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Thunderbird Club

#346,501
TBird1958 said:
Quit talking, buy the bass! :woot:
Click to expand...
I'm broke right now 😔

1784363435102.jpeg


"Excuse me. Sir excuse me. Can you loan a brotha a…"

 
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#346,503
Skouidy said:
Hey, I just bought a Gibson Thunderbird Studio IV, I've got the original hard case but this poopie is freaking heavy, any recs for a hybrid gig bag? Something that I can carry on my back but that's also resistant?

Thanks !
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Congrats on the bass! Unfortunately Gibson's empty cases weigh as much as the basses do.
 
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#346,504
Stealth57 said:
Yes, but that sucker looks beat and about twice what I paid for a pristine S15X-D. Also, wondering if the SpeakOn connectors were added or if Bag End moved them from a separate panel to the main panel before or after mine. All 3 sets (RCA, 1/4", and SpeakOn) of connections are on the main panel on mine.
Click to expand...
You're going to see the prices of these cabs all over the place...
 
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#346,506
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#346,507
The new old bird has landed. It's an '89 Gibby from Nashville, low pitch neck, ebony board. This bird is in mint condition. Sounds great but in dire need of a good setup and nice strings, and a knob replacement.
IMG_6865.jpeg

IMG_6866.png


Open string action at the 12th fret is 1/8" which is a boatload more than I normally set things at, but the neck is good and straight and the frets seem pretty level (maybe a few could be leveled better). The truss rod seems to be working fine, so that's a plus.
IMG_6867.jpeg

The bridge saddles look wonky so I'll be sorting that out today, fortunately I have plenty of black three point spare parts in my parts bins.

Now to decide which strings fit best with early TB+ pickups, any suggestions for a nice deep smooth tone?
 
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#346,508
GBassNorth said:
The new old bird has landed. It's an '89 Gibby from Nashville, low pitch neck, ebony board. This bird is in mint condition. Sounds great but in dire need of a good setup and nice strings, and a knob replacement.
View attachment 7538455
View attachment 7538457

Open string action at the 12th fret is 1/8" which is a boatload more than I normally set things at, but the neck is good and straight and the frets seem pretty level (maybe a few could be leveled better). The truss rod seems to be working fine, so that's a plus.
View attachment 7538459
The bridge saddles look wonky so I'll be sorting that out today, fortunately I have plenty of black three point spare parts in my parts bins.

Now to decide which strings fit best with early TB+ pickups, any suggestions for a nice deep smooth tone?
Click to expand...
Tapes? I've used LaBella and D'Addario over the years. Can't remember which is on my Ibanez semi-hollow EB-2 wannabe.

Interesting tilt/angle/whatever on the pup.
 
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#346,509
GBassNorth said:
The new old bird has landed. It's an '89 Gibby from Nashville, low pitch neck, ebony board. This bird is in mint condition. Sounds great but in dire need of a good setup and nice strings, and a knob replacement.
View attachment 7538455
View attachment 7538457

Open string action at the 12th fret is 1/8" which is a boatload more than I normally set things at, but the neck is good and straight and the frets seem pretty level (maybe a few could be leveled better). The truss rod seems to be working fine, so that's a plus.
View attachment 7538459
The bridge saddles look wonky so I'll be sorting that out today, fortunately I have plenty of black three point spare parts in my parts bins.

Now to decide which strings fit best with early TB+ pickups, any suggestions for a nice deep smooth tone?
Click to expand...

Mine is 82629789 so just a little younger than yours so I'm thinking you've got this pickup..........

pu0ECFt.jpg
 
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#346,510
GBassNorth said:
The new old bird has landed. It's an '89 Gibby from Nashville, low pitch neck, ebony board. This bird is in mint condition. Sounds great but in dire need of a good setup and nice strings, and a knob replacement.
View attachment 7538455
View attachment 7538457

Open string action at the 12th fret is 1/8" which is a boatload more than I normally set things at, but the neck is good and straight and the frets seem pretty level (maybe a few could be leveled better). The truss rod seems to be working fine, so that's a plus.
View attachment 7538459
The bridge saddles look wonky so I'll be sorting that out today, fortunately I have plenty of black three point spare parts in my parts bins.

Now to decide which strings fit best with early TB+ pickups, any suggestions for a nice deep smooth tone?
Click to expand...
You jammy b*st*rd!
 
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#346,518
GonePlaid said:
Tapes? I've used LaBella and D'Addario over the years. Can't remember which is on my Ibanez semi-hollow EB-2 wannabe.

