Thunderbird Club

[Dadagoboi]

Yes, there are no production pickups for a Thunderbird. But we have these in the Custom Shop.

Resistance stated is much too high to be 'original spec'...at least none of the seven originals I own. Or any that I've ever seen for sale.

 

[theFixer]

Must be a Ford thing I know an older guy around here, who is in his 70's and still drag races competitively, that has a Dodge Hellcat as his daily driver, every year he drives it to New Brunswick Canada, gets 20-23mpg.

HAH!!! Funnily enough... the guy with the Raptor also has a Hellcat. Amazing fuel mileage considering what that thing is capable of!

 

[NOLA Bass]

Dang, I need a love button, the like button is an understatement!
Sleek and deadly looking. I've never tried a fan fret bass but the concept is cool. I don't have any problem jumping from 4 string to 5 string or thin neck to fat neck or short scale to extended scale, but I have to admit the fanned fret thing is intimidating. I know you're a Spector guy (as am I), do you find it tough to bounce back and forth between regular and fanned frets?

When I got my NG2, it took no time to adjust. Honestly, there barely is one. I can switch between my Dingwall and Spector during a gig easily. In fact, I found the adjustment to where my thumb sits on the different pickups tougher than the fanned frets.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

When you're on to a good thing, stick to it, it makes the GAS go away.

Your right its really about restraint, if I made ridiculous amounts of money to throw away on bass gear I would definitley have more than what I needed or knew what to do with it.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

One of those was Electric Wizard, lol.

Yeah the opening riff sequence, not sure how the author missed that.

 

[GBassNorth]

Ok, Goth tone cap test (phase 1) is complete and there were some surprises.

Caps tested were...
ceramic .001, .022, .047 and .100 uf
Orange drop .001, .015, .022, .047 and .1 uf
Paper and oil .047 uf
Electrolytic 1 uf
Polyester Film (stock Goth cap) .068 uf
No cap bypass
This test was done with the stock pickups (which I suspect are overwound high resistance) and the stock pots which are all 500K audio taper CTS type pots. The strings are La Bella Black Tapewound strings (a hair brighter than a bright flat and a bit duller than a round nickel string).

First the surprise - if you remove the stock Goth tone cap and just ground the lug it was attached to directly to the tone pot you end up with a neat little kill switch. The tone pot no longer functions as a tone pot but instead remains full on until you turn it to zero at which time the output signal from the bass is completely cut. So for those of you who run with your tone pot fully open all the time you can now have a kill switch for free without adding any switches to your bass. May not be news to some but it was to me.

As far as the different types of caps go there isn't any profound or glaring difference in the sound of the bass regardless of the type you use. The differences were subtle at best and could be easily offset by playing the bass closer or farther away from the bridge. Probably complete player bias but the Emerson paper and oil cap did sound ever so slightly more musical than the Orange Drop or Ceramic caps which had a tinge more edge and a hint less warmth. In general, the lower the number on the cap the more treble it let through the pot. The .001 caps were nearly the same as no cap at all. The higher number caps sounded better and provided a more useable tone knob. The electrolytic cap was kind of goofy in that it would drop the volume of the bass to nearly zero when the tone knob was turned most of the way down. I don't know if that was a function of the 1 uf value or if it was a reflection of the type of cap it is. Finally, the stock Goth cap wasn't bad in this application, so no need to run out there and rip it out for a more expensive replacement.

I'll be doing the same test with the new pickups and pots sometime this week and will post those results as well. There is a chance the new pup/pot install will be more revealing on the tone cap front since I'll most likely use 250K pots (vs the stock 500k) and broader range non over wound pups.

Here's a shot of one of the quick and dirty cap test rigs...

 

[BklynKen]

Ok, Goth tone cap test (phase 1) is complete and there were some surprises.

Caps tested were...
ceramic .001, .022, .047 and .100 uf
Orange drop .001, .015, .022, .047 and .1 uf
Paper and oil .047 uf
Electrolytic 1 uf
Polyester Film (stock Goth cap) .068 uf
No cap bypass
This test was done with the stock pickups (which I suspect are overwound high resistance) and the stock pots which are all 500K audio taper CTS type pots. The strings are La Bella Black Tapewound strings (a hair brighter than a bright flat and a bit duller than a round nickel string).

First the surprise - if you remove the stock Goth tone cap and just ground the lug it was attached to directly to the tone pot you end up with a neat little kill switch. The tone pot no longer functions as a tone pot but instead remains full on until you turn it to zero at which time the output signal from the bass is completely cut. So for those of you who run with your tone pot fully open all the time you can now have a kill switch for free without adding any switches to your bass. May not be news to some but it was to me.

As far as the different types of caps go there isn't any profound or glaring difference in the sound of the bass regardless of the type you use. The differences were subtle at best and could be easily offset by playing the bass closer or farther away from the bridge. Probably complete player bias but the Emerson paper and oil cap did sound ever so slightly more musical than the Orange Drop or Ceramic caps which had a tinge more edge and a hint less warmth. In general, the lower the number on the cap the more treble it let through the pot. The .001 caps were nearly the same as no cap at all. The higher number caps sounded better and provided a more useable tone knob. The electrolytic cap was kind of goofy in that it would drop the volume of the bass to nearly zero when the tone knob was turned most of the way down. I don't know if that was a function of the 1 uf value or if it was a reflection of the type of cap it is. Finally, the stock Goth cap wasn't bad in this application, so no need to run out there and rip it out for a more expensive replacement.

I'll be doing the same test with the new pickups and pots sometime this week and will post those results as well. There is a chance the new pup/pot install will be more revealing on the tone cap front since I'll most likely use 250K pots (vs the stock 500k) and broader range non over wound pups.

