Thunderbird Club

[Dadagoboi]

Checked out your website Carlo. Very nice work and great prices. Now stop selling them so I'll stop wanting one!

Thanks! That may happen sooner than later.

It all started with this pair of '64s and a '77. Can't get to them right nowto compare weights but the '77 is definitely heavier and not as well balanced as either of the '64s. Plus being cruder in execution (no gut cut, less hand contouring, etc. Just little things but they all add up to a big difference IMO).

Nice to have someone else around here who owns at least one of each!

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Thanks! That may happen sooner than later.

It all started with this pair of '64s and a '77. Can't get to them right nowto compare weights but the '77 is definitely heavier and not as well balanced as either of the '64s. Plus being cruder in execution (no gut cut, less hand contouring, etc. Just little things but they all add up to a big difference IMO).

Nice to have someone else around here who owns at least one of each!

If you bought my kidney or liver or something, I'd have a couple as well

 

[GBassNorth]

Ahh, but is it lefty???

Only if you look in the mirror.

 

[dagrev]

Thanks! That may happen sooner than later.

It all started with this pair of '64s and a '77. Can't get to them right nowto compare weights but the '77 is definitely heavier and not as well balanced as either of the '64s. Plus being cruder in execution (no gut cut, less hand contouring, etc. Just little things but they all add up to a big difference IMO).

Nice to have someone else around here who owns at least one of each!

I sure hope you stay in business. Have you ever considered branching out into other body styles than you currently have? Many just don't get the T-bird thing at all, so that's going to have no interest for the vast majority of players. Possibly your market would open up a little. The take off an a Jazz is killer. (I realize I'm likely not saying anything you haven't thought of before.) You make great looking boutique basses, but at average player's price range. That's a great selling point you have going for you.

Very nice! Somewhat glad to hear your '77 is a candidate for weight watchers as well. I was concerned it was just mine.
My 70s is not as balanced either. You'd think with the extra weight that would hold the body down and the neck up, but no so much. The '64 just feels better in all respects (seems better crafted in general). I like the neck better as well. The paint verses what was used on the '64 is a little more grabby when not perfectly clean. I'd sell it to get an early 60's but the thing does sound as good.

 

[JJR58]

@theFixer

If you can possibly try one before buying is a good idea as not all valve pres are equal.

I tried to go down the valve pre into SS amp to save myself money and weight but the pre was frankly 'fizzy' sounding. Made me realise how good the valve pres in my old mosfet hybrid were.

Alembic and Fender both make or made stand alone valve pres. There are also exotic beasts like the Jules Monique, but they are 1. costly, 2. specifically designed NOT to overdrive (where's the fun in that?). A search of the FX forum will find you much discussion of the merits af various valve pres, but it has to be said, NOTHING beats the sound of output stage distortion ... and an old Peavey or second hand Traynor will get you there for only a minor body part or two.

This is all true.
Best to try before you buy.
When people ask, what's the best this and that, even if they are very detailed in what they are looking for, you won't know what works unless you hear things for yourself.
I like a little grind but not distortion.
So the Ampeg is a pretty clean sounding pre. The beauty of the GK is the pre-gain and the boost knob, there's a tone of tricks in just this two, never mind the eq section.

 

[Dadagoboi]

I sure hope you stay in business. Have you ever considered branching out into other body styles than you currently have? Many just don't get the T-bird thing at all, so that's going to have no interest for the vast majority of players. Possibly your market would open up a little. (I realize I'm likely not saying anything you haven't thought of before.) You make great looking boutique basses, but at average player's price range. That's a great selling point you have going for you.

Very nice! Somewhat glad to hear your '77 is a candidate for weight watchers as well. I was concerned it was just mine.
My 70s is not as balanced either. You'd think with the extra weight that would hold the body down and the neck up, but no so much. The '64 just feels better in all respects (seems better crafted in general). I like the neck better as well. The paint verses what was used on the '64 is a little more grabby when not perfectly clean. I'd sell it to get an early 60's but the thing does sound as good.

At my age I'm inclined to do what I want to do, period...actually that's what I've done at all my ages, so I think it's too late to change. I have plenty of FSOs, nothing at all wrong with them but not what I want to build. BTW, prices shown on the website are out of date, I need to update the site. The average Cataldo with ThunderBuckers goes for around $1900. Keeps me as busy as I want to be.

I agree with all your observations on Original vs Bicentennial Reverse TBirds although I prefer the sound of the 60s 'buckers to the 70s sidewinders.

 

[JJR58]

Like I said, to me, an SS pre into a tube power amp sounds more like an all tube amp than a tube pre into an SS power amp does.

I pretty much agree with that.
But those tubes in my Ampeg pre are doing something cool to the GK.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Does a piezo pickup feedback?

They're generally more prone to feedback than magnetic pickups on acoustic instruments.

