I just placed an order on a 60s spec custom pickup for my bird. the pickup will be made by german pickup builder Christoph Dolf/Bassculture. It will cost me about 100€
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
Geddy Lee's got a couple of vintage TBirds in his private bass collection. 
So yesterday I picked up the Greco! Took it home and did a complete set up, oiled the fretboard, polished her up. What a stunner! not too bad for an old bird. And then straight to band practice where it absolutely slayed in the mix. The band loves the sound and aggressive thick tone. The hard edge of the bass wore a hole in my write so ill have to use a bandana next time! The bass feels extremely solid, heavier than the gibson. But still just as resonant, with the set neck definitely adding some attack and clarity to the tone. Still working out the pickup height a little, when taken lower it sounded even better so I am assuming the pickup design is not so much like a thunderbucker. It is a very thick pickup so I am assuming very strong and large magnets. Easily one of the best basses I own and it has made its way into the #1 spot. At least for gigging, in recording situations the Gibson would be the better choice for the more complex tone (thunderbuckers) and versatility of two pickups. And for photo-shoots, most likely the gibson for its all out class.
here she is:
here she is:
One of the two reasons I play bass (and the reason I modded a Fender Jaguar with Lollar Thunder bird pickups), is back on the scene! Ex. GO!GO!7188 bassist Akiko Noma (aka "Akko") returns with her Non-reverse Thunderbirds, after 4 year baby raising hiatus. New band is called トーキョーキラー (Tokyo Killer). Their first album "Tokyo Killer Street" is out April 22nd.
This song is called サーフ★スナイパー (Surf Sniper)
P.S. I'm not sure what's up, but it's a trend in Japan right now, to only post music video previews to the internet. So, unfortunately, that's not the complete song/video.
This song is called サーフ★スナイパー (Surf Sniper)
P.S. I'm not sure what's up, but it's a trend in Japan right now, to only post music video previews to the internet. So, unfortunately, that's not the complete song/video.
Last edited:
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
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- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Greco looking good! Very perceptive on the pickups. Greco used the same pickups as Orville by Gibson Thunderbirds. They have very hot ceramic magnets and thicker wire on taller bobbins. What you gain in aggressiveness you lose in complex harmonics.
Here's my '89 Orville by Gibson. Steve of ThunderBucker Ranch disassembled and analyzed the pickups when we were figuring what to do after cloning stock vintage 60's pickups. We decided hotter but still AlNiCo 5 magnets and more wire wraps would give more aggressive tone, similar to the Orville/Grecos but a little sweeter. That's the MAX option, +3db (twice the output) of a 66.
Hey man, you needs what you needs in your arsenal. Lately I've been favouring my P over a killer Dan Armstrong and my old standby Thundy. Completely neglecting my Jazz and my G3.
No one holds it against you!
So yesterday I picked up the Greco! Took it home and did a complete set up, oiled the fretboard, polished her up. What a stunner! not too bad for an old bird. And then straight to band practice where it absolutely slayed in the mix. The band loves the sound and aggressive thick tone. The hard edge of the bass wore a hole in my write so ill have to use a bandana next time! The bass feels extremely solid, heavier than the gibson. But still just as resonant, with the set neck definitely adding some attack and clarity to the tone. Still working out the pickup height a little, when taken lower it sounded even better so I am assuming the pickup design is not so much like a thunderbucker. It is a very thick pickup so I am assuming very strong and large magnets. Easily one of the best basses I own and it has made its way into the #1 spot. At least for gigging, in recording situations the Gibson would be the better choice for the more complex tone (thunderbuckers) and versatility of two pickups. And for photo-shoots, most likely the gibson for its all out class.
here she is:
DANG!
Hello!! Does anyone have a wiring diagram to go with just an on/off switch like a Nikki Sixx Blackbird? Thinking about that mod for my Goth.
Lol I highly doubt anyone will bite, only us bird freaks truelly value them. I don't feel like spending $1700 on a build that could take 6 months
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 79
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Aha! Very interesting. I still find the Greco pickup is warm and driven in tone, not boxy and "harsh" like the tb+.Greco looking good! Very perceptive on the pickups. Greco used the same pickups as Orville by Gibson Thunderbirds. They have very hot ceramic magnets and thicker wire on taller bobbins. What you gain in aggressiveness you lose in complex harmonics.
Here's my '89 Orville by Gibson. Steve of ThunderBucker Ranch disassembled and analyzed the pickups when we were figuring what to do after cloning stock vintage 60's pickups. We decided hotter but still AlNiCo 5 magnets and more wire wraps would give more aggressive tone, similar to the Orville/Grecos but a little sweeter. That's the MAX option, +3db (twice the output) of a 66.
If I order thunder Buckers again I'll go for the Max's to see how they go! Stoked with the bass. Worth more than its value.
So back on nights at work... gonna solder up my Emerson/CTS pots and gold plated jack, setup my new hipshot and finish the designs for my custom flower of life pick/truss/rear cavity guards... this little project is going well....
The pattern is gonna be 35mm circles, grey on black.
Also got gold screws for the plates and some genuine USA Black/Gold Gibson tophat knobs. The gold is to accent the Gothic a bit...
The pattern is gonna be 35mm circles, grey on black.
Also got gold screws for the plates and some genuine USA Black/Gold Gibson tophat knobs. The gold is to accent the Gothic a bit...
Last edited:
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 79
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
3M industrial double stick tape. It's a little weaker than VHB, the kind used to bond emblems onto cars. A guy in California sells it, and VHB, for very reasonable prices on Ebay. (Thanks!)
