Thunderbird Club

[Dadagoboi]

Anyone interested in discussing their rigs they prefer with their ‘Birds?


My sealed 18” based cab gets the most gigs, but I have others.

I could see myself with another, strung with flats

I prefer sealed cabs. Interesting that you play one, especially with a single 18 (shades of my first real amp '63 B-18) since you can build anything you want.

Not only flats but a '64 Gibson pickup...

 

[bylar13]

The ‘fast’ ‘slow’ descriptor is a hot button topic on TB, but I totally get it, at least as an emotional response to how amps can feel. SVT’s are tricky. I’ve played through some pretty life changing ones, but also played through a whole lot of crappy sounding ones. My most recently backlined show with an SVT CL and matching 810 was a total nightmare. Just a sloppy, sludgy mess of a rig.

My first bass amp ever (1979?) was a Sunn 200s with a matching 215 cab. Can’t even remember what I thought of it. Most of my early tube amps died a horrible death before I finally said, “wait, tell me again what this ohms thing means?” Lost an unbelievable 200 watt Marshall to my youthful stupidity. After that I got an Ampeg V4b that was pretty nice, so long as it could live in its sweet spot. Quiet practices, it sounded boring, loud outdoors shows it turned to mush. Wound up getting a GK 400rb that I used (and swore by) for a decade. Just loved the punch of that amp with my two 115 EV loaded cabs. Like a moron, I switched to a 410 and it was never quite the same. I blamed the amp because everyone was switching to 410’s, so it couldn’t be that! I was a genius

Funny I didn't know that fast/slow thing was something that was a "thing" for others. I just notices itwhen I do fast picking, the tube amp makes me work harder to stay in time.

My bias toward solid state has cost me though. I once played with a guitar player who had been a tech at a local shop for many years. He offered to sell me a 200 watt Hi-Watt bass amp that some one had never come back for after it was repaired for $175 (the cost of the repair). I told him I did not use tube amps anymore......

 

[Gaolee]

What about a Bird through a Mesa, slaved out to a 371? Almost the best of both worlds, if I had a 360 there'd be no 'Almost' about it!

By no means am I saying SS sucks, my Birds sound great through my 371, but if I could only choose one, it'd be tubes.

A 360 is solid state. It's only rated at 200 watts, but that's plenty. The Mesa is tubes? I don't know. If your cabinet says 371 on it, then it was part of an original stack with a 370 head. Most of 'em said 301 on them.

I have the 1968 original set up down in the music room. It doesn't get much use, since hauling it up and down the stairs is a pain, and it's a bit of overkill for the room. Usually, the Carvin sits next to it and does practice rig duties. Last week, I had a couple shows back to back and just didn't feel like setting the Carvin back up again for a rehearsal, so I ran the upright through the old 360. Lack of top end was less than ideal for upright, but holy schnitz does that thing have presence! I don't know how else to describe it. It's not loud. It's enveloping. You can hear it no matter how loud everything else gets, even without turning it up. I don't know how that works, and I'm sure it's absolutely impossible according to physics. Somehow, it sits in a mix, any mix, like nothing else. I should have plugged in a 'Bird for a while, just because. Actually, I might do that this evening, because I can. The Grexa 360 lives in a closet upstairs and comes out to play fairly regularly. N+1, y'know.

 

[Korladis]

I haven’t played through a D180 in many years, but the first time I ever did, I nearly cried. Mostly because I couldn’t afford one I gotta try one again some day.

I got mine for about $800.

I'm really missing it right now. The Sunn Concert Lead sounds great, too, but it just doesn't react the same way to fuzz, which was my experience with my drummer's GK 400RB as well.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

A 360 is solid state. It's only rated at 200 watts, but that's plenty. The Mesa is tubes? I don't know. If your cabinet says 371 on it, then it was part of an original stack with a 370 head. Most of 'em said 301 on them.

