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Thunderbird Club

#334,821
Subbing this Saturday with a local band, brought the CP last night to rehearsal. I think the reason I don't bring it around all the time is the size of it- it's a lot of wood. But as a player it just works so well, and the character of it is so there. In a live mix it's just substantial, no matter where on the neck I go.
I've been into the Sterling 34CA lately, and it's got a sound and a sonic delivery I like- definitely a voice of its own. But the 'Bird just always works.
Maybe this year there'll be an NR. The only other contender is a Rickenbacker...
 
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#334,824
Miles_ONeal said:
My Thunderbirds ranked hottest to tamest pickup output based on my MXR compressor’s LED scale:
  1. 1988 and 1990 Grecos
  2. 2019 Epi VP with Thunderbucker 66s
  3. 2019 Epi CP
  4. 2012 Epi IV with EY pickups
  5. 2023 Epi 64
  6. 1964 Gibson II
Were the early Gibson pickups weak by modern standards? I started this test because the tone is great but the output’s a bit low compared to what I’m used to.

View attachment 7409278View attachment 7409279View attachment 7409280
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Some seems to be. I would say mine is lower output than most of my basses, but can't quantify, even subjectively. The '76 is less output. Never been a problem. I'm not seeing to slam pre tubes and every amp I've had came with a vol knob, so "problem" solved.
This is why Matt added the neodymium bar to raise the gauss and thus output (and better than overwinding). But I have never heard of anyone complain about 60s Thunderbirds output being a problem. Never been for me. So that to me was a solution in search of a problem. Valiant attempt, but a problem not screaming for a solution in my mind. The magic of Thunderbird pups is in their tone, not how loud (G&L) they are. Maybe some of the magic is they output doesn't cover up nuance (if possible). Heck, a few of us don't even have the neck pup jacked up as close to the strings as possible. V and myself for sure. Mine is not far down, but not as close as others. Sounds fantastic, so I never adjust it.
 
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#334,825
dagrev said:
Some seems to be. I would say mine is lower output than most of my basses, but can't quantify, even subjectively. The '76 is less output. Never been a problem. I'm not seeing to slam pre tubes and every amp I've had came with a vol knob, so "problem" solved.
This is why Matt added the neodymium bar to raise the gauss and thus output (and better than overwinding). But I have never heard of anyone complain about 60s Thunderbirds output being a problem. Never been for me. So that to me was a solution in search of a problem. Valiant attempt, but a problem not screaming for a solution in my mind. The magic of Thunderbird pups is in their tone, not how loud (G&L) they are. Maybe some of the magic is they output doesn't cover up nuance (if possible). Heck, a few of us don't even have the neck pup jacked up as close to the strings as possible. V and myself for sure. Mine is not far down, but not as close as others. Sounds fantastic, so I never adjust it.
Click to expand...
The Greco pups will be ceramic. I'm pretty sure that has a lot to do with output.
 
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#334,826
Miles_ONeal said:
So what’s the consensus? Is this the original pickup? The wiring is hacked but the soldering mostly looks like I’m used to seeing. The volume pot and tone caps are almost certainly original and the tone pot most likely is.

Elsewhere, the covers are wrong, the output jack has been replaced, the TRC is melty and mounted.
The HS repair seems solid, the finish is mostly original (AFAICT) with lots of checking, the bridge and tuners seem legit (other than a few odd screws).

Bonus question: what’s the most you’d pay for this were you looking for one today?
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Pup looks right to me. Or the best fake job I've seen--which I don't think is the case.
If it seems solid and the neck/action isn't moving around it's a keeper in my book. The more pristine they get, the more money. I think it's good value in that you got a '64 and didn't pay going rates for one approaching something nearly perfect. Better value in my opinion for a bass to be played not donated to the RnR Hall of Fame or Shame. This is why I have bought a number of vintage Fenders where the body was refined. Great old basses, far more tolerable price wise for my proposes.

That said, you may have opportunity to point out that you are part of the Thunderbird brain trust community and if you point out and document some concerns you may get an even better price. They will likely not want something like that back once some things are called to their attention. Within reason, of course.

So it kind of boils down to do you like it, does it sound great not good, and would you want to likely cough up more and take a chance on another one? Prices don't seem to be going down or even being static. That's how I would tend to look at it.

