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Thunderbird Club

#345,581
TBird1958 said:
I kind of knew what to expect from the bass before I got it, I had briefly played Uwe's back in 2018 and we discussed it, and he mentioned that it was different in terms of output and tone from other more conventional Birds. As it is right now I the toggle in the up position which I think is just the neck pickup, it sounds good with fingers or pick, the pickup is set down. The mid position is (I think) the mid and bridge pickups, and is a bit nasal, think of John Taylor's tone on a lot of classic Duran Duran, not too bassy, "Rio" and "Save a Prayer" come to mind. As a tone, I like it.
Not that I think it would be easy to figure out, but I would consider a rewire if it could address my preferences, which would be to solo both the neck and mid pickups and combine the neck and bridge pickups.

With Uwe's, which I don't know the production date, it's quite different with it's black plastic pickups and Firebird PG.

OFFyMPX.jpg
Click to expand...
Duran Duran?.....
 
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#345,582
BuddhaFingas said:
Not hard for me... seeing as I only have 1.875 birds currently.
Will achieve 2.0 sometime in September, based on projected completion.

2018 Gibson Lefty, Sunburst, Babicz, bone stock

2026 Self- built custom fretless, bullion burst, 3-point, 916 pups.... WIP.
Click to expand...

Sounds like an awesome duo. How dyou like the 916 pickups? Are they true sidewinder build like the 70's, any comparisons if you have an original 70s Bicen Bird?

GonePlaid said:
I bought my 67(?)NR mostly for the feel of the nice slim neck. My only other bass at that time was a 66 EB-3. I was never concerned with getting the 'typical' TBird tone, especially 'cos when I got it-in 1973-I had no clue wuttinnahell TBird tone was. I simply liked the feel of the bass. Yes, it took a while to get used to the size difference, but AFA tone, once I'd get the amp's settings dialed in, I could get sufficient variety in tone with the tone knob. Most of the time I don't use the bridge-or "superfluous" pup-which currently has such low output compared to the 'neck' pup that it's nearly useless. For me, no loss.

Another point, though I was unaware when I bought it, is it and-as it turns out-the EB-3 are mahogany, which-again for me-is the only proper body wood for a bass. [at my age-almost 81-I get to have unshakable opinions ;)] I also owned-for a short time-an Epiphone non-reverse 5 string TBird. It wasn't mahogany (alder?) plus it had P/J pups. Never made friends with it. Sold it.

The 67(?)NR is my only TBird b/c I could get any tone I wanted for the styles I play. It has been used in jazz-both combos and big bands, 50s-80s rock and country, concert bands-with clarinets, flutes, trumpets, trombones, etc-playing classical music, and 'classic' country. I've always been able to get an appropriate sound with it. FWIW, I've been using nothing but flats for ~40+ years.

Some pics:
Epi 5er:
View attachment 7528652
67 NR:
View attachment 7528651
Bofum:
View attachment 7528655
And bofum w/ Les Paul 5er:
View attachment 7528656
Click to expand...

I wish they were available in the flesh (the new gen NR), i've only ever played the guitar version, & it felt ungodly big/disproportionate (& i'm 6ft). But your 67 definitely takes the cake of all things!

MCF said:
Can’t imagine only keeping two. I love my Epis, My BaCHs, and my Gibsons. But if I could only have two Thunderbirds, ithey would be the ‘15 Gibson and the ‘77 Bicentennial. Fortunately, I don’t have to Make that choice.View attachment 7528679
View attachment 7528680
Click to expand...

Both look equally awesome! How does your 77 compare tonally, to any 60's flavour you may own ? Curious if the combination of Sidewinder/series wiring makes a huge difference vs the traditional wind/parallel wiring of the 60's/modern birds.
 
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#345,584
ThaCoast said:
Tough question for the Kingdom: out of all your birds, only two must remain (preferably one "vintage" & a "modern"). Can be any brand, any spec, vintage doesn't auto mean Gibson vintage 64-79 (could be the epiphones, or one that's been modified for it), but one bird needs that vintage tone, & one bird with a modern tone (or somewhat close, even if it doesn't sport the modern ceramic pickups, or the classic tbird style soapbar in general).

Which two are you choosing, & what makes them stand out from the others you may have in your collection? If you have only one bird, why is it THE one :D.

Curious only because at some point in the furture, i'll have one of each (both with Gibson RI vintage & modern type pickups). My modern one will be a closer take on the Spector versions of a Bird (all maple, dark board, brass nut, black hardware), where my vintage one will be a kind of tribute in ways (Potentially Alder body, maple or mahogany neck, dark board, nickel/chrome hardware).
Click to expand...
this works well.....
IMG_0064.jpeg
 
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#345,587
ThaCoast said:
Tough question for the Kingdom: out of all your birds, only two must remain (preferably one "vintage" & a "modern"). Can be any brand, any spec, vintage doesn't auto mean Gibson vintage 64-79 (could be the epiphones, or one that's been modified for it), but one bird needs that vintage tone, & one bird with a modern tone (or somewhat close, even if it doesn't sport the modern ceramic pickups, or the classic tbird style soapbar in general).

Which two are you choosing, & what makes them stand out from the others you may have in your collection? If you have only one bird, why is it THE one :D.

Curious only because at some point in the furture, i'll have one of each (both with Gibson RI vintage & modern type pickups). My modern one will be a closer take on the Spector versions of a Bird (all maple, dark board, brass nut, black hardware), where my vintage one will be a kind of tribute in ways (Potentially Alder body, maple or mahogany neck, dark board, nickel/chrome hardware).
Click to expand...
That’s an insanely tough decision. If I had to chose my best vintage player it would be the 1979 Bicentennial Bird. The modern bird I’d probably hang on to the longest would be my Lull Tom Petersson Tbird.
That said, I’d be really hard pressed to off my BlingBird, ThunderCaster, Capped Goth, EB-GB, or ThumbDerBird. Each one was built or modded to my specific tastes and none completely fall into the Thunderbird sound thumbprint, lots of Tbird DNA but actually more cousins than siblings.
 
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#345,593
Chucky Stiletti said:
:hyper::hyper: Finger time!...Erik's band, blast...
Click to expand...


I can play it, past couple years we've done a lot more song that require fingers instead of a pick, there was a time when I just couldn't get it due to lack of strength. My only worry anymore is cramping, 4 Advil and the liquid IV seem to help.


California days :)

Cnz7KSz.jpg
 
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#345,594
ThaCoast said:
Sounds like an awesome duo. How dyou like the 916 pickups? Are they true sidewinder build like the 70's, any comparisons if you have an original 70s Bicen Bird?



I wish they were available in the flesh (the new gen NR), i've only ever played the guitar version, & it felt ungodly big/disproportionate (& i'm 6ft). But your 67 definitely takes the cake of all things!



Both look equally awesome! How does your 77 compare tonally, to any 60's flavour you may own ? Curious if the combination of Sidewinder/series wiring makes a huge difference vs the traditional wind/parallel wiring of the 60's/modern birds.
Click to expand...
Don’t own a 60’s Gibson. All I can say is that once George properly restored the wiring in the Bicentennial, it made a huge difference and sounds full and round with a pleasant growl. The amps I have, a TT 800, a M6 Carbine, and a SVT likely help. I usually play it LOUD. Especially through the SVT at my other house where there’s no one around to complain.
 
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