Thunderbird Club

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Have you tried raising the pickups? Sometimes that can help.

Yes I have. I am going to try Rotos and boosting the mids and treble while rolling back the bass.

 

[Larry V]

I have been wondering the same thing. I hope he's OK.

Let’s hope he’s slammed with work and doesn’t have the time to be bothered with these musings of all things and TBirds.

 

[Gaolee]

I do play metal. I play fingerstyle and have an aggressive attack. And yes, it is the upper register that gets lost. You hit it on all points.

I mentioned most of that stuff over in the other thread. Maybe it will help. I hope so. Boosting the mids and rolling off the bridge pickup has been the key. You will have to do some experimenting to find the exactly right spot to boost the mids that works for you, but I don't have a whole lot of doubt you will find the sweet spot that lets your 'Bird rip it up. With the bridge pickup rolled all the way off and the neck pickup rolled down to about 7 or 8, I find the 'Bird to be a really convincing super-P. Ah, here come the colors - it's got more blue and green in the sound, and it's darker, but it's similar. It's a more complex sound than a P will ever have unless you are talking about a P with some kind of aftermarket pickups like the Bill Lawrence pickups the P-Bird has.

I'm convinced that the issues you are dealing with are a matter of finding the right combination of strings, eq settings, and technique. A 'Bird isn't as forgiving as a P when it comes to being random with all those things, but its rewards are far higher if you spend the time and effort to figure it out.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I mentioned most of that stuff over in the other thread. Maybe it will help. I hope so. Boosting the mids and rolling off the bridge pickup has been the key. You will have to do some experimenting to find the exactly right spot to boost the mids that works for you, but I don't have a whole lot of doubt you will find the sweet spot that lets your 'Bird rip it up. With the bridge pickup rolled all the way off and the neck pickup rolled down to about 7 or 8, I find the 'Bird to be a really convincing super-P. Ah, here come the colors - it's got more blue and green in the sound, and it's darker, but it's similar. It's a more complex sound than a P will ever have unless you are talking about a P with some kind of aftermarket pickups like the Bill Lawrence pickups the P-Bird has.

I'm convinced that the issues you are dealing with are a matter of finding the right combination of strings, eq settings, and technique. A 'Bird isn't as forgiving as a P when it comes to being random with all those things, but its rewards are far higher if you spend the time and effort to figure it out.

I look forward to another go at it. I played a few gigs with it and practiced with it and was getting lost. I took a break and started playing my P again. I think this time I will get it right. Thanks for your help.

 

[TBird1958]

Curious which bass that is and it’s loaded with? I remember you talking about that bass, but am blanking on the details :/

Killer tone!!, I'd also like to know, strings, bass, etc.....

That's a '76 that I bought from Mike Lull, it came into his shop as a trade in for some work, most of the finish was gone and the headstock was partially snapped, most of it's S/B finish was gone, and it had an Allparts knock off 3 point on it. I probably paid about 1K for it after he'd gotten it into really nice playing condition, that included a re-fret, I kept it that way for a short while but realized this one was pretty magical in terms of tone and that I wanted it as a bass for the stage with the band - so back to Mike's it went. While it was being re-finned I shopped ebay for the bridge and pickup covers (everybody takes them off, and the real deal are hard to find and way too much $$$$) and a new PG, which I gave up on trying to find. At the time I didn't give the Allparts bridge much thought and Mike put the bass back together using it. In playing it initially the bridge proved to be rather troublesome as I was breaking strings (E's and A's DR's and/or Smiths with frightening regularity, several times while on stage) and it was getting expensive just to keep it in playing shape. Since Mike is an authorized Gibson repair shop I pestered him to get me a new chrome 3 point from Gibson (they were using factory chrome plated 3 points on production SG basses at the time) which was very difficult, but Mike kept at it and eventually we got a new one on it and that immediately solved the problem. Close inspection of the Allparts bridge showed it to be a less-than- great knockoff with numerous differences that when taken as a total made it worth throwing away.
I still have the original PG for it but it's in terrible shape, with a huge scrape across the logo and warps in 3-4 places, no great prize, so I made it's current one from some heavy styrene sheet stock (model train store stuff!) and airbrushed several coats of metallic purple and clear gloss onto it. After a lengthy drying process I masked the Bird with 3M drafting tape after laying its line art out on a light box, and shot several coats of white. After removing the masks I shot 3-4 coats of clear gloss and resid onto it and wet sanded with 2000grit automotive sandpaper to fill in the difference in the paint between the purple and the white. The Bird design was conceived by fellow Dudepitter /LBO'r John Fertig , I thought it very appropriate as if you look close you'll see that his neck's been broken too.
It's a great player, and has wonderful tone, different from my green one probably due to a lot of inconsistency in the pickups, '76s don't get the same praise from some Thunderbird purists as any of the '60s versions usually because of the this. I like them a lot, they don't sound like '60s Birds and that's part of my reasoning, cranked up through a decent amp they have something all their own that other Birds don't, I do find that they can be a little tame at low volume.
In the video it's got DR 45-105 stainless on it, that was the first show for my GK700RBII after trading off my 1001RBII, I remember the day quite well as it was about 92 degrees and unusually humid for Washington and I was pretty wet by the time we were done with that set - No cargo shorts and flip flops for this girl!
On a sunny day

