Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

Cool. Just watch the pickup placement on that body in the lower left corner. It’s a pretty big knot and strategically placed to make things difficult.

Likewise with Marshall and my BaCH. Couldn’t have gone to a better person.

Thanks George.

 

[MCF]

I bought that package (Except it came with monitors) a couple years ago when we were first trying to start a podcast. It all seemed like good entry level stuff for what I was doing and we still use the monitors and headphones, with the mic on reserve for a backup. I tried recording some bass things with it and it worked fine, but I don't really know how it works for recording music as I barely tested it for that. Ultimately went with a different setup for the show, but I could have used that kit without issue.

What podcast?

 

[MCF]

Doesn't she have a NR?

She did bash it pretty hard, I think it was on her "worst of 2022" list, so maybe she didn't keep it around.

Yeah, bashed it. Totally negative. The first TBird review before that was of an Epi Pro with the weak preamp. Also totally bashed.

She seems to be a very good player. But I pay no attention to the reviews any more. She loves the SBMM Ray 4. I have one. It is the worst bass I own. I’m not a fan. YMMV.

 

[Jakeman]

I could use a little advice from the TBird gurus. About a decade ago I bought this 2001 TBird, but have struggled with it over the years. I had wanted one as a kid, and this one showed up in great shape for the right price so I went for it. I’ve always dug it, don’t get me wrong. I’ve gigged it, recorded it - I’ve put it through its paces. I switched out the bridge for a Hipshot. I installed Seymour Duncan’s. Yet… I have 9 other basses, a real mix - short scales, fretless, active, passive, semi-hollow, etc. and the Thunderbird is the one I reach for the least. Something about it has always felt off and recently I was able to finally put my finger on it. And it was obvious. Of my 10 basses, not a single one wears round wound strings. Dead flats on each and every one - this TBird is currently strung with 7 year old TI flats. It feels wrong. I have not purchased, researched, or even blinked at round wound strings in over a decade. I want to do this bird justice. It wants to be a rock machine. It wants to scream as it soars through the night sky. It wants to cut glass. What are some sets I should try?

 

[AllieCat]

Yeah, bashed it. Totally negative. The first TBird review before that was of an Epi Pro with the weak preamp. Also totally bashed.

She seems to be a very good player. But I pay no attention to the reviews any more. She loves the SBMM Ray 4. I have one. It is the worst bass I own. I’m not a fan. YMMV.

Yeah I kinda disregarded what she said about the NR. I will say mine is from around the same timeframe hers was built and it has some issues I'm not thrilled with, especially at the current pricepoint. It's a great sounding bass though, and I'm glad to have it in the stable. Probably my favorite out of the four basses I own.

 

[AllieCat]

I could use a little advice from the TBird gurus. About a decade ago I bought this 2001 TBird, but have struggled with it over the years. I had wanted one as a kid, and this one showed up in great shape for the right price so I went for it. I’ve always dug it, don’t get me wrong. I’ve gigged it, recorded it - I’ve put it through its paces. I switched out the bridge for a Hipshot. I installed Seymour Duncan’s. Yet… I have 9 other basses, a real mix - short scales, fretless, active, passive, semi-hollow, etc. and the Thunderbird is the one I reach for the least. Something about it has always felt off and recently I was able to finally put my finger on it. And it was obvious. Of my 10 basses, not a single one wears round wound strings. Dead flats on each and every one - this TBird is currently strung with 7 year old TI flats. It feels wrong. I have not purchased, researched, or even blinked at round wound strings in over a decade. I want to do this bird justice. It wants to be a rock machine. It wants to scream as it soars through the night sky. It wants to cut glass. What are some sets I should try?

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Really lovely bass you have there.

I'm pretty fond of the Rotosound RS66LDN but I've played on the FM66's as well.

 

[MCF]

Yeah I kinda disregarded what she said about the NR. I will say mine is from around the same timeframe hers was built and it has some issues I'm not thrilled with, especially at the current pricepoint. It's a great sounding bass though, and I'm glad to have it in the stable. Probably my favorite out of the four basses I own.

Huh. Mine has zero issues. And it sounds wonderful.

