Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

Optimize outcomes for whom is the question. Pardon my cynicism.

Ahh, the commons problem.

 

[Gaolee]

Well, I decided the '91 needed exercise. It's the best balanced 'Bird I own, which is saying a lot. It also has Chinabuckers and EB Cobalt Flats on it. The combination was outstanding last night. It's been hanging out with the '01 a bit apparently. Even sound up and down the scale on all strings, enough angry piano but no gank or clank. Absolutely no fart. It has a bit of a raspy voice at times, which is Muddy Waters or Janis Joplin good, not Phillis Diller bad.

The untinted finish on the 7ender-Bird bodies does have some blotchiness, but only around the edges. Front and back surfaces look even. I sure hope there's time to start messing with tints this weekend.

 

[Gaolee]

And, for what it's worth, Carlo does not have any competition from me when it comes to finishes. Or probably much of anything else, but I'll stick to finishes for now.

 

[JIO]

Not a fan of fuzz or distortion, LOVE overdrive.

Good tonal qualities, apart from angry piano and snarl, would be punch, depth, fullness, growl, transparency...

Love the overdrive of a tube amp - but in the context of my bands I use an MXR Deluxe Fuzz pedal mixed with chorus for fattening on one song (Skyfall), and a mix of fuzz and MXR d.i.+ distortion on another (David Lynch song called Marylin Monroe) Both cover a specific colour needed at somewhat 'polite' levels of volume.

 

[JIO]

Well it ooks like I've been outed...

within context... here, it's all about lightness and cleverness

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Well, I decided the '91 needed exercise. It's the best balanced 'Bird I own, which is saying a lot. It also has Chinabuckers and EB Cobalt Flats on it. The combination was outstanding last night. It's been hanging out with the '01 a bit apparently. Even sound up and down the scale on all strings, enough angry piano but no gank or clank. Absolutely no fart. It has a bit of a raspy voice at times, which is Muddy Waters or Janis Joplin good, not Phillis Diller bad.

The untinted finish on the 7ender-Bird bodies does have some blotchiness, but only around the edges. Front and back surfaces look even. I sure hope there's time to start messing with tints this weekend.

No mention of what colour the '91 sounds like? You aren't going colour deaf on us now, are you?

 

[JIO]

Well, I decided the '91 needed exercise. It's the best balanced 'Bird I own, which is saying a lot. It also has Chinabuckers and EB Cobalt Flats on it. The combination was outstanding last night. It's been hanging out with the '01 a bit apparently. Even sound up and down the scale on all strings, enough angry piano but no gank or clank. Absolutely no fart. It has a bit of a raspy voice at times, which is Muddy Waters or Janis Joplin good, not Phillis Diller bad.

The untinted finish on the 7ender-Bird bodies does have some blotchiness, but only around the edges. Front and back surfaces look even. I sure hope there's time to start messing with tints this weekend.

So, never used the EB Cobalt flats but use flats (GHS Progressive Flats, Tomastik-Infeld, and my faves - LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats) so it sounds like you are saying these have a bit of grit? (raspy voice at times) which sounds cool - can you extrapolate further on how they feel/sound? (differently than more standard flats)

 

[rxdiablo]

I think "ugly" bass sounds have their place, depending on the music. One tone I used with an older band was described by a guitar player as " REALLY heavy sheet metal being moved around." Ugly for sure, but it got the line heard in grindcore!

In bicycle racing we say "horses for courses-" not every bicycle is suited to every course. I think in the same terms for instrument and tone choice. Wouldn't want to put Lemmy's tone in place of Jack Bruce's, nor vice versa!

Farty I'm not so sure I can defend, though...

 

[theFixer]

all the descriptors of tones mentioned, though they can be seen as undesirable, are really just objective I think. They're just amusing ways to describe a character. All are desirable in the right context. What are you after to get an end result in the mix?

You should try it from a drummer's perspective sometime! Adjectives always start the conversation... onomatopoeia always finishes it! The more accurate the description, the funnier it gets! I've offended more than one person, simply by being unable to contain my laughter!

 

[JIO]

I think "ugly" bass sounds have their place, depending on the music. One tone I used with an older band was described by a guitar player as " REALLY heavy sheet metal being moved around." Ugly for sure, but it got the line heard in grindcore!

In bicycle racing we say "horses for courses-" not every bicycle is suited to every course. I think in the same terms for instrument and tone choice. Wouldn't want to put Lemmy's tone in place of Jack Bruce's, nor vice versa!

Farty I'm not so sure I can defend, though...

Not familiar with that saying but it's certainly true.

 

[theFixer]

Gank isn't. There are no correct contexts for gank.

'Round these parts, the word "gank" is used as a synonym for grab, steal, or otherwise "liberating" something without prior consent {i.e. - "I hope ya don't mind man, but I ganked yer last beer"}.

<edit>

Also, another word found in Northern Redneck culture, is "zith".
Ya know the time that comes near the end of the party when the house is empty except for you & a couple of your hardcore mates who are sitting' around laughin' & drinkin' the crumbs outa the bottom of the various snack containers that are sitting' around? Well... them crumbs can cause a powerful thirst! Ya open the fridge to find that the only stuff left, is cheap crap of unknown origin that you would never drink under normal circumstances, but now seems like a challenge, or perhaps even a responsibility. That stuff is called "zith". I'll use it in a sentence:

"Hey Joe! Gramme a beer while yer up!"

"Sure Bill... but it looks like we're down to nuthin' but zith."

"Enough for everybody?"

"Uh... yup... looks like it"

"BRING IT!!!"

