Thunderbird Club

[Iristone]

The pickups on my VP bird is rock bottom, height-wise. The screw head has even stripped a bit, and the cover has sunk a bit at the screw due to my overtightening.
The Alnico 'Bird pickups are HOT for sure. Even with Rotosound 77 low-output strings, it's as loud as the active EMG HB's on my other bass with stainless roundwounds.
Tone wise it's middy and not that bright, as you'd expect from a hot passive pickup. But it's got remarkable clarity for something this hot, and is an UPGRADE to the more expensive, black Gibson TB+ pickups.

 

[JJR58]

Thursday, these guys.

 

[MCF]

The pickups on my VP bird is rock bottom, height-wise. The screw head has even stripped a bit, and the cover has sunk a bit at the screw due to my overtightening.
The Alnico 'Bird pickups are HOT for sure. Even with Rotosound 77 low-output strings, it's as loud as the active EMG HB's on my other bass with stainless roundwounds.
Tone wise it's middy and not that bright, as you'd expect from a hot passive pickup. But it's got remarkable clarity for something this hot, and is an UPGRADE to the more expensive, black Gibson TB+ pickups.

For some. Different tone for different folks and applications. To me, the Gibson Vintage Reissues sound fuller than the Probuckers. Especially in the bottom. That is why I prefer them. Others like the Probuckers better. And there are times when the pluses are just the ticket with stainless rounds. It’s all good.

 

[Iristone]

The Reissues are probably an upgrade over the Probuckers. The black plastic TB-plus, OTOH, doesn't sound that good.

 

[dagrev]

The Reissues are probably an upgrade over the Probuckers. The black plastic TB-plus, OTOH, doesn't sound that good.

It really matters how your rig is voiced. My Ampeg head had enough bigness the VPs sound great. It seem to have too much bigness for the new Non Reverses and modern Thunderbirds live (at home were always just fine). For those I use the Ashdown ABM and we are back to the land of fantastic. All the variables matter in addition to what you want to hear. (Said, Capt. Obvious!)

 

[Engle]

Yep. But I’ve struck out twice trying to get a set.

I didn't see the post, but it wouldn't hurt to message him.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

great practice (at More Music) last night…..got a chance to compare the 64 to Dave’s 66P back to back on several tunes……both have fresh rounds and went through a blackface SVT driving a 6 x10 cab….no contest…..although familiar with the P in many respect, I can confidently say the Gibson had the 7ender for dinner…..literally blew it outta the water….
TT!…..

 

[TBird1958]

great practice (at More Music) last night…..got a chance to compare the 64 to Dave’s 66P back to back on several tunes……both have fresh rounds and went through a blackface SVT driving a 6 x10 cab….no contest…..although familiar with the P in many respect, I can confidently say the Gibson had the 7ender for dinner…..literally blew it outta the water….
TT!…..
View attachment 7033707

Oh Hell yeah!

 

[JJR58]

great practice (at More Music) last night…..got a chance to compare the 64 to Dave’s 66P back to back on several tunes……both have fresh rounds and went through a blackface SVT driving a 6 x10 cab….no contest…..although familiar with the P in many respect, I can confidently say the Gibson had the 7ender for dinner…..literally blew it outta the water….
TT!…..
View attachment 7033707

A Happy man right there.

 

[GBassNorth]

nice collection…..they got the bridge pup volume pot placement more period correct on your white BaCH (aftermarket addition right?) read somewhere recently (Basvarken?) there was a mistake at the factory where they had to add a veneer to cover some miss drilled holes…..
View attachment 7033080

Yep, aftermarket. One of the previous owners added the bridge pickup. Knob placement and spacing looks good to my eyes and works well, so I’m happy.

Are you referring to the ‘05 listed on the Bay and Reverb at $1599? Including the case plus $90 for shipping? They sound willing to negotiate. 8 1/2 pounds which ain’t bad. I find myself playing mine quite a bit and it doesn’t feel heavy to me. They’re nice Thunderbirds. A bit different with a set neck, flat front, Corian nut, regular high mass type bridge, the skinny headstock, and the chrome Grovers. I like the tone from that era TBird plus pickups. Someone here should get it if they can come to the $1200-$1300 range or thereabouts.

https://reverb.com/item/84544382-2005-gibson-thunderbird-studio-black

For comparison, I got my Ebony ‘05 (thanks to Dave’s assistance) for 1K with the case. Mine has a non-stock BadAss II bridge which took some effort to get dialed in. And the finish was really soft with a hint of mildew because it sat in the case for way too long. The finish hardened up after letting it set out for a couple months and it polished up to look really nice.

They’re nice Thunderbirds. Highly recommended.

There’s one on MusicGoRound that’s a bit cheaper IIRC and it’s been there a while so they might be willing to negotiate.

He sure did!!! Here’s my current “Squire” collection. Got the T-Bird, a 70s Jazz (albeit Squier), a Red Tobias (albeit 8 string instead 5), and naturally a Rickenbacker (albeit Jetglo). View attachment 7033278View attachment 7033287View attachment 7033288

Very sweet collection of some awesome basses!

 

[JIO]

White Birds it is.

