Thunderbird Club

[Korladis]

To each his own. The K140s were Alinco mags like the old Altecs. Then JBL went to the E-series with ceramics. But that was several decades ago.

With the huge progression of materials and design abilities in the Speaker industry, it'd be hard to think a 40 to 50 year old design can even compete with stuff out today. Especially with the use of Neodymium mags, tighter motor tolerances, better cone materials, and better coil former and wrapping techniques, and the better adhesives used in construction. Even the ability of the voice coil to remain cool, and not change specifications under use is something to understand. Even the wire quality has changed in 40 years that the Voice Coil is wound with.

Not to say a K140 won't maybe sound better than a cheap ass Eminence, but it won't compare to a quality B&C, Faital, Beyma, or certainly not a new JBL.

Believe me, I have a K-140 in a cab, that is relegated to museum area of my equipment. That cab was played in the 70s. And it still works, but sounds dirty as hell compared to my newer stuff/ Just saying. Sounds more like Fart Bass in tone. Personally I can't handle fart bass tone, but some choose it.

Some folks, still want to drive and nurse an old '55 Chevy, instead of a new BMW, Lexus, or Acura. Beats the hell out of me. But most of the time, that ain't their everyday family car.

Don't let D.M.N. hear you say that.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

To each his own. The K140s were Alinco mags like the old Altecs. Then JBL went to the E-series with ceramics. But that was several decades ago.

With the huge progression of materials and design abilities in the Speaker industry, it'd be hard to think a 40 to 50 year old design can even compete with stuff out today. Especially with the use of Neodymium mags, tighter motor tolerances, better cone materials, and better coil former and wrapping techniques, and the better adhesives used in construction. Even the ability of the voice coil to remain cool, and not change specifications under use is something to understand. Even the wire quality has changed in 40 years that the Voice Coil is wound with.

Not to say a K140 won't maybe sound better than a cheap ass Eminence, but it won't compare to a quality B&C, Faital, Beyma, or certainly not a new JBL.

Believe me, I have a K-140 in a cab, that is relegated to museum area of my equipment. That cab was played in the 70s. And it still works, but sounds dirty as hell compared to my newer stuff/ Just saying. Sounds more like Fart Bass in tone. Personally I can't handle fart bass tone, but some choose it.

Some folks, still want to drive and nurse an old '55 Chevy, instead of a new BMW, Lexus, or Acura. Beats the hell out of me. But most of the time, that ain't their everyday family car.

My daily driver is an old beat up 67 shortbox Chevy with a manual. It's fun as hell to drive, and is different. And it's, surprisingly, more reliable than our 2001 VW Jetta TDI that is nearing it's last days.
Sometimes it's just about the nostalgia.

Your main point can go either way too, the different technologies, parts, glue, etc. are part of what makes it have a different sound, and sound is VERY subjective. On the early Black Sabbath albums Geezer Butler played through cabs that had more broken speakers than working speakers, theoretically it should sound like trash... but if you ask me or a lot of other people, he had an AMAZING tone.

 

[kat888]

My Eminar valve amp is 1968 and younger than me.
The 410 and Eminar SS amp is mid 70s - 80s range at a guess.

I’ve just enquired on a JBL K140 15” speaker in some sort of cab on OzBass. Thoughts on suitability for entry to the gathering mob? Play nice together?

I just had a look on OzBass -- $100 isn't really a huge outlay/risk. Might go well with your vinty Eminar gear ... and if not, well it was only $USD75.

 

[kat888]

So i brought all the hardware to a good tech and it should be about a week and a half. Hopefully the Thunderbuckers and rings fit okay and everything goes well

When I initially went to install the Thunderbucker in my Epi, it didn't fit, prompting a mild wash of panic, followed by much swearing. Then I recovered and loosened the two middle screws (between D and A) a wee bit and everything was and is fine.