Here's it's sweet spot........ Love that chrome plate, what's left of it!

Here's the body.

 

[Gaolee]

Yes I have. I am going to try Rotos and boosting the mids and treble while rolling back the bass.

I think of the P as a war club. Blunt, effective at what it does, reasonably easy to use with a basic level of skill, and an essential tool for some thing. A Thunderbird is more like a scimitar. It takes a whole lot more time to learn to use it effectively and figure out the techniques necessary to get the most out of it. It may be why it seems like a 'Bird chooses you instead of the other way around.

One more thought - a bolt-on Epiphone might also be a way to go. It's very different from any other 'Bird out there, even though it looks mostly the same. The good thing about a bolt-on Epi is that it's cheap. If you don't like it, you aren't out much and can sell it for what you paid for it if you got a used one.

 

[Gaolee]

TBird pickups : Thunderbird Bass Pickups with Rings - Nickel | eBay

Clic on "see full item description"

I hesitate between them and the Chinabuckers. But my NR have chrome hardware...

I wonder what those sound like. Entwhistle used Gibson pickups, not aftermarket pickups. As far as I know, there weren't any aftermarket 'Bird pickups until Mike Lull started making them. I could be wrong about that - Veronica can correct me if I'm wrong, but I have no doubt our Queen knows these things.

 

[JJR58]

That's a '76 that I bought from Mike Lull, it came into his shop as a trade in for some work, most of the finish was gone and the headstock was partially snapped, most of it's S/B finish was gone, and it had an Allparts knock off 3 point on it. I probably paid about 1K for it after he'd gotten it into really nice playing condition, that included a re-fret, I kept it that way for a short while but realized this one was pretty magical in terms of tone and that I wanted it as a bass for the stage with the band - so back to Mike's it went. While it was being re-finned I shopped ebay for the bridge and pickup covers (everybody takes them off, and the real deal are hard to find and way too much $$$$) and a new PG, which I gave up on trying to find. At the time I didn't give the Allparts bridge much thought and Mike put the bass back together using it. In playing it initially the bridge proved to be rather troublesome as I was breaking strings (E's and A's DR's and/or Smiths with frightening regularity, several times while on stage) and it was getting expensive just to keep it in playing shape. Since Mike is an authorized Gibson repair shop I pestered him to get me a new chrome 3 point from Gibson (they were using factory chrome plated 3 points on production SG basses at the time) which was very difficult, but Mike kept at it and eventually we got a new one on it and that immediately solved the problem. Close inspection of the Allparts bridge showed it to be a less-than- great knockoff with numerous differences that when taken as a total made it worth throwing away.
I still have the original PG for it but it's in terrible shape, with a huge scrape across the logo and warps in 3-4 places, no great prize, so I made it's current one from some heavy styrene sheet stock (model train store stuff!) and airbrushed several coats of metallic purple and clear gloss onto it. After a lengthy drying process I masked the Bird with 3M drafting tape after laying its line art out on a light box, and shot several coats of white. After removing the masks I shot 3-4 coats of clear gloss and resid onto it and wet sanded with 2000grit automotive sandpaper to fill in the difference in the paint between the purple and the white. The Bird design was conceived by fellow Dudepitter /LBO'r John Fertig , I thought it very appropriate as if you look close you'll see that his neck's been broken too.
It's a great player, and has wonderful tone, different from my green one probably due to a lot of inconsistency in the pickups, '76s don't get the same praise from some Thunderbird purists as any of the '60s versions usually because of the this. I like them a lot, they don't sound like '60s Birds and that's part of my reasoning, cranked up through a decent amp they have something all their own that other Birds don't, I do find that they can be a little tame at low volume.
In the video it's got DR 45-105 stainless on it, that was the first show for my GK700RBII after trading off my 1001RBII, I remember the day quite well as it was about 92 degrees and unusually humid for Washington and I was pretty wet by the time we were done with that set - No cargo shorts and flip flops for this girl!
On a sunny day
View attachment 2925402

Here's it's sweet spot........ Love that chrome plate, what's left of it!

