Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

Does that pickup config really work? What I've learned during the years and experimenting that two pickups very close together usually sound better by themselves than together.
Is the pickup on the bridge side in the "normal" T-bird II location?

It works better than I expected and does kinda reach Tom’s goal of being more in line with a Hofner beatle bass for the Sgt Pepper tour. That said, as you noted it sounds best with one pickup soloed or heavily favored vs both maxed. I’m not home right now so I can’t confirm it but I think the bridge pup is pretty close to the normal neck position.

The Bach & Lull upstage the Greci & Epi.

That they do!
Interestingly enough they all sound equally fantastic - the Greco is big and bold, the BaCH has ChinaBuckers that sound very vintage, the Lull is creamy smooth, and the Eppi CP is deep and dreamy.

Yes I was just there reading how heavy and muddy they are. Neck diving and for one bloke irredeemable due to have Gibson written on it.

Same rubbish being recycled over and over, except for a few posts.

I posted some logic there for the OP (who was mostly staying out of the conversations) but it was clearly a Gibson and Thunderbird bash fest and I didn’t feel like calling anybody on the carpet for making ignorant posts based completely on hearsay and speculation.
The kicker is, discussions like those on TalkBass are what kept me from buying a Tbird or any other Gibson for more than a decade, wasted some of the best playing years of my life ignoring some of the best basses made.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

ironically Thomas prefers reverses......

 

[KPJ]

Your 300 PS looks pristine.

Hard to tell but the tolex has wear typical of a 45 year old amp but it is in great shape overall.

 

[Bent77]

It works better than I expected and does kinda reach Tom’s goal of being more in line with a Hofner beatle bass for the Sgt Pepper tour. That said, as you noted it sounds best with one pickup soloed or heavily favored vs both maxed. I’m not home right now so I can’t confirm it but I think the bridge pup is pretty close to the normal neck position.


That they do!
Interestingly enough they all sound equally fantastic - the Greco is big and bold, the BaCH has ChinaBuckers that sound very vintage, the Lull is creamy smooth, and the Eppi CP is deep and dreamy.


I posted some logic there for the OP (who was mostly staying out of the conversations) but it was clearly a Gibson and Thunderbird bash fest and I didn’t feel like calling anybody on the carpet for making ignorant posts based completely on hearsay and speculation.
The kicker is, discussions like those on TalkBass are what kept me from buying a Tbird or any other Gibson for more than a decade, wasted some of the best playing years of my life ignoring some of the best basses made.

Those chinabuckers I have installed have a nice sweet spot. Very happy with them

 

[MCF]

Any suggestions on upgrading tuners on my 2018 IV? The bass sounds good with black nylons but the tuners are very sloppy. Since it’s a base model, I don’t want to spend a lot. Thoughts?

I lost track ‘18 IV what.

 

[Stealth57]

I lost track ‘18 IV what.

Base model bird. Hitting the nog?

 

[MCF]

ironically Thomas prefers reverses......

The sign of rebellion.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

was

The sign of rebellion.

at least it's not a J!...

 

[MCF]

Base model bird. Hitting the nog?

The base Epi tuners are hit and miss. As they are on some Goths. I’d look to see what Gotoh offers if you don’t want to spend.

 

[GBassNorth]

Spent a good deal of time today at Low End Bass with Brian and his work mate. Tried a number of fretless basses,

https://lowendbassshop.com/?s=Fretless&post_type=product

the run down for those that might be interested…

Carvin AC40 - big bang for the buck - sounded great but no significant intonation capability

Turner - great nearly upright bass sound - dang thing ain’t for sitting, it wants to constantly jump off your leg

Lightwave - very surprised just how much I liked the sound of this one, very nice, needed an A string bridge adjustment

Alfonso - neat sound chamber design, but just not my cup of tea

Fender Victor Bailey Jazz - phenomenal sounding, the preamp had me sold on Jazz pups all over again

Fender 1975 P bass - a classic tone, not as heavy as many other 1970’s Fenders

Warwick Thumb BO4 - hands down the walk away best player of the day by far, somebody better snap this up before I buy it.
She’s a screamer!!!
[This invalid link has been removed]

 

[Gaolee]

A complete nervous breakdown having to do with computers and such. I had CPM computers, built and upgraded PC boxes for thirty years, and then just stopped. Couldn’t stand it anymore. That’s why me and IOS are best buds. Simple and does the job.