Here are my solutions.
Completely replace:

Supplemental passive setup:

Phosphor bronze strings don't work with magnetic pickups BTW.

 

[Christine]

On a door is a bit beyond the pale

Well it was better than through the keyhole!!

 

[GBassNorth]

Like I said, to me, an SS pre into a tube power amp sounds more like an all tube amp than a tube pre into an SS power amp does.

Spot on.
The tube magic is really in the power section. That's why I swear by my vintage Musicman HD150 hybrid amp with the SS pre and Tube power setup. Great amp but getting harder to find, prices run in the $500 ballpark.

 

[theFixer]

Spot on.
The tube magic is really in the power section. That's why I swear by my vintage Musicman HD150 hybrid amp with the SS pre and Tube power setup. Great amp but getting harder to find, prices run in the $500 ballpark.

I agree that you can't truly make anything that will accurately simulate a tube amp. I've played around with about a million different tube amps & gadgets over the years. In fact... in the world of guitar, I'm a tube "purist". I would never play anywhere other than in my bedroom, with anything but a tube amp. The world of bass is much different. Ya don't need a tube amp to get a great sound. At some point, I will have (at least) one tube bass amp, but right now, I'm just looking for a warm little push. Ideally... there wouldn't even be any tone shaping features on it! I love the onboard EQing that the MB210 has. I don't wanna change my sound, I just wanna play to the strengths of my T-bird. 'Bird's gotta sing... am I right?

 

[Richard I]

Hi Guys,
I always loved the Tbird shape and "coolness". When they came out, I almost bought and Epiphone Classic IV Tbird (abandones idea due to delivery problems from Epiphone to my dealer).
Sorry if I ask once again those questions (1742 pages are way too much to be read at 100%), but...

I'm a Precision Bass player, definately, but I'm looking for something different...
I'm a little hesitant between The Thunderbird and the Rickenbacker 4003, which I played only once, long time ago.
I generally prefer fat necks.

How does the Tbird sound with fingers? I remember a kind of "sweet spot" between the two pickups: round but clear tone, not muddy.
Don't know if it's too much to be asked, but...could it stand out in a '70s R&B/Funk/Reggae contest? Fingerstyle..like Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, James Brown, Bob Marley & The Wailers, to give an idea

 

[Off-Beat]

Regarding the issues few days ago: The on/off drummer offered us to use his set until everything is settled for him(well he can't tell us for sure if he's in until september - and we're not sure if we like that) so aside from some absorbing foam I ordered the Allen Woody instead of a drum kit.

 

[GBassNorth]

Hi Guys,
I always loved the Tbird shape and "coolness". When they came out, I almost bought and Epiphone Classic IV Tbird (abandones idea due to delivery problems from Epiphone to my dealer).
Sorry if I ask once again those questions (1742 pages are way too much to be read at 100%), but...

I'm a Precision Bass player, definately, but I'm looking for something different...
I'm a little hesitant between The Thunderbird and the Rickenbacker 4003, which I played only once, long time ago.
I generally prefer fat necks.

How does the Tbird sound with fingers? I remember a kind of "sweet spot" between the two pickups: round but clear tone, not muddy.
Don't know if it's too much to be asked, but...could it stand out in a '70s R&B/Funk/Reggae contest? Fingerstyle..like Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, James Brown, Bob Marley & The Wailers, to give an idea

The TBird can certainly pull off a very good R&B/Funk/Reggae sound. In the bass world I find it to be voiced a bit darker and deeper than a Jazz or Ric and much closer to a P Bass but because of the two pickups it has the ability to add in a crystal clear top end to that signature P Bass sound if needed.

You did mention you like a fat neck and unfortunately the TBird isn't known for that. I also find it easier to play Reggae and some funk on a five string neck. So if a fat neck is a must and 5 strings is your thing you might want to look at a 2013/14 Gibson EB, it's very Fender like in shape but with much better sound.

If you can get by on a thin (by P Bass standards) 4 string neck I think you'd find the 2015 Gibson Thunderbird to be exactly what you're looking for. They can be had used in the $1200 and up bracket but are getting harder to find (the secret is getting out that they are a killer bass). Good luck.

 

[kat888]

They're generally more prone to feedback than magnetic pickups on acoustic instruments.

Here are my solutions.
Completely replace:

Supplemental passive setup:

Phosphor bronze strings don't work with magnetic pickups BTW.

Both of those look pretty nice.

Had a really cheap piezo on the bridge of a gut-strung 'cello, just to see what it was like. It sounded like a cheap piezo. Even when I used to do gigs with a 12 string acoustic guitarist and a beat box, an ABG seemed like too much bother, and the FSO was my preferred option.

