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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- Tags
- club thunderbird
I thought the strings on my G64[1] were Rotosound RS66 longs, but they didn't feel as rough as I remembered, and the ball ends were all brass. But after Scott's demo, at the request of a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that brass made sense, I went looking and found the ball ends changed from brass in 2014 to their current Red, White, and Blue. So I think these are RS66 strings after all, just 12+ years old. They're definitely not new strings, so that makes sense. I'll try the EBCFs on this bass at some point, but if ever there was a bass I'd leave RS66s on, it's this one. And not just in honor of the Ox.
[1] Maybe we can start writing G64 for a 1964 Gibson bird and E64 for an Epi 64 bird.
[1] Maybe we can start writing G64 for a 1964 Gibson bird and E64 for an Epi 64 bird.
Already have a 2021 in ebony that I don’t play.
What are you playing lately?
Mostly the Willbird ‘64. The real 64 is in the room too. Everything else is in the garage with the Rumble and Sunn gear.
Join the party.
I really like my Ebony VP, but for some odd reason it just rarely gets played.
Mine sits at the mountain house, waiting for Yogi or Booboo.
I would buy it, but I have a black 2017 I'm not playing. It's a nice one, and lighter than my 2019 White VP, but it's wearing EBCFs and I'm really not into flats (other than TIs). Plus the white VP has that something special some basses have.
Dang. With all this ebony talk I had to get mine out of the case and take it for a spin…Yep it’s still cool.
Cheers!
As i'll be taking an electronic journey to figure out what i want to do/have when i build a new Tbird body to replace my original Epi Goth soft wood body, i've wired the Gibson 60's RI pickups from parallel to series (still using just the simple on/off switch atm), & i gotta say, it sounds pretty killer! More power, a little more treble content (probably due to overall volume/gain boost having both pickups in series vs parallel), above all, THUNDER. I do enjoy them in parallel as the original 60's birds are & subsequent post 88 birds too, but these pickups in series adds a little more heft to the fold, while still having that signature angry piano sound.
That solves at least 1 portion of new electronic scheme: Series/Parallel switch, maybe have it on a DP3T switch so i can still keep the off position when needed. My next test will definitely be a simple tone control, see if i have any use for one (or maybe a TBX by 7ender to enhance the highs a little). & if the tone control is useless to me, perhaps i'll test dual volumes, & if i like blending the pickups as i do on my Custom built Jazz bass, i'll utilize a push push potentiometer to switch between series/parallel, & keep the current SPST switch as a kill function.
Still debating if i switch out the Babicz 3 point for a smaller standard style 7ender mount 5 screw bridge like Gotoh, TBD. & if it ends up being the case, i'll let the Kingdom know firsthand, if ever someone would want to talk details of transferring ownership of my Babicz 3 point replacement for Epiphone basses.
That solves at least 1 portion of new electronic scheme: Series/Parallel switch, maybe have it on a DP3T switch so i can still keep the off position when needed. My next test will definitely be a simple tone control, see if i have any use for one (or maybe a TBX by 7ender to enhance the highs a little). & if the tone control is useless to me, perhaps i'll test dual volumes, & if i like blending the pickups as i do on my Custom built Jazz bass, i'll utilize a push push potentiometer to switch between series/parallel, & keep the current SPST switch as a kill function.
Still debating if i switch out the Babicz 3 point for a smaller standard style 7ender mount 5 screw bridge like Gotoh, TBD. & if it ends up being the case, i'll let the Kingdom know firsthand, if ever someone would want to talk details of transferring ownership of my Babicz 3 point replacement for Epiphone basses.
Mine wore EBCFs for a short spell some years ago. Not the ticket for me. I gave those strings away.
all this Gen 1 Bird action happening...... 
had to......
had to......
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,236
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
all this Gen 1 Bird action happening......
had to......
Mine's at Lull's having a bit work done four at least four weeks so I'll be needing a '64, will you send that one up please, the Queen's in need!
Meantime I made Creemate of the month, Happy Thunderbird Thursday!
The bike is m GF’s “MIYATA” she bought it sometime in the last century (funny we can say that now and it has weight).
They all are great for different reasons. The one with the Thunderbuckers (2001) is heavy and got bottom. The one with the Gibson reissues (both “lead”) (1997) is clean and clear, while the one with the Gibson reissues from the 2021 NR (one “lead” one “rhythm”) (2014) has more bass to it. The one with the Gemini UK’s (1999) is hot with some grit. The ones with the Lollar's (1995) and the Novak’s (2003) kinda sound the same, just good.
None of them sound like TB+’s. You’d think I’d keep one with those but I’m just not a fan of the way they sound and it wouldn’t get played much.
That was something they hoped would begin to happen and thought is would given things going on. They said they did it because others did and that made it nearly impossible to compete given they were not seeking the high dollar market which never has been their target group.
I got my white 2017 VP and it was/is a really good bass, seems like something special. I liked it so much I went and got a black 2022(?) new (on sale) at GC. It never came close to being what the white one is. Sold it.
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