Thunderbird Club

[OldManNewBass]

Finish your project, and let us know how it turns out!

Getting the bits & bobs together is the easy part, it's the routing of the body & pickguard (I also want to open up a channel to enable accessing the truss rod while the neck is still on the body) that will hold me back for a hot minute or three...! ;^p

 

[MCF]

For me, and I think for many, his movie The Harder They Come was an induction to Reggae. Sad to learn of his passing.

Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81 — Guardian US

Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now

apple.news

 

[JJR58]

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

And I absolutely love them Ken.

 

[Count Bassie]

For me, and I think for many, his movie The Harder They Come was an induction to Reggae. Sad to learn of his passing.

Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81 — Guardian US

Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now

apple.news

We had The Harder They Come when I was a kid, early) mid 70s, I played that record so much I dug a rut into the speakers.
I remember seeing the movie years later, and apparently the opening scene, with the two buses having a standoff at the bridge is a regular happening in Jamaica. At the opening of the film, in Jamaica, when that scene came along the whole theater- filled with the locals- roared and applauded approval with a standing ovation.

 

[dagrev]

I gotta say, I’m really liking my GKFusion 800S with the 210 Neo IV. I started with the 212 Neo IV to go with the Ashdown HOD, and while it sounds great, at 4 ohms it let the ABM run at full power. During the time I had the Ashdown and 212 Neo IV, I ran across the Fusion 800S for a good deal. Also great sounding through the 212. However, it was making some weird static, scratchy sounds, like a dirty pot, and cutting out. The seller gave me a more than 50% refund, and I sent the head to GK. They replicated the problem and decided to replace the preamp, I/O board and connector. While they had the Fusion, I also decided to get a 210 Neo IV 8 ohm, and that works great for the Ashdown, letting me run it at 300w. I just got the Fusion back and running it through the 210 is also great sounding little rig.

I’m actually kind of struggling with the fact that I kinda think the GK sounds better than the Ashdown. At least I can say the Ashdown is a littler harder to get the ideal (to me) tone out of, while the Fusion seems to get there easier.

All this is just screwing around in my garage, but being able to dial in an amp quickly is important. But between the 212 4ohm, 210 8ohm and these two heads, I’ve got plenty of options for great sounding live rigs.

And, while 2025 was a pretty light gigging year for both bands, 2026 is looking up, as I already have 4, and maybe 5 gigs in January and February between both bands.

I'm crazy picky. You gotta go with with works for you and makes you smile--instead of wondering what needs to be adjusted. GK's tone, what it does and how it does it just may be for you.

 

[dagrev]

Lefties unite!
Dyslexic lefties untie!

What?
You mean, etinu seifteL! eitnu seifteL cixelsyD!

 

[Ringhammer]

But the pickups, which are supposed to be Tbird Pluses, suck compared to to those in the ‘06 Studio, the ‘11 Short Scale, and the ‘13 NR. Not sure why.

I have a set of TB+ I’m looking to part with. A brand new Gibson “Modern” TB+ pickup and a perfectly good working TB+ from my ‘97, ready to ship. Perhaps these would get you to where you want want to be with your CP?

 

[JJR58]

I'm crazy picky. You gotta go with with works for you and makes you smile--instead of wondering what needs to be adjusted. GK's tone, what it does and how it does it just may be for you.

A subject that will always be very subjective.

I’ve had many amps, but to this day.
By far the best sounding rig for me.
A vintage tone that packs a punch, tight and clear.
An array of tones I’ve never gotten before.
Like you said Donnie, crazy picky.

 

[dagrev]

Sunday I used DTFs on the '66 NR for runthrough. First with the ABM tthen the Ampeg tubes. ABM was fine, the Ampeg was just better, more 3D you might say.
Changed strings back to the SIT Powerwounds and used the Ampeg for service. Sounded pretty awesome.
The SITs seemed to have more full lows and the DTFs tighter might be a way of saying it. I liked the SITs on the '64 Thunderbird before the DTFs, and think the NR is really close to the '64 now. Brighter and not as big but getting pretty close. Both the SITs and the DTFs could be "the" string it seems. I'm curious what SIT flats would sound like on it....best of both worlds maybe.... My set is cut too short and don't think I'm going to buy another sent just to find out, not since I have some great options working as is.

 

[MCF]

We had The Harder They Come when I was a kid, early) mid 70s, I played that record so much I dug a rut into the speakers.
I remember seeing the movie years later, and apparently the opening scene, with the two buses having a standoff at the bridge is a regular happening in Jamaica. At the opening of the film, in Jamaica, when that scene came along the whole theater- filled with the locals- roared and applauded approval with a standing ovation.

I was a sophomore in high school when my guitar player buddy and I drove to Santa Barbara to see it. We were sixteen but somehow got in. We bought the record in IV on the way home and started learning the title track, Pressure Drop, and You Can Get It. We had a friend at who had a Farfisa and got him to play with us. My buddy had a great voice for the songs. It was an eye opening movie for two white kids from Cali.

