Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

Donnie, that’s gonna be a GlamourBird when you have finished with it. Congrats!

Also, George has used some gold strings (???Optima Gold???) in the past. Maybe a consideration ? Maybe a step too far ?

George?

Optima gold strings are an excellent match for Tbird humbuckers. They are expensive but last a good long time, probably four times as long as most of my other rounds. Very even tone across the board and nice tension. They don’t overly color the bass, but are a tad deeper sounding than NYXL nickel rounds, and a bit less sizzle on the top end as well. Unfortunately their flats don’t come in gold.
If gold colored flats are what you’re after there’s La Bella DT Gold Flats, they are ok for a flat wound string but not as nice sounding as EBCFs, a bit more mid focused on my early 90’s three pickup custom shop Tbird, but that might be the pickup spacing as well.

Edit - I mistakenly referred to my Gold Flats as Pryamid Gold Flats, they are in fact La Bella Deep Talking Gold Flats. Paragraph above is now correct. Sorry for the confusion. @JIO @GonePlaid @dagrev

 

[Stealth57]

After 5 weeks, I finally have Thunderbird content.

 

[JIO]

Wow - first time I’ve ever seen a stucco neck on a bass…
View attachment 7360038


Seriously, that came out sweet and I’m sure it plays great.

Considering how bad shape it was in when I got it - it's now a playable vintage Silvertone (Dano) bass.

 

[TBird1958]

not exactly but like those....pickup happened through the wheels (no center pickup like Märklin) if I recall....

2 rail DC, Marklin is like old Lionel, 3 rail AC.

 

[GBassNorth]

Gold strings with all that gold already? That's a bit much Mate!
I actually I did think (wondered) about that as well. But it maybe a bit too far. But would look good with my white fur Sly Stone hat maybe?

Thanks, it's not perfect already looks 1000% better than initially. As always rushing comes back to get you. But unless someone is really eyeballing it or a couple feet away things they bug me will not be noticed. It will not be ashamed to go out and be played now. Heck, whenever I retire if the urge hit me I could go for perfection next time if the urge hit me.

Gold on red looks fantastic…

If you have Gold hardware then these La Bella DT Gold Flats are the ticket. Sound as good as most other flats. EBCF are still my favorite sound but I like the feel of these much better, dead smooth and just a hair more mid focused that standard DTFs (that might be the pickup configuration though) and a tad darker than EBCF.

 

[dagrev]

Wow - first time I’ve ever seen a stucco neck on a bass…
View attachment 7360038


Seriously, that came out sweet and I’m sure it plays great.

Stucco covers a multitude of sins...
But not one that serious.

 

[dagrev]

Optima gold strings are an excellent match for Tbird humbuckers. They are expensive but last a good long time, probably four times as long as most of my other rounds. Very even tone across the board and nice tension. They don’t overly color the bass, but are a tad deeper sounding than NYXL nickel rounds, and a bit less sizzle on the top end as well. Unfortunately their flats don’t come in gold.
If gold colored flats are what you’re after there’s La Bella DT Gold Flats, they are ok for a flat wound string but not as nice sounding as EBCFs, a bit more mid focused on my early 90’s three pickup custom shop Tbird, but that might be the pickup spacing as well.

Edit - I mistakenly referred to my Gold Flats as Pryamid Gold Flats, they are in fact La Bella Deep Talking Gold Flats. Paragraph above is now correct. Sorry for the confusion. @JIO @GonePlaid @dagrev

Thanks for the great descriptions!

 

[dagrev]

Gold on red looks fantastic…
View attachment 7360070
If you have Gold hardware then these La Bella DT Gold Flats are the ticket. Sound as good as most other flats. EBCF are still my favorite sound but I like the feel of these much better, dead smooth and just a hair more mid focused that standard DTFs (that might be the pickup configuration though) and a tad darker than EBCF.

I was thinking of the tapes and forgot they make gold flats. I just looked and their light set is 105. I like the 104 (FS), but would likely go lighter given the neck repair. I won't put TI Jazz Rounds on it just to go with less tension, but will likely try to keep it somewhat low. Though I had 105s on it and nothing moved or opened up. I do wish all manufactures had tension charts.

 

[GBassNorth]

While we’re on Gold string choices, here’s some Monday morning Tbird Gold for your enjoyment…

If any of my Tbirds have Gold hardware odds are that they will have gold strings as well. There’s at least two great choices for Gold strings, one in rounds and one in flats, both play very nicely with Tbird humbuckers and feel good to the touch, plus they complete the gold theme picture nicely. No real down side except the Optima Gold cost, but that’s offset by the longevity of the string.

 

[ectoflanger]

thanks!.....dicking around in the studio decades ago....this one has an amusing story our guitarist/singer wrote about the owner of a club (called "La Comedia" where we used to play) who canned us after his wife came on to him....can't write this stuff.....
View attachment 7359943

I love the changes- and great comping brother! Is that the Gretsch again?

 

[ectoflanger]

Gold strings with all that gold already? That's a bit much Mate!

Sometimes too much is not enough!

