Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

Quoting myself, but more cause curiosity overall:

- Does anyone with the thinner Bird pickups have them set high within, or out of their cavity?

- Any use in having a tone control if i'd mostly just leave it maxed out? Different styles of tone controls? i thought of 7ender TBX, but maybe won't have enough body material to accept its dual gang style pot body.

- How do most of you guys blend the pickups in dual Volume setup? Favour more neck or bridge, both on full blast?

- If i did end up making an entirely new body with a new blank: Alder, Hard Maple, Ash, Other? I know my Goth & Gibson Thunderbirds in general are Mahogany build, Alder would be like the original Bolt on Epi bird, Hard Maple & Ash, Other woods would be just that, potential heft & perhaps added brightness/angry piano tone. I'm thinking Hard Maple, different from my other basses which are Alder, Ash, Basswood, Birch, Agathis.

1. All my pickups are set high, although the Greco pickups are a bit lower. Not sure I have any thin pickups.
2. I don't mess with my tone controls much, but they are nice to have.
3. I run the neck full on and the bridge off to maybe half, depending on the bird and music. I do go above half but it's rare.
4. I'd be interested to see how a hard maple bird worked out.

 

[GBassNorth]

I was fortunate enough to pick up a 77 G3 locally in mint condition.
He was the original owner but a six stringer.
The only blemish is above the dime picture.
Got lucky with the price as well. Nobody locally was really interested.
These posts made me go pull it out of the case and give it a run through in the basement. Still in tune after a year or so.
Cheers!
View attachment 7404790
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Glenn, very nice bass, but that’s not what caught my eye - It’s the Aggie/Berg rig that has me drooling.
At one point I had an Aggie DB750 mated to a Bergantino NV610 and it was a match made in heaven. I ended up swapping the 750 for an Ampeg SVT VR and it sounded quite nice with the Berg as well. Finally ended up selling the whole rig to Marshall, who seems to be loving it as much as I did.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

The ‘05 Studio had that going on when I got it. It had sat in the case for who knows how long when I got it. The nitro turned sticky/soft. I let it set out for a few months before touching it. It gradually “healed” by convalescing at a steady 80 degrees on a stand and I was able to polish it up quite nicely. I sprinkled baking soda in the case and let it set outside in the Sun over several weeks to get rid of the musty smell. All is fine with it now.

I am a card carrying member of the “basses out of cases” club.

I never had any problems, but then I read of problems before I stored my birds for extended periods. The Hercules rack took care of that.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

NGD!
These actually came in yesterday, but whatever.

1. Aguilar Octamizer octave down pedal
   The jury is still out on this one; I need to play with it more with all my birds instead of just the Epi 64. It seems to have tracking issues at times, and there are some oddities in the lower notes. But I only had a few minutes to play with knobs because I needed to practice and try out my new ...
2. Xvive A58 wireless system (rosewood)
   So far I love it! I used it for practice last night. I could go anywhere in the house, regardless of walls, full bookcases, etc. It just worked. I'll try it live this Sunday and see. We're only a quarter of the way through the 21st century; I guess I could dive in and lose the cable.

 

[MCF]

I never had any problems, but then I read of problems before I stored my birds for extended periods. The Hercules rack took care of that.

The bass that spends the most time in a case is the shortie with my travel rig setup. I’ll sometimes leave it in there if I’ll be taking it out again within a week or two.

 

[MCF]

NGD!
These actually came in yesterday, but whatever.

View attachment 7404858

1. Aguilar Octamizer octave down pedal
   The jury is still out on this one; I need to play with it more with all my birds instead of just the Epi 64. It seems to have tracking issues at times, and there are some oddities in the lower notes. But I only had a few minutes to play with knobs because I needed to practice and try out my new ...
2. Xvive A58 wireless system (rosewood)
   So far I love it! I used it for practice last night. I could go anywhere in the house, regardless of walls, full bookcases, etc. It just worked. I'll try it live this Sunday and see. We're only a quarter of the way through the 21st century; I guess I could dive in and lose the cable.

I have a Xvive setup. They pretty much developed the small form factor units. I think they’re still the best. Pricier than the Amazon knockoffs, but pretty rock solid. I’ve never had a connection drop off.

 

[Engle]

I was fortunate enough to pick up a 77 G3 locally in mint condition.
He was the original owner but a six stringer.
The only blemish is above the dime picture.
Got lucky with the price as well. Nobody locally was really interested.
These posts made me go pull it out of the case and give it a run through in the basement. Still in tune after a year or so.
Cheers!
View attachment 7404790
View attachment 7404791View attachment 7404792View attachment 7404793

I need one of those to go with my Marauder!

