Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

I have all varieties of T-bird pickups in my various ’birds, Lollar’s, Thunderbucker ‘66’s, Novak’s, Gemini (UK) Devastators, a couple of used sets of Gibson RI’s that had been removed from some 2021 NR basses (these sets are marked “Lead” & “Rhy”), and some Gibson RI purchased directly from Gibson. One set from the 2021 NR are in my 2014 Heritage Cherry ‘bird and the other set will go into my 2013 EB . The ones purchased directly from Gibson are marked “Lead” only. I have a pair of these “Lead” marked pickups in my ‘97 Ebony ‘bird.

I don’t have any Lulls.

One of the ones I purchased directly from Gibson (“lead”) is in my 2019 LP DC Tribute, so this is a bass with just one pickup, like what it sounds like you are doing. I think it and the other Gibson RI’s in my others are a fantastic sounding pickup, big, full, and clear sounding. I can definitely say, as great as the Lollars sound, the Gibson is just a little better.

Also, the Gibson’s come in Chrome cans, while all the others are nickel. All of my nickel ones have just a hint of yellowing, nicely, and work well with the other nickel hardware on those basses. I had to make it a point to get chrome hardware on any bass I put the Gibson’s in. Possibly Lollar can make them chrome, but I’m not sure. I think Gemini UK gives you a choice.

Lollar does nickel, chrome, gold, and black, SD does nickel and black nickel. Novaks are nickel.

 

[MCF]

Thanks, George! You can get it via Bandcamp.

They should be going out this week or next. Patiently waiting for mine.

 

[OldManNewBass]

IMA replied back to a message on Instagram, stating "Yeah it’s definitely not Seymour Duncan.", and pimped Lollar again, "Lollars are pretty sweet tho!"; so with that I am leaning heavily towards Lollar, but the US$90 savings with the Gibson has some merit...?

Buy once, cry once; most likely will just go with all Lollar, pup & controls...

Thanks to all...!

 

[TBird1958]

IMA replied back to a message on Instagram, stating "Yeah it’s definitely not Seymour Duncan.", and pimped Lollar again, "Lollars are pretty sweet tho!"; so with that I am leaning heavily towards Lollar, but the US$90 savings with the Gibson has some merit...?

Buy once, cry once; most likely will just go with all Lollar, pup & controls...

Thanks to all...!

The sonic differences between all of these is very small, ANY of them are a good choice. Please share your efforts with us!

 

[BklynKen]

They should be going out this week or next. Patiently waiting for mine.

Marshall, I am so sorry. It should've already gone out. I made sure it's getting sent out tomorrow and will PM you a tracking number.

 

[BklynKen]

The sonic differences between all of these is very small, ANY of them are a good choice. Please share your efforts with us!

I'm sure most of the differences get lost in a mix anyway.

 

[RedVee]

There was a Brooks comparison using Chinabuckers Vs A.N.Other brand.
TBH I found it difficult to find much difference, and may even have preferred the Chinabuckers in certain areas.

Edit: I can’t find it now.
@Basvarken - do you have it saved?

 

[MCF]

I keep hearing about the 60s reissue being a really good one, nails it.

I played V’s birds at the Seattle GTG with the Lulls and really liked them. I really couldn’t discern a difference between them and the Gibsons and the BaCH with the reissues played through the same amp with the same settings. But admittedly, my ears aren’t the greatest. I didn’t really spend much time with the SD equipped birds that were there, but my impression is that all the Alnico V pickups are very similar.

We replaced the stock Artec in the BaCH II that I got from George with a Gibson Reissue and that bird is awesome. I can’t tell any difference between it and my ‘21 NR that came stock with the Reissues. I tried to get a Lull for it, but no dice. Then I was going to do a Lollar in it, but the Reissues came out right around that time, so I went that direction.

IMO, the Reissues are a great bang for the buck “vintage” sounding Thunderbird pickup.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

The sonic differences between all of these is very small, ANY of them are a good choice. Please share your efforts with us!

makes one wonder if there will soon be a Thunderbucker second hand market...

 

[MCF]

There was a Brooks comparison using Chinabuckers Vs A.N.Other brand.
TBH I found it difficult to find much difference, and may even have preferred the Chinabuckers in certain areas.

Edit: I can’t find it now.
@Basvarken - do you have it saved?

TBH, I suspect only those with fine tuned ears(not me; too many years as a kid playing way too loud without protection and attending dozens of Neil and Crazy Horse concerts, also without protection) are able to tell much difference between the various Alnico based “vintage” pickups. I can tell the difference between the Alnico and ceramic Tbird+ pickups. I can also tell that the sidewinders are different, closer to the “vintage” than the “modern” ceramic pickups. But it’s hard for me to articulate the differences that I’m hearing.

 

[ThaCoast]

I’d bet your bet is a safe bet. Gotta believe Lull probably has a proprietary spec their pickups are made to along with a no compete clause for the manufacturer. That doesn’t mean you can’t get very very close to the Lull sound, but when all is said and done it probably won’t be an exact match. At least that’s my gut feel, no data to back that up on.


