Thunderbird Club

[/\/\3phist0]

It’s a 2000 Gibson Thunderbird. Pickups were swapped for thunderbuckers 66s. I think they sound really good, def impressed by the clarity. I think they don’t make them anymore.
I played a Gibson Nikki six a few weeks ago, I think it had the standard modern hot tbird pups with no control knobs, and I thought that bass sounded really good too. It’s kinda hard to choose lol.

I agree tho, this look with the vintage pups is hard to beat. I just got the bass so just gonna enjoy it as is but I think the awesome look is def a big part of keeping it as is. Might try a preamp down the line with these pups to see what it sounds like.

Heres a pic, I’ll add some in better lighting in the next few days. I freaking love this bass. Ebony board, natural finish which I don’t see as much, and it’s super light!!( especially compared to any other tbird I’ve played). I was considering and epi but really glad I found this one. Has some nice upgrades, ultra light tuners, I think the bridge and brass nut aren’t original, and the upgraded pups
View attachment 7240942

Right on thanks for the input! Good to know a preamp can work in there.
So originally before I even got the bass I had in my mind that I would put in bartolini pups and preamp in it. I know not everyone likes them but I love barts. It’s kinda the perfect bass sound in my head, and especially I think they’re so easy to record. They sound great in any mix.
My only other bass is a fender 62 reissue J bass which I love so the idea was to have a vintage passive low output single coil bass, and an active more aggressive bass.

No new holes need to be drilled, battery can go in the excess space in control cavity.
Batteries last a LOOONG time

 

[Miles_ONeal]

It’s a 2000 Gibson Thunderbird. Pickups were swapped for thunderbuckers 66s. I think they sound really good, def impressed by the clarity. I think they don’t make them anymore.
I played a Gibson Nikki six a few weeks ago, I think it had the standard modern hot tbird pups with no control knobs, and I thought that bass sounded really good too. It’s kinda hard to choose lol.

I agree tho, this look with the vintage pups is hard to beat. I just got the bass so just gonna enjoy it as is but I think the awesome look is def a big part of keeping it as is. Might try a preamp down the line with these pups to see what it sounds like.

Heres a pic, I’ll add some in better lighting in the next few days. I freaking love this bass. Ebony board, natural finish which I don’t see as much, and it’s super light!!( especially compared to any other tbird I’ve played). I was considering and epi but really glad I found this one. Has some nice upgrades, ultra light tuners, I think the bridge and brass nut aren’t original, and the upgraded pups
View attachment 7240942

Right on thanks for the input! Good to know a preamp can work in there.
So originally before I even got the bass I had in my mind that I would put in bartolini pups and preamp in it. I know not everyone likes them but I love barts. It’s kinda the perfect bass sound in my head, and especially I think they’re so easy to record. They sound great in any mix.
My only other bass is a fender 62 reissue J bass which I love so the idea was to have a vintage passive low output single coil bass, and an active more aggressive bass.

You are correct that Thunderbuckers are no longer made.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

It was the TB-90 label that confused me. That, and TB-900, are Greco II model names. 700s are IVs.

Yeah, I got cognitive dissonance between that and the photos.

 

[Engle]

I did my first theatre gig last night. We were the band in a Speakeasy/brothel in 1924 located right at the border on the Canadian side. The mostly improvised murder mystery was based on real characters and place.

I did improv sound effects on the bass during the play. As the detective interrogated suspects, I’d play a walking bass line in a minor key, stopping when he asked pointed questions. Then I went up a 4th for each suspects turn. Great fun!

I haven’t seen any band pics yet, but this was our “stage”

This is my 1x10 cab. I didn’t want to overheat the MB200 under the pillowcase, so it’s on the floor behind the screen.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Ovation needs to make an upright bass and call it the Standing Ovation.