View attachment 2925403

Here's the body.
View attachment 2925404

Great read, and thank you!

 

[JJR58]

I look forward to another go at it. I played a few gigs with it and practiced with it and was getting lost. I took a break and started playing my P again. I think this time I will get it right. Thanks for your help.

Hey Mantis, all good no matter what. But the thing that really irked me on your thread was, people calling it a troll thread. You, out of all people are not that, and i know you had no intention of it going south.
Some of the others were just waiting for their chance to come out from under the bridge.

 

[BklynKen]

I have been wondering the same thing. I hope he's OK.

I actually emailed with him yesterday about something. I can't speak for him, but he seemed fine at least via email.

That's a '76 that I bought from Mike Lull, it came into his shop as a trade in for some work, most of the finish was gone and the headstock was partially snapped, most of it's S/B finish was gone, and it had an Allparts knock off 3 point on it. I probably paid about 1K for it after he'd gotten it into really nice playing condition, that included a re-fret, I kept it that way for a short while but realized this one was pretty magical in terms of tone and that I wanted it as a bass for the stage with the band - so back to Mike's it went. While it was being re-finned I shopped ebay for the bridge and pickup covers (everybody takes them off, and the real deal are hard to find and way too much $$$$) and a new PG, which I gave up on trying to find. At the time I didn't give the Allparts bridge much thought and Mike put the bass back together using it. In playing it initially the bridge proved to be rather troublesome as I was breaking strings (E's and A's DR's and/or Smiths with frightening regularity, several times while on stage) and it was getting expensive just to keep it in playing shape. Since Mike is an authorized Gibson repair shop I pestered him to get me a new chrome 3 point from Gibson (they were using factory chrome plated 3 points on production SG basses at the time) which was very difficult, but Mike kept at it and eventually we got a new one on it and that immediately solved the problem. Close inspection of the Allparts bridge showed it to be a less-than- great knockoff with numerous differences that when taken as a total made it worth throwing away.
I still have the original PG for it but it's in terrible shape, with a huge scrape across the logo and warps in 3-4 places, no great prize, so I made it's current one from some heavy styrene sheet stock (model train store stuff!) and airbrushed several coats of metallic purple and clear gloss onto it. After a lengthy drying process I masked the Bird with 3M drafting tape after laying its line art out on a light box, and shot several coats of white. After removing the masks I shot 3-4 coats of clear gloss and resid onto it and wet sanded with 2000grit automotive sandpaper to fill in the difference in the paint between the purple and the white. The Bird design was conceived by fellow Dudepitter /LBO'r John Fertig , I thought it very appropriate as if you look close you'll see that his neck's been broken too.
It's a great player, and has wonderful tone, different from my green one probably due to a lot of inconsistency in the pickups, '76s don't get the same praise from some Thunderbird purists as any of the '60s versions usually because of the this. I like them a lot, they don't sound like '60s Birds and that's part of my reasoning, cranked up through a decent amp they have something all their own that other Birds don't, I do find that they can be a little tame at low volume.
In the video it's got DR 45-105 stainless on it, that was the first show for my GK700RBII after trading off my 1001RBII, I remember the day quite well as it was about 92 degrees and unusually humid for Washington and I was pretty wet by the time we were done with that set - No cargo shorts and flip flops for this girl!
On a sunny day
View attachment 2925402

Here's it's sweet spot........ Love that chrome plate, what's left of it!

View attachment 2925403

Here's the body.
View attachment 2925404

I love that story.

 

[dukeorock]

