• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#333,122
Well, so much for "...should just snap in..."

1000013701.jpg


1000013702.jpg


Setting up to do final measurements before mounting, as I finally have a free day to put these up.

Go to snap one hanger in the track as instructed previously, and...

Yeah, bottom track insert folded over instead of flexing to accept the flange "as designed. "

This one's ruined. As is my day.

Time to hit up customer support again.

Insert bad words here.
 
  • Sad
  • Like
  • Angry
Reactions: GonePlaid, Engle, GBassNorth and 9 others
#333,123
BuddhaFingas said:
Well, so much for "...should just snap in..."

View attachment 7396245

View attachment 7396247

Setting up to do final measurements before mounting, as I finally have a free day to put these up.

Go to snap one hanger in the track as instructed previously, and...

Yeah, bottom track insert folded over instead of flexing to accept the flange "as designed. "

This one's ruined. As is my day.

Time to hit up customer support again.

Insert bad words here.
Click to expand...
Consider the all-aluminum one. No inserts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GonePlaid, Engle, Gaolee and 4 others
#333,133
GBassNorth said:
Finished up the test wiring and set up on the ThumbDerBird, which was intended to be a Warwick Thumb Bass in a Tbird Body. It pretty much nails the Warwick tone. Now it’s time to unwire it, strip all the hardware and neck off the body, fill a few drill holes and send the body off to Pat Wilkins for finishing in Cinnamon Pearl.
View attachment 7396184

Here’s a quick sound test of the two basses on the exact same settings, different strings but close enough for testing…
View attachment 7396185
View attachment 7396186

This is the Bird that I was also hoping would be a very capable slap bass with all that open territory between the pickups and the neck. Unfortunately, I can’t slap to save my life, so I’ll need to find somebody willing to run it thru its slap paces to see how it works out (looking at you Chuck).
Click to expand...
I want a little bit of cinnamon pearl …
 
  • Like
Reactions: GonePlaid, Engle, GBassNorth and 2 others
#333,134
GBassNorth said:
Finished up the test wiring and set up on the ThumbDerBird, which was intended to be a Warwick Thumb Bass in a Tbird Body. It pretty much nails the Warwick tone. Now it’s time to unwire it, strip all the hardware and neck off the body, fill a few drill holes and send the body off to Pat Wilkins for finishing in Cinnamon Pearl.
View attachment 7396184

Here’s a quick sound test of the two basses on the exact same settings, different strings but close enough for testing…
View attachment 7396185
View attachment 7396186

This is the Bird that I was also hoping would be a very capable slap bass with all that open territory between the pickups and the neck. Unfortunately, I can’t slap to save my life, so I’ll need to find somebody willing to run it thru its slap paces to see how it works out (looking at you Chuck).
Click to expand...
Very cool! Great work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GonePlaid, Engle, GBassNorth and 3 others
#333,139
dagrev said:
Very nice. I wasn't sure how two J pups would sound in that location, but they both sound way better than I expected.
Considering one has rounds and the Bird looks to be EBCFs, it's amazing how much they sound a like. I don't know what you are hearing in person, but I a mix I question if one could be differentiated from the other.
Click to expand...
They’re actually rounds on the bird IIRC - maybe TI Power Rounds. I originally had a new set of Apex strings on it and they sounded exactly like the Warwick, but I found the tension too high for my liking. I’ll probably give the DM Blue Steels a try after I get the body finished to see if I like them more than the TI rounds.

As for the overall sound of the bass, it’s active, so you can boost the bass knob to insane levels in spite of the pickup locations and just as easily cut the treble knob at the same time to tame the top end. What you get with this tight spaced JJ arrangement is essentially a wide range single humbucker that you can split into two separate single very hot Jazz coils, and because they are both so far south you’ll inherently get a degree of grit and grind regardless of how you EQ it.

With a heavy bottom end boost and just a tad of top end boost you get an exceptionally agressive punchy low mid and mid range - in solid buzz saw territory - but still plenty of creamy bottom and clear but not harsh top end. If you’re a Jaco fan (which I’m not) you can easily get all the honk and burp and bark that he frequently had depending upon how you dial in the tone controls and which pickup you favor. What you don’t get much of in this layout is that neck solo nasal jazz bass sound, which I hate, so that’s a good thing.

Bottom line, this bass, like it’s True Warwick brother, cuts through a mix like no other bass I’ve ever played. It’s a very unique and agressive sound. If you want to be heard, this is your bass, it’s not the best fit for shrinking violet keep me outta the spotlight type players.

As a side note
The Apex strings I originally put on only have a couple hours use and were only strung up on this one Tbird, so still a perfectly good set and already cut to the right length for Tbird basses. I can’t recall if @BklynKen or @dagrev put me on to the Apex strings, but if either of you want them just PM me and I’ll ship the set to you at no charge. Last I looked, Apex was no longer making them, so it might be a last chance to get some.
BklynKen said:
This is sad. If anyone here uses, or was thinking about trying out, Apex strings, this is their web page now.

View attachment 7235423
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
  • Sad
Reactions: GonePlaid, Engle, BklynKen and 4 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back