 

[MCF]

Question for any of you that own 70 era T-birds. I'm looking into picking up one, what would you look for as some of the short coming (issues). Other than broken headstock, were truss rods, neck twist or fret board ramping an issue? Thanks

I have a ‘77. I absolutely love the tone of the sidewinder pickups which are hard to find. It has zero issues. Beware that some people swapped out the sidewinders which IMO was a mistake. Also, many no longer have the stock bridge cover or the neck pickup cover. They have the larger vintage era headstock. I found an aftermarket bridge cover for mine. They are wonderful and these days are priced accordingly; anywhere from $3k to 5.5K. Only 1855 were made between’76 and ‘79. They are wonderful.

1976 Gibson Bicentennial Thunderbird bass >> FlyGuitars

The bicentennial Thunderbirds of 1976 were produced to commemorate 200 years of American independence

www.flyguitars.com

https://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/parts/pickup/70sthunderbirdhumbucker.php

 

[Stealth57]

Anyone looking for a shorty?

 

[MCF]

It’s a 2000 Gibson Thunderbird. Pickups were swapped for thunderbuckers 66s. I think they sound really good, def impressed by the clarity. I think they don’t make them anymore.
I played a Gibson Nikki six a few weeks ago, I think it had the standard modern hot tbird pups with no control knobs, and I thought that bass sounded really good too. It’s kinda hard to choose lol.

I agree tho, this look with the vintage pups is hard to beat. I just got the bass so just gonna enjoy it as is but I think the awesome look is def a big part of keeping it as is. Might try a preamp down the line with these pups to see what it sounds like.

Heres a pic, I’ll add some in better lighting in the next few days. I freaking love this bass. Ebony board, natural finish which I don’t see as much, and it’s super light!!( especially compared to any other tbird I’ve played). I was considering and epi but really glad I found this one. Has some nice upgrades, ultra light tuners, I think the bridge and brass nut aren’t original, and the upgraded pups
View attachment 7240942

Right on thanks for the input! Good to know a preamp can work in there.
So originally before I even got the bass I had in my mind that I would put in bartolini pups and preamp in it. I know not everyone likes them but I love barts. It’s kinda the perfect bass sound in my head, and especially I think they’re so easy to record. They sound great in any mix.
My only other bass is a fender 62 reissue J bass which I love so the idea was to have a vintage passive low output single coil bass, and an active more aggressive bass.

Get both. A Gibson Blackbird is on my must get list.

 

[BklynKen]

It's a somewhat rare Epiphone Elitist, made in the same factory as Orvilles, pretty much a Kissin' Cousin except I don't know what pickups were used. I would own that!

If I was reading between the lines correctly when talking to one of the guys at 30th Street Guitars (he just didn't know), the pickups are TB+ of the time in metal covers.

 

[TBird1958]

If I was reading between the lines correctly when talking to one of the guys at 30th Street Guitars (he just didn't know), the pickups are TB+ of the time in metal covers.

That's true for Orvilles, I don't know that it is for Epiphone Elitist. Much as I like a good set of TB Plus, the ones in my Orville were nothing special at all - In fact they were pretty much like Scott describes them -"Like flogging dead meat". I don't regret taking them out.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

There you go, it's done!





Note that the original bushings measure 18mm, the Gotoh bushings measure 17.6mm.
You'll need to make up for this slight difference by, for example, wrapping a one-centimeter strip of aluminum tape (If you have any other ideas, please share them)

I wasn't sure about using Gotoh screws because several reviews on Thomann mentioned that they break when tightening. Using a 2mm drill bit, I didn't have any problems.
If this helps anyone.

c'est super bien sorti

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

If that’s a natural finish, then is essentially (well, exactly) like my 2001 natural when I bought it. It also came with the Thunderbucker 66’s, a Hipshot bridge (which I changed for a Babicz), and Hipshot USA ultralights. I put a black pg on mine.

I was not a huge fan of the Thunderbuckers at first, but I have come to like them a lot. Mine is strung with 50-110 nickels (I think SIT “Rock Brights, which I think have been re-named?). Also mine is tuned Eb.View attachment 7241071

those come stock with that black pg?

 

[BklynKen]

That's true for Orvilles, I don't know that it is for Epiphone Elitist. Much as I like a good set of TB Plus, the ones in my Orville were nothing special at all - In fact they were pretty much like Scott describes them -"Like flogging dead meat". I don't regret taking them out.

