Thunderbird Club

[/\/\3phist0]

I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out! I've made stencils for you and @JIO, but haven't used them in any of my projects yet.

Drying time, .. install next week.

Thanks all, thanks @Engle
Big thanks V @TBird1958 for letting me use the artwork.

 

[dagrev]

I tried one of those in a Strat I had. Worked pretty good at coaxing a humbucking sound out of three single coils.
I’ve also used the triple shots in the past and find them to be a bit more flexible with dual humbuckers. With the set up I’m planning, I should get about 36 different voicings (12 different coil options with 3 different cap options per coil option). Here’s a quick sketch of the 12 different coil settings…
View attachment 7310577

36 different voicings he said!

That makes my head hurt!

 

[Stealth57]

it definitely depends on the amp's input design. On a Rumble, the gain knob is really like a variable pad on a mixer. In this case, it's designed to handle everything from passive to hot output active. With most of my birds, it puts just a bit of hair on the signal if I'm digging in; otherwise it's still clean.

I’ll try on my 500.

 

[TBird1958]

I was hungry.
View attachment 7310640

"Was" Hungry.

 

[dagrev]

Possibly. It depends on the saddle travel, which I just asked about in another reply.

On my 64, there is 3/8" travel before the spring is full compressed. You could get at least a full 1/2" if you cut the spring down.

What Dave said. Max <7/8 (total tray) depending on how much to cut the spring.

 

[dagrev]

Am I reading this right? You are almost maxing the input gain and then using the master barely open?

Yes as this puts as much signal to the tube as possible and helps it do more tube stuff. Back it off, less OD. (Tip from the Basschat ABM forum.) The new IVs like your's have been redesigned and inherently thrown more signal to the tube than previous versions.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Scott made a bridge that was a drop in for a 3 point, like the one I gave to Chuck.
So a bridge and claw would not work on my CP.

could be mistaken but don't think you can use the three point Badbird (thx Jeff) replacement without an added claw ymmv....

 

[dagrev]

I'll have to give that a try. I would have guessed the distortion was through the roof.

I know, but it's not. More so on some basses, though. I don't like distortion. But do love tubes pushed. if you adjust the EQ that seems to throw more signal to the tube and can make it have more and go into distortion. But I don't have a lot of boost in the EQ going on.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

You should teach this stuff (and stop mucking about with that death ray thing out in the woods ). You have great illustrations.

blushing here....thank you Sir!.....was thinking that teaching electronics at the hs/community college level may be a fun post retirement activity..

 

[dagrev]

I'm sure he is. We're practically twins, and that's how I run my Rumbles.

Kind of the opposite of Ampegs where I don't drive the pre but the power tubes (which I hardly get a chance to do). It's power tube breakup and compression I really like. Fizz and buzz are not for me.

 

[BklynKen]

Yes as this puts as much signal to the tube as possible and helps it do more tube stuff. Back it off, less OD. (Tip from the Basschat ABM forum.) The new IVs like your's have been redesigned and inherently thrown more signal to the tube than previous versions.

Same with GK. Bob Gallien recommends starting out with the input gain maxed, and using the Master for volume.

 

[dagrev]

it definitely depends on the amp's input design. On a Rumble, the gain knob is really like a variable pad on a mixer. In this case, it's designed to handle everything from passive to hot output active. With most of my birds, it puts just a bit of hair on the signal if I'm digging in; otherwise it's still clean.

Indeed. Depends on the amp. They all behave differently (as far as I can go), and you would have to explain the why.

 

[Engle]

I'll have to give that a try. I would have guessed the distortion was through the roof.

I've dimed gain playing guitar, but not on bass with any of my amps. I wouldn't be surprised to find the master vol kind of touchy.

 

[dagrev]

blushing here....thank you Sir!.....was thinking that teaching electronics at the hs/community college level may be a fun post retirement activity..

You are most welcome. I'm a visual learner (preferred when possible anyway), and your analogies/illustrations really make it click for me.

 

[BklynKen]

Same with GK. Bob Gallien recommends starting out with the input gain maxed, and using the Master for volume.

Looking at my settings from the gig last Sunday, Trim (input gain - used to be called Volume) was indeed maxed, with Master at about 10:00. But I also had my Damnation Audio MBD adding gain.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

What Dave said. Max <7/8 (total tray) depending on how much to cut the spring.

View attachment 7310648

View attachment 7310649

Thanks. I’ll see what the VP default travel is when I get home.

 

[dagrev]

I've dimed gain playing guitar, but not on bass with any of my amps. I wouldn't be surprised to find the master vol kind of touchy.

Results may vary. The ABM is the only amp I recall doing that.

Certainly true in my case with 500w. Thus, I'm hoping with 200w less the master has more room to move and not so incremental.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Indeed. Depends on the amp. They all behave differently (as far as I can go), and you would have to explain the why.

Each gain stage has a purpose determined by the designer. The design depends on a lot of things such as: whether they want things clean, mildly overdriven, or distorted; what range of input they expect; what they want the stage eq to look like. For starters.

 

[GBassNorth]

36 different voicings he said!

That makes my head hurt!

Actually it’s 42 I forgot about a couple of settings , I revised the original post. The good news is it’s completely visual and intuitive, you don’t have to remember a thing, just slide the two micro switches on the trim ring towards the coil you want activated, or slide them towards each other for series and away from each other for parallel. That’s it. Completely eliminates the biggest problem I have with pickup switches - trying to remember which setting does what.

 

[MCF]

36 different voicings he said!

That makes my head hurt!

@JIO made a bass with close to that based on the T-40 pickups.