Thunderbird Club

[ectoflanger]

I think about Klein when I contacted them about in early 2023. They should not use the same pickups in the five string models as in the fours. Which they do-

That was the issue I had with my Steinberger XT-25’s. They use the same budget EMG passive pickups as in the four string XT-2’s. And so they’re about the same width as the superior active HB and HB-CS pickups which are only recommended for a max string width from low to high of 2.1 inches. The XT-25 has a string width of 2.5.

But the budget part isn’t as big an issue as they’re not having sufficient width to properly accommodate the five strings-

EMG says regarding proper pickup figment for the EMG 35 (3.5 inch overall width with a 2.9 inch internal magnet width). So I upgraded my XT-25’s with active EMG 35 soapbars.

A rule of thumb for any pickup is that the total magnet width should be the string width plus twice the distance the pickup is from the strings. So, If the pickup is 3/16” (5mm) from the strings, with a magnet width of 2.90“ (73.5mm) the maximum string width would be 2.50”

Before-

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View attachment 7444354

During-

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And after- with a J at the neck and a JX-CS at bridge- sounds the way boutique hot chocolate tastes in front of a fireplace in winter-

View attachment 7444356

So when I told the Klein representative what I had learned from EMG, their lucid and well-reasoned response was- (and I paraphrase)

“We’ve sold stuff to famous people.”

So the string width of the XT-25 is at 2.5 inches so the EMG 35’s were a good fit.

Had to do some minor routing and used their 8 string guitar pickup rings which were a perfect cosmetic fit for the 35’s. I say cosmetic because I used them to cover the areas where the 35’s weren’t long enough to cover. So pickup height is adjustable by the two pickup screws with rubber backing, under the pickup, not the rings-

 

[JIO]

A think about the Klein I contacted them about in early 2023. The should not use the same pickups in the five string models as in the fours. Which they do-

That was the issue I had with my Steinberger XT-25’s. They use the same budget EMG passive pickups as in the four string XT-2’s. And so they’re about the same width as the superior active HB and HB-CS pickups which are only recommended for a max string width from low to high of 2.1 inches. The XT-25 has a string width of 2.5.

But the budget part isn’t as big an issue as they’re not having sufficient width to properly accommodate the five strings-

EMG says regarding proper pickup figment for the EMG 35 (3.5 inch overall width with a 2.9 inch internal magnet width). So I upgraded my XT-25’s with active EMG 35 soapbars.

A rule of thumb for any pickup is that the total magnet width should be the string width plus twice the distance the pickup is from the strings. So, If the pickup is 3/16” (5mm) from the strings, with a magnet width of 2.90“ (73.5mm) the maximum string width would be 2.50”

Before-

View attachment 7444353



View attachment 7444354

During-

View attachment 7444355
And after-
View attachment 7444356

I'm assuming you meant Ned Steinberger, not Steve Klein. Klein used Steinberger components on his unique/original platforms. And yes, I am aware of the discrepancy of pu width needed for a four & five string application. The internal magnet doesn't go all the way to the sides of the pu housing, even if it is to either side of the strings. It's obvious that the economy version 'Spirit' is affordable because of cost-cutting. Such shortfalls have kept the aftermarket DIY market flourishing.

 

[ectoflanger]

Yes, I am aware of the discrepancy of pu width needed for a four & five string application. The internal magnet doesn't go all the way to the sides of the pu housing, even if it is to either side of the strings. It's obvious that the economy version 'Spirit' is affordable because of cost-cutting. Such shortfalls have kept the aftermarket DIY market flourishing.

And I knew that you knew that but wasn’t sure about the rest of my T-Bird family-

But that bass sounds phenomenal now- my motivation at the time was being on the boat and frequently traveling to my parents’ place. Also I hated lugging long heavy basses (Thumb NT5 at about 10 lbs) up and down the companionway-

Then having to negotiate the main sheet traveler and muxzemast-

Then hop from the deck onto the finger pier with said 10 lbs bass without falling into the water. Then another 100 plus yards to the car- in good weather-

So my bass family was pretty much this while in the process of working on a couple of original songs-

 

[ectoflanger]

I'm assuming you meant Ned Steinberger, not Steve Klein. Klein used Steinberger components on his unique/original platforms. And yes, I am aware of the discrepancy of pu width needed for a four & five string application. The internal magnet doesn't go all the way to the sides of the pu housing, even if it is to either side of the strings. It's obvious that the economy version 'Spirit' is affordable because of cost-cutting. Such shortfalls have kept the aftermarket DIY market flourishing.

