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Thunderbird Club

#45,701
Count Bassie said:
Went and got my EB-3 today. Traded a nice Squier P-neck (played it for quite a few years, a regular gig-stick), a JBL K-140 driver and a Peavey cab I'd modded for it. Took it to the practice space on the way to my next stop to pick up a piece of weekend work, and ran it into the Crate head. The available tones are a bit limited, it is what it is, but I got something I like out of it in short order. Nice little bass! I'm playing it Saturday at a street fest in Newport with the reggae band.

And here she is... very poorly done selfie, but the vibe is there: I am pleased.

View attachment 2769100

(It's blurry, but we all know what an EB-3 looks like.)
Click to expand...
Count - great pic and a great bass, you're gonna love it! As much as it pains me to say it, I play my SG basses (essentially an EB3) twice as much as I play my Thunderbirds. The EB/SG is kinda the comfort food of the bass world to me. Nothing super flashy sound wise but it always hits the spot and looks good doing it. Mine are short scale (not sure if the EB3 is as well) so they get deep dark and thumpy even with nickel Rounds. Flats or tapes would be awesome on that bass for dub and reggae.
Enjoy your New Bass Day!
 
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#45,704
hillerup said:
Don’t take the info on Epiphone website for granted - it’s full of errors...

The active Pro-IV and Pro-V has 7-ply (laminated) necks, but only 5 of the laminates run through the entire neck - the remaining two laminates are part of the raised centerblock, but not the neck.

The Classic Pro-IV has a 9-ply (laminated) neck like the Gibson, with all 9-ply’s running through the neck.

The laminates on the Pro are very different from the Classic Pro: The Pro has fairly thick/wide laminates, whereas the Classic Pro have some very thin/narrow laminates.

This is one of my Classic Pro’s, where you can easily see all 9-ply’s:

View attachment 2769324
Click to expand...
Thanks.
So... I assume that maybe the 7 wide layers are better for looks (maybe the maple helps with the different "modern" personality of the Pro IV?) , and maybe cheaper and the 9 layers are better otherwise???
 
#45,705
theFixer said:
It bugged me enough to go figure it out. The 4 necked guitar guy was Michael Angelo:rolleyes:
View attachment 2769322

I think this was the rig he used at campfire sing-a-longs...
Click to expand...
Played in a band called Nitro with Jim Gillette on vocals. They embodied everything that sucked about 80's metal.
 
Last edited:
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#45,707
theFixer said:
@GBassNorth Did you ever find the Gibson humbucker size bass pups you were lookin' for?
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Kinda. After looking at every bass pickup out there I found only two that will drop in a Goth slot without routing. The one I bought is the Bartolini the other is a Delano. Every thing else would have required a minor routing to fit the wider pup. Turns out the Goth pup is longer than just about anything else, which is good, but it's also narrower than just about anything else. Not by much but unfortunately just enough that routing would be required vs just sanding. If I had to route I'd have gone with the Nordy pups, they looked like the perfect sound spec for what I wanted but the Bart's were close so In they'll go. I'm still on the hunt for some trim rings that will fit the Bart's but haven't found anything yet. It's not critical but without the trim rings I'll have about a 1/8" gap at the bass and treble ends of the pup.

Recall that I'm after a non TBird sound in this bird. Something smoother, deeper and with a bit more cream than bite. I suspect the Bart will deliver that. I've also decided to start the control rewire in a coil tap passive layout similar to the 2015 TBird but utilizing push/pull pots instead of toggles. So if all goes to plan it will still be a three knob layout but with a ton more tone options. If that doesn't work out then I'll revert back to the active 4 knob Spector preamp option.

This is all hit and miss and more or less a fun little project to kill time and hopefully create something cool in the process.
 
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#45,708
T
kat888 said:
With first reports of the ProBucker 760s being 'the real deal' and Epiphone having 'nailed it', I am vicariously hopping from one foot to the other in anticipation for those of you with the VP on order. You can all count down sleeps (some will have more sleeps than others) until New Bird Day.
Click to expand...
he way it’s going at the moment, I think i’m More likely to be counting down phases of the moon!
 
