Thunderbird Club

[theFixer]

Dumb question for you all - what's the point of a kill switch? I step on the tuner or wireless to kill the signal. A kill switch doesn't let you unplug without making an awful noise. I can't think of anything I have ever played that required the bass cutting in an out like you could do with a kill switch.

So, I'm curious - what do kill switches get used for?

I would guess that it's as simple as preference. I put a blend pot in mine, when I could accomplish the same effect with the 2 volume knobs, and I love it. With regards to the "DirtyBird"... he may just be lookin' for a way to fill the extra hole!

(then again... maybe he just wants to be able to do the Randy Rhodes "deedly deedly deedly woooooo ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-baaaaaaaa" thing)

 

[JJR58]

Just waiting for Jeff to say his catchphrase... "That rotten kid"

That's our Vince!

 

[TBird1958]

Hmm..what to do...what to do...
I recently bought some 76 Gibson buckers and wondering where I should put them. My Bachbird has a pair of 63 Thunderbuckers, my Gibson, stock pickups. Should I put the 76's in the Gibson (for which I already secured a vintage chrome three point bridge, still looking for tuners) or swap the Thunderbuckers onto the Gibson and fit the 76's on to the Bachbird? Thoughts?
View attachment 2921559

Just my .02

'76 Pickups are a really different animal than anything from the '60 (including repros) or any of the many Post '88 pickups. Personally, I really like the tone '76s have but they're not always held in high regard by vintage Thunderbird guys - If you like the tone '60 pups have they may be a disappointment. I think they really come to life with a bit of volume in a band setting when played with a pick, in a quiet setting they can feel a bit tame.

 

[DanGouge]

So another question about this thing. The Epiphone Pro has three-screw pickups while the typical T-Bird pickup has a two-screw pickup. Will the typical two-screw pickups (from Lull, Lollar et cetera) fit the Epi without too much cutting and hacking? Anyone tried?

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

So another question about this thing. The Epiphone Pro has three-screw pickups while the typical T-Bird pickup has a two-screw pickup. Will the typical two-screw pickups (from Lull, Lollar et cetera) fit the Epi without too much cutting and hacking? Anyone tried?

View attachment 2921608

Kat put Chinabuckers, then a Thunderbucker in her Pro IV, and IIRC it wasn't much cutting and hacking.

 

[GBassNorth]

Dumb question for you all - what's the point of a kill switch? I step on the tuner or wireless to kill the signal. A kill switch doesn't let you unplug without making an awful noise. I can't think of anything I have ever played that required the bass cutting in an out like you could do with a kill switch.

So, I'm curious - what do kill switches get used for?

No clue, I think it's overkill (pun intended).
I use a $25 planet waves instrument cable that has a built in kill switch....
D'Addario Planet Waves Circuit Breaker Cable - 10' Right Angled

Push the button and you can unplug and plug in all day long without a hint of noise. Other than that, as you mentioned, there's the tuner or wireless with built in kill. I really don't see modding any (much less all) of my basses with kill switches when one single cable or pedal or wireless does the same thing and probably does it better.

 

[kat888]

that's good, i'm the guy who change strings once a year.

i find the price ridiculous.

You're not wrong. I was checking out prices while I was waiting at the luthier supply shop the other day and all their strings were $AUD60 / $USD47 / ¥JPY5060. That's why I buy strings from BassStringsOnline.com.

 

[kat888]

Also, yeah, you should check out less expensive strings than the Ken Smiths. They’re considerably more expensive than other similar strings.

Not trying to start a fight, but Bass Burners are $USD20 where I buy then, which seems comparable to other manufacturers' prices.

 

[Gaolee]

So another question about this thing. The Epiphone Pro has three-screw pickups while the typical T-Bird pickup has a two-screw pickup. Will the typical two-screw pickups (from Lull, Lollar et cetera) fit the Epi without too much cutting and hacking? Anyone tried?

View attachment 2921608

I put Alumitone Bass Bars in my Pro IV. As I recall, there was no issue. I don't remember exactly, but I had to slightly modify a guitar I put Alumitones in, but not the bass. They left a bit of space around the edge. Not much, and they are odd looking anyway.