 

[ectoflanger]

While we’re on Gold string choices, here’s some Monday morning Tbird Gold for your enjoyment…
View attachment 7360089
View attachment 7360090
View attachment 7360094
If any of my Tbirds have Gold hardware odds are that they will have gold strings as well. There’s at least two great choices for Gold strings, one in rounds and one in flats, both play very nicely with Tbird humbuckers and feel good to the touch, plus they complete the gold theme picture nicely. No real down side except the Optima Gold cost, but that’s offset by the longevity of the string.

That really cheered me up from my next morning daylight savings time blues- one change that I sometimes struggle with-

 

[GBassNorth]

I was thinking of the tapes and forgot they make gold flats. I just looked and their light set is 105. I like the 104 (FS), but would likely go lighter given the neck repair. I won't put TI Jazz Rounds on it just to go with less tension, but will likely try to keep it somewhat low. Though I had 105s on it and nothing moved or opened up. I do wish all manufactures had tension charts.

I haven’t seen any tension chart for the Optima Gold Rounds, but I suspect they are a higher tension than most rounds. The DTF Golds seem about the same as standard DTF tension wise.

 

[dagrev]

While we’re on Gold string choices, here’s some Monday morning Tbird Gold for your enjoyment…
View attachment 7360089
View attachment 7360090
View attachment 7360094
If any of my Tbirds have Gold hardware odds are that they will have gold strings as well. There’s at least two great choices for Gold strings, one in rounds and one in flats, both play very nicely with Tbird humbuckers and feel good to the touch, plus they complete the gold theme picture nicely. No real down side except the Optima Gold cost, but that’s offset by the longevity of the string.

Stop!!!

Where did you get the screws fro the pup mounting rings? Those look flat, which I prefer. I found plenty of gold pickguard screws, but they are #3 3/8, and slightly rounded on top. I was thinking of using them in the pickguard and the mounting ring, but really prefer the flat as you have but didn't find any when I looked a little yesterday.

 

[ectoflanger]

So, when it comes to active versus passive pickups I tend to prefer passive. If I were to buy a new instrument where there's a choice I would go with the passive variant such as a Jazz or Precision. Concerning the basses I have with active systems, there was no choice, it was how they came and I'm fine with them. With regard to the relatively cheap Steinberger XT's, active EMG's seemed the best choice when I upgraded them and I wasn't disappointed, but I have no plans to upgrade anything else in that way,

And all of my guitars are passive-

JIO related how the EMG has a neutral tone that metal players like. Does anyone else have pros and cons to offer from past and present experiences?

 

[GBassNorth]

Stop!!!

Where did you get the screws fro the pup mounting rings? Those look flat, which I prefer. I found plenty of gold pickguard screws, but they are #3 3/8, and slightly rounded on top. I was thinking of using them in the pickguard and the mounting ring, but really prefer the flat as you have but didn't find any when I looked a little yesterday.
View attachment 7360109

You’re correct Donnie, the trim ring screws on both the BlingBird and the Lull are flat top. I just checked my inventory and don’t have any left or I’d send you some. I would have received the BlingBird screws with the ChinaBucker order, so no idea where they sourced them from. The Lulls came that way, so no idea on sourcing those either. You might try Philly Luthier or eBay.
These might do the trick…

#3 X 3/8" FLAT HEAD PHILLIPS WOOD SCREWS BRASS SELECT QTY | eBay

Material Brass. Thread Deep. Point Sharp. Type Interior Wood Screw.

www.ebay.com

 

[dagrev]

You’re correct Donnie, the trim ring screws on both the BlingBird and the Lull are flat top. I just checked my inventory and don’t have any left or I’d send you some. I would have received the BlingBird screws with the ChinaBucker order, so no idea where they sourced them from. The Lulls came that way, so no idea on sourcing those either. You might try Philly Luthier or eBay.
These might do the trick…

#3 X 3/8" FLAT HEAD PHILLIPS WOOD SCREWS BRASS SELECT QTY | eBay

Material Brass. Thread Deep. Point Sharp. Type Interior Wood Screw.

www.ebay.com

Thanks George.
I didn't see those. While brass, they might match. I put them in my watch list. I can cut the number down to 25 and save $5. I'll have to look around more. I looked at Philly's site and didn't see any. Might shoot them an email and tell them what I'm needing and see what they suggest. The ring came from there, but I didn't order it. Kind of surprised they don't come with the screws. I suppose some don't need them but if putting on a shiny new ring why not have nice screws as well.

 

[TBird1958]

While we’re on Gold string choices, here’s some Monday morning Tbird Gold for your enjoyment…
View attachment 7360089
View attachment 7360090
View attachment 7360094
If any of my Tbirds have Gold hardware odds are that they will have gold strings as well. There’s at least two great choices for Gold strings, one in rounds and one in flats, both play very nicely with Tbird humbuckers and feel good to the touch, plus they complete the gold theme picture nicely. No real down side except the Optima Gold cost, but that’s offset by the longevity of the string.

It looks like the bridge pickup on the T.P. sig is in the same spot as my T4 II.

 

[ectoflanger]

It looks like the bridge pickup on the T.P. sig is in the same spot as my T4 II.

I didn't know that Mike Lull did T-Birds. I remember a conversation I had with Evan Sheeley where he related that his two main basses were a Lull Precision and a Jazz. and since then I assumed that was Mike's specialty.

Interesting looking bridge and tail stop- what make are they?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

2 rail DC, Marklin is like old Lionel, 3 rail AC.

yeah 12Vdc I think the owner said....