Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

What kind of leaf is that? Doesn't look like the standard silver, gold, or copper. What kind of clear do you use and does it affect the color or brightness of the leaf?

It's Moon gold (roughly 91–92% gold mixed with silver and palladium) - around 22-23k. There are many golds to choose from for leafing and then there are the variegated leafs which are mostly copper or brass composites and come in wild colour swirl patterns created with heat.

Gilding can be clear-coated with most any product - I've used hand brushed poly, spray lacquer (including acrylic lacquer) and there are many products made specifically for gilding. I hand brush DUX acrylic to seal it before sending to Pat Wilkins who does my final finishing.

 

[BuddhaFingas]

Thanks! I use a circular revolving "lazy Susan" that I found at a thrift store years ago. For the final clear coat I just hang it from a tree with a coat-hanger.

View attachment 7486968
I also use a portable bike work-stand to do my gilding work -
View attachment 7486973
View attachment 7486974

My first build experience (set-neck LP guitar) I basically made a "tree" from scrap 2×4's with dowels that held it through the tuner holes and a big piece of cardboard as a windbreak.

2nd time (my green PJ) was a bolt-on so I made holding sticks from 1×2's for body and neck, and used a vise to hold them. Worked OK but could not rotate. Also sprayed outdoors, but weather that time of year was calm.

This time I made holding sticks from 1" oak dowels and masonite "shoes" that use the neck screw holes, and a t-shaped jig that holds it so I can rotate the part on its long axis.

Since springtime weather here is either too cold or too windy when its not (we get a tide-like wind 15+mph from the southwest every day its not cold, until summer heat kicks in; geography) I'm forced to paint in the garage, and am using a painter's tent and fans to protect everything from fallout, and to keep lacquer fumes from accumulating. Gas water heater in the same space.

Works OK but the tent is 6" shorter than I am.

Necessity is a mother with strange bedfellows.

 

[Stealth57]

Thanks. Great looking bodies.

Bassual harassment

 

[Stealth57]

I'd love to learn what the group consensus is on mid-priced T-bird replacement pups. Lulls aren't available, and even if they were they'd exceed my budget. Same for Lollar and Novak.

Going for a vintage look so EMGs and other moderns pups won't do. I need more chrome in my life! The Gibson reissues seem affordable but don't have different values for neck and bridge. Is that common for Thunderbird pups? Gemini Dominators and the Mojo Pickups sets from the UK look great but with shipping and tariffs, they are at the top of my budget.

Any experience with 916 Pickups? I know the owner used to post on TB, but not lately. He's local, so it might be nice to give him my business, but not sure how the neo magnets depart from the traditional T-bird tone.

I'd very much appreciate any additional suggestions as well. Thanks in advance!

What is mid priced? $400 a set from SD custom shop. I don't consider that mid priced. Are EY vintage sounding?

 

[CoughSyrup]

What is mid priced? $400 a set from SD custom shop. I don't consider that mid priced. Are EY vintage sounding?

Under $300 for a set is my arbitrary budget. It's more than I'd ideally like to spend, but it seems to be enough to give me more options without getting into boutique territory.

 

[GBassNorth]

What is mid priced? $400 a set from SD custom shop. I don't consider that mid priced. Are EY vintage sounding?

To my ears, EY pickups are in the same ballpark as 760ProBuckers, which many here claim are fairly close to vintage Tbird pickups. So yes, in the same ballpark.

My 67 NR II and my VP (with neck pup soloed) can be onboard EQd to sound very similar. The VP will go brighter and the Vintage NR will go darker but there’s a lot of overlap. Likewise there’s a lot of overlap between EY pickups and VP ProBuckers.