I have a lot of different purchased Thunderbirds with a lot of different pickups. I also have a tendency towards mad scientist type creations - mixing and matching pickups, control and cap variations, active and passive options, hardware and body and neck variations in my personal builds. My current Thunderbird pickup line-up includes:
Gibson stock 2021 NR cans
Gibson reissue cans
Gibson Bicentennial cans
Gibson 1991 cans
Gibson 2012 plastic cap
Gibson 2015 DeCola plastic cap exposed poles
Lull 4 string cans
Lull 5 string cans
Epiphone VP cans
Epiphone ‘64 reissue cans
Epiphone Goth plastic caps
Epiphone CSLE Les Paul rail cans
ChinaBucker (EY) cans
Greco 1975 cans
Greco 1990 cans
EMG Humbucker plastic cap
Bartolini Humbucker plastic cap
Burny plastic cap
Nordstrand Zen exposed rail plastic caps
Dingwall split coil plastic cap soapbars
Sammick cans
Altec plastic cans
Fender wide range humbucker exposed pole cans

I can record and compare any of those you want but to be honest they’re all in different basses, most have different strings, some are active, some have different cap or pot values, and pickup locations vary widely. All those things combined will unfortunately result in an apples to oranges comparison, but I can note the physical differences so you could directionally account for tone differences in the recording if that helps.

more for the general mass, we could have it as a pinned post for those interested in choosing bird pickups.

You make have to use the force... Seek and find. Empirical data isn't everything, a little risk-taking can put the right mojo into your endeavor. Only believe.

Ah i'm settled with the GIbby RI , I might try GHS boomer strings on the bird. Want to shift some of my basses from D'Addarios to GHS bommers anyway.

 

[MCF]

makes one wonder if there will soon be a Thunderbucker second hand market...

I wish. But I’m thinking not. Why mess with what sounds great? He probably saw the writing on the wall and that likely played into his decision to get out of the business. But for the majority, swapping pickups for a few bucks is probably more trouble than it’s worth.

 

[MCF]

IMA replied back to a message on Instagram, stating "Yeah it’s definitely not Seymour Duncan.", and pimped Lollar again, "Lollars are pretty sweet tho!"; so with that I am leaning heavily towards Lollar, but the US$90 savings with the Gibson has some merit...?

Buy once, cry once; most likely will just go with all Lollar, pup & controls...

Thanks to all...!

As I think I mentioned earlier, can’t go wrong either way. And the Gibsons are on back order right now at most places, including direct from Gibson. Finish your project, and let us know how it turns out!

 

[Count Bassie]

Thanks, George! You can get it via Bandcamp.

This sounds really cool. Fun band. I'm cueing up.

 

[BklynKen]

makes one wonder if there will soon be a Thunderbucker second hand market...

I got a set used. Sold them to Jeff. I preferred the TB+.

 

[BklynKen]

This sounds really cool. Fun band. I'm cueing up.

Thanks, Roger! It's also now available on all streaming platforms except for Spotify.

 

[BuddhaFingas]

I tried Inkscape, but found it too complicated and gave up. Tinkercad works for me.

For a one-off Tbird pickguard I usually start by tracing one thats close, modifying on paper, trace onto PG material and cut out on a band saw. Then I use various sanding blocks.

I usually make templates and then use a guide bit on a small router table. I tried bevelling with a router bit, but it's too easy to wreck the piece. I also tried bevelling with a blade, but it still needed smoothing/polishing.

I bevel with 80 grit on sanding blocks. Then 180-320-400-600-800 and polish with brasso. That yields a semi-gloss polished look with no tool marks. I do the same to any pickguard/TRC on a bass I buy.

Inkscape reminds be strongly of CorelDraw 8, which I used extensively for many years.

Tinkercad loses me a bit in the 3Dness when Im just trying to 2D. I keep looking for tools that arent there.

Both amazing given the freeness.

Path of me still misses the ACAD command line & autoLISP.

 

[MCF]

Marshall, I am so sorry. It should've already gone out. I made sure it's getting sent out tomorrow and will PM you a tracking number.

Thanks Ken. But no worries! My listening through good speakers is pretty much at my mountain place these days. I can crank it as loud as I want so long as it’s only me. I’m up here for today spinning discs and doing a once over to get ready for the holidays. I’m enjoying Brian’s Highfield disc as I type…

 

[MCF]

Inkscape reminds be strongly of CorelDraw 8, which I used extensively for many years.

Tinkercad loses me a bit in the 3Dness when Im just trying to 2D. I keep looking for tools that arent there.

Both amazing given the freeness.

Path of me still misses the ACAD command line & autoLISP.

I used to know CorelDraw some years ago when I really only had a forty hour work week and hadn’t gone back down the bass rabbit hole. Sadly, I think it is beyond me these days. Now that I’m retired, I’m trying to get my life back. It’s a process.

 

[BklynKen]

Thanks Ken. But no worries! My listening through good speakers is pretty much at my mountain place these days. I can crank it as loud as I want so long as it’s only me. I’m up here for today spinning discs and doing a once over to get ready for the holidays. I’m enjoying Brian’s Highfield disc as I type…

That's a great album. I listen to it often.