Thunderbird Club

[Engle]

Tbird lovers, a challenge has come up (from a die hard Fender friend) where I’ll need to mimic the sound of a specific bass playing style on a Tbird. I’m assuming it can easily be done with a proper combination of strings, on board tone settings, and technique. I’d like to get your thoughts on the path that I’m planning and any pointers from some of the players here that are more seasoned than I am.

Here’s the sound clip challenge…

Actually a pretty nice sound for this style of music, kinda Jamerson-esque but in a spacey airy ambient setting.

My plan is to use a Thunderbird equipped with Rotosound Flats or LaBella DTFlats or LaBella Black Tapes, turn the tone knob up as needed, favor the neck pickup, use a pic (that’ll be the real challenge for me) and some effective palm muting (which I’m not great at) or a string mute at the bridge. Might even try thumb playing to get that more upright feel.

Your thoughts? String choice and proper pic/mute technique seems to be the deciding factor to me. What strings and what pic would you use?

Sounds like DTFs, but could be old Chromes.
I use Dunlop Tortex Orange- The Taco chip shape.

The guy in the vid is a very consistent player!

 

[dagrev]

Likewise. I play so many different basses from day to day I’ve gotten rather numb to neck differences. The only exception is my new NR. The first time I plugged it in and played a couple of notes I thought what have they done with this neck. I’ve not taken the time to measure it but it seems a bit wider and much deeper than any of my other birds. I suspect the circumference rivals some of my five string basses. That said, it plays very nice and sounds sweet, so it’s a keeper.

I have some big-neck old Pbasses, and love those. But every time I first pick up the new NR my hand and head "notice" it, whereas with other basses I just pick them up and play and never give a thought to it. It would be interesting to know the exact measurements compared with other basses. It just has a very unusual profile. One I start playing it I don't think about it. But at the beginning I do, especially if I haven't played it for a while. Then it's really noticeable.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I have some big-neck old Pbasses, and love those. But every time I first pick up the new NR my hand and head "notice" it, whereas with other basses I just pick them up and play and never give a thought to it. It would be interesting to know the exact measurements compared with other basses. It just has a very unusual profile. One I start playing it I don't think about it. But at the beginning I do, especially if I haven't played it for a while. Then it's really noticeable.

wonder if Leo took the thickness of an upright's neck into consideration when creating the P...

 

[TBird1958]

I survived the Tsunami!

Happy Wednesday.

 

[dagrev]

wonder if Leo took the thickness of an upright's neck into consideration when creating the P...

Good question, and possible so. Clearly a neck on an electric bass can be pretty narrow and work well. It's been so long since I played an DB I don't recall what they feel like. All I remember is getting a strap on that sucker was a pain.

 

[JJR58]

wonder if Leo took the thickness of an upright's neck into consideration when creating the P...

I’m sure this is true.
Those early necks were huge.
That type of neck is so not for me.

The Precision was basically the electric bass answer to an upright.
The originals anyway.

 

[Engle]

Likewise. I play so many different basses from day to day I’ve gotten rather numb to neck differences. The only exception is my new NR. The first time I plugged it in and played a couple of notes I thought what have they done with this neck. I’ve not taken the time to measure it but it seems a bit wider and much deeper than any of my other birds. I suspect the circumference rivals some of my five string basses. That said, it plays very nice and sounds sweet, so it’s a keeper.

The large neck put me off of the new NR. Not that I can’t play it, but it wouldn’t be my first choice.

 

[BklynKen]

Nice! I like the melodic movement you had going on up the neck in a section.
Im hearing some Sonic Youth influence

Thanks, Irv! That's my "solo."

 

[TBird1958]

Thanks, Irv! That's my "solo."

My "solo" is the quiet parts of "Everybody wants to rule the World" which is just single notes, so yeah, I got that going for me.

 

[JJR58]

My "solo" is the quiet parts of "Everybody wants to rule the World" which is just single notes, so yeah, I got that going for me.

What’s a solo?

 

[Stealth57]

What’s a solo?

I solo the rests

 

[Engle]

My "solo" is the quiet parts of "Everybody wants to rule the World" which is just single notes, so yeah, I got that going for me.

In my cover band, I do a version short backwards solo in Call Me Al. I manage it successfully about 60% of the time. 2 seconds for 24 notes!

 

[Engle]

I solo the rests

There is a lot to be said for knowing when not to play!

 

[TBird1958]

There is a lot to be said for knowing when not to play!

Explaining the concept of not filling in all the space between the notes every time is difficult, some of my band mates don't get it. It would be great fun to put a band like Free together, they were simply brilliant with their use of the "space" between the notes, raw and powerful, with the bass owning it's place in the mix so well - I love that band.

 

[dagrev]

What’s a solo?

I start a couple songs, and there is one where everyone drops out and I do a rif and the next time in the chorus the drums to the fill. That's as close as I get to a solo and I'm just fine with that. If I wanted to do solos I would have learned to actually play bass!

 

[dagrev]

There is a lot to be said for knowing when not to play!

Word. The space between the notes is music too. Rough quote from some guy named Chuck Rainey. I read him saying it, but he likely wasn't the first.

 

[Stealth57]

Explaining the concept of not filling in all the space between the notes every time is difficult, some of my band mates don't get it. It would be great fun to put a band like Free together, they were simply brilliant with their use of the "space" between the notes, raw and powerful, with the bass owning it's place in the mix so well - I love that band.

We added The Hunter a couple weeks ago. Love the driving bass line but with a 12-bar type pattern.

 

[dagrev]

Explaining the concept of not filling in all the space between the notes every time is difficult, some of my band mates don't get it. It would be great fun to put a band like Free together, they were simply brilliant with their use of the "space" between the notes, raw and powerful, with the bass owning it's place in the mix so well - I love that band.

Yes, and great example.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Yes, and great example.

seems like audiences are requesting bass solos more than in the past.....

 

[Miles_ONeal]

T

I have some big-neck old Pbasses, and love those. But every time I first pick up the new NR my hand and head "notice" it, whereas with other basses I just pick them up and play and never give a thought to it. It would be interesting to know the exact measurements compared with other basses. It just has a very unusual profile. One I start playing it I don't think about it. But at the beginning I do, especially if I haven't played it for a while. Then it's really noticeable.

I can play pretty much any 4 string bass, but with shorter fingers, I find playing up the neck can be an issue (especially playing way up the neck on a Thunderbird).