Thunderbird Club

[PianoOfDoom]

Sam Ash has a Burst one, go check it out.
No affiliation with said store.

I always forget about them! Thanks.

 

[Gaolee]

Please forgive the additional Thundernoob questions, but let's play a little game of would you rather:

Would you rather buy:

-A cheap used bolt-on Epi TBird and deck it out with Lollars or whatever the most Thunderbirdiest aftermarket pickups are out there (by the way, is there a consensus here for the greatest drop-in replacements for the Epis?)

-A Classic IV and use the stock pickups

I'm trying to wrap my head around the options and find a nice sweet spot for starting out with one. I don't mind spending more later on a Gibson after I spend time with the design, but Id like to minimize the investment upfront as much as possible without sabotaging the experience.

I have Gibson 'Birds, but I also have a bolt on Epi. It's a different animal, and I like it very much. A Classic IV will probably be much more like a Gibson, although I can't personally tell you. I don't have a Classic IV and have never played one.

For what it's worth, my first 'Bird was a bolt on. I let it go and discovered that I really missed it. That led to all kinds of other 'Birds, including another bolt on. I have only modified a Gibson and and Epi Pro IV. The modified Gibson has Chinabuckers in it now, and eventually it will have Thunderbucker 66s in it when there isn't a bunch of other stuff I have to pay for before spending money just because I want to.

And, no, there's no consensus on what the best aftermarket 'Bird pickups are, as far as I know. Lollars, Lulls, Thunderbuckers and probably some others are all represented on somebody around here's bass. The point is that there really isn't just one 'Bird experience.

 

[PillO]

Sad news to report: Malcolm Young has passed away this morning at 64.

From the sounds of it Keith Partridge David Cassidy is next.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[kat888]

Subjectivity is so time consuming and expensive! I have a drawer full of P Bass pickups as evidence.

A used Classic would be great, if one comes up locally. If I'm going to buy online, I'd just go new and get the return policy.

A drawer full of P pups? If you are a single pickup partisan, one thing to bear in mind with Birds is you need to roll the volume on one of the pups (*bridge*) off a nick. With both up full there's a slight cancellation effect. Personally I prefer the sound of the neck pup alone, it's 'throatier' in that position and the mids are richer.

Birds

• kat888
• Aug 25, 2017
• thunderbird bass

Birds

 

[PillO]

A drawer full of P pups? If you are a single pickup partisan, one thing to bear in mind with Birds is you need to roll the volume on one of the pups (*bridge*) off a nick. With both up full there's a slight cancellation effect. Personally I prefer the sound of the neck pup alone, it's 'throatier' in that position and the mids are richer.

Birds

• kat888
• Aug 25, 2017
• thunderbird bass

Birds

I agree about having both pickups full on. I too like the neck pickup, but I add a tiny bit of bridge as well.

 

[PianoOfDoom]

A drawer full of P pups? If you are a single pickup partisan, one thing to bear in mind with Birds is you need to roll the volume on one of the pups (*bridge*) off a nick. With both up full there's a slight cancellation effect. Personally I prefer the sound of the neck pup alone, it's 'throatier' in that position and the mids are richer.

Birds

• kat888
• Aug 25, 2017
• thunderbird bass

Birds

Good to know. Thanks. I wouldn't say I'm a partisan, but I have traditionally loved the sound of a dark P. Getting tired of it and want more of a full range piano-ish tone. The P is just too...P.

 

[dukeorock]

A drawer full of P pups? If you are a single pickup partisan, one thing to bear in mind with Birds is you need to roll the volume on one of the pups (*bridge*) off a nick. With both up full there's a slight cancellation effect. Personally I prefer the sound of the neck pup alone, it's 'throatier' in that position and the mids are richer.

Birds

• kat888
• Aug 25, 2017
• thunderbird bass

Birds

I think that goes for most two pickup basses. Both full on sounds 'out of phase' to me, so I always roll one back just a hair...you can hear the bass get louder and come into focus more.

 

[PianoOfDoom]

I have Gibson 'Birds, but I also have a bolt on Epi. It's a different animal, and I like it very much. A Classic IV will probably be much more like a Gibson, although I can't personally tell you. I don't have a Classic IV and have never played one.

For what it's worth, my first 'Bird was a bolt on. I let it go and discovered that I really missed it. That led to all kinds of other 'Birds, including another bolt on. I have only modified a Gibson and and Epi Pro IV. The modified Gibson has Chinabuckers in it now, and eventually it will have Thunderbucker 66s in it when there isn't a bunch of other stuff I have to pay for before spending money just because I want to.

And, no, there's no consensus on what the best aftermarket 'Bird pickups are, as far as I know. Lollars, Lulls, Thunderbuckers and probably some others are all represented on somebody around here's bass. The point is that there really isn't just one 'Bird experience.

Thanks. There is a used bolt-on within a five minute walk from my apt, so I'll try to swing by and play it in the next few days.