Which actually makes me think they ARE TB+ of that era. Like the 2001 or your 2005 Studio's. So much more clarity.

 

[Thumper]

FWIW I’m partial to a 4 band Audere .
Any bass I have put it in, just gets to be “more” of what it already sounds like.
In other words doesn’t color the signal: only an active EQ onboard.

I've recently become a big fan of preamps with low-mid and high-mid tone controls, which started with a relatively recent purchase of an alnico loaded Dingwall SJ4XXX with a Darkglass Tone Capsule. My plan was to remove the Darkglass, but once I heard it that's not going to happen.

Last week I received a SushiBox PMLE 4 band preamp pedal which has bass/low-mid/high-mid/treble, and simply put, it's magic. Even better, it makes my VP sound like what I imagine 60s Era Thunderbirds sound like. It adds depth and weight to the tone (unlike the somewhat thin tone I got from it at my last gig). I haven't tried it with the band, but I have a VP at practice to try it with. This was with everything at 12 o'clock which I believe is neutral. Interestingly, my Chinabucker loaded Pbird didn't respond as well to the SushiBox, but I didn't tweak the SushiBox knobs, so that magic may be in there for it as well. Can’t wait to try it with my 2014 Thunderbird which also lives at practice.

Sadly, the PMLE was a limited edition for April Fool's Day, but a similar pedal, the SushiBox Venus is still available.

I'm back in love with my VP!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

funky sounding room..... must be the hauntings....

 

[Alex4bass]

Get both. A Gibson Blackbird is on my must get list.

 

[TBird1958]

It’s a 2000 Gibson Thunderbird. Pickups were swapped for thunderbuckers 66s. I think they sound really good, def impressed by the clarity. I think they don’t make them anymore.
I played a Gibson Nikki six a few weeks ago, I think it had the standard modern hot tbird pups with no control knobs, and I thought that bass sounded really good too. It’s kinda hard to choose lol.

I agree tho, this look with the vintage pups is hard to beat. I just got the bass so just gonna enjoy it as is but I think the awesome look is def a big part of keeping it as is. Might try a preamp down the line with these pups to see what it sounds like.

Heres a pic, I’ll add some in better lighting in the next few days. I freaking love this bass. Ebony board, natural finish which I don’t see as much, and it’s super light!!( especially compared to any other tbird I’ve played). I was considering and epi but really glad I found this one. Has some nice upgrades, ultra light tuners, I think the bridge and brass nut aren’t original, and the upgraded pups
View attachment 7240942

Right on thanks for the input! Good to know a preamp can work in there.
So originally before I even got the bass I had in my mind that I would put in bartolini pups and preamp in it. I know not everyone likes them but I love barts. It’s kinda the perfect bass sound in my head, and especially I think they’re so easy to record. They sound great in any mix.
My only other bass is a fender 62 reissue J bass which I love so the idea was to have a vintage passive low output single coil bass, and an active more aggressive bass.

Lovely Thunderbird, congratulations!
TBH I don't think I would modify that bass, so a pre amp pedal? If you'd like a club nimber please let know, happy to add you

 

[Engle]

Which actually makes me think they ARE TB+ of that era. Like the 2001 or your 2005 Studio's. So much more clarity.

There's no way to know what you're going to get until you look. My Orville came with Alnico pickups in nickel covers.
They sound pretty good to me.

 

[Alex4bass]

Last tuesday, I received a trade proposal, it was my blackbird for a brand new thunderbird non reverse. Love my bass, but it is 24 years old and the non reverse is new. Still thinking about... I will thank any advice!

 

[TBird1958]

Last tuesday, I received a trade proposal, it was my blackbird for a brand new thunderbird non reverse. Love my bass, but it is 24 years old and the non reverse is new. Still thinking about... I will thank any advice!

Keep your Blackbird.
Find a new Non Reverse to play - there's lots of them out there at this point. If you like it buy one. They're two very different basses.