 

[kat888]

Thanks! it's not finished yet, takes a lot longer to set up a twelver. For me, anyway. There are more pix on the entire build here:

MARCH (MULTISTRING) MADNESS...32 and counting

You can check the 'watch this thread' boxes and get notifications.

And @theFixer, the other thread you can watch is CURRENT CATALDO

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

OH!!! I'm SO HAPPY!!!

I think it was a week ago that I started this project! When I first removed that electronics from my 'bird... I only removed the wiring that was necessary to take everything out of the body. When I put it back together, my neck pup pooped out. Whilst @kat888 was helping me out with the rewire, I discovered that the previous owner(s) had wired it incorrectly (and extremely sloppily), so it came back apart. Trouble-shooting revealed a bad volume pot on the neck pup. As luck would have it... I had one in my guitool box, so I replaced the bad one, removed all the crappy wiring, attempted to remove the ridiculous solder stalactites, & reassembled. Now, the neck pup worked, & the bridge pup was all static-y & cutting out (pretty sure I cooked this one when I was tryin' to get rid of the 3 pounds of excess solder). So... back apart it came. Yesterday, I finally got to replace the bad volume pot (I went ahead & did the tone pot too), and today, I'm puttin' 'er all back together! I still have to set 'er up, but initial testing revealed that my efforts have not been in vain! Got rid of the constant hum & static issues it's always had, and it seems to have a slightly stronger output, and MUCH better tone!

As if there was ever a doubt. Dude!, you are the FIXER!.

 

[Korladis]

So that T-bird strap came in the mail.

Smells like shoe polish kind of, which brings back childhood memories for me. It's pretty cool looking.

 

[Gaolee]

To each his own. The K140s were Alinco mags like the old Altecs. Then JBL went to the E-series with ceramics. But that was several decades ago.

With the huge progression of materials and design abilities in the Speaker industry, it'd be hard to think a 40 to 50 year old design can even compete with stuff out today. Especially with the use of Neodymium mags, tighter motor tolerances, better cone materials, and better coil former and wrapping techniques, and the better adhesives used in construction. Even the ability of the voice coil to remain cool, and not change specifications under use is something to understand. Even the wire quality has changed in 40 years that the Voice Coil is wound with.

Not to say a K140 won't maybe sound better than a cheap ass Eminence, but it won't compare to a quality B&C, Faital, Beyma, or certainly not a new JBL.

Believe me, I have a K-140 in a cab, that is relegated to museum area of my equipment. That cab was played in the 70s. And it still works, but sounds dirty as hell compared to my newer stuff/ Just saying. Sounds more like Fart Bass in tone. Personally I can't handle fart bass tone, but some choose it.

Some folks, still want to drive and nurse an old '55 Chevy, instead of a new BMW, Lexus, or Acura. Beats the hell out of me. But most of the time, that ain't their everyday family car.

An new BMW would bore the living crap out of me. No involvement. It is so competent that there's no real challenge to drive it faster than you can anyway. Driving an inadequate old car on the edge is a ball. Two hands, two feet, seat of the pants, and the entire brain. Going faster with no drama in a new one is just using an appliance.

It's not quite the same with old amplifiers and instruments, but the same principle applies. If you know how to use it, you can get a great sound out of it. It takes more work to deal with the limitations, but then there are sounds you can get out of the old stuff that the new stuff doesn't do as well. I can sound a certain way with an Acoustic 360, and it's what I want to sound like. Could I sound that way with brand new, much lighter weight, more portable equipment? Probably, after a long time messing with it. But I sound like that right now with the 360, and as long as I know what I'm doing with it, it doesn't fart out. It does require a certain amount of care and feeding. You don't just plug it in and forget it because there are some quirks with the powered cabinet and there's a sequence if you don't want a loud, nasty, potentially destructive bang when you fire things up. Same with shut-down. There's another sequence. But it works in it's own way, and there's a technique to using it, just like there's a technique to double-clutch downshifts and drifting on skinny tires.