 

[MCF]

Sunday I used DTFs on the '66 NR for runthrough. First with the ABM tthen the Ampeg tubes. ABM was fine, the Ampeg was just better, more 3D you might say.
Changed strings back to the SIT Powerwounds and used the Ampeg for service. Sounded pretty awesome.
The SITs seemed to have more full lows and the DTFs tighter might be a way of saying it. I liked the SITs on the '64 Thunderbird before the DTFs, and think the NR is really close to the '64 now. Brighter and not as big but getting pretty close. Both the SITs and the DTFs could be "the" string it seems. I'm curious what SIT flats would sound like on it....best of both worlds maybe.... My set is cut too short and don't think I'm going to buy another sent just to find out, not since I have some great options working as is.

I’m ecstatic with what I’ve been able to get. I don’t have one favorite. But there are times with the SVT and sealed Berg that make me think if I could only have one…if only it wasn’t 200 pounds.

 

[MCF]

A subject that will always be very subjective.

I’ve had many amps, but to this day.
By far the best sounding rig for me.
A vintage tone that packs a punch, tight and clear.
An array of tones I’ve never gotten before.
Like you said Donnie, crazy picky.

View attachment 7375151

What’s the bottom cab?

 

[JJR58]

What’s the bottom cab?

That’s a powered subwoofer that Ken gave me as part of a really nice stereo system.
Since its not needed for my music listening needs, I found a good use for it.
I don’t always use it.
But makes the rig sound a little more hifi. Not that, that is needed.
But having the crossover is a nice touch.
The 12 on its own sounds very neutral and articulate.

 

[Engle]

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.

Tinkercad is a little quirky for sure. I use Visio for working in 2D.

 

[Engle]

For me, and I think for many, his movie The Harder They Come was an induction to Reggae. Sad to learn of his passing.

Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81 — Guardian US

Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now

apple.news

I'm also saddened by this news.

 

[BuddhaFingas]

What?
You mean, etinu seifteL! eitnu seifteL cixelsyD!

¿ǝsɹnoɔ ɟo 'llǝʍ

 

[Ringhammer]

I'm crazy picky. You gotta go with with works for you and makes you smile--instead of wondering what needs to be adjusted. GK's tone, what it does and how it does it just may be for you.

All this comparison is in one environment, and either playing alone or along with my band(s) music, at a lower volume. Bringing the heads/cabs to rehearsals would be the right way to do it, but I have rigs I leave parked at both places and, well, I’m pretty lazy by the end of the workday. (If only EITHER of my bands would practice on a Saturday afternoon!!!).

The GK Neo IV cabs are BIG sounding cabs, and with both the Ashdown and GK Fusion 800, it a matter of dialing the bass and low mids back A LOT. It’s something I’m learning after all these years of playing, dial back the bass freqs and push a little more volume to get some clarity and volume on the middle and higher notes, esp on the thinner strings. These cabs are forcing me to dial the bass/low mids back further than I thought I would ever need to. With these cabs, those frequencies are still strong and warm, even with the bass at 9 o’clock and low mids at 11 o’clock (or in the case of the Ashdown, the bass knob at 10 o’clock, the 100hz slider just under 0, and 180hz really cut at -6 - -10).

 

[Engle]

Getting the bits & bobs together is the easy part, it's the routing of the body & pickguard (I also want to open up a channel to enable accessing the truss rod while the neck is still on the body) that will hold me back for a hot minute or three...! ;^p

I recently did the truss rod access on my daughter's P bass because I was tired of having to pull the neck to adjust for different strings.

This and a 3D printer opens up a whole world of DIY modifications:

Bosch Colt Electronic Variable-Speed Palm Router

The Bosch PR20EVS Colt™ electronic variable-speed palm router combines power, precision and versatility in a small-sized tool. It has a 1.0 HP, 5.6 Amp motor that spins at a variable speed of 16,000 to 35,000 RPM. The variable speed dial is convenie

www.kmstools.com

 

[Engle]

A subject that will always be very subjective.

I’ve had many amps, but to this day.
By far the best sounding rig for me.
A vintage tone that packs a punch, tight and clear.
An array of tones I’ve never gotten before.
Like you said Donnie, crazy picky.

View attachment 7375151

Its difficult to articulate what we like about bass/ amps sounds, but I remember being in Chuck's garage, adjusting an amp, and realizing we both go for the same tone.

 

[AllieCat]

Well, they’re calling it a “vintage,” but they are using ceramic? Interesting.

I have been thinking about replacing the pickups in the Pelham Blue Epi LECS. It’s a perfect Thunderbird except but for the tone. It’s my most gorgeous thunderbird. Adding to my upgrade list. The three screw configuration makes me think they’re more geared to the Epi IV crowd. To which I belong.


Are there any recordings? Looked like a cool event.

Perfect but for the tone and that factory strap button position...

I think I need to replace the pots in mine, too but that's not necessarily the bird's fault.

If you do go for the Bartolinis I'm excited to hear what you guys think of them, as I am considering a total rewire when I replace those pots anyways.