Varying degrees of great sounds in a Tbird metal can format:

EY pickups or ChinaBuckers (vintage sounding)…

Thunderbird Bass Pickup Vintage Style for Gibson,Chrome/Nickel - Without Metal Ring / Chrome 9K Reistance(for neck position) | Reverb

Thunderbird Bass Pickup Vintage Style for Gibson,Chrome/NickelPrice is for total 1 pcs of pickup,and it can been used as Neck or Bridge.If you need the pickup ring,pls choose it on the above option---Pickup size:92mm*40mm ---Pickup thickness:12mm ---Pickup mounting hole center to center:8...

reverb.com

Epiphone 760 ProBucker pickups (legit ones are vintage sounding but these might be black market knock offs)…

https://www.ebay.com/itm/257482916786?_skw=epiphone+thunderbird+bass+pickup&itmmeta=01KQQEV6AKX05PWGJ0X0B1KGNG&hash=item3bf32d83b2:g:u6kAAOSwu1ZnOg1K&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA4GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xDeNavJgH6MNI36jSX6MYcpniPq6mE7NjvcTF2o0J4Q%2BP2uA%2BmnPAmgMX1X7BwApXWgJQ%2FrIRIvfh4zYLyAB64juP6xBWaztSh4ceF0lwZOGzhkW4htbKIwMUYYJUTFgCqkVKlbx3e78GDE9E12Mc5x7ydImrmYtAYwJoR6nI7IEQqIYrMUw8xPFiGTFg890ARnVbYpmQ0pk%2BK2MwYzkdSX80lhDKy39PdqTdaIN40kg0O1wdE5k28dgP5ZRyqZjtwIA%2FaQCH5iTR0dHO0%2BEQ0P%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8Ll7O69Zw

Gibson reissues (slightly more modern sounding, lots of bottom end)…

Gibson Thunderbird Bass Reissue Humbucker Pickup (Chrome) | Reverb

This official Gibson Thunderbird Bass Reissue Humbucker Pickup uses Alnico magnets for pure vintage tone and is built to original 1960s T-Bird vintage specifications. The pickups provide the thick, beefy tone the bass is known for and are also humbucking like the originals too. They are equipped ...

reverb.com

Actual Vintage Gibson pickup…

1960's Gibson Thunderbird Bass Pickup - 8.29k (105) | Reverb

1960's Gibson Thunderbird Bass Pickup - 8.29k. Everything works as it should. Any dark areas or lines in cover is reflection. (105)

reverb.com

 

[JIO]

Finally got a chance to listen (the link didn't work the other day). Love that stuff you're doing under the guitar solo!
Within DJB tunes, I usually have the beginning of my "solos" mapped out, and sometimes the whole thing.

Thanks! On The Spy, I start off rhythmic seemingly unrelated to the form and then at a certain point I start walking all over the form while also doing some unison work with Paul - we work pretty well together. It's basically blues so predictable.

 

[dagrev]

For the record, this...

And this mahogany thing...

Sounded fantastic today. Digging the DTFs on it and the ABM.

Normally I use the Ampeg, but I changed the tube in the ABM from an old RCA long black plate to an old Mullard and am liking the ABM even more. Still tweaking the EQ a little. The pic was from the RCA.

 

[dagrev]

At times-kinda depends on my mood.

Meaning how many Peanut butter Whiskeys?

 

[dagrev]

Thanks! I use a circular revolving "lazy Susan" that I found at a thrift store years ago. For the final clear coat I just hang it from a tree with a coat-hanger.

View attachment 7486968
I also use a portable bike work-stand to do my gilding work -
View attachment 7486973
View attachment 7486974

Your bike stand is a great idea for set or thorough neck.

 

[dagrev]

What is mid priced? $400 a set from SD custom shop. I don't consider that mid priced. Are EY vintage sounding?

In your samples, I was really impressed with your SDs.

 

[TBird1958]

For the record, this...
View attachment 7487286


And this mahogany thing...
View attachment 7487287



Sounded fantastic today. Digging the DTFs on it and the ABM.

Normally I use the Ampeg, but I changed the tube in the ABM from an old RCA long black plate to an old Mullard and am liking the ABM even more. Still tweaking the EQ a little. The pic was from the RCA.

I will try to shoot my settings tonight ( we have rehearsal).

