Just a couple dollars over $2k total to my door with original case.

I just put some DR Hi-beams on it and they are very bright. Stainless round core. I think that will be ok for now, but, ultimately I think ultimately it will get EBCF’s. They make them for short scales now! I put them on another short scale and they are perfect. They come in two gauge sets, 105-45 and 110-50. The 110-50 allow me to tune one of my other short scales basses to D-standard and it plays perfectly.

I’ve used standard length EBCF strings on my short scale LP bass with no issues.

My daughter and I played a duet at her recital yesterday
View attachment 7013404

That was the most challenging piece of music I have ever performed. (Angel Suite II. Resurreccion del Angel by Astor Piazolla)
My reading is too slow so memorized the whole thing.

My next challenge is to learn Part 1!

Looks like fun! Also looks like you’re running out of frets!

I can’t compare the two, but it sounded great.

I can't imagine you not liking the way it will sound, but everyone's ideal bass-sound/tone is different. If you can appreciate it for what it was designed for - it will deliver in spades. I played one in my High School combo in the early '70s but had no idea how special it was as a young teen. It was borrowed for a show at the Offutt Air Base officers club when my Heathkit was in the shop. I just remember liking the green glowing plexiglass plaque and how it folded into itself.

I like dark and deep. IIRC the B18 has a bit more power than the B15 so I’m hoping I can push it a bit harder before it farts out. But it’s just going to be a house rig so no serious volume requirements are truly called for.

At 79 and counting, my Rumbles(16#, 22#, 34.5#-1 per gig) are about all I can handle.

Happy B’Day Mike! I’ve heard nothing but good about the Rumbles.

 

[Ringhammer]

Matching the pre tubes seems to help the BH style.

Funny, the spec calls for a 12AX7 and a 12AU7 in the pre, and the same in the power section. However mine came with 12AX7’s in V1 and V2 of the pre-amp. So even though the spec calls for a total of two 12AX7’s and two 12AU7’s, I had three 12AX7’s and one 12AU7.

This kinda bugs me since it is not how it was designed. I plan to put a 12AU7 in V2 of the pre, as it is called for and see if I still get what I need out of it.

 

[dagrev]

When I saw what become my amp on eBay (from Canada), I did research on it and watched this vid on YouTube demo'ing it. It had simple controls and a warm tube-tone (twin tube pre) and 550watts is more than enough for my needs. It's funny you mention your standing impression - on stage Sat night playing through the Markbass rig (I didn't note wattage or speakers - it was a tilt-back cab) it sounded big and loud. Sound-tech said everything sounded good/balanced so I assumed it only sounded loud to me. Maybe it was the combination of it being a tilt-back and those combo-amps are pretty heavy. My rig never sounds like that on stage but sounds great from the audience; loud enough and tonally flavorful.



Is this the one you have?

I know where you are coming from on the watts. Mine is like Chuck's ABM 500 (575w), and is way more than I need. To push the (single) tube a little my Output is barely on. Move it a millimeter and it's too loud. Ideally I would have preferred the 300w version. Actually a 100w version (that they don't have) would be ideal for me. I admit that the extra 4 eq sliders do com in handy. Newer versions have 6 sliders.

 

[dagrev]

Funny, the spec calls for a 12AX7 and a 12AU7 in the pre, and the same in the power section. However mine came with 12AX7’s in V1 and V2 of the pre-amp. So even though the spec calls for a total of two 12AX7’s and two 12AU7’s, I had three 12AX7’s and one 12AU7.

This kinda bugs me since it is not how it was designed. I plan to put a 12AU7 in V2 of the pre, as it is called for and see if I still get what I need out of it.

I'll have to see on mine. I tried getting the chassis out from the box on my Blue line and gave up. But was in a hurry and need to do it one day. Maybe balanced is the correct term (if that's a thing for pre tubes). It's been 15 years ago and don't recall exactly what he said. I know he mentioned it. Paid attention to the pre tubes as opposed to just grabbing boxes and sticking the tubes in. What exactly I don't recall now. Killed too many brain cells when I was young.

 

[JJR58]

When I saw what become my amp on eBay (from Canada), I did research on it and watched this vid on YouTube demo'ing it. It had simple controls and a warm tube-tone (twin tube pre) and 550watts is more than enough for my needs. It's funny you mention your standing impression - on stage Sat night playing through the Markbass rig (I didn't note wattage or speakers - it was a tilt-back cab) it sounded big and loud. Sound-tech said everything sounded good/balanced so I assumed it only sounded loud to me. Maybe it was the combination of it being a tilt-back and those combo-amps are pretty heavy. My rig never sounds like that on stage but sounds great from the audience; loud enough and tonally flavorful.



Is this the one you have?

Just love the first demo.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

foot...

Dude…

 

[bylar13]

Anyone looking for a Bach Thunderbird Project? Seems like a great start!

https://reverb.com/item/84075940-bach-thunderbird-bass-kit-raw-wood

 

[JJR58]

Anyone looking for a Bach Thunderbird Project? Seems like a great start!

https://reverb.com/item/84075940-bach-thunderbird-bass-kit-raw-wood

Now that would be an absolutely killer project Brian!
and one I’d tackle in a heartbeat.
But priorities prevent that endeavor.
Someone here should snag that!

 

[bylar13]

Now that would be an absolutely killer project Brian!
and one I’d tackle in a heartbeat.
But priorities prevent that endeavor.
Someone here should snag that!

Agreed! Trying very hard not to be the new owner.....

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

meanwhile….lets see if the SVT sounds any different powered from a solar batt….

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Just love the first demo.

totally….guys from Ashdown rule…

 

[Stealth57]

meanwhile….lets see if the SVT sounds any different powered from a solar batt….
View attachment 7014157

Can the inverter take the strain?