I have the 1968 original set up down in the music room. It doesn't get much use, since hauling it up and down the stairs is a pain, and it's a bit of overkill for the room. Usually, the Carvin sits next to it and does practice rig duties. Last week, I had a couple shows back to back and just didn't feel like setting the Carvin back up again for a rehearsal, so I ran the upright through the old 360. Lack of top end was less than ideal for upright, but holy schnitz does that thing have presence! I don't know how else to describe it. It's not loud. It's enveloping. You can hear it no matter how loud everything else gets, even without turning it up. I don't know how that works, and I'm sure it's absolutely impossible according to physics. Somehow, it sits in a mix, any mix, like nothing else. I should have plugged in a 'Bird for a while, just because. Actually, I might do that this evening, because I can. The Grexa 360 lives in a closet upstairs and comes out to play fairly regularly. N+1, y'know.

I thought the 371 cabs came out later. The originals were 370 heads with 301 cabs, and as a pair called a 371. That was my understanding at least.

I could just imagine the presence that setup has!! I think physics ends right after the geometry of the folded horn, after that, anything is possible!

I'm already on another amp n+1 quest, an early '60's B-15, to accommodate my P-bass. But it'll probably be put on hold soon due to school.

 

[Gaolee]

An old fliptop like that is the only Ampeg I have any interest in.

 

[godofthunder59]

Anyone interested in discussing their rigs they prefer with their ‘Birds?

My main three amps at the moment are;
Reiner 6SL7 tube pre w/power amp
Mesa M9
Mesa D800
Jonseing for an all tube amp again.

My sealed 18” based cab gets the most gigs, but I have others.

Last night I just used the house rig because the changeovers were as fast as possible, no soundchecks and there were 5 acts on the bill. It was a GK700rb with an Ampeg PF115 cab. That poor cab was hanging on for dear life. It just can only take so much low end. Though my Bird was fantastic, I could see myself with another, strung with flats

Hiwatts miced with a SM 57!

 

[godofthunder59]

Funny I didn't know that fast/slow thing was something that was a "thing" for others. I just notices itwhen I do fast picking, the tube amp makes me work harder to stay in time.

My bias toward solid state has cost me though. I once played with a guitar player who had been a tech at a local shop for many years. He offered to sell me a 200 watt Hi-Watt bass amp that some one had never come back for after it was repaired for $175 (the cost of the repair). I told him I did not use tube amps anymore......

 

[dukeorock]

I like the tone of the Strategy better than that of the Prodigy. The latter has a boosted top end that I don't care for.

I felt exactly the same way when I tried both back to back

I prefer sealed cabs. Interesting that you play one, especially with a single 18 (shades of my first real amp '63 B-18) since you can build anything you want.

Not only flats but a '64 Gibson pickup...
View attachment 2842373

You’re not helping my GAS for that bass!

I did a session recently with an early 60’s B18...so much awesome there.

I make some pretty fancy shmantzy 3 way ‘hifi’ ported cabs and they can be very beneficial for many applications. Upright at high volume is one of em. I approached @JGR To discuss why I love the sealed thing so much, because I know he has an affection for them as well and his design philosophies line up with mine, big time. I mentioned a specific 18” speaker for my theory and he did all the heavy lifting on the final design. By the third prototype we had it nailed. It also uses two, 2” soft dome mid drivers. So it has great upper extension without the tweeter things occasional negatives. For me it works and I use it the most, but truthfully, I can barely give em away. People have odd preconceptions about speaker performance based on speaker size. Not a lot of great sealed options out there, though the Bergantino NV212 and NV412 are quite nice. Mesa has a nice sealed 810 too.

Funny I didn't know that fast/slow thing was something that was a "thing" for others. I just notices itwhen I do fast picking, the tube amp makes me work harder to stay in time.

My bias toward solid state has cost me though. I once played with a guitar player who had been a tech at a local shop for many years. He offered to sell me a 200 watt Hi-Watt bass amp that some one had never come back for after it was repaired for $175 (the cost of the repair). I told him I did not use tube amps anymore......

Live and learn, I reckon! I will say, I was never a huge fan of the 200 watt HiWatt for bass. A 50 watt on guitar is awesome though!

I got mine for about $800.

I'm really missing it right now. The Sunn Concert Lead sounds great, too, but it just doesn't react the same way to fuzz, which was my experience with my drummer's GK 400RB as well.

If you have a sound in your head, you gotta chase that sound!

An old fliptop like that is the only Ampeg I have any interest in.

Same! Except the right SVTII non pro would be tempting. Would love to get a B18 someday

 

[PillO]

I googled her. It seems she has several birds. So it os true that flocks multiply.

