Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

Thanks. Even the paint on the edge of the shim seems OK?

The pots were replaced at some point. Not sure why they chose Bourne pots and a Bill Lawrence Q Filter and what that was to accomplish. I have thought of replacing all of that, but never get around to it. In part because it might not sound as good. Who knows.
View attachment 7017597

Yep - looks legit to me. The early P's were all sorta' similar to what later was called a Mary Kaye finish, which was a semi-transparent milky ("blond") white. What does a Q filter do?

 

[RedVee]

At the request of @Chucky Stiletti I recorded my VP, Willbird, JC, and Peavey through the B-15. All basses were dimed for all pickups. I don't think this is the best setting for the B-15 nor for each bass, but it is the only real way to test head to head. Strings influence the sound too, so the VP and Willbird have SIT Power Flats, the JC has TI Flats, and the Peavey has SIT Power Steels. The total recording is 5 minutes with text indicating which bass. I didn't attempt to remove and wrong notes nor balance any digging in on the strings. I found the Willbird hotter than the VP but the Electar was the hottest of all the pickups. The Peavey was the thinnest and lowest output. Again, I would never dime the tone on the Peavey and was advised by Chuck I need to change that tone pot to 500K and decrease the cap to 0.022mfd.

Was the Electar set at the 500 setting?

 

[JIO]

I had a tech out to look at the Samsung Fridge. He said it was crap, but also recommended an extended warranty for any new fridge.

planned obsolescence

 

[Engle]

We replaced Kenmores. They were fine for 25 years of heavy use by a family of four for most of those years. Can’t complain.

I miss Sears!

 

[Nocturnal]

Wasn't there a joke about Yugo's lack of safety? If it goes, you go, or something like that.

 

[Stealth57]

Was the Electar set at the 500 setting?

Forgot to mention that, yes 500.

 

[dagrev]

Yep - looks legit to me. The early P's were all sorta' similar to what later was called a Mary Kaye finish, which was a semi-transparent milky ("blond") white. What does a Q filter do?

View attachment 7017919

Thanks. I noticed that the string-through ferrels are painted. That always made me wonder as well. I think those are not painted. But I'm not certain on painted bodies.

Chuck explained it from a technical aspect as I recall. I think it can vary depending on how it's hooked up.

Becky Lawrence sent me an old thread once, but it was guitar related and I didn't find it very helpful. I gather it can act as though it takes windings off a pickup (less resistance?) and that can make it brighter and thin out/lessen the mids. I can't say that it acts very different from a typical tone knob other than it may do more in a short turn than a tone knob. I do recall one person saying something about making a guitar sound more like an acoustic. Not sure about that--sure doesn't do anything like that on a bass. I suspect it's kind of like that Sonic Stomp in that they definitely do something, but it may be hard to describe.

Donnie, there are many factors that play into your "tone." Best is to read this old, archived thread about the Filter -
Q filter What does it do, exactly? in Bill Lawrence Wilde-Gate Forum
Thanks and hope it helps.
Sincerely,
Becky

 

[dagrev]

I miss Sears!

 

[MCF]

I miss Sears!

You know, we do too. That’s where my first bass was from.

 

[TBird1958]

Wasn't there a joke about Yugo's lack of safety? If it goes, you go, or something like that.

That and the transmission being made by using parts from two motorcycles.........

 

[BklynKen]

FSO Friday

 

[JIO]

Herman's Hermits

 

[Stealth57]

Herman's Hermits

View attachment 7018071

Ken?

 

[AlexMG]

Hi Fellow Birds of Thunder!

Just wondering if there was a forum or collection of posts of Thunderbird Rigs. Mostly looking for the amps that make a TBird sound as glorious as possible. So far I like my B-15r but I’ve been on the hunt for something more portable but striking out.

Thank you!

️

 

[Stealth57]

Hi Fellow Birds of Thunder!

Just wondering if there was a forum or collection of posts of Thunderbird Rigs. Mostly looking for the amps that make a TBird sound as glorious as possible. So far I like my B-15r but I’ve been on the hunt for something more portable but striking out.

Thank you!

️

I liked my Ampeg Micro VR and 210 av cab. Light and reasonably loud.

 

[D.M.N.]

Boy, midi organ pedals are expensive. But, through the power of google, it turns out it's pretty simply to take the organ pedals off an old console organ and adapt them to a midi convert for cheap, so Taurus, here I come!

 

[Stealth57]

Ok, help me spend or not spend some money. Not sure if this is a reasonable deal on a 1978 Greco II I got them down to $1150. Says electronics needed changing but pickup is original.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1459899940...yCZ-3d4Te-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[JIO]

I miss Sears!

Sears and a smaller (like Radio Shack) chain called "Western Auto". That's where my dad & I bought bicycle parts (chains, reflectors, chrome fenders, "banana" seats and "monkey" handlebars) in Omaha Nebraska for our bikes. Yah - part of a bygone era.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Our old Kenmore dryer is about the only appliance I can fix these days. All mechanical.

I replaced the heat sensor and one of the heating elements in the oven, as well as some of the dryer stuff.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Ok, help me spend or not spend some money. Not sure if this is a reasonable deal on a 1978 Greco II I got them down to $1150. Says electronics needed changing but pickup is original.

Greco TB-900 Thunderbird Electric Bass Guitar 1978 Vintage Brown Rosewood | eBay

Looks a bit less beat up than either of my Greco IVs. Similar price but includes case. (Mark dod include an Orville bag - Chuck got that at the gtg last year.