Interesting tilt/angle/whatever on the pup.
Click to expand...
I always string with D'Addario XL Nickel Rounds first on a new bird, it's a very neutral string and kinda gives me an idea of which way the bass wants to go. I think this one would sound nice with laBella Black Tapes, I have a spare set so in a few days I'll probably give it a try.

TBird1958 said:
Mine is 82629789 so just a little younger than yours so I'm thinking you've got this pickup..........

pu0ECFt.jpg
Click to expand...
Yes, interestingly enough this bird comes with split single coil pickups in both the neck and bridge positions. The pickup spacing is identical to the 2015 Tbird (same as the 2013 Anniversary issue and the Gibby NR Reissue).

With nickel rounds the neck pickup is about as deep as a modern TB+ pup but a bit more clear and precise, the bridge pickup is more nasal sounding than a TB+ and could easily pass for a Jazz bass sound. I think my only other dual split single coil bird is the Spector Rex5 with EMGs, so much to my delight I've acquired another Tbird with a different voice.

Here's a pic of the pickup flip sides…
IMG_6869.jpeg
IMG_6871.jpeg


Close inspection of the three point bridge revealed a cracked frame at the A string which was allowing the bridge to lift in the center resulting in a stupid high action. Problem resolved with a new spare black three point bridge. The 12th fret clearance has been dropped down to half of what it was, so currently sitting at 2/32" which is about my norm. Once the strings have settled in I might try to drop it down a bit more. The pickup routes were super tight and shallow, had to file the edges a bit, took out the springs which were fully compressed and placed pup foam in for better height and angle adjustment. Quite nice now.
IMG_6872.jpeg



Count Bassie said:
You jammy b*st*rd!
Click to expand...
LOL - I've been called worse.

Chucky Stiletti said:
+1
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I have a set of LaBella Black tapes that I'll throw on it in the next few weeks. I haven't had a chance to play this bass at elevated volumes or for extended periods yet, but so far to my ears this bass has a beefy PJ sound to it. So Black Tapes or Deep Talkin Flats or Low Beams might all be a good fit for this one, it might not be as good a fit for EBCF strings as my other birds.
 
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#346,519
90 Minutes starting a 6:00PM on the West Coast, we're traveling to historic Bremerton, WA. (home of Puget Sound Navel Shipyard) for a show at the Kitsap County Fair grounds.


You Really got me
I want you to want me
BBC
Let's go
Der Kommisar
What you need
Words
Desire
The Middle
Whip it
What I like about you
This Time
Everybody wants to rule
Groove
Beds are Burning
Wild West
Hold me now
Don't you forget about me
Let's go crazy
Taint'd love
Should I stay
Friday I'm in love
Sanctuary
Crazy Train


Out as #1 today, the white '89 as backup.

62RuEHy.jpg
 
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#346,520
GBassNorth said:
I always string with D'Addario XL Nickel Rounds first on a new bird, it's a very neutral string and kinda gives me an idea of which way the bass wants to go. I think this one would sound nice with laBella Black Tapes, I have a spare set so in a few days I'll probably give it a try.


Yes, interestingly enough this bird comes with split single coil pickups in both the neck and bridge positions. The pickup spacing is identical to the 2015 Tbird (same as the 2013 Anniversary issue and the Gibby NR Reissue).

With nickel rounds the neck pickup is about as deep as a modern TB+ pup but a bit more clear and precise, the bridge pickup is more nasal sounding than a TB+ and could easily pass for a Jazz bass sound. I think my only other dual split single coil bird is the Spector Rex5 with EMGs, so much to my delight I've acquired another Tbird with a different voice.

Here's a pic of the pickup flip sides…
View attachment 7538585View attachment 7538587

Close inspection of the three point bridge revealed a cracked frame at the A string which was allowing the bridge to lift in the center resulting in a stupid high action. Problem resolved with a new spare black three point bridge. The 12th fret clearance has been dropped down to half of what it was, so currently sitting at 2/32" which is about my norm. Once the strings have settled in I might try to drop it down a bit more. The pickup routes were super tight and shallow, had to file the edges a bit, took out the springs which were fully compressed and placed pup foam in for better height and angle adjustment. Quite nice now.
View attachment 7538590



LOL - I've been called worse.


I have a set of LaBella Black tapes that I'll throw on it in the next few weeks. I haven't had a chance to play this bass at elevated volumes or for extended periods yet, but so far to my ears this bass has a beefy PJ sound to it. So Black Tapes or Deep Talkin Flats or Low Beams might all be a good fit for this one, it might not be as good a fit for EBCF strings as my other birds.
Click to expand...


Now I'm jelly, I want a set of those pickups. Try some Ken Smith's on it.
 
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