I dunno if Canadia has their own word for it... but God knows they got plenny o' Northern Rednecks up there!
View attachment 2255267

 

[theFixer]

The bass is long gone and has been replaced with my second Studio V, an ebony beauty that sounds amazing, so I don't need to worry about it any longer but will remember the experience. If I ever need to have a "pro" work on any of my basses in the future, there will be lots of photos taken prior to me bringing it in. They'll be like hostage photos with the bass laid atop day of newspapers with the date easily seen.

...and no, I'm not joking.

Damn Sam! I can't believe you'd go back to a place that did that to ya! Surely there's got to be somebody else 'round Motown who's more reliable and trustworthy than that!

 

[theFixer]

No mention of what colour the '91 sounds like? You aren't going colour deaf on us now, are you?

Heavens to Murgatroid!!! He's traded his colors in for celebrities!!! We're gonna hafta memorize a whole new book!!!

 

[theFixer]

I think "ugly" bass sounds have their place, depending on the music. One tone I used with an older band was described by a guitar player as " REALLY heavy sheet metal being moved around." Ugly for sure, but it got the line heard in grindcore!

In bicycle racing we say "horses for courses-" not every bicycle is suited to every course. I think in the same terms for instrument and tone choice. Wouldn't want to put Lemmy's tone in place of Jack Bruce's, nor vice versa!

Farty I'm not so sure I can defend, though...

"Heavy sheet metal being dragged around"??? That sounds like it would be hard to accomplish!

When I apply "farty" to a musical context... I think of a bad blend of too much gain & bad EQing on a detuned instrument. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that changed from ear to ear though...

 

[Pier_]

I'd introduce myself in the club since a month and a bit more I'm the proud owner of a 2006 Gibson Thunderbird, vintage sunburst, black case with dark-grey fur.

wonderful instrument, really a beast on it's own. I'm in the momentary struggle to find the perfect strings, and I've tried:
Rotosound Swing66 45-105
D'Addario EXL165 nickel 45-105
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky nickel 50-105
Labella 0760M flatwound 52-110 (without the G because I cut it for a 3+1 headstock but then sold the bass, so the was short for the Tbird).

right now the Ernie Balls are the winning set for tension and sound

I use it with a cheap Ernie Ball nylon strap, and even if it "dives" a bit, it's not something really problematic, due to the fact that this is not a "shredding" bass, IMHO. I prefer to keep it with bigger strings and slightly higher action compared to, for example, my Warwick Streamer.

I'm really in love with this bass <3 I think Gibson makes the most underrated basses out there.

 

[Gaolee]

No mention of what colour the '91 sounds like? You aren't going colour deaf on us now, are you?

Blue-green with dark red blended around the edges. I didn't mean to let you down.

 

[bass40hz]

I'd introduce myself in the club since a month and a bit more I'm the proud owner of a 2006 Gibson Thunderbird, vintage sunburst, black case with dark-grey fur.

wonderful instrument, really a beast on it's own. I'm in the momentary struggle to find the perfect strings, and I've tried:
Rotosound Swing66 45-105
D'Addario EXL165 nickel 45-105
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky nickel 50-105
Labella 0760M flatwound 52-110 (without the G because I cut it for a 3+1 headstock but then sold the bass, so the was short for the Tbird).

right now the Ernie Balls are the winning set for tension and sound

I use it with a cheap Ernie Ball nylon strap, and even if it "dives" a bit, it's not something really problematic, due to the fact that this is not a "shredding" bass, IMHO. I prefer to keep it with bigger strings and slightly higher action compared to, for example, my Warwick Streamer.

I'm really in love with this bass <3 I think Gibson makes the most underrated basses out there.

Congrats...try D'Addario NYXL 50105 on that 'bird, if you like bigger strings, they are what I use and they kill.

 

[JIO]

I'd introduce myself in the club since a month and a bit more I'm the proud owner of a 2006 Gibson Thunderbird, vintage sunburst, black case with dark-grey fur.

wonderful instrument, really a beast on it's own. I'm in the momentary struggle to find the perfect strings, and I've tried:
Rotosound Swing66 45-105
D'Addario EXL165 nickel 45-105
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky nickel 50-105
Labella 0760M flatwound 52-110 (without the G because I cut it for a 3+1 headstock but then sold the bass, so the was short for the Tbird).

right now the Ernie Balls are the winning set for tension and sound

I use it with a cheap Ernie Ball nylon strap, and even if it "dives" a bit, it's not something really problematic, due to the fact that this is not a "shredding" bass, IMHO. I prefer to keep it with bigger strings and slightly higher action compared to, for example, my Warwick Streamer.

I'm really in love with this bass <3 I think Gibson makes the most underrated basses out there.

I like D'Addario XL's and use the 50-120 EXL160BT set on a couple basses.

 

[Gaolee]

So, never used the EB Cobalt flats but use flats (GHS Progressive Flats, Tomastik-Infeld, and my faves - LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats) so it sounds like you are saying these have a bit of grit? (raspy voice at times) which sounds cool - can you extrapolate further on how they feel/sound? (differently than more standard flats)

They sound more like rounds than any other flats I have ever used. They aren't floppy, but they feel like you would expect flats to feel like. The usual flats have a rounder sound. These sound a bit more jagged than the usual flats.

Ahh, here we go with the colors again. Usually flats sound dark brown with some green. These are brighter, with a spiky redness to them. I don't think of the sound as a shiny sound.

 

[JIO]

They sound more like rounds than any other flats I have ever used. They aren't floppy, but they feel like you would expect flats to feel like. The usual flats have a rounder sound. These sound a bit more jagged than the usual flats.

Ahh, here we go with the colors again. Usually flats sound dark brown with some green. These are brighter, with a spiky redness to them. I don't think of the sound as a shiny sound.

Cool (thanks!) - I think I will give them a try.