 

[Stealth57]

I could use a little advice from the TBird gurus. About a decade ago I bought this 2001 TBird, but have struggled with it over the years. I had wanted one as a kid, and this one showed up in great shape for the right price so I went for it. I’ve always dug it, don’t get me wrong. I’ve gigged it, recorded it - I’ve put it through its paces. I switched out the bridge for a Hipshot. I installed Seymour Duncan’s. Yet… I have 9 other basses, a real mix - short scales, fretless, active, passive, semi-hollow, etc. and the Thunderbird is the one I reach for the least. Something about it has always felt off and recently I was able to finally put my finger on it. And it was obvious. Of my 10 basses, not a single one wears round wound strings. Dead flats on each and every one - this TBird is currently strung with 7 year old TI flats. It feels wrong. I have not purchased, researched, or even blinked at round wound strings in over a decade. I want to do this bird justice. It wants to be a rock machine. It wants to scream as it soars through the night sky. It wants to cut glass. What are some sets I should try?

View attachment 7151935

SIT Power Steels are a good low cost choice for round wounds. If you go back to flats, try SIT Power Flats or Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats.

 

[TBird1958]

I could use a little advice from the TBird gurus. About a decade ago I bought this 2001 TBird, but have struggled with it over the years. I had wanted one as a kid, and this one showed up in great shape for the right price so I went for it. I’ve always dug it, don’t get me wrong. I’ve gigged it, recorded it - I’ve put it through its paces. I switched out the bridge for a Hipshot. I installed Seymour Duncan’s. Yet… I have 9 other basses, a real mix - short scales, fretless, active, passive, semi-hollow, etc. and the Thunderbird is the one I reach for the least. Something about it has always felt off and recently I was able to finally put my finger on it. And it was obvious. Of my 10 basses, not a single one wears round wound strings. Dead flats on each and every one - this TBird is currently strung with 7 year old TI flats. It feels wrong. I have not purchased, researched, or even blinked at round wound strings in over a decade. I want to do this bird justice. It wants to be a rock machine. It wants to scream as it soars through the night sky. It wants to cut glass. What are some sets I should try?

View attachment 7151935

SIT Power Steels will make bass roar, I tried a set of TI Flats on one of my Thunderbirds..............................Once, they were a good match at all.

 

[RedVee]

Man. He knows his plants.

Just the ones I like.

@Nocturnal
For your wife - I saw a rare white Jacaranda in the nursery on Thursday. Evidently a pretty new thing - the horticulturist got super excited that it had a flower out and took a photo to post on their socials. I should have but didn’t. Evidently the first one in Sydney was auctioned for AU$350k.

I’d only gone in to get some “weeds” identified.

 

[AllieCat]

Huh. Mine has zero issues. And it sounds wonderful.

Biggest issue with mine is one of the tuners seems like it might have stripped out threads on the nut. It tightens to about finger tight and beyond that it slips the threads and comes loose. I have to snug it up every couple of weeks or the washer starts buzzing while I play. I've thought about replacing the tuning machine in question. Maybe I should reach out to Gibson, but I'd hate to have them ask to have it shipped back.

Other than that I have some minor fit and finish gripes. The pick guard is a little warped, there's a teeny tiny bubble in the nitro on the neck, what looks like a bit of over-spray on the side of the fret board, and some crustiness in the nitro around the inserts for the bridge. It plays fine but for over two grand I think I can expect a little more from Gibson. I feel like people would trash an import guitar if it had defects like that.

 

[MCF]

I could use a little advice from the TBird gurus. About a decade ago I bought this 2001 TBird, but have struggled with it over the years. I had wanted one as a kid, and this one showed up in great shape for the right price so I went for it. I’ve always dug it, don’t get me wrong. I’ve gigged it, recorded it - I’ve put it through its paces. I switched out the bridge for a Hipshot. I installed Seymour Duncan’s. Yet… I have 9 other basses, a real mix - short scales, fretless, active, passive, semi-hollow, etc. and the Thunderbird is the one I reach for the least. Something about it has always felt off and recently I was able to finally put my finger on it. And it was obvious. Of my 10 basses, not a single one wears round wound strings. Dead flats on each and every one - this TBird is currently strung with 7 year old TI flats. It feels wrong. I have not purchased, researched, or even blinked at round wound strings in over a decade. I want to do this bird justice. It wants to be a rock machine. It wants to scream as it soars through the night sky. It wants to cut glass. What are some sets I should try?

View attachment 7151935

That is a beautiful Thunderbird!

The TBird+ pickups from that era are favored around here. And Duncan’s are also highly regarded. But they are different beasts. Ceramic magnets in the former and Alnico V in the latter.

There are those here who love flats. I am not one of them. The only set of flats I have on 23 basses is a set of Chromes on a MIM PBass. And they’re great on that bass. Many here love the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats which are brighter than most flats. You could try those.