I did exchange emails with Ned but it wasn’t about XT-25’s - but my question was why there won’t be anymore XL series and he graciously replied that it just wasn’t feasible-

And that reminds me of an email exchange I had with Phil Kubicki- “Do you have a black one? His reply was that he had only one yellow one!

Bottom line is both were so kind, gracious, and humble in their responses-

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

And I knew
that you knew that but wasn’t sure about the rest of my T-Bird family-

But that bass sounds phenomenal now- my motivation at the time was being on the boat and frequently traveling to my parents’ place. Also I hated lugging long heavy basses (Thumb NT5 at about 10 lbs) up and down the companionway-

View attachment 7444415

Then having to negotiate the main sheet traveler and muxzemast-

View attachment 7444424

Then hop from the deck onto the finger pier with said 10 lbs bass without falling into the water. Then another 100 plus yards to the car- in good weather-

So my bass family was pretty much this while in the process of working on a couple of original songs-

View attachment 7444427

I think 60's Birds float....

 

[TBird1958]

AND, looks better on you than any reverse....

You're too kind!
I appreciate the Non Revs a lot more now than I used to, the Reverse will always be #1 with me, but happily there's always time and place for the NRs.

I like this one too!

 

[ectoflanger]

I think 60's Birds float....

I think might’ve told a guitarist friend that in an emergency I could use my Steinberger XL-25 as a paddle being that I was living aboard at the time-

 

[JIO]

I did exchange emails with Ned but it wasn’t about XT-25’s - but my question was why there won’t be anymore XL series and he graciously replied that it just wasn’t feasible-

And that reminds me of an email exchange I had with Phil Kubicki- “Do you have a black one? His reply was that he had only one yellow one!

Bottom line is both were so kind, gracious, and humble in their responses-

I spoke to Phil Kubicki a number of times on the phone. He was very generous with his time and knowledge. Early on after sending him my '86 Ex-Factor for him to do work on on a Thursday, he called me that next Saturday morning while I was on a bike ride to recommend strings for my Ex-Factor. I'll never forget that -

 

[GIBrat51]

Hey Thunderbirders ;-)

Silly question becouse theres for shure a Million answers and the final one will be what ever feels Right and what the Song needs.

But anyway I wan‘t to know how you Folks Blend your Pic ups and Set your Tone for xy genere/your Band you play, whats your favorite , and what you like about that Setting.

To say it’s Not about how get I Tone xy. I simple want some sort of new ideas. How other people use this beautyfull instrument.

When it comes to me I usualy Play all on Full sometimes Bridge rolled of around 50-70%
Tone between 30-100%
I Play Country, Rock’n Roll, a bit of Punk and
Classic Rock.
I play with Fingers and I think with Both Pick on Full I get the best mix of clearety and lows. Amp is usulay pretty Flat but with a touch of Drive (Ampeg Ventura SVT Setting)