My bass will be this pointy fellow, it's really sounding good, previous owner put a pre amp into it and with the stock pickups it is simply amazing. Very comfy to play, hangs on me just perfect - Not everybody's Cup of Tea on the aesthetics, I'll be fine.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

A slew of old birds for sale:


EDIT: Since the above link fails, you can go to Facebook, look in the Thunderbird Bass Players Group, and look for the post by John Aaron on from Feb 22 (it just showed up today, stupid algorithm).

 

[Miles_ONeal]

It's Moon gold (roughly 91–92% gold mixed with silver and palladium) - around 22-23k. There are many golds to choose from for leafing and then there are the variegated leafs which are mostly copper or brass composites and come in wild colour swirl patterns created with heat.

Gilding can be clear-coated with most any product - I've used hand brushed poly, spray lacquer (including acrylic lacquer) and there are many products made specifically for gilding. I hand brush DUX acrylic to seal it before sending to Pat Wilkins who does my final finishing.

View attachment 7487150
View attachment 7487159

What does the palladium add?

 

[MCF]

A slew of old birds for sale:


EDIT: Since the above link fails, you can go to Facebook, look in the Thunderbird Bass Players Group, and look for the post by John Aaron on from Feb 22 (it just showed up today, stupid algorithm).

It doesn’t look like the link to it works. I assume those are the ones in England? One was previously owned by Peterson. They’re in the Facebook Thunderbird Players group.

 

[dagrev]

I will try to shoot my settings tonight ( we have rehearsal).

My bass will be this pointy fellow, it's really sounding good, previous owner put a pre amp into it and with the stock pickups it is simply amazing. Very comfy to play, hangs on me just perfect - Not everybody's Cup of Tea on the aesthetics, I'll be fine.

Thanks. That would be great/interesting. With a few weeks after the tube swap I tend to be moving the 100Hz slider up a little or back to flat depending on the bass. I sure hope you are enjoying your ABM as much as I am mine. My goodness these are great heads.

Gorgeous Epi!

 

[GBassNorth]

I will try to shoot my settings tonight ( we have rehearsal).

My bass will be this pointy fellow, it's really sounding good, previous owner put a pre amp into it and with the stock pickups it is simply amazing. Very comfy to play, hangs on me just perfect - Not everybody's Cup of Tea on the aesthetics, I'll be fine.

Beautiful bass Veronica!
Those pups look like the Eppi Goth or Tbird IV pups, which pair phenomenally well with my Aguilar OBP2 preamp. With that neck pup location you should get some exceptional earth shaking tones.
Rock it hard my Queen!

 

[Ringhammer]

Under $300 for a set is my arbitrary budget. It's more than I'd ideally like to spend, but it seems to be enough to give me more options without getting into boutique territory.

I have a set of Curtis Novak’s I would part with. Since I have a set of Gibson VR’s from a 2021 NR coming, and I need a place to put them, the 2003 that has the Novak’s is my likely candidate. To my ears the Novak’s sound pretty much the same as the Lollar’s, and I have a black chrome set of Lollar’s in my ‘95 that will be in that one forever.

It take $295 plus shipping. I’m in SF Bay Area.

LMK.

 

[JIO]

did you play guitar before bass?

No - started on bass. Just inspired by those players who stretched the traditional bass-player role. I was tall for my age and as an artist I've always been very visual so I chose bass because it was visually appealing to me hanging on the wall alongside of smaller 6-string guitars. And it only had 4 strings so I thought I could learn it faster/easier! I was so clueless as a 13yr old but regardless of that it turned out that I'm pretty much a dyed in the wool bass player.

1966

2026

 

[JIO]

I have a set of Curtis Novak’s I would part with. Since I have a set of Gibson VR’s from a 2021 NR coming, and I need a place to put them, the 2003 that has the Novak’s is my likely candidate. To my ears the Novak’s sound pretty much the same as the Lollar’s, and I have a black chrome set of Lollar’s in my ‘95 that will be in that one forever.

It take $295 plus shipping. I’m in SF Bay Area.

LMK.

Big fan of Novak pu's - I've loaded many (Darkstar/Bi-Sonic's) in my custom basses