 

[Gaolee]

Not trying to start a fight, but Bass Burners are $USD20 where I buy then, which seems comparable to other manufacturers' prices.

That's actually not expensive at all for bass guitar strings. Upright bass strings may have skewed my idea of expensive.

 

[dukeorock]

You're not wrong. I was checking out prices while I was waiting at the luthier supply shop the other day and all their strings were $AUD60 / $USD47 / ¥JPY5060. That's why I buy strings from BassStringsOnline.com.

Same

 

[Gaolee]

Hmm..what to do...what to do...
I recently bought some 76 Gibson buckers and wondering where I should put them. My Bachbird has a pair of 63 Thunderbuckers, my Gibson, stock pickups. Should I put the 76's in the Gibson (for which I already secured a vintage chrome three point bridge, still looking for tuners) or swap the Thunderbuckers onto the Gibson and fit the 76's on to the Bachbird? Thoughts?
View attachment 2921559

Chrome!

 

[kat888]

No, but I like that!

My Traynor yba 200-2 should be out of the shop. One tiny mod Jonathan suggested that we’re trying. Other than that, the tech said the amp is in great shape. Just had a wonky ribbon cable (you know, those things that don’t belong in amps in the first place!) and the tubes were biased way too hot. Hopefully, it’ll be a noticeable improvement

Ribbon cable! I know right!? The biasing would be causing excessive breakup (and burning through your output valves).

 

[kat888]

So another question about this thing. The Epiphone Pro has three-screw pickups while the typical T-Bird pickup has a two-screw pickup. Will the typical two-screw pickups (from Lull, Lollar et cetera) fit the Epi without too much cutting and hacking? Anyone tried?

View attachment 2921608

I paid a bloke to enlarge the pickup cavities on my ex PRO IV ... and felt sick when eventually I saw how little wood he had removed for the price, ie a millimetre or so. Use a Dremel and some masking tape and do it yourself. You could use pickup rings as a guide.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I paid a bloke to enlarge the pickup cavities on my ex PRO IV ... and felt sick when eventually I saw how little wood he had removed for the price, ie a millimetre or so. Use a Dremel and some masking tape and do it yourself. You could use pickup rings as a guide.

How much did he charge you?

 

[BklynKen]

Just my .02

'76 Pickups are a really different animal than anything from the '60 (including repros) or any of the many Post '88 pickups. Personally, I really like the tone '76s have but they're not always held in high regard by vintage Thunderbird guys - If you like the tone '60 pups have they may be a disappointment. I think they really come to life with a bit of volume in a band setting when played with a pick, in a quiet setting they can feel a bit tame.

This brings me to a point I made a while back about settings that work alone sound very different in a band mix. My Thunderbird gets played a lot in a loud band mix and I think the TB+ sound awesome.

Not trying to start a fight, but Bass Burners are $USD20 where I buy then, which seems comparable to other manufacturers' prices.

Not taking it that way at all. BSOL is a little over $20 for those (a little less with the VIP pricing?) and others are closer to $15 (not sure how VIP pricing is affected as standard price lowers).

 

[kat888]

This brings me to a point I made a while back about settings that work alone sound very different in a band mix. My Thunderbird gets played a lot in a loud band mix and I think the TB+ sound awesome.


Not taking it that way at all. BSOL is a little over $20 for those (a little less with the VIP pricing?) and others are closer to $15 (not sure how VIP pricing is affected as standard price lowers.

10% off everything. In a Japanese or Australian context 2 or 3 dollars does not count as considerable in comparison to local prices.

 

[kat888]

How much did he charge you?

$USD160

 

[bylar13]

Dumb question for you all - what's the point of a kill switch? I step on the tuner or wireless to kill the signal. A kill switch doesn't let you unplug without making an awful noise. I can't think of anything I have ever played that required the bass cutting in an out like you could do with a kill switch.

So, I'm curious - what do kill switches get used for?

 

[JJR58]

$USD160

Robbery!!!