Cheerz hope to hear some cool thoughts and workflows

Well, Okay...
- Pickups. I have 28 other basses, besides my 2 T-Birds; most of them are twin pickup ones. With a few exceptions? I set the controls pretty much the same as you do, but with the tone knob always in the middle. TBH? With the flats/tapes I use (no rounds in my "herd"; even my guitars wear flats), the tone knob is really pretty useless - to my ears, anyway... The exceptions? My '93 Canadian Fury Anthem lined fretless bass was custom made to fake an upright bass, and to use tape wounds only. And, it really likes both pickups (which are both close together, in the "sweet spot") cranked wide open. And, that way? Yes, it really does sound very much like an upright - if I play it correctly... My 2 violin basses, and my Hofner 500/2 Club Bass? I have a 'cheat sheet" guide to the insane controls these things have; and, depending on what I want to play? I consult the cheat sheet, and set all the knobs and switches accordingly. Except for the lack of sustain - which is inherent in those bass's design - they are surprisingly versatile... One of my 2 '98 Danelectro DC59 Pros has it's pickup's cranked up as high as they'll go - without doing that Jazz Bass output-loss thing; and the tone cranked up all the way. I use that one for '60s Garage Band/Surf; with it's very light La Bella 760FX DTF's? Seems to sound best that way... All my other basses are one-p/u models; so, different rules...
- What I play. I'm... old. I started playing in the late 1960s, And I like - and play - the same stuff that I liked and played back then. Vintage Rock N' Roll ('50s to about 1976); really Vintage Country; early MoTown/R&B; Blues/Boogie; and an occasional attempt at pre-2000's Jazz.
How I Play. Most of my basses get played with a pick - all the time. There are about 4 that I play finger style about 30% of the time (depends on the song); and only one - the '97 Alembic Epic, with TI Jazz Flats - is played finger-style all the time. It's the one I mainly use for my attempts at Jazz...
- Amp. I haven't played in a band for... decades, and where I live now? I don't know of any bands that play what I like to play. Or, who really want a bass player that's old enough to be their grandfather... When I was in a band? For what and where we played, a 15-20w combo amp was plenty. The guy I bought my '78 Fender P-Bass from in 1988, had a band that played in a lot of pubs and the airbases in the vicinity (we were in the USAF, and stationed in the UK at the time). He used a Marshall Bass 12 combo amp, and in the small venues his band played in? Plenty loud enough... I used one, too - until it just... died. When I lived in Las Vegas, my music room had a Fender Rumble 500 - with the extra cab - in the music room. Very nice... But, now? Well... the living room in that Vegas house was pretty much the size of the entire house I live in, now. I still have the Rumble, but... it's in storage. I should probably sell the poor thing... So, the amp I'm currently using? A 12w Peavey Bass158 combo. More than enough for my doll-house sized living room. Got it angled up a little, and with the tone controls set for the acoustics in there? Sounds pretty damn good... So, now? I'm just an old, "bedroom" bass player. I play what I want, on the bass in my "Herd" that sounds best for it; and I'm... happy.

 

[ectoflanger]

I spoke to Phil Kubicki a number of times on the phone. He was very generous with his time and knowledge. Early on after sending him my '86 Ex-Factor for him to do work on on a Thursday, he called me that next Saturday morning while I was on a bike ride to recommend strings for my Ex-Factor. I'll never forget that -

Sadly he passed away not long after I contacted him-

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

You're too kind!
I appreciate the Non Revs a lot more now than I used to, the Reverse will always be #1 with me, but happily there's always time and place for the NRs.

I like this one too!

trade?......

 

[JJR58]

trade?......
View attachment 7444480

Bro!!!!

 

[BuddhaFingas]

I think 60's Birds float....

So... not a witch?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

So... not a witch?

the other way around.....innocent if she sank but she usually drowned making things more convenient.....

 

[TBird1958]

trade?......
View attachment 7444480

What might I have that you want to trade for?


BTW sorry my Seahawks beat up on the Pats - Not!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

What might I have that you want to trade for?


BTW sorry my Seahawks beat up on the Pats - Not!

ok now that you put it that way....just wanna see if that PB looks better than that Baby Blue.....

 

[Engle]

I had issues with feedback on my acoustic/electric (piezo pickup?). Got rid of that fast. Haven't had any issues with the Casady and that is, technically, a hollow body with no center beam. Now, I wouldn't go The Who on that body.

I've had a Casady feed back. Mind you I was playing reggae in a rehearsal room

 

[dagrev]

ABM settings. This is the new 300 with an old RCA long Black Plate tube. Shape is not engaged. Tube and compressor are and Sub on occasion. Overdrive I get from the Genzler 4 on the Floor.

This is older ABM 500 from home settings. late 50s Mullard from the Blackburn factory. Shape is engaged. This head has more lows, less high mids and highs. More sweet sounding less aggressive you might say. This was not my EQ when using it at church. I tried something of what Chuck and V use and it works great at home.

 

[BuddhaFingas]

the other way around.....innocent if she sank but she usually drowned making things more convenient.....

It's a fair cop.

 

[JIO]

Sorry for the flash glare - my 330 Spyder settings from yesterday's recording session. Top controls: MIDDLE (off) / BASS (1:00) / TREBLE (12:00) / GAIN (3:00) / MASTER (11:00)... Lower switches: MID SHIFT (off) / BASS SHIFT (off) / BRIGHT (on) / MUTE / PRE POST (on) - plugged into LOW INPUT. '76 B15N cab w/late '60s JBL D140R speaker. We had three board manipulation options; amp alone / through my pedal train / and through the d.i. between my bass and the amp. All 'bases' were covered.

a better pic of the rig -