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#45,710
RedVee said:
Thanks.
So... I assume that maybe the 7 wide layers are better for looks (maybe the maple helps with the different "modern" personality of the Pro IV?) , and maybe cheaper and the 9 layers are better otherwise???
Click to expand...

The actually five ply maple/maho is a lot stronger than the nine ply walnut/maho IMO.

If that wacky narrow nine ply was effective there wouldn't be so many early birds with broken necks and other builders would have copied it. Might make more sense if five of the plies were CF...maybe that's what Gisbo wanted to use back in the day but it didn't exist yet...scary.:laugh:
 
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#45,711
GBassNorth said:
Kinda. After looking at every bass pickup out there I found only two that will drop in a Goth slot without routing. The one I bought is the Bartolini the other is a Delano. Every thing else would have required a minor routing to fit the wider pup. Turns out the Goth pup is longer than just about anything else, which is good, but it's also narrower than just about anything else. Not by much but unfortunately just enough that routing would be required vs just sanding. If I had to route I'd have gone with the Nordy pups, they looked like the perfect sound spec for what I wanted but the Bart's were close so In they'll go. I'm still on the hunt for some trim rings that will fit the Bart's but haven't found anything yet. It's not critical but without the trim rings I'll have about a 1/8" gap at the bass and treble ends of the pup.

Recall that I'm after a non TBird sound in this bird. Something smoother, deeper and with a bit more cream than bite. I suspect the Bart will deliver that. I've also decided to start the control rewire in a coil tap passive layout similar to the 2015 TBird but utilizing push/pull pots instead of toggles. So if all goes to plan it will still be a three knob layout but with a ton more tone options. If that doesn't work out then I'll revert back to the active 4 knob Spector preamp option.

This is all hit and miss and more or less a fun little project to kill time and hopefully create something cool in the process.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a fun project:thumbsup:
 
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#45,712
Dadagoboi said:
The actually five ply maple/maho is a lot stronger than the nine ply walnut/maho IMO.

If that wacky narrow nine ply was effective there wouldn't be so many early birds with broken necks and other builders would have copied it. Might make more sense if five of the plies were CF...maybe that's what Gisbo wanted to use back in the day but it didn't exist yet...scary.
Click to expand...
Of course the scarcity of guitar stands in the early bird era didn't help much either. I'd imagine a bunch of those early bird battle scars were from basses that were left leaning against an amp or a wall before gravity took over. Even the maple/maho headstock doesn't fair well when slammed against the floor.
 
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#45,714
Dr_Feelgoood212 said:
Forgive me Queen for I have sinned… the cardinal sin, it has been nearly a month since my last confession.
WARNING: FSO AND TORT AHEAD.

I'll be posting this in gen-pop tomorrow.

So I bought a Pre-CBS 1961 7en*** P-Bass locally from the second owner, who owned it since 64. I'll spare you Bird Brains the details of the 7en***. I paid a great price but if you're ever in Downtown Niagara Falls at night and see me standing on the corner… HELP A BROTHA OUT!
View attachment 2769259

EDIT: The tone control has been used so much, the knob is actually worn in quite a bit
Click to expand...

Take that tone control out of the circuit!!!'
And I have to say, I like that '61.
 
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#45,717
Dr_Feelgoood212 said:
I paid a great price but if you're ever in Downtown Niagara Falls at night and see me standing on the corner… HELP A BROTHA OUT!
Click to expand...

I don't know what is funnier - downtown Niagara Falls or the image of @Dr_Feelgoood212 standing on a corner watching for cops and saying to strangers "hey baby, want a date?"
 
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#45,718
theFixer said:
Wasn't he also one of those "weedly weedly weedly" guitar players, famous for playing a guitar that had 4 different necks sticking out in 4 different directions?
Click to expand...

I remember hearing an interview with someone (Page, Clapton, JPJ? Can't recall) and he divided the guitar playing world into those that play krang krang and those that play dweedy dweedy.
 
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#45,719
PillO said:
I remember hearing an interview with someone (Page, Clapton, JPJ? Can't recall) and he divided the guitar playing world into those that play krang krang and those that play dweedy dweedy.
Click to expand...

That must relate to Gibson/Humbuckers and Fender/Single Coils... ;)
 
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