Thunderbird Club

[dukeorock]

Not really, but send Jeff Genzler a message. I'm sure he can tell you. Check his web site out.
Homepage - Genzler Amplification
But the Genz Benz amps were out of business for some time. I'm sure Jeff incorporated a few updates, in the years he was idle. After all Fender / Kaman bought out Genz over a decade ago, and then shut it down. Like they did with a lot of other stuff the bought out. Fender bought them I think in 2007, the shut it all down in 2015 I think, or at least sold all remaining inventory by then.

I used to be a Genz Benz endorser at one time. Jeff is a really cool dude

 

[bylar13]

I hear you brother. It took about half an hour to write my suggestions AFTER I read the whole thread. I could see there were people speaking out of their hats (as usual) about TBirds, and P Basses for that matter. I was trying to be helpful to the OP who asked a reasonable question.

One thing always amazes me in these discussion is the assumption there is one P Bass and one TBird Tone. A quick adjustment of your tone pots can make a P Bass sound way woolier than a TBird.
Which P Bass tone are they looking for? Which P Bass are they talking about?

It just sounds that the OP of that thread has not really explored using his amps EQ. He stated that the EQ was flat...whatever that means. There were a number of solid, usable suggestions made and his response seemed to lean toward modification of the pickups in the bass. Oh well.

 

[JJR58]

It just sounds that the OP of that thread has not really explored using his amps EQ. He stated that the EQ was flat...whatever that means. There were a number of solid, usable suggestions made and his response seemed to lean toward modification of the pickups in the bass. Oh well.

He's done one of the better mods out there already. Totally revamped his Bird after he got it. He can get what he wants from that beast.
OYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[veebass]

It just sounds that the OP of that thread has not really explored using his amps EQ. He stated that the EQ was flat...whatever that means. There were a number of solid, usable suggestions made and his response seemed to lean toward modification of the pickups in the bass. Oh well.

Yes.

 

[JJR58]

Hang in there @hillerup.

 

[Stevis]

Hang in there @hillerup.

Is he o.k.? Did I miss a post?

 

[dukeorock]

It just sounds that the OP of that thread has not really explored using his amps EQ. He stated that the EQ was flat...whatever that means. There were a number of solid, usable suggestions made and his response seemed to lean toward modification of the pickups in the bass. Oh well.

You did the kindest thing and gave him good info, whether he knows it or not.

States right in the OP regarding his T Bird.
“I love everything about it, except the tone.” Kinda makes the thread a non starter. I simply gave a couple suggestions based on his question, even though the premise is pretty whacky to me

 

[theFixer]

It just sounds that the OP of that thread has not really explored using his amps EQ. He stated that the EQ was flat...whatever that means. There were a number of solid, usable suggestions made and his response seemed to lean toward modification of the pickups in the bass. Oh well.

Mantis Toboggan was a regular here in the club a few months back. He just sorta quietly slipped out when we weren't looking. I suspect that he didn't bring up the "I wanna make it sound like a P-bass" thing here, because he knew what he would get back. It's a bit odd though. He frequently mentioned how much he liked his 'bird. If I thought there was a chance it wouldn't be a waste of time... I'd post the suggestion of trying out the base model Epi pups like I have in my 'bird. They still have the Gibson mid thang goin' on... they just aren't quite as pushy about it. I get the feeling he has something specific in mind though, and is holding out until he hears he can get it somehow...

 

[JJR58]

Is he o.k.? Did I miss a post?

No sir Mr. S. He's catching up here. He truly is dedicated. My hero.

 

[JJR58]

Mantis Toboggan was a regular here in the club a few months back. He just sorta quietly slipped out when we weren't looking. I suspect that he didn't bring up the "I wanna make it sound like a P-bass" thing here, because he knew what he would get back. It's a bit odd though. He frequently mentioned how much he liked his 'bird. If I thought there was a chance it wouldn't be a waste of time... I'd post the suggestion of trying out the base model Epi pups like I have in my 'bird. They still have the Gibson mid thang goin' on... they just aren't quite as pushy about it. I get the feeling he has something specific in mind though, and is holding out until he hears he can get it somehow...

