Thunderbird Club

[/\/\3phist0]

or bad power, cord, outta phase weirdness, oneself, anything reallly......the only certainty is that it's different every time but just as much of a bummer....I take 2 of everything....

My board.

 

[Count Bassie]

I’m doing my part, I just ordered a set. I think Dave mentioned they weren’t as bright as Cobalt Flats, but I think Donnie mentioned the were brighter than Cobalt Flats. I guess I’ll find out. These are potentially going on my ‘66 NR Tribute Fretless Tbird to replace a new set of Cobalts that are a bit too bright for that bass. Looking for more bottom end and preferably less tension than the Cobalts. Donor know if SIT PFs will get there or if there are better options. Any insight is always welcome.

I'll be listening. I'm looking for a set of slightly brighter flats for my Westone fretless. I've got Cobalt Flats on it now.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Someone please tell me about nylon tapewound strings, ala LaBella “Deep Talkin’ Bass” black nylon tapewound.

I have 4 medium scale basses and can’t find medium scale rounds in anything heavier than 50-105. I know there are flats that will work good on these, adding that little bit of tension the shorter than 34” scale needs, but I also want to tune one to D-Standard/drop C, and all of the medium scale basses I have, set up as well as I can, with a little bit of relief and low action are a bit buzzy for my taste with 50-105, rounds. With same gauge flats I can get them playing great, even in Eb.

The LaBellas have a set of the black nylon tapewound in 60-115. This seems like a good solution for tuning a medium scale basses to D-Standard and Drop C, but are these strings basically a dead out of the pack set, intended to be fully “thuddy” or is there any brightness at all to these?

none whatsoever....low tension too....dig them with TB+

 

[BklynKen]

I’m doing my part, I just ordered a set. I think Dave mentioned they weren’t as bright as Cobalt Flats, but I think Donnie mentioned the were brighter than Cobalt Flats. I guess I’ll find out. These are potentially going on my ‘66 NR Tribute Fretless Tbird to replace a new set of Cobalts that are a bit too bright for that bass. Looking for more bottom end and preferably less tension than the Cobalts. Donor know if SIT PFs will get there or if there are better options. Any insight is always welcome.

So many factors. Pickups, amp, signal path....

 

[BklynKen]

My board.
View attachment 7211778View attachment 7211779

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

The “extra” screw holes are from the bridge and pickup covers.
Definate headstock break repair, without a refinish:
View attachment 7211737
The controls are the originals, they “upgraded” the controls that are installed

be interesting to be able to accurately tell how much cracks really de-value....
wish my Gen 2 didn't have one but hey...

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I'll be listening. I'm looking for a set of slightly brighter flats for my Westone fretless. I've got Cobalt Flats on it now.

Cobalts have the brightest “balance “ response in flats . You aren’t gonna get “brighter” than those in a flat.

Dunlop have strong upper mids
Sadowsky black label are bright / hollow like chromes.

Smith “slick rounds “ (half rounds) or other ground wounds?
Or Pressure rounds from many MFG

 

[GBassNorth]

Someone please tell me about nylon tapewound strings, ala LaBella “Deep Talkin’ Bass” black nylon tapewound.

I have 4 medium scale basses and can’t find medium scale rounds in anything heavier than 50-105. I know there are flats that will work good on these, adding that little bit of tension the shorter than 34” scale needs, but I also want to tune one to D-Standard/drop C, and all of the medium scale basses I have, set up as well as I can, with a little bit of relief and low action are a bit buzzy for my taste with 50-105, rounds. With same gauge flats I can get them playing great, even in Eb.

The LaBellas have a set of the black nylon tapewound in 60-115. This seems like a good solution for tuning a medium scale basses to D-Standard and Drop C, but are these strings basically a dead out of the pack set, intended to be fully “thuddy” or is there any brightness at all to these?