 

[MCF]

Glenn, very nice bass, but that’s not what caught my eye - It’s the Aggie/Berg rig that has me drooling.
At one point I had an Aggie DB750 mated to a Bergantino NV610 and it was a match made in heaven. I ended up swapping the 750 for an Ampeg SVT VR and it sounded quite nice with the Berg as well. Finally ended up selling the whole rig to Marshall, who seems to be loving it as much as I did.

That I do.

 

[Instagator]

Glenn, very nice bass, but that’s not what caught my eye - It’s the Aggie/Berg rig that has me drooling.
At one point I had an Aggie DB750 mated to a Bergantino NV610 and it was a match made in heaven. I ended up swapping the 750 for an Ampeg SVT VR and it sounded quite nice with the Berg as well. Finally ended up selling the whole rig to Marshall, who seems to be loving it as much as I did.

I wish you guys lived around me.
I’ve retired from live gigging and I have all of this excess gear hanging around.
That rig is a monster. I’ll hold that for a little while.
When I wrapped up I was using the Berg Forte HP and two NV 115’s..what can I say, I’m just an old school air pusher.

Edit..VP Thunderbird behind the rig for back up.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I need one of those to go with my Marauder!
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Paul Stanley!..,

 

[MCF]

I was fortunate enough to pick up a 77 G3 locally in mint condition.
He was the original owner but a six stringer.
The only blemish is above the dime picture.
Got lucky with the price as well. Nobody locally was really interested.
These posts made me go pull it out of the case and give it a run through in the basement. Still in tune after a year or so.
Cheers!
View attachment 7404790
View attachment 7404791View attachment 7404792View attachment 7404793

Nice!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I have a Xvive setup. They pretty much developed the small form factor units. I think they’re still the best. Pricier than the Amazon knockoffs, but pretty rock solid. I’ve never had a connection drop off.

In general, I don't trust cheap stuff. I'll pay for reliability and quality whenever possible.

 

[MCF]

In general, I don't trust cheap stuff. I'll pay for reliability and quality whenever possible.

That’s generally been my philosophy. But it’s getting harder in our increasingly disposal world.

 

[MCF]

I wish you guys lived around me.
I’ve retired from live gigging and I have all of this excess gear hanging around.
That rig is a monster. I’ll hold that for a little while.
When I wrapped up I was using the Berg Forte HP and two NV 115’s..what can I say, I’m just an old school air pusher.

Edit..VP Thunderbird behind the rig for back up.
View attachment 7404873

If I lived near you, I’d be wanting invites to go out on the boat. Wouldn’t mind those NV15’s though…..

 

[Stealth57]

That’s generally been my philosophy. But it’s getting harder in our increasingly disposal world.

And most of the smaller electronics are made in China. So, no telling if the name brand and cheap stuff didn't come from the same factory.

 

[MCF]

And most of the smaller electronics are made in China. So, no telling if the name brand and cheap stuff didn't come from the same factory.

Ain’t that the truth.

 

[TBird1958]

This seems to have finally come to a realistic price, def a rare Thunderbird.

https://reverb.com/item/87709873-esp-bass-built-brian-wheat-of-tesla-thunderbird-bass-the-real-deal

 

[GBassNorth]

That's what I am looking for, just was hoping for some suggestions on small, cheap, good, power amps. I don't know what brands to search for as most things that show up in a "power amp" search are stereo related.

I don’t have a power amp for you, but if you decide you just want a super sweet sounding compact portable 300watt hybrid backup amp I have a Mesa Walkabout head in mint condition that I’m not using and would be welling to sell at a steal of a price to a club member.

PM me if you’re interested.

 

[GBassNorth]

I wish you guys lived around me.
I’ve retired from live gigging and I have all of this excess gear hanging around.
That rig is a monster. I’ll hold that for a little while.
When I wrapped up I was using the Berg Forte HP and two NV 115’s..what can I say, I’m just an old school air pusher.

Edit..VP Thunderbird behind the rig for back up.
View attachment 7404873

Absolutely love the Berg cabs, best sounding bass cabs in just about any size and shape. Would love to get my hands on their NV412 or 215.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

And most of the smaller electronics are made in China. So, no telling if the name brand and cheap stuff didn't come from the same factory.

True, but as we see with basses, tehy can make things at any quality you like so long as you'll pay the price. And they'll make things atany price point you like, so long as you can live with the quality.