But he has heard it Mike. Well, maybe not.

 

[bylar13]

Mantis Toboggan was a regular here in the club a few months back. He just sorta quietly slipped out when we weren't looking. I suspect that he didn't bring up the "I wanna make it sound like a P-bass" thing here, because he knew what he would get back. It's a bit odd though. He frequently mentioned how much he liked his 'bird. If I thought there was a chance it wouldn't be a waste of time... I'd post the suggestion of trying out the base model Epi pups like I have in my 'bird. They still have the Gibson mid thang goin' on... they just aren't quite as pushy about it. I get the feeling he has something specific in mind though, and is holding out until he hears he can get it somehow...

Yeah. I Hope he finds it but its hard to make two, alnico magnet, hand-wound humbuckers sound like a machine-wound, split single coil....Was it ESP that made a bird shaped bass with P-Bass pick-ups?

 

[dukeorock]

It’s amusing to me that I switched from a TB ‘63 to a ‘66 because the ‘63 sounded too much like a P bass

 

[JJR58]

You did the kindest thing and gave him good info, whether he knows it or not.

States right in the OP regarding his T Bird.
“I love everything about it, except the tone.” Kinda makes the thread a non starter. I simply gave a couple suggestions based on his question, even though the premise is pretty whacky to me

I'm guilty of the whole chasing the tone thing. I get it. But some things "can" get you there. One good reason i gave up the Jazz, couldn't get there.
But i don't see the reasoning on this one, nothing to do with this/your post Mark, just the, ok, i'll stop.

 

[JJR58]

It’s amusing to me that I switched from a TB ‘63 to a ‘66 because the ‘63 sounded too much like a P bass

 

[theFixer]

But he has heard it Mike. Well, maybe not.

I'll be the first to agree that a Thunderbird is a better P-bass than a P-bass, and I'm sure he could get (at least) in the ballpark... but I believe he wants to have somebody tell him he can get a P-bass pup that'll fit under a T-bird cover. In fact... if the thread title said, "Does anybody make a P-bass pick up that'll fit under a T-bird pup cover?"... it probably would've cut out a load of responses, and gotten him where I believe he was trying to go, much more quickly.

...but, as my daughter sez... "whatevs".

 

[Stevis]

Yeah. I Hope he finds it but its hard to make two, alnico magnet, hand-wound humbuckers sound like a machine-wound, split single coil....Was it ESP that made a bird shaped bass with P-Bass pick-ups?

Hand-wound? Is this an aftermarket pup?

 

[JJR58]

I'll be the first to agree that a Thunderbird is a better P-bass than a P-bass, and I'm sure he could get (at least) in the ballpark... but I believe he wants to have somebody tell him he can get a P-bass pup that'll fit under a T-bird cover. In fact... if the thread title said, "Does anybody make a P-bass pick up that'll fit under a T-bird pup cover?"... it probably would've cut out a load of responses, and gotten him where I believe he was trying to go, much more quickly.

...but, as my daughter sez... "whatevs".

The thing is he'd be out of the park with a grand slam with what he has already. But yeah, "whatevs" is right.

 

[theFixer]

Yeah. I Hope he finds it but its hard to make two, alnico magnet, hand-wound humbuckers sound like a machine-wound, split single coil....Was it ESP that made a bird shaped bass with P-Bass pick-ups?

Well... you know what they say... "If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck... but you want a chicken..." (or sup'm like that)

 

[kat888]

It’s amusing to me that I switched from a TB ‘63 to a ‘66 because the ‘63 sounded too much like a P bass

With the Thunderbucker 63N pickup you were very close to the original 63 Thunderbird II configuration. Being as the 63 Thunderbird II is the best Precision ever, of course it was going to sound [too much] like a P bass.

 

[Larry V]

Hang in there @hillerup.

40 or so pages to go and we just keep moving the goal posts.

Speaking of folks missing from the daily mix...

Where’s Carlo?