• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#55,621
PillO said:
Geddy plays a jazz, so it can't be wrong. Of course, he also has and plays a collection of thunderbirds, so those aren't wrong either. But Geddy always sounds like Geddy. And I think that is a combination of his technique and processing; large appliances have their own unique tone.
Click to expand...

I'll be one to admit. I really like his tone. Yeah, technique, processing......I think the '70's spacing adds a bit of the magic as well. Never played through a washing machine though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, Klondike, theFixer and 3 others
#55,623
Oddly, everyone I currently play for seems thrilled that I got a ‘Bird, especially after they heard it. One artist possibly misinterpreted my intentions for getting one, as he’s been sending me links for fuzz pedals ever since. Not that I’m opposed to fuzz, I like it, but for whatever reason, nearly every dirt box I’ve ever owned has been sold, including some very high end ones. It always sounds like a simulation to me. Playing super hard with the right amp and bass still trumps any pedal I’ve ever heard. The guitar player for Prayer Flags doesn’t own a dirt box. Uses a main clean (ish) amp Y’d into a small, Low wattage tube amp. When he wants distortion, he switches in the little amp. I’ve thought of doing something similar for bass
 
  • Like
Reactions: Larry V, Skerrvydog, hillerup and 10 others
#55,625
dukeorock said:
Oddly, everyone I currently play for seems thrilled that I got a ‘Bird, especially after they heard it. One artist possibly misinterpreted my intentions for getting one, as he’s been sending me links for fuzz pedals ever since. Not that I’m opposed to fuzz, I like it, but for whatever reason, nearly every dirt box I’ve ever owned has been sold, including some very high end ones. It always sounds like a simulation to me. Playing super hard with the right amp and bass still trumps any pedal I’ve ever heard. The guitar player for Prayer Flags doesn’t own a dirt box. Uses a main clean (ish) amp Y’d into a small, Low wattage tube amp. When he wants distortion, he switches in the little amp. I’ve thought of doing something similar for bass
Click to expand...

Darkglass, B7Ku, Vintage Ultra, Alpha Omega. Just a couple of suggestions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kat888, theFixer, GBassNorth and 1 other person
#55,627
JJR58 said:
Darkglass, B7Ku, Vintage Ultra, Alpha Omega. Just a couple of suggestions.
Click to expand...

I’ve nearly pulled the trigger on every single one of those...maybe once I get over whatever my hang up is about dirt boxes lately! I will keep my Reiner Gasoline OD. The clean blend helps keep things nice and thumpy, which is my main issue with dirt boxes. Can’t stand when the punch disappears.

JJR58 said:
Actually, Cobalts on the Bird, Chromes on the Jazz.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks! I’ve used Cobalt rounds and liked em. Got a set on my Drake now. Only tried SS Lo-Rider rounds in my ‘Bird, which I love. Most of the Chromes I’ve seen online are a lighter guage than I’m comfortable with. Some of my basses are strung 50-110, others 44-105. Can’t go no lower than that for my right hand ‘technique.’ :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, theFixer, GBassNorth and 2 others
#55,628
dukeorock said:
I’ve nearly pulled the trigger on every single one of those...maybe once I get over whatever my hang up is about dirt boxes lately! I will keep my Reiner Gasoline OD. The clean blend helps keep things nice and thumpy, which is my main issue with dirt boxes. Can’t stand when the punch disappears.



Ok, thanks! I’ve used Cobalt rounds and liked em. Got a set on my Drake now. Only tried SS Lo-Rider rounds in my ‘Bird, which I love. Most of the Chromes I’ve seen online are a lighter guage than I’m comfortable with. Some of my basses are strung 50-110, others 44-105. Can’t go no lower than that for my right hand ‘technique.’ :)
Click to expand...

Definetly keep the Reiner. But the Darkglass stuff is very versatile and organic when used properly.
The Cobalts will be brighter, longer. Because of what they are made from. The Chromes have their own party going on. I use light gauge strings for both. Never could get use to heavier gauge strings.
 
  • Like
Reactions: theFixer, GBassNorth and dukeorock
#55,629
JJR58 said:
Definetly keep the Reiner. But the Darkglass stuff is very versatile and organic when used properly.
The Cobalts will be brighter, longer. Because of what they are made from. The Chromes have their own party going on. I use light gauge strings for both. Never could get use to heavier gauge strings.
Click to expand...

The string thing is super personal...no one size fits all for sure. When I was a kid playing punk rock with a pick as hard as I could, I got really hooked on the sound, despite the bloodshed! I kept breaking E and A strings with 45-105 guage, so I switched to slightly lighter picks and 50-110 strings. With that setup, I bled pretty much every show, but I wasn’t breaking strings as much. Now I play a ton of upright gigs, so my hands are stronger than ever, but I’ve been trying to slowly bring the gauges on my electrics back down to 45-105. Except the Drake and my ‘76 P bass. The Drake is 35” scale, so they don’t feel as heavy as they do on a 34” scale. The ‘76 P just seems to like heavier gauges more.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, Nocturnal, Klondike and 5 others
#55,630
dukeorock said:
The string thing is super personal...no one size fits all for sure. When I was a kid playing punk rock with a pick as hard as I could, I got really hooked on the sound, despite the bloodshed! I kept breaking E and A strings with 45-105 guage, so I switched to slightly lighter picks and 50-110 strings. With that setup, I bled pretty much every show, but I wasn’t breaking strings as much. Now I play a ton of upright gigs, so my hands are stronger than ever, but I’ve been trying to slowly bring the gauges on my electrics back down to 45-105. Except the Drake and my ‘76 P bass. The Drake is 35” scale, so they don’t feel as heavy as they do on a 34” scale. The ‘76 P just seems to like heavier gauges more.
Click to expand...

