• 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

#333,482
GBassNorth said:
My recollection on the initial design discussion was that 916 was surprised the pots were 100k on the schematic. Don’t know if he modified his pickups to work better with that oddball pot value or if they were ok as is. I’ve seen at least two schematics calling for 100k pots on the Bi Bird, but I’m looking for a physical measurement or visual confirmation before I make the change. Seems to me that a pot value that low would really put a wet blanket on the tone of the bass, so I just want to be certain before making the change.
Click to expand...

Except that I think wiring the pickups in series might be what makes the difference? Maybe it has the effect of making it a weird split 200k pot controlling one giant split humbucker with each pot having control of one side of a big humbucker, that is split between bridge and neck position?

I am just making a guess as to how that wiring operates.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Iristone, Gaolee, dagrev and 6 others
#333,483
Celebrated Geo’s Birthday in Paso Robles last night…
1767286967811.jpeg


Happy B’Day Geo! And many thanks for ushering in a New Year for us all.
To all my bird brethren - may this year be bigger, better, healthier, happier, wealthier and Thunderbird centric to all!
 
  • Like
Reactions: RedVee, dagrev, Count Bassie and 8 others
#333,485
GBassNorth said:
Celebrated Geo’s Birthday in Paso Robles last night…
View attachment 7400312

Happy B’Day Geo! And many thanks for ushering in a New Year for us all.
To all my bird brethren - may this year be bigger, better, healthier, happier, wealthier and Thunderbird centric to all!
Click to expand...
Couldn't have said it better myself! HNY Mr G! Let's "keep on rocking in the... new year!" :bassist:
 
  • Like
Reactions: GonePlaid, RedVee, dagrev and 6 others
#333,486
Count Bassie said:
@JIO happy New birthday!! Go knock 'em all dead! 🙂
Click to expand...
Hah!... yah, some people will be starting their day around 3pm! I sincerely hope not to make the few who do show up die! ;) What's best about it is no pressure - no set list/'round robin' and previewing 4 new original songs, 3 of which have never been played in public. That and hangin' with my bandmates and having friends in attendance.

Have a great 2026 Roger!
 
  • Like
Reactions: GonePlaid, RedVee, Count Bassie and 6 others
#333,488
GBassNorth said:
Sounds good! I have a bass body (The ThumbDerBird) I need to drop off with Pat for finishing. Let’s set a date for sometime in January and include Marshall. I have three guest rooms, so no need to get a hotel.

We can try again on taking Pat out to lunch, maybe hit John Carruthers shop this time and again swing by Bruce’s place. I can probably also introduce Marshall to the guy I’m now using for pro level woodwork on my basses, his prices are reasonable and he does great work fast.

My schedule is pretty open from the second week in January to the end of the month.
Click to expand...
That sounds great G - I'll let Andrew know and get back with you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GonePlaid, RedVee, Engle and 2 others
#333,491
GBassNorth said:
Sounds good! I have a bass body (The ThumbDerBird) I need to drop off with Pat for finishing. Let’s set a date for sometime in January and include Marshall. I have three guest rooms, so no need to get a hotel.

We can try again on taking Pat out to lunch, maybe hit John Carruthers shop this time and again swing by Bruce’s place. I can probably also introduce Marshall to the guy I’m now using for pro level woodwork on my basses, his prices are reasonable and he does great work fast.

My schedule is pretty open from the second week in January to the end of the month.
Click to expand...
That will be good. Jeremy stopping doing work threw a wrench into some of my plans. Hopefully it won’t interfere with some medical appointment stuff (deferred maintenance, if you know what I mean).
 
  • Like
Reactions: GonePlaid, RedVee, dagrev and 3 others
#333,492
  • Like
Reactions: GonePlaid, dagrev, Engle and 4 others
#333,495
Ringhammer said:
Except that I think wiring the pickups in series might be what makes the difference? Maybe it has the effect of making it a weird split 200k pot controlling one giant split humbucker with each pot having control of one side of a big humbucker, that is split between bridge and neck position?

I am just making a guess as to how that wiring operates.
Click to expand...
No clue. I have read a lot of conflicting stuff on bicentennial wiring, pots, and the cap. About the only thing I am certain about is that Bill Lawrence originally designed the pickups. Another complication is that many owners reportedly modded bicentennials chasing real or imagined tone from the early sixties birds, or some other tone.

I am not at all certain that my ‘77 is wired as it came stock. But I do know that I really like the tone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GonePlaid, RedVee, dagrev and 4 others
#333,497
JIO said:
Hah!... yah, some people will be starting their day around 3pm! I sincerely hope not to make the few who do show up die! ;) What's best about it is no pressure - no set list/'round robin' and previewing 4 new original songs, 3 of which have never been played in public. That and hangin' with my bandmates and having friends in attendance.

Have a great 2026 Roger!
Click to expand...
Stay dry, at least on the outside.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GonePlaid, dagrev, JIO and 4 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back