Thunderbird Club

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

I don't think a standard issue P is chunky at all. They are wide, but road-kill flat. The biggest round neck I have ever run across is on early bolt-on Thunderbirds. Those are 1.75" at the nut, deep, and round. Like a big ol' neck ought to be. The only one deeper was an unbranded Japanese bolt-on hollow body. It had a neck made like a glu-lam beam that felt almost like an upright neck. Unfortunately, it was a short scale and didn't do anything the EB-2 can't do, so it went. It sure had a properly shaped neck, though.

I get along with the noodles that are Thunderbird necks because they have round backs. I never did quite figure out the attraction of flattened out Fender pancake necks.

I agree that P-bass necks are not chunky. Mine is actually really thin, but 1-3/4" wide. My Ray is an oddity, nothing like any specs I've found, it's truly a baseball bat and the chunkiest neck I've held, measures in at 1-3/4" wide and somewhere around 0.9" thick.
My 2013 black TBird matches your description of them, 1-1/2" wide, but a rounded back. My 2008 white TBird is another oddity from the sounds of it, it's 1-5/8" wide and it feels more like a 'D' shape, rather than a 'C' or 'U' shape like my 2013.

 

[GBassNorth]

ok if I chose to replace the pickups in my Pro IV. ( active ) any recommendations?

If you want to depart from the traditional TBird sound (which the active preamp already does to a large degree) then look at the Bartolini and EMG offerings. I put Bart's in my Goth for a very noticeable improvement along with an Aguilar 2 band preamp. She's a screamer now!

 

[theFixer]

Yes. But it’s not rounded. It does help, but not great.

I've never seen one flipped out before. Hell... I always thought it was a cup holder or ashtray or sup'm

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

I've never seen one flipped out before. Hell... I always thought it was a cup holder or ashtray or sup'm

Nope, there isn't even a headstock to hold your dart while playing (like EVH, Jack Bruce, and slew of other people used to do). I guess you just gotta keep the cig in your mouth.

 

[theFixer]

ok if I chose to replace the pickups in my Pro IV. ( active ) any recommendations?

Are you wanting to keep it active?

 

[theFixer]

It's the hollow body next to it that I'm intrigued by.

Here ya go...

Guild Starfire II Bass - Natural

 

[dukeorock]

Wireless System Gives Guitarist Freedom to Suck All Over Stage

 

[kat888]

Playing one solidified that idea, it was weirder than a Flying V, at least with V's you put your right leg in between the 'v'.... and have the bass/guitar angled up........ and is relatively comfortable.

Edit:


Do you plug your headphones right into the pedal? Or still go through the AudioBox/Computer?

That bothered me as well, the last time I tried one (before you were born). Since moving to neck heel slung basses, it doesn't bother me anymore.

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Headphones go into the AudioBox. I'm sure the AΩ and B7KU are very nice, but the voicing on the VMTU is exactly right for me. It's 85-90% of the way to the Traynor. At the beginning it's very tempting/easy to 'go large' -- 250Hz woooooo! -- but restraint is the key to dialling in a really nice valve amp emulation.

 

[theFixer]

That bothered me as well, the last time I tried one (before you were born). Since moving to neck heel slung basses, it doesn't bother me anymore.

---

Headphones go into the AudioBox. I'm sure the AΩ and B7KU are very nice, but the voicing on the VMTU is exactly right. It's 85-90% of the way to the Traynor. At the beginning it's very tempting/easy to 'go large' -- 250Hz woooooo! -- but restraint is the key to dialling in a really nice valve amp emulation.

QUIT MAKING ME WANT EXPENSIVE STUFF!!!

 

[kat888]

ok if I chose to replace the pickups in my Pro IV. ( active ) any recommendations?

Budget?

I'll be blunt. Everything about the electronics in the ProIV sucks, including the preamp which is a $2 piece of junk.

If you want to stay active, I can't really help you. I did consider EMG pickups and electronics, which are horribly expensive and also a little hard to find in Australia, until I came to my senses.

If you want to start again with passive electronics, there are plenty of options, including the Gibson TB+ pickups which pop up on Reverb/eBay, 'Chinabuckers', or the considerably more expensive premium repro pickups.

The ProIV pickups are not standard dimensions, therefore whatever pickups you get, the cavities will probably require a little work with the Dremel.

 

[JJR58]

I don't think a standard issue P is chunky at all. They are wide, but road-kill flat. The biggest round neck I have ever run across is on early bolt-on Thunderbirds. Those are 1.75" at the nut, deep, and round. Like a big ol' neck ought to be. The only one deeper was an unbranded Japanese bolt-on hollow body. It had a neck made like a glu-lam beam that felt almost like an upright neck. Unfortunately, it was a short scale and didn't do anything the EB-2 can't do, so it went. It sure had a properly shaped neck, though.