I have La Bella Black tapes on several basses (Jazz 5, Tbird Goth, Reverend 5L) and absolutely love them!

They are very responsive to onboard EQ. So if you want bright and clear just use your knobs, if you want dark and thumpy in an upright way, just use your knobs. Very versatile strings that are inherently deeper and darker than most nickel rounds but brighter and more articulate than most nickel flats. Probably a hair brighter on the top end than Cobalt Flats and a hair darker on the bottom end than Cobalt flats.

Overall a very musical well rounded string than can be used in many different EQ settings just fine. Love the feel of them and love the tension. Never knew they had a short scale version, so I haven’t tried those.

Here’s a quick sound clip of them on my FrankenGoth…

The onboard preamp was set at bass neutral (no cut or boost) slight Treb boost and pickups in single coil mode with neck pup at 50% and bridge pup at 25%. Excuse the static in the background, I grabbed a bad cord for the recording. The clip focuses on the G and D strings with slides down around the 12th fret to highlight the musical top end capability of the strings.

 

[Stealth57]

It’s offered at $3950 in the FB Thunderbird Group. Still too high with the repair IMO. Not sure why someone felt the need to change pots. They’re terrific Thunderbirds. I’m glad I was finally able to get a nice one while they’re still available for under 4k.

The owner said it was a professional headstock repair

 

[Ringhammer]

Saving this to show my wife...

If I listed off the basses in detail it would really be something….

 

[GBassNorth]

The owner said it was a professional headstock repair

Yeah, professionally repaired in Canada by Red Green…

 

[GBassNorth]

If I listed off the basses in detail it would really be something….

I used to have a listing that I kept up to date on my TalkBass profile page about a year ago, I don’t even know how to access that page in the new format, so if it’s still viewable it’s probably 80% up to date now.

 

[Ringhammer]

Look at DR DDT strings.

Call Jason at Fretnation he may have some suggestions.

No DRs in medium scale. Medium scale is the problem here. Short scale has way more options.

Jason has been helpful. He suggested the GHS brite flats, which have a 46-108 (I think) set, and they are OK.

I have a short scale set of EBCF’s in 50-110 and they are PERFECT for my D-Standard tuned short scale Les Paul Tribute DC. If they only made that same set in medium scale.

 

[Count Bassie]

Cobalts have the brightest “balance “ response in flats . You aren’t gonna get “brighter” than those in a flat.

Dunlop have strong upper mids
Sadowsky black label are bright / hollow like chromes.

Smith “slick rounds “ (half rounds) or other ground wounds?
Or Pressure rounds from many MFG

I guess I'm looking for a voice that's generally more mids-heavy... Ground rounds could work, I'll look in about those Smiths, thanks.

 

[GBassNorth]

No DRs in medium scale. Medium scale is the problem here. Short scale has way more options.

Jason has been helpful. He suggested the GHS brite flats, which have a 46-108 (I think) set, and they are OK.

I have a short scale set of EBCF’s in 50-110 and they are PERFECT for my D-Standard tuned short scale Les Paul Tribute DC. If they only made that same set in medium scale.

I’ve successfully used standard scale 34” EBCFs on my short scale Gibson SG Supreme and on my Les Paul Memphis SS bass. I would think they would work just fine on a medium scale bass as well. Since you’ll be cutting the silks off, the trick is to kink the string end before cutting to length. That will keep them from unraveling.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I guess I'm looking for a voice that's generally more mids-heavy... Ground rounds could work, I'll look in about those Smiths, thanks.

Mids you say? Have you tried labella LTF’s?

 

[Stealth57]

D

Yeah, professionally repaired in Canada by Red Green…

Dang, if it didn't actually run...at least a few feet.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

The owner said it was a professional headstock repair

And the GC employee was very flattered by that.

 

[MCF]

The owner said it was a professional headstock repair

Anyone can call themself a professional.

 

[TBird1958]

Ugly, but apparently stable.................. Kinda like me!