 

[Richard I]

The TBird can certainly pull off a very good R&B/Funk/Reggae sound. In the bass world I find it to be voiced a bit darker and deeper than a Jazz or Ric and much closer to a P Bass but because of the two pickups it has the ability to add in a crystal clear top end to that signature P Bass sound if needed.

You did mention you like a fat neck and unfortunately the TBird isn't known for that. I also find it easier to play Reggae and some funk on a five string neck. So if a fat neck is a must and 5 strings is your thing you might want to look at a 2013/14 Gibson EB, it's very Fender like in shape but with much better sound.

If you can get by on a thin (by P Bass standards) 4 string neck I think you'd find the 2015 Gibson Thunderbird to be exactly what you're looking for. They can be had used in the $1200 and up bracket but are getting harder to find (the secret is getting out that they are a killer bass). Good luck.

Hi GBassNorth,
Thanks for the tips. Can't get over the switches on the 2015 models (plus, they're really expensive here in Italy/Europe. Around 1600/1700€ the last ones in stock).

I don't play on 5 strings basses..I used to, only because my (at the time) band needed to have a deep low end.

The fat neck is a personal preference, but I think I can get over it (if the bass' feels nad plays good).
My actual Fender Standard P-Bass had the "modern C" neck, which is fast and C shaped and it's fine (overall, the bass plays very good, so it won't get sold easily).
Never liked Ibanez necks, too thin and flat profiled..so, since it's a C profile, it's fine.
Is the Tbird's neck comparable to the "Modern C" Fender neck?

 

[theFixer]

Hi Guys,
I always loved the Tbird shape and "coolness". When they came out, I almost bought and Epiphone Classic IV Tbird (abandones idea due to delivery problems from Epiphone to my dealer).
Sorry if I ask once again those questions (1742 pages are way too much to be read at 100%), but...

I'm a Precision Bass player, definately, but I'm looking for something different...
I'm a little hesitant between The Thunderbird and the Rickenbacker 4003, which I played only once, long time ago.
I generally prefer fat necks.

How does the Tbird sound with fingers? I remember a kind of "sweet spot" between the two pickups: round but clear tone, not muddy.
Don't know if it's too much to be asked, but...could it stand out in a '70s R&B/Funk/Reggae contest? Fingerstyle..like Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, James Brown, Bob Marley & The Wailers, to give an idea

I'm certainly not the most qualified to give you the best answers, (I just got mine a few days ago) but I'll give you my 2 cents worth.

First of all... IMHO, the neck pickup is capable of a believable P-bass like tone, but warmer. I don't know if the others will agree... but I don't use the bridge pickup by itself. I tend to leave the neck all the way up, & roll the bridge pickup in & out for different flavors. Your question is kinda difficult to answer, just because so much of the character & tone comes from each players fingers, and is interpretive. It is my belief that a Thunderbird will stand out anywhere you put it, and you could put it anywhere... but only you can decide if it's "right". I don't use picks, and have been really pleasantly surprised with the differences in sound & character when plucking the strings different ways. For instance... when I snap a string in a more downward motion using just the tips of my fingers with the bridge pup cranked... it sounds a lot like I'm using a pick. If I kinda roll my finger across the string, I get a round, warm, ambient sound. It's the same as on most basses, but much more obvious or "pronounced" on the 'bird. Also... subtle tweaks of the tone and volume knobs, bring forth fairly substantial changes to the character of the bass. If you're used to your 7enders... it will be important for you to sit down & give it a fair shake. The first one I picked up just seemed so foreign & uncomfortable, that I instantly thought, "Well crap! I guess that won't work", & hung it back on the wall. It wasn't until I had the chance to really sit down with one for a while, that I "got it". Now I'm obsessed! I've already begun referring to it as my first Thunderbird!

To summarize... the 'bird will fit anywhere, but it's up to you and your fingers to decide if it will work for YOU. I could totally see a T-bird on stage backing up Bob Marley!

 

[theFixer]

Regarding the issues few days ago: The on/off drummer offered us to use his set until everything is settled for him(well he can't tell us for sure if he's in until september - and we're not sure if we like that) so aside from some absorbing foam I ordered the Allen Woody instead of a drum kit.

Well that's cool! No matter what happens with your drummer... the ol' Allen Woody will be with you forever!

 

[theFixer]

The problem is finding a buyer.

Unrelated note, anyone looking for any organs? Choose what you want.

Edit: kidney, liver, spleen, if you need I have it… or at least I should

I didn't see "Hammond B3" on the list...

 

[theFixer]

Access is excellent on all versions but neck dive is a problem on big headstock/kluson tuner 60s originals compared to 60s Reverses. As is reaching the g tuner for some. Imagine it 3" farther away...

Since none of you seem to be willing to part with your cut rate organs, it shouldn't be a problem.

I hope nobody was counting on my liver. I would NEVER sell that... to a friend...