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Thunderbird Club

#345,521
TBird1958 said:
So this fellow actually showed up yesterday. Quite something really, it's in pretty good shape for a 35 year old bass that has definitely been played a lot. Plenty of wear on the gold plating around the pickups, only a couple very small dings in the body, overall, the craftsmanship is pretty good, The 3 position toggle allows you to select neck, mid and bridge, or bridge pickups. There's a little bit of fret sprout, likely the bass having lived in Minnesota has something to do with that, it's not horrible and I can certainly play it without difficulty. With regard to tone, I'll hold off for now, I'm going to put some Ken Smith's on it (The Original Purple Silks) and enjoy working with it for awhile. :bassist:

62RuEHy.jpg
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And the knobs do what? Master volume tone, tone, tone?
 
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#345,522
TBird1958 said:
So this fellow actually showed up yesterday. Quite something really, it's in pretty good shape for a 35 year old bass that has definitely been played a lot. Plenty of wear on the gold plating around the pickups, only a couple very small dings in the body, overall, the craftsmanship is pretty good, The 3 position toggle allows you to select neck, mid and bridge, or bridge pickups. There's a little bit of fret sprout, likely the bass having lived in Minnesota has something to do with that, it's not horrible and I can certainly play it without difficulty. With regard to tone, I'll hold off for now, I'm going to put some Ken Smith's on it (The Original Purple Silks) and enjoy working with it for awhile. :bassist:

62RuEHy.jpg
Click to expand...
Whoa! So it's not those other thingies after all! Sweet looking Thunderbird! Glad it went to a great home. Congrats!
 
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#345,524
TBird1958 said:
So this fellow actually showed up yesterday. Quite something really, it's in pretty good shape for a 35 year old bass that has definitely been played a lot. Plenty of wear on the gold plating around the pickups, only a couple very small dings in the body, overall, the craftsmanship is pretty good, The 3 position toggle allows you to select neck, mid and bridge, or bridge pickups. There's a little bit of fret sprout, likely the bass having lived in Minnesota has something to do with that, it's not horrible and I can certainly play it without difficulty. With regard to tone, I'll hold off for now, I'm going to put some Ken Smith's on it (The Original Purple Silks) and enjoy working with it for awhile. :bassist:

62RuEHy.jpg
Click to expand...
Congratulations V! Love the dark fretboard! Fret sprout is no big deal to resolve as you know. I’ve done fret end work myself, but if it were mine I’d have Lull’s shop take care of it given how special the Thunderbird is. It looks great; well played, not necessarily overly babied, but well taken care of. Can’t wait to be able to try it!
 
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#345,525
TBird1958 said:
So this fellow actually showed up yesterday. Quite something really, it's in pretty good shape for a 35 year old bass that has definitely been played a lot. Plenty of wear on the gold plating around the pickups, only a couple very small dings in the body, overall, the craftsmanship is pretty good, The 3 position toggle allows you to select neck, mid and bridge, or bridge pickups. There's a little bit of fret sprout, likely the bass having lived in Minnesota has something to do with that, it's not horrible and I can certainly play it without difficulty. With regard to tone, I'll hold off for now, I'm going to put some Ken Smith's on it (The Original Purple Silks) and enjoy working with it for awhile. :bassist:

62RuEHy.jpg
Click to expand...
Daum.
 
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#345,529
TBird1958 said:
So this fellow actually showed up yesterday. Quite something really, it's in pretty good shape for a 35 year old bass that has definitely been played a lot. Plenty of wear on the gold plating around the pickups, only a couple very small dings in the body, overall, the craftsmanship is pretty good, The 3 position toggle allows you to select neck, mid and bridge, or bridge pickups. There's a little bit of fret sprout, likely the bass having lived in Minnesota has something to do with that, it's not horrible and I can certainly play it without difficulty. With regard to tone, I'll hold off for now, I'm going to put some Ken Smith's on it (The Original Purple Silks) and enjoy working with it for awhile. :bassist:

62RuEHy.jpg
Click to expand...
Sweet candy!!!
 