A true rock-n-roller you are. And understood.
 
  • Like
Reactions: theFixer and GBassNorth
#55,631
JJR58 said:
Definetly keep the Reiner. But the Darkglass stuff is very versatile and organic when used properly.
The Cobalts will be brighter, longer. Because of what they are made from. The Chromes have their own party going on.
Click to expand...

I’ve heard the Chromes described as ‘almost rounds.’ Any truth to that?

The Reiner Gasoline is sticking around for sure. It’s a great ‘always on’ box for some gigs
 
  • Like
Reactions: theFixer and JJR58
#55,633
dukeorock said:
I’ve heard the Chromes described as ‘almost rounds.’ Any truth to that?

The Reiner Gasoline is sticking around for sure. It’s a great ‘always on’ box for some gigs
Click to expand...

As far as the Chromes go, that depends on body chemistry. To me, not as bright as the Cobalts. But the Chromes start out with a fair amount of brightness as compared to traditional flats, say like Labella's or TI's. Both of which I love.
 
  • Like
Reactions: theFixer, GBassNorth and dukeorock
#55,635
JJR58 said:
As far as the Chromes go, that depends on body chemistry. To me, not as bright as the Cobalts. But the Chromes start out with a fair amount of brightness as compared to traditional flats, say like Labella's or TI's. Both of which I love.
Click to expand...
Great info, thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: theFixer and JJR58
#55,636
Dr_Feelgoood212 said:
Don't get me wrong there's a tool for every job, I have a Jazz, a Precision, and a 4HH Ray. But at least one person said something along the lines of a Jazz being very versatile tone-wise, which I highly disagree with. A Jazz is truly the polar opposite of a Bird...
Click to expand...

Klondike said:
This is my exact attitude also. Different tool for different jobs. I have to adjust how I play for each instrument whether that be my Spector, BaCH, Ibanez, or Bird.
Click to expand...

dukeorock said:
I can think of some pretty high end, Crazy expensive basses that I wouldn’t play if you gave em to me unless I found myself in some ‘concept’ band that all dressed like wizards or something. That doesn’t mean I’m gonna jump in on every thread and bum out the folks who happen to like em
Click to expand...

Dr_Feelgoood212 said:
There's definitely a place for a Jazz, but I don't think it's as versatile as a Bird...
Click to expand...
Couldn't agree more, hence my tag line below every post. There's a lot of different types of music out there and a lot of different venues that music will be played in and equipment it will be played through, not to mention a million different band members with their equipment and playing styles. That all adds up to understanding which tool is best for which job. Painting yourself in a corner by eliminating entire classes of tools is pretty short sided.

Since we're trying to avoid car anologies I'll use knives instead.

To me a Jazz bass is like a nice pocket knife, it's handy, if you want to whittle and do a bit of carving it gets the job done. It even has a small blade and a larger blade for different tasks, not exactly a deadly weapon but in the right hands could do serious bodily damage. By comparison a P bass is more like a sheath knife, a bigger blade, plenty deadly, but can still be used for whittling. I'd place the Thunderbird at the Bowie knife level. Very large blade, menacing, very deadly yet still can be used to whittle if you want. My Warwick basses fall more into the machete category. They can hack down small trees but you'd be hard pressed to use them to make toothpicks.

Of the bunch, I find the TBirds are really in that sweet spot where you can do anything from somewhat delicate work to full on menacing if you want. Just a bigger badder version of the P bass with a bit more top and bottom end.

Am I getting rid of my Jazz and other basses, nope, there's still a time and place for them. But because the Tbird is so versital I'm playing those other basses a whole lot less and smiling a whole lot more.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Larry V, hillerup, Mike.C. and 6 others
#55,638
GBassNorth said:
Couldn't agree more, hence my tag line below every post. There's a lot of different types of music out there and a lot of different venues that music will be played in and equipment it will be played through, not to mention a million different band members with their equipment and playing styles. That all adds up to understanding which tool is best for which job. Painting yourself in a corner by eliminating entire classes of tools is pretty short sided.

Since we're trying to avoid car anologies I'll use knives instead.

To me a Jazz bass is like a nice pocket knife, it's handy, if you want to whittle and do a bit of carving it gets the job done. It even has a small blade and a larger blade for different tasks, not exactly a deadly weapon but in the right hands could do serious bodily damage. By comparison a P bass is more like a sheath knife, a bigger blade, plenty deadly, but can still be used for whittling. I'd place the Thunderbird at the Bowie knife level. Very large blade, menacing, very deadly yet still can be used to whittle if you want. My Warwick basses fall more into the machete category. They can hack down small trees but you'd be hard pressed to use them to make toothpicks.

Of the bunch, I find the TBirds are really in that sweet spot where you can do anything from somewhat delicate work to full on menacing if you want. Just a bigger badder version of the P bass with a bit more top and bottom end.

Am I getting rid of my Jazz and other basses, nope, there's still a time and place for them. But because the Tbird is so versital I'm playing those other basses a whole lot less and smiling a whole lot more.
Click to expand...
That analogy works for me!!

Cars woulda been cooler though :D:thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Larry V, hillerup, theFixer and 3 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back