I'm soon to try the Cobalt rounds, they last longer then SS's for me. And they can get good and grindy.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
-
- Tags
- club thunderbird
I'm soon to try the Cobalt rounds, they last longer then SS's for me. And they can get good and grindy.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I believe our Queen erm I mean moderator Mark coined this phrase. Thunderbirds without the modern black ceramic magnet pickups have a relatively high output, mild distortion and lots of treble and mids, combined with round wound strings and a pick you get the "angry piano". Results may vary due to amp, amp settings, cabinets and playing style.
Good luck on the Cobalt Rounds. I tried them on one of my other basses when they first came out and couldn't get them back off quick enough. Way over the top on zing and top end sizzle, ultra rough surface, smooth quiet slides were impossible for me. In the one or two days I had them on I noticed a small pile of brass filings at the nut, I can only assume they would also be very aggressive on the frets.
On the positive side, they were very loud and clear with lots of bottom end and punch. I am considering trying the Cobalt flats just to see what they are all about. To be fair, I'm not even much of a Stainless Steel guy, I typically gravitate to nickel Rounds or tapes or in a few cases even flats. I'm thinking the VP might like really bright flats, which makes me think the Cobalt flats might do the trick.
I've used then before and had the opposite experience, i love em, and when they tamed a little , they were even better, for me anyway.
In your case on the VP, i'd at least try their flats.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,208
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Spot on!
I posted "what I like about America" by Johnny Smoke awhile back............. You were nailing it there!
Regarding the clips Mark posted, I thought he got great tone from the stock Gibson pickups, much better results than I ever got.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I was going to suggest comparing the sound your bass makes with the final chord of the Beatles' Day In the Life. That's the piano sound. Then make it more aggro with a hard attack and lots of sustain and overtones. Listening to Mark's demos is a whole lot quicker and easier.
Interesting! I'm on my 3rd set of em, and I'm thinking of going up a gauge for the 4th. The only complaint about my Forte-x (with US/Hazlab pre + EMGs) is that I had a hard time taming that high end piano clarity that ventured too much into 6 string territory on the D & the G strings, without rolling the tone off enough to make it dull - by way of bass knobs or amp EQ. (Although i rarely touch the D, and G strings are for arses!)
Tried a dozen+ different strings in the few years, and finally settled on the cobalt rounds almost a year ago. I think they sound great right out of the package, and seem to last a while with a slow loss of newness. Curious now to try the 110 set ... as I like a thicker string, and I'm wondering if it'll fatten up them D&Gs even more?
Acoustic amps are hard to find in the Netherlands/Europe
I just found a Acoustic B2 in a shop. Will that be a way to get to the vintage Acoustic sound or is this a lesser member of the family??
I just found a Acoustic B2 in a shop. Will that be a way to get to the vintage Acoustic sound or is this a lesser member of the family??
- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
I actually like the stock Gibson pickups. I love ke the Lollars more, but I think the stock ones are kinda cool in their own way, especially on the 2014. In that demo clip, I was using my Mesa M9 which is pretty zingy and those pickups benefit from that
I would think so! I ran 50-110 for years...still do on lots of basses, but for some reason, not my T Birds...considering it again, though
Yes, I can't fault the finish on my Epi Vintage Pro. It is very good.
Over the last few years I bought three MIM Fenders that cost about the same or more. I have since moved two of them on. None of them were as well finished or had comparable fret work.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
Will @Gaolee is the authority, but afaik, those are not in the same league as the ACC 360 and 370 amps.
B-2 Bass head? - unofficial acoustic control corp forum
Since we are on the topic of stock pickups, I would be interested to hear from some of you folks, who have a 2015 bird or EB from there abouts and can compare to stock pups in your other birds (@GBassNorth and @Gaolee?). I only have the experience with the 2015. So, I am really not familiar with earlier and more recent models. Please disregard the differences in coil tapping - think more of both pups full on. Try and avoid confusing condiment metaphors if at all possible.
Well if some people didn't keep bring it up, people won't ask question, and we won't have to keep talking about it...
Rights of Initiation: Wearing butt bows, along with a tube top or polyester shirt? Interpretive dance? Ritual sacrifice? Showing your effects pedal(s) AND the box(es) they came in? Videos capturing new members involved in any combination of the above, while holding new Thunderbird?
Last edited:
Stevis - that's a great question. To be clear, I don't have a 2015 TBird but I do have a 2014 EB which is the same electronics (obviously not the same woods or construction methods) as the 2015 TBird. So you'll need to cross verify my response with others but I suspect it will be directionally correct. Also keep in mind I'm a fingers guy, no pic, no slap.Since we are on the topic of stock pickups, I would be interested to hear from some of you folks, who have a 2015 bird or EB from there abouts and can compare to stock pups in your other birds (@GBassNorth and @Gaolee?). I only have the experience with the 2015. So, I am really not familiar with earlier and more recent models. Please disregard the differences in coil tapping - think more of both pups full on. Try and avoid confusing condiment metaphors if at all possible.
If I were to put my Eppi VP, 50th anniversary TBird, and 2014 EB each on a scale from smooth and warm at one end (equaling zero) and rowdy and rude at the other end (equaling ten) they would come out at about...
EB - a score of two or three. Very warm, no real growl or grit, deep, dark, excessive low mids and lows.
Gibby TBird - a score of about five or six. Warm, some grit and grind, nice clear highs, balanced lows and mids.
Eppi VP - a score of about nine or ten. Very aggressive, plenty of grit and grind, crisp highs, strong mids and upper mids, less lows and low mids.
Disclaimers - I'm running completely different strings on each bass. The EB has nickel round Chromes, the Gibby has Gold plated Optimas and the Eppi VP had stock strings (I would assume SS Rounds) in this comparison. I've since put Silver Stars (similar to Black Beauties) on the VP and it calmed it down, but too much. The Eppi and Gibby are very similar construction but completely different electronics. The EB really is almost more Fender like than Gibson - swamp ash body, maple set neck, tort guard, soundwise kind of a variant of a black top Jazz or P bass on steroids.
Of course, I have been up all freaking night doing homework, so the first thought I had was "That bed looks comfy. Oh, nice bass too..."