As soon as you own one, you find a need for another. Of course they multiply!

Love Little Steven's show and the DollyRots!

LSUG on Sirius radio is my default station. Always interesting music and not repetitive like all the other stations.

 

[dukeorock]

Hiwatts miced with a SM 57!View attachment 2842436

Holy cow! That’s gotta sound great! My initial negative impressions of the 200 watt HiWatts could’ve been colored by the cabs at the studio I tried em at. It was my favorite amp that studio had by far though. I was producing and didn’t think the bass player had his act all that together either, for that matter

 

[Gaolee]

...I mentioned a specific 18” speaker for my theory and he did all the heavy lifting on the final design. By the third prototype we had it nailed. It also uses two, 2” soft dome mid drivers. So it has great upper extension without the tweeter things occasional negatives. For me it works and I use it the most, but truthfully, I can barely give em away.

That sounds like an outstanding cabinet. Do you have any sound clips or other information about it? I could imagine something like that working well with a lightweight head if it's reasonably light weight.

 

[dukeorock]

That sounds like an outstanding cabinet. Do you have any sound clips or other information about it? I could imagine something like that working well with a lightweight head if it's reasonably light weight.

It’s 50lbs. There are a few clips out there on YouTube. I don’t want to get all crass and start pedaling my stuff though. CUP restrictions on TalkBass are a good thing and keep people from trying to sell you stuff constantly!

 

[Gaolee]

It’s 50lbs. There are a few clips out there on YouTube. I don’t want to get all crass and start pedaling my stuff though. CUP restrictions on TalkBass are a good thing and keep people from trying to sell you stuff constantly!

I'm certainly not trying to get you to cross any lines here. But, I'm really intrigued. Clean sheet approaches to things always get my attention.

 

[Dadagoboi]

It’s 50lbs. There are a few clips out there on YouTube. I don’t want to get all crass and start pedaling my stuff though. CUP restrictions on TalkBass are a good thing and keep people from trying to sell you stuff constantly!

That's only 10 lbs. more than a single 15 cab I have. How about a link?

 

[dukeorock]

That's only 10 lbs. more than a single 15 cab I have. How about a link?

I’ll shoot you a PM!

 

[Shannon]

Anyone interested in discussing their rigs they prefer with their ‘Birds?

My main three amps at the moment are;
Reiner 6SL7 tube pre w/power amp
Mesa M9
Mesa D800
Jonseing for an all tube amp again.

My sealed 18” based cab gets the most gigs, but I have others.

Last night I just used the house rig because the changeovers were as fast as possible, no soundchecks and there were 5 acts on the bill. It was a GK700rb with an Ampeg PF115 cab. That poor cab was hanging on for dear life. It just can only take so much low end. Though my Bird was fantastic, I could see myself with another, strung with flats

And here I thought i was something with my Bronco 40. I'd need a bigger trailer...

 

[kat888]

‘Bird>>Mesa 400>>215
Now we’re talking! Been thinking about trying to get one of those amps again. There’s a couple other contenders (Mesa Strategy, Fender Bassman 300, SVTII Non Pro). That’s a rock bass rig for sure!

Traynor, don't forget Traynor.

 

[kat888]

My Bird got its first gig last night and while it was a real eye opener, it didn’t look nearly as cool as this pic, I’m thinking

Note to Mark

Need.More.Hair

 

[kat888]

Anyone interested in discussing their rigs they prefer with their ‘Birds?

My main three amps at the moment are;
Reiner 6SL7 tube pre w/power amp
Mesa M9
Mesa D800
Jonseing for an all tube amp again.

My sealed 18” based cab gets the most gigs, but I have others.

Last night I just used the house rig because the changeovers were as fast as possible, no soundchecks and there were 5 acts on the bill. It was a GK700rb with an Ampeg PF115 cab. That poor cab was hanging on for dear life. It just can only take so much low end. Though my Bird was fantastic, I could see myself with another, strung with flats

You seem to like Mesa. Strategy with 215, or even better 2 x 212/1 x 412?

Really, you should check out the Traynor heads, either the YBA200/2 or the YBA300. And for in and out use with supplied backline, get yourself a Darkglass Vintage Ultra. It does a very nice old school valve amp emulation with its selectable saturation curves and eq points.