Thunderbird Club

[Thumper]

Only play with a pick.

I can mess around playing finger style or
Slapping but was never that interested in learning.

I believe you are in the majority. I don't think there is a right or wrong here.

 

[PhR75]

Here's some free download codes I already distributed somewhere else but it seems I can't get arrested so why not share them with you as you have been very encouraging with my music wheter I used a Thunderbird on it or not.
There's a slight chance that some of them has been used already but try another if one is already taken. Here's the link where to redeem the code.
O'Man

 

[Miles_ONeal]

think I found my retirement spot....for years heard of all these exotic spots (South Pacific, Caribbean, FL) and confirmed their weather sucks either by living there or visiting....truth is, when you get used to CA weather (Med weather can come close) it's hard to go back......that said, Los Barriles on the Sea of Cortez features many east coast/Caribbean benefits without the downfalls....warm water, sunrises on the ocean and minimal humidity.....truly the best of both worlds imho....
View attachment 7384759View attachment 7384760View attachment 7384761View attachment 7384762

Across from Sinaloa?

 

[NRguitaresearch]

I don't have a Tbird Pro, but I believe they have passive pickups with a preamp.
You should be able to determine what the 3 wires do with an ohmmeter.
If there's a coil split lead, it will show the same resistance to the other two leads.

I tried to solder red wire on ground connections the bass is full hum and no clear sound from the pickup.. after wired it back to battery the sound came back.. funny but yeah i think the pickup is active

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Across from Sinaloa?

Sonora..

 

[MCF]

I tried to solder red wire on ground connections the bass is full hum and no clear sound from the pickup.. after wired it back to battery the sound came back.. funny but yeah i think the pickup is active

This might help.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[Gaolee]

Mobula

Thanks. Now I know. They are well named.

 

[Count Bassie]

Looking for a cheat code on a couple songs folks want to add to our set list; Runnin Down a Dream and LA Woman. My issue is both songs are essentially chugging 1/8th notes the entire song and at a high clip (170 beats). My old, beat up fingers just can't pull that off. Any way to make it work with fewer notes?

You could hit on the count: _2_(3)&4_/_2_(3)&4_/etc. heavy legato, sustain and attack, no rests. The (3) is a ghost note at best, but it defines the feel. All push and no resting.

 

[TBird1958]

Looking for a cheat code on a couple songs folks want to add to our set list; Runnin Down a Dream and LA Woman. My issue is both songs are essentially chugging 1/8th notes the entire song and at a high clip (170 beats). My old, beat up fingers just can't pull that off. Any way to make it work with fewer notes?

I've played both of those songs with the band, you'll need a pick! Spend some time with it, I suggest standing up when you're working on it and be sure that your hands are really warmed up and loose. I use a pick for a lot of out set and find it difficult to play anything that's a fast tempo early in the set - my picking hand will become painful.

 

[Count Bassie]

You could hit on the count: _2_(3)&4_/_2_(3)&4_/etc. heavy legato, sustain and attack, no rests. The (3) is a ghost note at best, but it defines the feel. All push and no resting.

LA Woman needs different attacks, is a different figure- but I'd do the same approach... Find a strong note in the figure, maybe an anticipation, and let it sustain into the next note... Make a kind of loop that just pushes itself along. It's simpler but feels like it's got a lot of torque when you nail it.
I probably sound crazy, lol! But they point is that you're playing fewer notes, but still getting a feel similar to playing straight 16th, 8ths, what have you.

 

[Engle]

This might help.
Invalid Link Removed

I just looked at the diagram there and it doesn't show where to connect the pickups - unless I missed it?
Further down in the thread someone says they are passive coil tapped pickups and the red lead is the center tap.

@NRguitaresearch I would disconnect a pickup completely and take some measurements with an ohm meter to figure out what you have.
If red to each other wire is about 3.5k, thats the center tap.

 

[dagrev]

I'm probably in the minority of Thunderbird players who plays fingerstyle only. I tried using a felt pick in '68 when I first started (Vox Delta IV/Vox Kensington amp). It didn't stick. Tried again in mid '80s ( '76 Thunderbird/Lab Series amp) it worked for a few songs, but again, didn't stick. I mess with them now and again, but just don't care for the tic tac sound. Now I just use the Steel Leather for my 2014 Thunderbird to tighten up the tone. Everything is fingers only. The only song I think it would benefit is Train Train by Blackfoot, but while we mess with it once in a while, it never makes it on to a set list.

You are way up on the cool list if y'all play Train Train by Blackfoot. Never heard anyone do a Blackfoot song that I recall. They were one of the best high energy bands I ever saw. They would start hard and fast and never let up.

 

[dagrev]

also about knowing where the pic will favor the tune....although this can be played fingerstyle, it swings better with a pick imho....

Amen!

 

[Thumper]

I've played both of those songs with the band, you'll need a pick! Spend some time with it, I suggest standing up when you're working on it and be sure that your hands are really warmed up and loose. I use a pick for a lot of out set and find it difficult to play anything that's a fast tempo early in the set - my picking hand will become painful.

For the first time since I've been here, I disagree with our beloved Qween. I not only play L.A.Woman fingerstyle, but I also sing the lead, so it can be done. Train Train, however; it's all I can do to play it!

 

[Thumper]

You are way up on the cool list if y'all play Train Train by Blackfoot. Never heard anyone do a Blackfoot song that I recall. They were one of the best high energy bands I ever saw. They would start hard and fast and never let up.

Our problem with Train Train is the harmonica part. It's played by our lead singer, who is a decent harp player. But he can't practice at home because his dog freaks out. And that's a demanding song all the way around. Same issue with On The Road Again by Canned Heat, sweet harmonica all the way through. I'm holding his feet to the fire on that one though, it was a request by a friend that I sing it on the day before his death by cancer. I gotta do it before I check out.

 

[TBird1958]

For the first time since I've been here, I disagree with our beloved Qween. I not only play L.A.Woman fingerstyle, but I also sing the lead, so it can be done. Train Train, however; it's all I can do to play it!

Just wait till you get a little older and the fingers don't go as fast as they used to!

 

[Stealth57]

Just wait till you het a little older and the fingers don't go as fast as they used to!

I'm already there.

 

[JJR58]

I've played both of those songs with the band, you'll need a pick! Spend some time with it, I suggest standing up when you're working on it and be sure that your hands are really warmed up and loose. I use a pick for a lot of out set and find it difficult to play anything that's a fast tempo early in the set - my picking hand will become painful.

Warmed up and loose.

 

[Thumper]

Just wait till you het a little older and the fingers don't go as fast as they used to!

73 years old here, the memory is going faster than the fingers are

 

[Stealth57]

Warmed up and loose.

How many whiskeys did it take?