That said, I have paid too much a few times. Don't like it, but it was what I wanted and I liked them and would do it again. Better deal vs meets expectations and wants I suppose.
 
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#334,829
Chucky Stiletti said:
we considered that V8 but this prevailed....
View attachment 7409226
Click to expand...

I love V8’s, there is really nothing that sounds as good as a hot V8, but I have really come to appreciate I6’s. My first car, ‘71 Dodge Demon had a slant 6 which was disappointing but reliable as heck. As a 16 year old car guy, I had to have a V8. Next inline was a ‘73 Duster and then a Coronet 440, both with 318’s. Later, having a Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0 I6, I really enjoyed the torque and also the reliability of that engine. Currently, both of my vehicles have V8’s, but it love to be in the position to own a fine German sedan with an Inline 6.
 
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#334,830
WW

ncQggpL.jpg
 
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#334,831
dagrev said:
Pup looks right to me. Or the best fake job I've seen--which I don't think is the case.
Click to expand...
That was my real concern. It sounds great. It sounds killer with a pick. Works beautifully with my pedals.
dagrev said:
If it seems solid and the neck/action isn't moving around it's a keeper in my book. The more pristine they get, the more money. I think it's good value in that you got a '64 and didn't pay going rates for one approaching something nearly perfect. Better value in my opinion for a bass to be played not donated to the RnR Hall of Fame or Shame. This is why I have bought a number of vintage Fenders where the body was refined. Great old basses, far more tolerable price wise for my proposes.

That said, you may have opportunity to point out that you are part of the Thunderbird brain trust community and if you point out and document some concerns you may get an even better price. They will likely not want something like that back once some things are called to their attention. Within reason, of course.

So it kind of boils down to do you like it, does it sound great not good, and would you want to likely cough up more and take a chance on another one? Prices don't seem to be going down or even being static. That's how I would tend to look at it.

That said, I have paid too much a few times. Don't like it, but it was what I wanted and I liked them and would do it again. Better deal vs meets expectations and wants I suppose.
Click to expand...
Given that the potential investment value is secondary to having a great instrument, I’m keeping it. I am going to let them know the things I’m disappointed in — not acknowledging the headstock repair or new jack & wrong covers. If there’s any refund, great. If not, this bird and I chose each other and I learned a few things.
 
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#334,832
Miles_ONeal said:
That was my real concern. It sounds great. It sounds killer with a pick. Works beautifully with my pedals.

Given that the potential investment value is secondary to having a great instrument, I’m keeping it. I am going to let them know the things I’m disappointed in — not acknowledging the headstock repair or new jack & wrong covers. If there’s any refund, great. If not, this bird and I chose each other and I learned a few things.
Click to expand...
Just for comparison:

IMG_1446.jpg
 
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#334,833
Miles_ONeal said:
That was my real concern. It sounds great. It sounds killer with a pick. Works beautifully with my pedals.

Given that the potential investment value is secondary to having a great instrument, I’m keeping it. I am going to let them know the things I’m disappointed in — not acknowledging the headstock repair or new jack & wrong covers. If there’s any refund, great. If not, this bird and I chose each other and I learned a few things.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a wise and great plan to me. If you connect with it, you just do. I connect with the '66 NR that is barely a '66 NR. Worth the money, time and effort. I love it. Who knows, if one day if I run across 60s pups (reasonably) I may begin to properly restore it. If not, I'm happy and love it. How do you put a price on something like that. I got something of an old NR at a fraction of the cost.

I have never bought a bass as an investment. There are better ways to invest money, generally. I buy them because I like them and love how they sound.
 
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#334,838
Miles_ONeal said:
That was my real concern. It sounds great. It sounds killer with a pick. Works beautifully with my pedals.

Given that the potential investment value is secondary to having a great instrument, I’m keeping it. I am going to let them know the things I’m disappointed in — not acknowledging the headstock repair or new jack & wrong covers. If there’s any refund, great. If not, this bird and I chose each other and I learned a few things.
Click to expand...
I did not realize the headstock repair was not acknowledged. That is disappointing. But par for the course with them. What matters is that you’re happy with it, it plays well, and sounds great. Happy for you man.
 
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