Thunderbird Club

[JJR58]

Not sure how the Lollars are wired but if they are true 4 wire (plus ground) dual coil pups you could do what I did on my FrankenGoth. I put in a toggle that takes it from dual humbuckers in series to dual single coils (one neck coil + one bridge coil) in series. Completely transforms the the bird from a Precision on steroids to a Jazz on steroids at the flick of a switch. And with the vol/vol set up you can solo or blend either coil/Humbucker to your hearts desire. I find the neck single coil solo to be exceptionally musical for chord and guitar strum type solos, almost baritone guitar sounding. Really adds a neat dimension to the bird. Very very transformational and absolutely useful in a live gig setting.

My experience with series/parallel switching isn't as good. I have a number of basses with this option but in almost every case I end up staying in series mode 90% of the time and when I do pop over to parallel mode I find I need to adjust the volume to keep my place in the mix. For me it's not very live gig friendly.

When i had my Lollars installed, i never inquired if they were capable of the series/parallel wiring. But no matter what, they are killer as is without the series/parallel.

 

[dukeorock]

When i had my Lollars installed, i never inquired if they were capable of the series/parallel wiring. But no matter what, they are killer as is without the series/parallel.

I won’t be upset if they can’t/won’t do series/parallel. I don’t know enough about these pickups to know if it’s even a good idea! Easily reversed though

 

[veebass]

Give us the tracking number and we can all keep an eye on it for you!

No point! It is at the local Post Office for collection! I just have to wait for them to open to the public.

 

[dukeorock]

No point! It is at the local Post Office for collection! I just have to wait for them to open to the public.

WOOHOO!!!

 

[Gaolee]

I hesitate to post this as my video and speaking skills are terrible but here is my over due review of my Cataldo NR Thunderbird.

Aside from what others have said (and that I agree with), playing skill blows away video or speaking skills every time.

 

[Gaolee]

Playing a Thunderbird with a pick is a completely different thing.........It simply sets your tone on fire, for Rock it's simply perfect

I'm even learning how to play with a pick now. You are all a bad/good influence.

 

[dukeorock]

I'm even learning how to play with a pick now. You are all a bad/good influence.

I started out on bass with a pick...took years to get decent at fingerstyle. Upright probably helped there a little

 

[bylar13]

Quick question to the group: Has anyone ever had an instrument PLEKed? Does it make a difference or is it kind of a scam?

 

[dukeorock]

Quick question to the group: Has anyone ever had an instrument PLEKed? Does it make a difference or is it kind of a scam?

People swear by it...never had it done myself

 

[bylar13]

OT 7ender content: I just won one of these for $350 shipped.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

My first thought is that a set of Thunderbuckers look like they might drop right in......

 

[Larry V]

Quick question to the group: Has anyone ever had an instrument PLEKed? Does it make a difference or is it kind of a scam?

Aren't all modern Gibsons PLEKed?

 

[godofthunder59]

My thoughts on my Cataldo JAEbird.

 

[BklynKen]

Aren't all modern Gibsons PLEKed?

My 2013 was.

 

[bylar13]

My 2013 was.

I thought it was just the nut?

 

[JJR58]

I thought it was just the nut?

It's a complete fret leveling. The nut slotting is also part of the process.

 

[bylar13]

It's a complete fret leveling.

The 2014 specs only call out the nut string slots as receiving the PLEK treatment.

Gibson.com: Thunderbird Bass

 

[kat888]

Speaking of strings, I somehow snapped one of my RS66s off at the tuning peg last night. That was interesting. It was when I was retuning after adjusting the truss rod. Maybe I wound it too tight, thinking it was lower. Fun.

Ugh!,
If any string i had a breaking problem with, was Roto's, have no clue why.
But again, was when i was gigging. Eeesh, that seems like eons ago.

I don't know if it could be the case for you... but when I was wrenchin' on my BlueBird, the repeated tightening and loosening of the strings was enough to cause me to pop the cores on 2 different A strings.

I've broken at one or two RS66s when performing. Also broke a G when retightening strings at some point in the Epi chroming process. Now I no longer use Rotos, shouldn't be a problem.

 

[bylar13]

I've broken at one or two RS66s when performing. Also broke a G when retightening strings at some point in the Epi chroming process. Now I no longer use Rotos, shouldn't be a problem.

+1. Only strings I ever broke were Roto's, round wound. I switched to D'Addario for a long time, never broke one. Now I am using Ernie Ball nickel rounds (105-50) and have not broken those either. The Roto's seemed to go dead so quick when they get near sweat.

 

[JJR58]

The Roto's seemed to go dead so quick when they get near sweat.

You're preaching to the choir here.

 

[GBassNorth]

OT 7ender content: I just won one of these for $350 shipped.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

My first thought is that a set of Thunderbuckers look like they might drop right in......

Happy NBD!
Love that bass, I thought they were discontinued a couple of years ago. Easily the best sounding P bass I ever played, the stock pups are actually quite nice, even Fender can get it right sometimes.

 

[kat888]

My thoughts on my Cataldo JAEbird.

You spoil us Monsieur Dasson!

 

[BklynKen]

I've broken at one or two RS66s when performing. Also broke a G when retightening strings at some point in the Epi chroming process. Now I no longer use Rotos, shouldn't be a problem.

I'll wait to see if it's a trend. Fortunately this is the first time, and it was at home.