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Thunderbird Club

#345,802
Chucky Stiletti said:
also proof positive that EQ and tone knobs play a huge role.....can't believe it keeps coming up... past tweetchie at this point....
Click to expand...

I was going to say something about JPJ, but Family Man sure had some deep tones.
EQ, tone knob, fingers, strings, amp, room, musical context all affect your tone.
 
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#345,805
dagrev said:
From my Macbook Pro only I was torn. The TB+ had more "I'm here" tone and the reissues were "just there." It's one recorded demo with unknown variables (which version of TB+ for one), but I did like the TB+. I don't buy into the idea that ceramic PUs sound harsh, glassy, etc. Leo proved that on the early G&Ls.

I would be interested in trying some TB+ PUs in something. I think my beef with modern Gibsons is more PU location than anything and the TB+ can sound great. I would love to play the Epi or Gibson 2013(?) where the PUs were close to the original location. I bet it would sound great for what I prefer.
Click to expand...
I believe there's a bit of pickup location variation on various 'Birds? My former 2019 Big G certainly had its pickups closer to the neck than my Epiphone Vintage Pro, and thus sound a bit darker even with Chinabuckers. The Epi VP has unbelievable clarity and rich metallic overtones if that's what "similar to J bass" means, but it's also thick as a double P (or a MUCH better balanced PJ) with a rich vocal midrange.
OTOH I still prefer other pickups to the TB-Plus. In Thunderbirds I prefer alnico ones such as Chinabuckers or 760 Probuckers, and the DeColas also aren't bad (I'd also like to try Sidewinders). On SG or EB basses I also prefer even the Epiphone mini-humbucker to the Gibson mini-TB-Plus. On the Grabber it's the most extreme to me, a vintage Grabber is probably my favourite P-style tone while the Grabber II is literally the worst sounding bass I've ever played or heard live..
 
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#345,807
Gaolee said:
Funny thing about bass sound. I hate the sound of the Jackson 5-string by itself. But it sounds really good in a mix. Go figure. There are a couple songs that make my left thumb hurt when I play them on the fiver. Time to learn a new technique to solve that problem. I'm liking that part of it. Beats me what I'm going to do with this bass when I leave the band I got it for. That's going to happen the second week of August. Two more shows and I'm out. The music is fun but the nonsense isn't my thing.
Click to expand...
Which Jackson is that? I've heard that they have jumbo frets. If yours has them, how does the action feel?

Regarding sounding great in a mix, but not so great solo, I have not experienced that with a bass, but it reminds of how many accounts I've heard engineers liking how the venerable P-Bass sounds in a mix. Interestingly though John McVie played an Alembic on Rumours songs and on "Rhiannon" from the Fleetwood Mac album he used a Precision on "I'm So Afraid" . Perhaps because it was harder-edged than the other songs.

 
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#345,808
Chucky Stiletti said:
you got a deal, I paid that for a brand new Bicen (79) in 82.....
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I have $600 or $650 in my '64 from '81-'82. I think I traded something in. Came with "the repair." A vintage shop guy in town knew I wanted one. I'm guessing he found one broken and got it fixed or did it himself. He was the regional vintage guy around here and was doing vintage in the late 70s. You would never know who would show up in his shop. He would get calls from people playing in Indy, Lex, etc., and he would take several instruments for them to look over. Got my '55 from him as well. He was a good bass player. Funny thing, I walked into to his back room/shop one day not seeing anyone out front. Him and another guitarist/employee were at a table with powder on it. I think it must have been his secret blend of powered glue from the shocked look.... But I digress.
 
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#345,809
GBassNorth said:
Just wrapped up a quick side by side comparison of the Gibby NR Reissue with stock reissue pups, a ‘64 Reissue Eppi with stock pups and the 2012 Eppi CP with TB+ pups (same locations as the ‘64). All with nickel rounds.

Observations:
The ‘64 had the most zing in the strings, brighter attack than the others and more top end, plenty of bottom.
The NR Reissue had the best balance of the three from string to string, smooth top end round and creamy bottom, fuller sounding.
The 2012 CP had a more woolly feeling to it, a looser not quite boomy bottom and a slightly less defined top end, rich but less detail.