You probably didn't look at the rack down in the basement of bad ideas. The wiring in the back is covered up, but it sure took a while. It works, so I am happy.

 

[Gaolee]

Are T-Birds heavy? Neck heavy they may occasionally be but I've never really thought them as weighty basses whatever the version was. My '76 was pretty light and the custom made non-reverse I have is very light. The Epiphone VP doesn't seem particularly heavy either.
Just wondering because of the thread on the page...

Of course they are. And they dive like the Titanic. And you can only play metal with them except when you can't. And they sound like mush bucket one trick ponies. Plus the detachable, exploding headstock.

Did I miss anything? Gotta keep the legends alive.

 

[Gaolee]

Do you want a re

Do you want a Reverse or a Non Reverse? There was an ‘01 Reverse that I saw somewhere the other day. @Gaolee on here swears the pickups in his are made with pixie dust. Can’t recall where it was listed.

If you find an '01, buy it. I am coming to the conclusion that the pixie dust really is in the pickups. So now I can refinish it to some outrageous color and demolish any resale value it might have. Without wrecking its magic.

 

[Gaolee]

.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Buddy Guy, a composer, and Ghengis Khan. The perfect trio, but once again, greedy leeches destroy a beautiful thing.

“I think that the whole band was kind of misunderstood by everybody, and it gave us a sort of an edge, you know": The story of Cream's Disraeli Gears

Best of 2024: How Baker, Bruce and Clapton transcended their (and their management's) very different ambitions for Cream to track a '60s masterpiece

www.musicradar.com

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Are T-Birds heavy? Neck heavy they may occasionally be but I've never really thought them as weighty basses whatever the version was. My '76 was pretty light and the custom made non-reverse I have is very light. The Epiphone VP doesn't seem particularly heavy either.
Just wondering because of the thread on the page...

The Epi PRO V was a bit of a beast. No IV I’ve played has been that heavy.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

ironically Thomas prefers reverses......

Especially that one.

 

[TBird1958]

Buddy Guy, a composer, and Ghengis Khan. The perfect trio, but once again, greedy leeches destroy a beautiful thing.

“I think that the whole band was kind of misunderstood by everybody, and it gave us a sort of an edge, you know": The story of Cream's Disraeli Gears

Best of 2024: How Baker, Bruce and Clapton transcended their (and their management's) very different ambitions for Cream to track a '60s masterpiece

www.musicradar.com

I don't think Cream was really meant to last, I do think it was three guys that came together at the right time in their lives to make some truly great music.
They all made each other better, especially Ginger Baker. The guy that suffered the breakup the most was Clapton, he lost his best influences.

 

[BklynKen]

Spent a good deal of time today at Low End Bass with Brian and his work mate. Tried a number of fretless basses,

https://lowendbassshop.com/?s=Fretless&post_type=product

the run down for those that might be interested…

Carvin AC40 - big bang for the buck - sounded great but no significant intonation capability

Turner - great nearly upright bass sound - dang thing ain’t for sitting, it wants to constantly jump off your leg

Lightwave - very surprised just how much I liked the sound of this one, very nice, needed an A string bridge adjustment

Alfonso - neat sound chamber design, but just not my cup of tea

Fender Victor Bailey Jazz - phenomenal sounding, the preamp had me sold on Jazz pups all over again

Fender 1975 P bass - a classic tone, not as heavy as many other 1970’s Fenders

Warwick Thumb BO4 - hands down the walk away best player of the day by far, somebody better snap this up before I buy it.
She’s a screamer!!!
[This invalid link has been removed]

You didn't try the Carvin LB20? I absolutely love the neck on them.

 

[GBassNorth]

You didn't try the Carvin LB20? I absolutely love the neck on them.

I didn’t try that Carvin, was running out of time. But the neck in the other Carvin was to die for. If it had an intonatable bridge I would have brought it home with me.