That's a '76 that I bought from Mike Lull, it came into his shop as a trade in for some work, most of the finish was gone and the headstock was partially snapped, most of it's S/B finish was gone, and it had an Allparts knock off 3 point on it. I probably paid about 1K for it after he'd gotten it into really nice playing condition, that included a re-fret, I kept it that way for a short while but realized this one was pretty magical in terms of tone and that I wanted it as a bass for the stage with the band - so back to Mike's it went. While it was being re-finned I shopped ebay for the bridge and pickup covers (everybody takes them off, and the real deal are hard to find and way too much $$$$) and a new PG, which I gave up on trying to find. At the time I didn't give the Allparts bridge much thought and Mike put the bass back together using it. In playing it initially the bridge proved to be rather troublesome as I was breaking strings (E's and A's DR's and/or Smiths with frightening regularity, several times while on stage) and it was getting expensive just to keep it in playing shape. Since Mike is an authorized Gibson repair shop I pestered him to get me a new chrome 3 point from Gibson (they were using factory chrome plated 3 points on production SG basses at the time) which was very difficult, but Mike kept at it and eventually we got a new one on it and that immediately solved the problem. Close inspection of the Allparts bridge showed it to be a less-than- great knockoff with numerous differences that when taken as a total made it worth throwing away.
I still have the original PG for it but it's in terrible shape, with a huge scrape across the logo and warps in 3-4 places, no great prize, so I made it's current one from some heavy styrene sheet stock (model train store stuff!) and airbrushed several coats of metallic purple and clear gloss onto it. After a lengthy drying process I masked the Bird with 3M drafting tape after laying its line art out on a light box, and shot several coats of white. After removing the masks I shot 3-4 coats of clear gloss and resid onto it and wet sanded with 2000grit automotive sandpaper to fill in the difference in the paint between the purple and the white. The Bird design was conceived by fellow Dudepitter /LBO'r John Fertig , I thought it very appropriate as if you look close you'll see that his neck's been broken too.
It's a great player, and has wonderful tone, different from my green one probably due to a lot of inconsistency in the pickups, '76s don't get the same praise from some Thunderbird purists as any of the '60s versions usually because of the this. I like them a lot, they don't sound like '60s Birds and that's part of my reasoning, cranked up through a decent amp they have something all their own that other Birds don't, I do find that they can be a little tame at low volume.
In the video it's got DR 45-105 stainless on it, that was the first show for my GK700RBII after trading off my 1001RBII, I remember the day quite well as it was about 92 degrees and unusually humid for Washington and I was pretty wet by the time we were done with that set - No cargo shorts and flip flops for this girl!
On a sunny day
View attachment 2925402

Here's it's sweet spot........ Love that chrome plate, what's left of it!

View attachment 2925403

Here's the body.
View attachment 2925404

Awesome bass, great story and incredible tone! Thanks for sharing that

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Hey Mantis, all good no matter what. But the thing that really irked me on your thread was, people calling it a troll thread. You, out of all people are not that, and i know you had no intention of it going south.
Some of the others were just waiting for their chance to come out from under the bridge.

Yeah it started getting pretty troll-y in there didn’t it? Lol, thanks man.

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah it started getting pretty troll-y in there didn’t it? Lol, thanks man.

In any event, welcome home. It's always fun trying to figure out how to solve a music problem when I really ought to be doing something else.

 

[RikiP]

Respectfully disagree

I accept you have different opinion, but Epiphone sells basically the exact same bass (Classic-IV PRO) for 550$.

 

[TBird1958]

We got a little snow overnight, lovely day - I'll be inside playing the bass and working on model trains...........


I hope I never grow up

 

[RikiP]

Just Gibson's, or 7ender's and Rickenbacker's too?
More specifically the 7ender Elites that are close in price as a Thunderbird... but they have poly finish, bolt-on neck, and active electronics.

Genuine question.

not only Gibson, but mostly yes, they're the most ridiculous.
i didn't say it's a bad thing, for a lot of people it doesn't matter at all to pay out the extra cash for the brand name.
of course i have whole different opinion about the boutique prices, when the instrument is made specially for you.

 

[Gaolee]

We got a little snow overnight, lovely day - I'll be inside playing the bass and working on model trains...........


I hope I never grow up

View attachment 2925579

View attachment 2925580

I thought seriously about riding the motorcycle to work this morning. Then decided not to. The driveway was the only icy spot, although there were iffy patches on the block where I live. Get past those two brief obstacles and it would have been smooth sailing.

Put that in the "what me worry" and forget about growing up file.

 

[bholder]

We got a little snow overnight, lovely day - I'll be inside playing the bass and working on model trains...........


I hope I never grow up

View attachment 2925579

View attachment 2925580

Oooh model trains! Need to get my tables set up some day in my garage...

 

[dukeorock]

I accept you have different opinion, but Epiphone sells basically the exact same bass (Classic-IV PRO) for 550$.

I accept you have different opinion, but Epiphone sells basically the exact same bass (Classic-IV PRO) for 550$.

Ok, I respect your opinion as well, but I’ve also played all the basses mentioned, so my opinion isn’t based on a brand name only...at least I would hope not!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

We got a little snow overnight, lovely day - I'll be inside playing the bass and working on model trains...........


I hope I never grow up

View attachment 2925579

View attachment 2925580

Lionels? Tycos? Marklins?