Here's a shot of one of the quick and dirty cap test rigs...
View attachment 2777602

Cool stuff. I really had no idea what tone caps were, so I looked it up and this largely supports your findings: Change Your Caps, Change the World!(or at least your tone pot response) « tonefiend archives

 

[GBassNorth]

Cool stuff. I really had no idea what tone caps were, so I looked it up and this largely supports your findings: Change Your Caps, Change the World!(or at least your tone pot response) « tonefiend archives

Excellent link, completely supports everything I found as well.

 

[Gaolee]

Welcome back!
Congratulations on a beautiful new Thunderbird

The Bass Shop in Seattle just got one of these in this past Thursday, I may make the trip up to give it a play.

Aw shoot. I wish you hadn't mentioned that. I might have to make a pilgrimage to West Seattle now. But when? Sacrifices must be made...

 

[RedVee]

Yeah, if they were handing them out, I'd happily take one.

Save me a spot on the line please

 

[RedVee]

Ok, Goth tone cap test (phase 1) is complete and there were some surprises.

Caps tested were...
ceramic .001, .022, .047 and .100 uf
Orange drop .001, .015, .022, .047 and .1 uf
Paper and oil .047 uf
Electrolytic 1 uf
Polyester Film (stock Goth cap) .068 uf
No cap bypass
This test was done with the stock pickups (which I suspect are overwound high resistance) and the stock pots which are all 500K audio taper CTS type pots. The strings are La Bella Black Tapewound strings (a hair brighter than a bright flat and a bit duller than a round nickel string).

First the surprise - if you remove the stock Goth tone cap and just ground the lug it was attached to directly to the tone pot you end up with a neat little kill switch. The tone pot no longer functions as a tone pot but instead remains full on until you turn it to zero at which time the output signal from the bass is completely cut. So for those of you who run with your tone pot fully open all the time you can now have a kill switch for free without adding any switches to your bass. May not be news to some but it was to me.

As far as the different types of caps go there isn't any profound or glaring difference in the sound of the bass regardless of the type you use. The differences were subtle at best and could be easily offset by playing the bass closer or farther away from the bridge. Probably complete player bias but the Emerson paper and oil cap did sound ever so slightly more musical than the Orange Drop or Ceramic caps which had a tinge more edge and a hint less warmth. In general, the lower the number on the cap the more treble it let through the pot. The .001 caps were nearly the same as no cap at all. The higher number caps sounded better and provided a more useable tone knob. The electrolytic cap was kind of goofy in that it would drop the volume of the bass to nearly zero when the tone knob was turned most of the way down. I don't know if that was a function of the 1 uf value or if it was a reflection of the type of cap it is. Finally, the stock Goth cap wasn't bad in this application, so no need to run out there and rip it out for a more expensive replacement.

I'll be doing the same test with the new pickups and pots sometime this week and will post those results as well. There is a chance the new pup/pot install will be more revealing on the tone cap front since I'll most likely use 250K pots (vs the stock 500k) and broader range non over wound pups.

Here's a shot of one of the quick and dirty cap test rigs...
View attachment 2777602

Surprised me too. I have bookmarked.

 

[PillO]

Excellent link, completely supports everything I found as well.

Could be the other way round... ;-)

One cornerstone of good science is reproducibility of results.

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah, if they were handing them out, I'd happily take one.

If I ever end up with one, I'll send it to you. SVTs always sound like they need to clear their throats. Ampeg nailed it when they made B15s. Scale 'em up and they suck. I don't want an amp that sounds like it has a throat disease.

 

[Count Bassie]

I like that V4B as well. It'd rather have one of those than an SVT.

 

[Mike.C.]

Ok, all... Vintage Pro Update:

Gibson rep took my email address down and said he would get back to me. Other than that, the only piece of information learned (not sure if we knew this before) is that it's a China build.

Gibson rep actually email me and said that they are 60 days out. Before I reply 'THANKS' do you all have any additional questions for him?

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Gibson rep actually email me and said that they are 60 days out. Before I reply 'THANKS' do you all have any additional questions for him?

I'm sure many of us are wondering if there is any information about the 2018 "limited run" of Gibson Thunderbirds

 

[JJR58]

Gibson rep actually email me and said that they are 60 days out. Before I reply 'THANKS' do you all have any additional questions for him?

Snarky sarcasm here, 60 days out from when? Although, that 60 days out would jive with a December arrival.

 

[Zoobiedood]

Resistance stated is much too high to be 'original spec'...at least none of the seven originals I own. Or any that I've ever seen for sale.

It is a Custom Shop pickup, so you can specify your target resistance, and they will build it.

 

[Korladis]

If I ever end up with one, I'll send it to you. SVTs always sound like they need to clear their throats. Ampeg nailed it when they made B15s. Scale 'em up and they suck. I don't want an amp that sounds like it has a throat disease.

I just don't agree at all.

My friend's SVT sounds monstrous through either his Marshall VBC-412 cab or my Sunn 2000S 2x15, which are the cabs I've used it with.

 

[theFixer]

I just don't agree at all.

My friend's SVT sounds monstrous through either his Marshall VBC-412 cab or my Sunn 2000S 2x15, which are the cabs I've used it with.

... but that’s cool though, right? I mean, not all things for all people & all that. Honestly... since you’re a user of fx... I think the SVT is certainly a good choice, if not perhaps the best one for you. I don’t agree with every word of his impression of the amp either... but I won’t argue it with him. That’s obviously the way he hears it, so he picks a different amp... no problem