My rounds of choice are SIT Power Steels or Dunlop Marcus Miller Stainless Steel Superbrights. The Superbrights are slightly slicker to the touch based on my fingers. Maybe start with a set of either of these. Or try the Roto 66 Nickels.

You will receive a lot of different suggestions.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I could use a little advice from the TBird gurus. About a decade ago I bought this 2001 TBird, but have struggled with it over the years. I had wanted one as a kid, and this one showed up in great shape for the right price so I went for it. I’ve always dug it, don’t get me wrong. I’ve gigged it, recorded it - I’ve put it through its paces. I switched out the bridge for a Hipshot. I installed Seymour Duncan’s. Yet… I have 9 other basses, a real mix - short scales, fretless, active, passive, semi-hollow, etc. and the Thunderbird is the one I reach for the least. Something about it has always felt off and recently I was able to finally put my finger on it. And it was obvious. Of my 10 basses, not a single one wears round wound strings. Dead flats on each and every one - this TBird is currently strung with 7 year old TI flats. It feels wrong. I have not purchased, researched, or even blinked at round wound strings in over a decade. I want to do this bird justice. It wants to be a rock machine. It wants to scream as it soars through the night sky. It wants to cut glass. What are some sets I should try?

View attachment 7151935

These.....DR High Beams too.....

RS66 remains one of my faves....here with TBuckers....

 

[MCF]

Biggest issue with mine is one of the tuners seems like it might have stripped out threads on the nut. It tightens to about finger tight and beyond that it slips the threads and comes loose. I have to snug it up every couple of weeks or the washer starts buzzing while I play. I've thought about replacing the tuning machine in question. Maybe I should reach out to Gibson, but I'd hate to have them ask to have it shipped back.

Other than that I have some minor fit and finish gripes. The pick guard is a little warped, there's a teeny tiny bubble in the nitro on the neck, what looks like a bit of over-spray on the side of the fret board, and some crustiness in the nitro around the inserts for the bridge. It plays fine but for over two grand I think I can expect a little more from Gibson. I feel like people would trash an import guitar if it had defects like that.

Thinking about it, I recall that someone here had problems with the tuners. Unfortunately, Gibson chose the licensed Ultralights instead of the USA ones. The mechanisms are different internally. I believe Gibson or Hipshot replaced them; I can’t recall what the resolution was. Mine are fine.

You bought new, correct? If so, start with Gibson. If you bought from SW, talk to them. Or you could give Hipshot CS a call. They may just up and send you a replacement if that’ll work for you.

 

[AllieCat]

Thinking about it, I recall that someone here had problems with the tuners. Unfortunately, Gibson chose the licensed Ultralights instead of the USA ones. The mechanisms are different internally. I believe Gibson or Hipshot replaced them; I can’t recall what the resolution was. Mine are fine.

You bought new, correct? If so, start with Gibson. If you bought from SW, talk to them. Or you could give Hipshot CS a call. They may just up and send you a replacement if that’ll work for you.

I bought NOS from AMS. Honestly I've been thinking about just putting some of the USA Hipshots on it and using the three good ones for a project bass along with one of their drop tuners to make a set of four.

 

[BklynKen]

I bought NOS from AMS. Honestly I've been thinking about just putting some of the USA Hipshots on it and using the three good ones for a project bass along with one of their drop tuners to make a set of four.

I'd also recommend considering the Gotoh GB350 tuners (part of their RES-O-LITE series). I have them on both my Gibson Thunderbirds. They probably work just as well as the stock Grovers, but I think they look a lot better.

 

[MCF]

I bought NOS from AMS. Honestly I've been thinking about just putting some of the USA Hipshots on it and using the three good ones for a project bass along with one of their drop tuners to make a set of four.

That’ll work! But for the time being give Hipshot a call. They have amazing customer service.

 

[AllieCat]

That’ll work! But for the time being give Hipshot a call. They have amazing customer service.

I'll give it a shot, worst thing they can do is tell me to pound sand hahah

 

[MCF]

I ordered it during lunch on Wednesday. It arrived during lunch today. Free shipping and it arrived in 48 hours. Speed and the extended gratis 2 year warranty are why continue to buy most everything from Sweetwater.

 

[BklynKen]

I ordered it during lunch on Wednesday. It arrived during lunch today. Free shipping and it arrived in 48 hours. Speed and the extended gratis 2 year warranty are why continue to buy most everything from Sweetwater.
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Nice! Let us know how it works for you.