Conclusions:
I felt the NR equipped with Gibson Reissue pickups sounded the best of the three in every tone and pickup setting, very musical, very touch and knob setting sensitive. An excellent after market pickup choice that brings out the best from the bass and the player. The other two pickup choices were a toss up with each having its strengths and weakness. If you’re looking to warm up a cold, dead or sterile sounding bass and don’t mind playing with a pic (to drive more definition and attack) the TB+ pickups might be a good after market choice, you’ll get plenty of bottom end out of them. I don’t think you can officially buy the Eppi ‘64 pickups after market, but the ‘64 bass is a great “Gibson” on a budget choice. It will probably cut through a muddy mix better than the other two but won’t sound quite as rich and full as the Gibson or as dark and thick as the TB+, good middle ground bass choice that you could take either direction with the right string choices. All three pickup choices are excellent, pick your poison.
Click to expand...
Great info!
 
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#345,810
ectoflanger said:
So how about it Chucky? I've seen a number of your posts featuring home-made culinary delights. Will you consider tackling this one? If so, please DM me a slice. Oh wait, 3D ovens haven't been invented yet ...
Click to expand...
Speaking of culinary delights, I have a delightful Hickory Spam sandwich last night.
I know it's rude and I shouldn't brag.
 
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#345,813
Iristone said:
I believe there's a bit of pickup location variation on various 'Birds? My former 2019 Big G certainly had its pickups closer to the neck than my Epiphone Vintage Pro, and thus sound a bit darker even with Chinabuckers. The Epi VP has unbelievable clarity and rich metallic overtones if that's what "similar to J bass" means, but it's also thick as a double P (or a MUCH better balanced PJ) with a rich vocal midrange.
OTOH I still prefer other pickups to the TB-Plus. In Thunderbirds I prefer alnico ones such as Chinabuckers or 760 Probuckers, and the DeColas also aren't bad (I'd also like to try Sidewinders). On SG or EB basses I also prefer even the Epiphone mini-humbucker to the Gibson mini-TB-Plus. On the Grabber it's the most extreme to me, a vintage Grabber is probably my favourite P-style tone while the Grabber II is literally the worst sounding bass I've ever played or heard live..
Click to expand...
https://www.talkbass.com/wiki/thunderbird-pickup-distances/
 
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#345,814
Stealth57 said:
https://www.talkbass.com/wiki/thunderbird-pickup-distances/
Click to expand...
I can't adjust the pickup distances on the 67NR (OK, I could, but I'm not.), so I adjust knobs-amp and/or bass. If I was having one built, I might specify preferences but there's no guarantee I'd get the exact sound-whatever that is-that I want. Add to that the fact it prolly will sound different in different rooms, it-to me-is an exercise in futility. One I can't afford-cash or time wise-to pursue.

Allen Mc Clelland* (some of y'all know who he was) postulated the theory of "Good Enough". His version of "close enuff for [jazz/rock 'n' roll/whatever]".

*not a bass player AFAIK
 
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#345,815
ectoflanger said:
Which Jackson is that? I've heard that they have jumbo frets. If yours has them, how does the action feel?

Regarding sounding great in a mix, but not so great solo, I have not experienced that with a bass, but it reminds of how many accounts I've heard engineers liking how the venerable P-Bass sounds in a mix. Interestingly though John McVie played an Alembic on Rumours songs and on "Rhiannon" from the Fleetwood Mac album he used a Precision on "I'm So Afraid" . Perhaps because it was harder-edged than the other songs.

Click to expand...

It is a David Ellefson Kellybird V. I think that's the official name. The frets feel OK. I don't recall them being notably big or notably small. I usually like smaller frets better than bigger ones, but it doesn't matter much in the end. Its setup was a mess when I got it, but now that the action is where it should be, more or less, the frets work fine. There's no buzz or other problems, so I'm reasonably happy with the frets.

I didn't know who David Ellefson was until this bass came along.
 
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#345,816
Years ago I redefined this (lower) mid '60s Teisco EB-200 (2 pu) short-scale mahogany body into a 34" scale and loaded a Guild RI Darkstar. Can't recall how I decided on the pu pole location, but it is exactly where it sounds best to my ears and my right hand is usually right over it. I call it 4-30 positioning; 4" from the saddles, 30" from the nut. When I built my recent MDB (top) I positioned the Novak Darkstar pu poles in the same location and that bass also rocks. Never owned/played a Stingray, maybe it's in a similar position. Pick-up positioning makes a difference, usually subtly but noticeably all the same and optimally where its player likes to hear it.
Thanks again to George for the blocked maple (Squier) J neck. :thumbsup:

1783438454792.jpeg
 
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