 

[theFixer]

I was just trying to razz ya’ a bit and I didn’t mean for it to be anything but funny. I see now that I missed that mark and that I’ve struck a cord that I didn’t intend and for that you have my sincerest apology.

Not at all Sir! I was picking' up what you were laying' down. I just seized the opportunity to make it crystal clear that people were heard, and let it be known that I'm making a conscious effort to balance things out a bit. Lar... yer a solid dude, and I know you wouldn't get s#!tty with me for sport. Perhaps I should apologize for poor timing...

 

[JJR58]

Good to know. Thanks. I wouldn't say I'm a partisan, but I have traditionally loved the sound of a dark P. Getting tired of it and want more of a full range piano-ish tone. The P is just too...P.

Then you'll love a Bird, especially those TB pick ups.

 

[RedVee]

So, you have a hollow body and a mahogany neck... Expectations!?

But, if you use the strap appropriately (i.e. long; bass hanging on your hip) it is not a problem.

And angle the neck up so the head is a bit higher ? Guess.

 

[JJR58]

I think that goes for most two pickup basses. Both full on sounds 'out of phase' to me, so I always roll one back just a hair...you can hear the bass get louder and come into focus more.

I roll back the bridge to about 85% on mine.

 

[kat888]

Can anyone tell me how the neck on the Classic compares to the PRO IV? Are they the same profile, thickness etc, or is the PRO IV particularly slim? Paging @hillerup!

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Oooo...two TBirds would be nice. How do they handle drop tunings, or even BEAD or CGCG using heavier strings?

With my 3 point bridge I found the heavier gauge strings I went the better the sustain. I dont know if that is true for all but it worked for me. Ive since swapped the bridge for a Precision bridge and my Bird still sings. Im using NYXL medium gauge nickel wound 70 - 135 rope tuned to C.

 

[Larry V]

Not at all Sir! I was picking' up what you were laying' down. I just seized the opportunity to make it crystal clear that people were heard, and let it be known that I'm making a conscious effort to balance things out a bit. Lar... yer a solid dude, and I know you wouldn't get s#!tty with me for sport. Perhaps I should apologize for poor timing...

So happy to hear this and please, you have nothing to apologize for. Thanks for being so gracious.

 

[PillO]

And angle the neck up so the head is a bit higher ? Guess.

exactly.

 

[kat888]

Thanks. There is a used bolt-on within a five minute walk from my apt, so I'll try to swing by and play it in the next few days.

One thing to bear in mind with the bolt-ons, the neck end strap button is in the *wrong* place contributing to a phenomenon known in the general population as 'neck dive' -- it's actually 'Thunderbird balance'.

In all seriousness, this is ameliorated by moving the strap button to the *correct* neck heel position -- either drilling out the strap(lock) button and running one of the neck screws through it, or drilling a fifth hole for the button.

 

[theFixer]

Please forgive the additional Thundernoob questions, but let's play a little game of would you rather:

Would you rather buy:

-A cheap used bolt-on Epi TBird and deck it out with Lollars or whatever the most Thunderbirdiest aftermarket pickups are out there (by the way, is there a consensus here for the greatest drop-in replacements for the Epis?)

-A Classic IV and use the stock pickups

I'm trying to wrap my head around the options and find a nice sweet spot for starting out with one. I don't mind spending more later on a Gibson after I spend time with the design, but Id like to minimize the investment upfront as much as possible without sabotaging the experience.

First... the "Thunderbirdiest pickups out there", are these:
Link Removed

Second... I would encourage you to spend some time with a variety of 'birds in your hands (keep in mind that one in the hand, is worth two in the bush). I had an Epi Goth 'bird that had an absolutely stellar rock & roll snarl. There are a number of things I would consider changing... but those pups were not on the list! The only reason I don't still have it, is because I traded for a Korean Epi with a larger neck. Once I rewired & repotted it... even THAT has really nice sounding pups. They could be "better"...but I am quite pleased with the way they hit my ears. The point I'm trying to make is this; Don't just assume that yer gonna need to put $400.00 worth of pups in a $300.00 bass, to get it to sound good. That being said... I would encourage you to get the neck-thru model. It's simply a better bass.

 

[JJR58]

First... the "Thunderbirdiest pickups out there", are these:
Link Removed

bush

He said bush!

 

[PillO]

With my 3 point bridge I found the heavier gauge strings I went the better the sustain. I dont know if that is true for all but it worked for me. Ive since swapped the bridge for a Precision bridge and my Bird still sings. Im using NYXL medium gauge nickel wound 70 - 135 rope tuned to C.

I too prefer heavier strings. And I really like the NYXLs. I have a set of DR Black Beauties on the white `bird now (suggestion of @GBassNorth ) and have come to prefer round core strings as a result. Now trying fatbeams on the Gibson and have a set of red devils ready to go on the JC when it needs strings. So many strings, not enough time...