I had that same SWR rig, although the 4x10 cab was called a Goliath. I bought it new in '96. (pre-Fender) The only thing that ever went wrong with the 400s head was the switch went bad - an easy fix/replace. Sold it about 3 yrs ago. Sounded big but I don't miss lugging that heavy, awkward cab.

 

[Gaolee]

Yup, it's cranked down on mine, haven't touched it either, don't plan on it anytime soon. Mine's going to the Halloween show 10/26, so it'll have gotten out twice this year, w00t!

Funny thing about that. The Dimarzio One in my EB is also fairly low. That makes its output a whole lot less than you would get with a mudbucker, or even a P split coil. But it sounds great and the amp has a volume knob. Raw output volume is not the only thing that matters. I can absolutely see why a much lower Thunderbird pickup would sound great. It would be different from one right up next to the strings. Not better, not worse, just different.

 

[JIO]

great practice (at More Music) last night…..got a chance to compare the 64 to Dave’s 66P back to back on several tunes……both have fresh rounds and went through a blackface SVT driving a 6 x10 cab….no contest…..although familiar with the P in many respect, I can confidently say the Gibson had the 7ender for dinner…..literally blew it outta the water….
TT!…..
View attachment 7033707

Owning both a '64 II and '66P I can only say I never compare them to each other. They are two uniquely different, individually voiced instruments - and both sound awesome in their own way. But I get individual player preference depending on specific application/need. (Dave's '66 P is pretty sweet)

 

[Gaolee]

The Reissues are probably an upgrade over the Probuckers. The black plastic TB-plus, OTOH, doesn't sound that good.

It depends on what TB+ pickups you have. Gibson made them a whole lot of different ways over the years. I'm absolutely convinced that whatever it was Gibson was doing in 2001 caught some magic that didn't get spread around much to other years. I have a 2001, and it is the pixie dust bass. Several others here have played it, I I put the same strings on it as on the 1991 which has Thunderbuckers. 2001 pickups sound amazingly similar to Thunderbuckers, to the point that I'm not convinced you can tell them apart without looking. That's not strictly true of TB+ pickups from other years. I don't know what's in there and will probably never find out. Gibson sure isn't saying, and it's all potted in with epoxy or something like it. They are slightly noisier than some other humbuckers. Only slightly. That may be a hint at what's going on, or maybe not.

 

[JIO]

Funny thing about that. The Dimarzio One in my EB is also fairly low. That makes its output a whole lot less than you would get with a mudbucker, or even a P split coil. But it sounds great and the amp has a volume knob. Raw output volume is not the only thing that matters. I can absolutely see why a much lower Thunderbird pickup would sound great. It would be different from one right up next to the strings. Not better, not worse, just different.

EB/SG basses over the years have had a myriad of pu positions.

 

[Gaolee]

EB/SG basses over the years have had a myriad of pu positions.

It's not the pickup position so much as the pickup that's in my EB-2. It's been there since I got it in the early 1980s. Compared to a number of other bass guitar pickups, its output is fairly low, which is not the usual thing from an EB-2. Mudbuckers had the reputation for being speaker cone killers due to the massive output. Mine, with a Model One, doesn't have anywhere near that kind of output but it sounds great. That's all I meant.

 

[MCF]

Yep, aftermarket. One of the previous owners added the bridge pickup. Knob placement and spacing looks good to my eyes and works well, so I’m happy.


There’s one on MusicGoRound that’s a bit cheaper IIRC and it’s been there a while so they might be willing to negotiate.



Very sweet collection of some awesome basses!

I always forget about Nusic Go Round. That’s a more realistic price for a Studio with the case.

The Stockton Store that I used to stop at when I drove up and down the valley all the time before the pandemic, has this interesting Custom Craft:
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[Chucky Stiletti]

Owning both a '64 II and '66P I can only say I never compare them to each other. They are two uniquely different, individually voiced instruments - and both sound awesome in their own way. But I get individual player preference depending on specific application/need. (Dave's '66 P is pretty sweet)
View attachment 7033726

I get what you’re saying but with all the comparative dialogue on this blog about the subject, there was no way I wasn’t about to try an A/B comparison of both given that both had fresh rounds, same SVT and some seasoned musicians to play along with…….

 

[JIO]

It's not the pickup position so much as the pickup that's in my EB-2. It's been there since I got it in the early 1980s. Compared to a number of other bass guitar pickups, its output is fairly low, which is not the usual thing from an EB-2. Mudbuckers had the reputation for being speaker cone killers due to the massive output. Mine, with a Model One, doesn't have anywhere near that kind of output but it sounds great. That's all I meant.

Some old pu's lose output over time. My '66 P is somewhere in the middle output-wise but like your Model One - what it lacks in comparable output, it more than makes up with quality of tone. Then there's low impedance pu's (EMG/Alembic) which are designed that way to complement active electronics.

 

[JIO]

I get what you’re saying but with all the comparative dialogue on this blog about the subject, there was no way I wasn’t about to try an A/B comparison of both given that both had fresh rounds, same SVT and some seasoned musicians to play along with…….

Totally - I would have done the same just to hear the differences. When I regularly attended jam sessions (with seasoned musicians) I would bring a different bass to each one. I found each bass would shape the way I played that night. None better or worse - just different in the best of ways.