I do this for fun, and the occasional pin money. My gear is as much toys as tools, and I approach the equipment that way. If it makes me happy when I'm playing it, the drawbacks aren't as important as they would be if I was playing three gigs a week.

 

[BklynKen]

An new BMW would bore the living crap out of me. No involvement. It is so competent that there's no real challenge to drive it faster than you can anyway. Driving an inadequate old car on the edge is a ball. Two hands, two feet, seat of the pants, and the entire brain. Going faster with no drama in a new one is just using an appliance.

It's not quite the same with old amplifiers and instruments, but the same principle applies. If you know how to use it, you can get a great sound out of it. It takes more work to deal with the limitations, but then there are sounds you can get out of the old stuff that the new stuff doesn't do as well. I can sound a certain way with an Acoustic 360, and it's what I want to sound like. Could I sound that way with brand new, much lighter weight, more portable equipment? Probably, after a long time messing with it. But I sound like that right now with the 360, and as long as I know what I'm doing with it, it doesn't fart out. It does require a certain amount of care and feeding. You don't just plug it in and forget it because there are some quirks with the powered cabinet and there's a sequence if you don't want a loud, nasty, potentially destructive bang when you fire things up. Same with shut-down. There's another sequence. But it works in it's own way, and there's a technique to using it, just like there's a technique to double-clutch downshifts and drifting on skinny tires.

I do this for fun, and the occasional pin money. My gear is as much toys as tools, and I approach the equipment that way. If it makes me happy when I'm playing it, the drawbacks aren't as important as they would be if I was playing three gigs a week.

There’s nothing like a smooth heel and toe downshift.

 

[Korladis]

The endless car analogies.

 

[bylar13]

So agreed, at least I have the (cough), Jazz bass. But the Vintage Pro will be coming soon. Have to have 2 Birds.

Do what I did, get a set of Lollar pick ups for the jazz bass as well. Big improvement. Between the jazz and the T-bird you will be able to cover a lot of ground.

 

[GBassNorth]

The endless car analogies.

And I haven't even chimed in yet!

 

[Korladis]

And I haven't even chimed in yet!

Personally I'm pretty tired of car analogies on TB.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Personally I dont give a damn about guitars, I hate wirey feeble little delicate strings so close together and short necks and lack of "bass". I feel guilty even posting guitar related content. Obviously guitars are key and do produce magic so I have to share this link though because what this guy did produced a really nice sound.

 

[Count Bassie]

Personally I dont give a damn about guitars, I hate wirey feeble little delicate strings so close together and short necks and lack of "bass". I feel guilty even posting guitar related content. Obviously guitars are key and do produce magic so I have to share this link though because what this guy did produced a really nice sound.

Like admitting that jerk you know is actually an ok guy in the right situation. Like taking a pill. Pretty funny though!

 

[JJR58]

Do what I did, get a set of Lollar pick ups for the jazz bass as well. Big improvement. Between the jazz and the T-bird you will be able to cover a lot of ground.

Oddly enough, when I bought the Jazz, it was already loaded with Lollars and an Obsidian harness. It really is a great bass. I don't know why I shun it sometimes.

 

[GBassNorth]

Personally I'm pretty tired of car analogies on TB.

Can I still keep my avatar?

 

[Korladis]

Can I still keep my avatar?

Your avatar isn't an analogy, lol.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

I recently raised the pickups in my white Bird. Which led to me having to turn the gain down a fair amount compared to my FSO’s to get similar overdrive. But now my effects like flange and wah, sound a lot nicer and cleaner than my FSO’s.
Only downside, it’s a little to high to play with my fingers, now it’s primarily for picking.

Another win for the Thunderbird, with a short strap that puts the centreline of the Bird at my belly, it has NO neck dive, but with the same strap at the same length my P-Bass DOES.

 

[theFixer]

As if there was ever a doubt. Dude!, you are the FIXER!.