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#345,530
TBird1958 said:
So this fellow actually showed up yesterday. Quite something really, it's in pretty good shape for a 35 year old bass that has definitely been played a lot. Plenty of wear on the gold plating around the pickups, only a couple very small dings in the body, overall, the craftsmanship is pretty good, The 3 position toggle allows you to select neck, mid and bridge, or bridge pickups. There's a little bit of fret sprout, likely the bass having lived in Minnesota has something to do with that, it's not horrible and I can certainly play it without difficulty. With regard to tone, I'll hold off for now, I'm going to put some Ken Smith's on it (The Original Purple Silks) and enjoy working with it for awhile. :bassist:

62RuEHy.jpg
Click to expand...
Congrats!!! Beautiful Bird!!
 
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#345,533
TBird1958 said:
So this fellow actually showed up yesterday. Quite something really, it's in pretty good shape for a 35 year old bass that has definitely been played a lot. Plenty of wear on the gold plating around the pickups, only a couple very small dings in the body, overall, the craftsmanship is pretty good, The 3 position toggle allows you to select neck, mid and bridge, or bridge pickups. There's a little bit of fret sprout, likely the bass having lived in Minnesota has something to do with that, it's not horrible and I can certainly play it without difficulty. With regard to tone, I'll hold off for now, I'm going to put some Ken Smith's on it (The Original Purple Silks) and enjoy working with it for awhile. :bassist:

62RuEHy.jpg
Click to expand...
I'm really happy for you! (And only a little jealous.) Great catch.
 
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#345,537
TBird1958 said:
So this fellow actually showed up yesterday. Quite something really, it's in pretty good shape for a 35 year old bass that has definitely been played a lot. Plenty of wear on the gold plating around the pickups, only a couple very small dings in the body, overall, the craftsmanship is pretty good, The 3 position toggle allows you to select neck, mid and bridge, or bridge pickups. There's a little bit of fret sprout, likely the bass having lived in Minnesota has something to do with that, it's not horrible and I can certainly play it without difficulty. With regard to tone, I'll hold off for now, I'm going to put some Ken Smith's on it (The Original Purple Silks) and enjoy working with it for awhile. :bassist:

62RuEHy.jpg
Click to expand...
So cool I want to copy this
 
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#345,539
ThaCoast said:
Killer! If it were mine, i think id wire it as a g3 (neck mid, all 3, mid bridge). Or get a super/freeway toggle & do 3 other combos.
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Yah, I'd definitely want all pu combinations. My GrassRoots (ESP) Bass IV does that simply.

4-way pu switch - you can add one or any combo and the 4th (lower) switch bypasses the pots direct to the jack. It acts as a boost for whatever pu combo you select.

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#345,540
TBird1958 said:
So this fellow actually showed up yesterday. Quite something really, it's in pretty good shape for a 35 year old bass that has definitely been played a lot. Plenty of wear on the gold plating around the pickups, only a couple very small dings in the body, overall, the craftsmanship is pretty good, The 3 position toggle allows you to select neck, mid and bridge, or bridge pickups. There's a little bit of fret sprout, likely the bass having lived in Minnesota has something to do with that, it's not horrible and I can certainly play it without difficulty. With regard to tone, I'll hold off for now, I'm going to put some Ken Smith's on it (The Original Purple Silks) and enjoy working with it for awhile. :bassist:

62RuEHy.jpg
Click to expand...

TBird1958 said:
So this fellow actually showed up yesterday. Quite something really, it's in pretty good shape for a 35 year old bass that has definitely been played a lot. Plenty of wear on the gold plating around the pickups, only a couple very small dings in the body, overall, the craftsmanship is pretty good, The 3 position toggle allows you to select neck, mid and bridge, or bridge pickups. There's a little bit of fret sprout, likely the bass having lived in Minnesota has something to do with that, it's not horrible and I can certainly play it without difficulty. With regard to tone, I'll hold off for now, I'm going to put some Ken Smith's on it (The Original Purple Silks) and enjoy working with it for awhile. :bassist:

62RuEHy.jpg
Click to expand...
Doner Designs

Thread 'Show us your 3 pickup basses!'

I'm a big fan of 3 pickup basses. Was searching for threads and pics of examples out there but its slim pickins. Love to see some pics of customs with three separate pickups. Comments on wiring and what you like/dislike also would be interesting.

I have built three triples (pictured below). Two use a 3 way switch on the middle/neck volume with a separate volume for the bridge and master passive bass & treble controls.

The J bass also has a series-parallel switching for the two J pickups and phase reversal on the bridge (push-pulls). It pains me to admit, but it currently does not...
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