Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

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.

It will no doubt have been said by now, but those are really nice pickups and shouldn't need a pre to sound good, but I completely understand it's subjective. Nice bass.

 

[MCF]

I've been playing my LP Junior with a Reggae-ish project lately. We're jamming with headphones and then multitrack recording the ideas. It's easier to engineer/play with a short scale and the LPJ with old Chromes sounds great for the dub tones.

I am really getting back into reggae. There is a low power independent station here called Savage Radio. An eclectic mix of indie, alt, punk, old school county, reggae, ska, etc. Bob Marley fades into Hank Williams, into Waxahatchee, into the Vibrators, etc. I love it.

Savage Radio KSVG

 

[dagrev]

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

They are heavy. Some are exceptions, but generally heavy. Not sure at my age I would play it all night long, but could for the sound. They are very accepting of various strings from Rotos to TI flats. Make sure the TR cavity is not compressed out under the TRC. I know of two that the wood began to compress and bulge to get the neck flat, mine being one of them.

 

[MCF]

Complicated to explain, the patriot feeling you the amaricans use to have, doesnt appears in at least the middle of spanish people. I am in this middle, I care more for the people than for my flag.

I hope to meet up with you Alex on a trip to Spain. I’ve enjoyed corresponding with you in the club.

 

[Thumper]

He sure makes interesting pedals. I’m a simpleton and rely on the eq in my amps. But I may dip my toe into something from him. Just because.

Great tone control/enhancers/DIs, especially if you want tube tone in a solid-state amp. Careful, they are addictive, I'm not usually a pedal guy, but I run 2 on my gig board, 2 on my home board, and 1 on a small travel board.

 

[MCF]

They are heavy. Some are exceptions, but generally heavy. Not sure at my age I would play it all night long, but could for the sound. They are very accepting of various strings from Rotos to TI flats. Make sure the TR cavity is not compressed out under the TRC. I know of two that the wood began to compress and bulge to get the neck flat, mine being one of them.

Mine feels to be around 8 1/2, on par with the’21 NR. Lighter than all of my Epi LE Custom Shops, except maybe the TV Silver one. It is definitely heavier than my nice and light ‘15, but not obnoxiously so.

 

[BklynKen]

This has a Nordy 2 band which can be passive if wanted (since it has a dedicated tone knob that works either way in addition to the 2 band on the pre). I like it in that it doesn't flavor the tone any.

View attachment 7241410
That is glare around the PSC pickup.

Love those Hipshot A Style bridges.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Complicated to explain, the patriot feeling you the amaricans use to have, doesnt appears in at least the middle of spanish people. I am in this middle, I care more for the people than for my flag.

forgive me if I asked before but where are you in Spain? I ask because I played in Marbella (Pto. Banus) for years in the 80's/90's and remember going up the mountain to Ronda for breakfast (we finished at 4:00AM) and remember old coggers arguing about what what had happened amongst themselves (and their families) in the late 30's.....seems surreal today....,

 

[Alex4bass]

I hope to meet up with you Alex on a trip to Spain. I’ve enjoyed corresponding with you in the club.

I will pay the wine

 

[Alex4bass]

forgive me if I asked before but where are you in Spain? I ask because I played in Marbella (Pto. Banus) for years in the 80's/90's and remember going up the mountain to Ronda for breakfast (we finished at 4:00AM) and remember old coggers arguing about what what had happened amongst themselves (and their families) in the late 30's.....seems surreal today....,

Civil War and the next 4 decades under a fascist dictatorship were a nightmare here. We re-established democracy in 1978, not so far.
Im 700 km in the north of Marbella!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I will pay the wine

no worries, we can always talk to this guy....

 

[funkymonk13]

Oh, also meant to ask? Anyone wire their Tbird Master Volume, Blend, Tone?

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

Trying to be minimalist and keep it to two basses total

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

Sure Thanks! and yea def gonna just rock it as is for a long while. In the future who knows but i'm def liking the pups.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

One of my favorite Doors songs. I need to learn it. Only ones I recall doing back in the day were Touch Me, Light My, and Riders.

fun and easy, back and forth between E and D....

 

[MCF]

Oh, also meant to ask? Anyone wire their Tbird Master Volume, Blend, Tone?




Trying to be minimalist and keep it to two basses total

Sure Thanks! and yea def gonna just rock it as is for a long while. In the future who knows but i'm def liking the pups.

That does not compute.

 

[MCF]

I will pay the wine

You’re on Alex.

 

[MCF]

Trying to be minimalist and keep it to two basses total

In the immortal words of Robot from Lost In Space, that does not compute.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

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

What bass was that?

 

[Stealth57]

What bass was that?

Carvin?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

yep....prolly because of the shorter scale?....
View attachment 7241354

My Grecos seem to be only ~1/4” shorter than 34”scale but the pickups are 3/“ closer than my 2019 VP. So not just the scale.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Great tone control/enhancers/DIs, especially if you want tube tone in a solid-state amp. Careful, they are addictive, I'm not usually a pedal guy, but I run 2 on my gig board, 2 on my home board, and 1 on a small travel board.

Why 2 per board?