I get along with the noodles that are Thunderbird necks because they have round backs. I never did quite figure out the attraction of flattened out Fender pancake necks.

It's just that the 58AVRI i had was way to huge of a neck. If it was flatter, i would have kept it.

 

[JJR58]

QUIT MAKING ME WANT EXPENSIVE STUFF!!!

Now you well know, that's not going to happen around here my brother.

 

[kat888]

It's just that the 58AVRI i had was way to huge of a neck. If it was flatter, i would have kept it.

The last couple of Ps I tried had very big necks ... it was quite a while ago. The J neck is much deeper than the ProIV neck, but also very comfortable, which is why I am hoping the VP neck will be deeper than the 'slim taper' of the ProIV. It was also why I was asking about the depth of the neck on the Classic at the first fret, as I believe the neck is the same as the VP. No one had a measuring device handy.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

That bothered me as well, the last time I tried one (before you were born). Since moving to neck heel slung basses, it doesn't bother me anymore.

---

Headphones go into the AudioBox. I'm sure the AΩ and B7KU are very nice, but the voicing on the VMTU is exactly right. It's 85-90% of the way to the Traynor. At the beginning it's very tempting/easy to 'go large' -- 250Hz woooooo! -- but restraint is the key to dialling in a really nice valve amp emulation.

My only personal gripe with using a pedal for 'travel' is that you still need a power supply. Currently I've been looking for an 'at school' rig, and I've narrowed it down to a Phil Jones Headphone Amp (that is currently on sale at BSO) and the Vox Bass headphone amp. The nice thing about the Phil Jones is that it's rechargeable, via USB, and I'm hoping that you can also send audio out via the USB, for very bass-ic recordings. But the Vox is cheap.
And no, I'm not going to get a travel bass for school.

I'd love to A/B the VMTU and the B7KU one day, but I can't think of anywhere near here that would stock them. But from all the demo's I've heard, I'd say the B7KU was the right choice for my wants/needs... price helped too.

EDIT: You CAN send audio out via the USB!

 

[JJR58]

The last couple of Ps I tried had very big necks ... it was quite a while ago. The J neck is much deeper than the ProIV neck, but also very comfortable, which is why I am hoping the VP neck will be deeper than the 'slim taper' of the ProIV. It was also why I was asking about the depth of the neck on the Classic at the first fret, as I believe the neck is the same as the VP. No one had a measuring device handy.

I think they are going to be very similar, just wish we would actually see them, Sam Ash is saying next month, we'll see.

 

[JJR58]

My only personal gripe with using a pedal for 'travel' is that you still need a power supply. Currently I've been looking for an 'at school' rig, and I've narrowed it down to a Phil Jones Headphone Amp (that is currently on sale at BSO) and the Vox Bass headphone amp. The nice thing about the Phil Jones is that it's rechargeable, via USB, and I'm hoping that you can also send audio out via the USB, for very bass-ic recordings. But the Vox is cheap.
And no, I'm not going to get a travel bass for school.

I'd love to A/B the VMTU and the B7KU one day, but I can't think of anywhere near here that would stock them. But from all the demo's I've heard, I'd say the B7KU was the right choice for my wants/needs... price helped too.

Now i want to compare the B7Ku vs, the Vintage Ultra, gonna see if SA has one, i'm still with in the exchange time.

 

[kat888]

QUIT MAKING ME WANT EXPENSIVE STUFF!!!

Sorry. If it will make you feel any better, most kit I buy is second hand or B stock. The VMTU was still expensive, but most of the cost was covered by flogging the VTBDI -- so one in, one out.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Sorry. If it will make you feel any better, most kit I buy is second hand or B stock.
...

I second that!

 

[kat888]

My only personal gripe with using a pedal for 'travel' is that you still need a power supply. Currently I've been looking for an 'at school' rig, and I've narrowed it down to a Phil Jones Headphone Amp (that is currently on sale at BSO) and the Vox Bass headphone amp.

The obvious assumption is there will always be backline or a PA and power to plug into at the other end.

Those Vox amplugs chew batteries. Get the Phil Jones.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

The obvious assumption is there will always be backline or a PA and power to plug into at the other end.

Those Vox amplugs chew batteries. Get the Phil Jones.

Ahh for gigging

The only reason I haven't bought it yet is the price... but it's on sale right now, and I really should bite the bullet on that.