Thunderbird Club

[Count Bassie]

Does anyone have experience with a Bird and a Tech21 VT type sansamp device? The VT Bass DI is a capable DI but the emulation tends towars mushy -- so far.

Started out with eq flat, drive @ noon and 'character' @ 9 oclock (ie 'SVT') with speaker sim on and bite (scoop) off. It didn't sound great.

Ended up with something half decent with bass and treble @ 1.30, mid @ 10.30, char @ noon (B15), drive backed off to 10.30 and bite and speaker sim both on, but it still sounds shut in and a bit flat and mushy.

Plugged into the amp, the bas sounds huge, bouncy, dynamic and in yer face.

The VT is becoming something I will reach for if my straight-up sound is inadequate to my ear due to amp or bass limitations. But when the sound is good, well there it is. Maybe the VT is overkill, and in fact makes a kind of mud of your already good signal?
I'm no sound tech/guru, so I don't go into minutiae like eq points on the individual elements of your signal chain, and how they might cancel out, clash, what have you. But maybe the VT is just butting heads with your bass?

 

[kat888]

Darkglass Alpha-Omega. LOVE it with the Thunderbird.

Thanks. Just listened to a demo and it does sound a bit less clicky nuMetal than the other DG pedals I've heard and if I really can't find usable settings on the VT I will seriously consider one.

It seems some people regard the Traynor YBA200 as a good SVT substitute, but with it's passive tone stack and molten caramel sound, it's more in Marshall or Bassman territory. Ideally that's where my backup/flyrig should be too.

 

[kat888]

Um, that would be nine, wouldn't it?

everyday

clever clogs

 

[kat888]

The VT is becoming something I will reach for if my straight-up sound is inadequate to my ear due to amp or bass limitations. But when the sound is good, well there it is. Maybe the VT is overkill, and in fact makes a kind of mud of your already good signal?

This is into the computer/headphones, not into the amp at all.

I'm no sound tech/guru, so I don't go into minutiae like eq points on the individual elements of your signal chain, and how they might cancel out, clash, what have you. But maybe the VT is just butting heads with your bass?

Well, there is that.

 

[hillerup]

Kaminari has decided the BEST Thunderbird repro pickup rings should be made out of aluminum and cost $45.

KAMINARI GUITARS K-PUR1 Pickup Ring for Thunderbird Bass | eBay

Who am I to argue?

Maybe not the best, but it does look nice in brushed aluminum IMHO...

 

[hillerup]

I am a bit heavy handed,which means I need a bit of clearance or the strings bang off the frets all the time. I like the action fairly low, but not nearly as low as some around here.

+1...

 

[Count Bassie]

Thanks. Just listened to a demo and it does sound a bit less clicky nuMetal than the other DG pedals I've heard and if I really can't find usable settings on the VT I will seriously consider one.

It seems some people regard the Traynor YBA200 as a good SVT substitute, but with it's passive tone stack and molten caramel sound, it's more in Marshall or Bassman territory. Ideally that's where my backup/flyrig should be too.

I find my curiosity piqued about that Traynor.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Thanks. Just listened to a demo and it does sound a bit less clicky nuMetal than the other DG pedals I've heard and if I really can't find usable settings on the VT I will seriously consider one.

It seems some people regard the Traynor YBA200 as a good SVT substitute, but with it's passive tone stack and molten caramel sound, it's more in Marshall or Bassman territory. Ideally that's where my backup/flyrig should be too.

Look into B7K Ultra's too, they're easier to find on the used market. Or the Vintage Deluxe(?) Ultra for a warmer tone

 

[hillerup]

You've debunked story as rubbish. So I'll 'bin it' , I'll forget about it. Bit disappointed tho as it was cool.
More disappointed that I was happy to share it and it turns out to be untrue.
Sorry all.

Never mind - The story was still great!

 

[BklynKen]

Thanks. Just listened to a demo and it does sound a bit less clicky nuMetal than the other DG pedals I've heard and if I really can't find usable settings on the VT I will seriously consider one.

Thing about it is that if you don't turn the drive up too high, it gives you a really nice organic old-school overdriven amp growl. I have the Blend at about 2:00 and the Drive at about 10:00. And both switches off. The Thunderbird doesn't need much boost.

 

[RedVee]

Page 2020 !
Begs the question- anyone have a Gibson 20/20 ?

 

[BklynKen]

Page 2020 !
Begs the question- anyone have a Gibson 20/20 ?

No, but 2020 can't come soon enough!

 

[hillerup]

It hasn't. I acquired a period correct three point and found the one BiCen pickup I own. Disassembled the bass and stuck it in a closet. Just one of the many uncompleted projects. Maybe when the weather cools and I can spend some 'Me time' in the shop. Right now I'm fully occupied with customer builds.

Looking forward to a restoration thread...

 

[kat888]

I find my curiosity piqued about that Traynor.

Just drive up Interstate 95 until you get to Canada, knock on the door of the first house you come to and ask for a go on their YBA200 eh? They'll be sure to oblige.

Some people find the YBA200 a little bright, but that's probably because they try to eq them like amps with active tone controls and end up with eveything scooped. Turn the mid all the way up and take it from there.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Looking forward to a restoration thread...

I started one in Luthier's corner when I got the bass . I'll resurrect it when I have something.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Maybe not the best, but it does look nice in brushed aluminum IMHO...

But not a match for covers unless they're also aluminum...which would negatively affect the output .
Before ThunderBuckers I used .020 Al 'toppers' on Duncan SSB soapbars, that was the result.

 

[JIO]

Only reason I put the Hipshot on mine was for the adjustable string spacing. Conversely, I find the Babicz kinda dumb-looking; longer than it is wide (or at least it looks that way). And as I've said, I think the Hipshot looks quite good in black. Not so much in chrome.

I agree - not attracted to its 'bling' looks and high co$t but mostly don't like that it doesn't have side-to-side saddle adjustment. Schaller 3D all day is a better design and reasonably priced. I have use them on a number of my builds/basses.

 

[JIO]

This is the better one. LJ at Music Central in Hopkinsville, KY plugged the holes and spent way too much time matching the paint, but he's a perfectionist like that. Likely that this bass is gonna get sanded down and repainted at some point, I just haven't decided on a color yet.
View attachment 1407721

Those saddles are similar to ones used on piezo bridges.

 

[hillerup]

All of what you said Fix.
On a side note though, seems like the saddles are plastic. If I don't trade this one for a neck through, will have to replace the saddles. But for what this particular Epi is, I'm rather impressed. I have yet to hear it through my own rig though. Got to wait another week for that.

Edit: or is the major portion of the bridge on this bass plastic?

The entire bridge assembly and individual saddles are pot metal of some sorts on all of my Epi birds (12 - not counting the Pro-IV and Pro-V), regardsless of whether the neck is neck through or bolt-on.

 

[JIO]

Page 2020 !
Begs the question- anyone have a Gibson 20/20 ?

bizarre (short lived) 80's attempt at being 'up-to-date/modern" ~