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Thunderbird Club

#73,341
JIO said:
It's a slippery slope. Without getting to deep down the rabbit hole, Gibsons are generally know for being made of mahogany, and Fenders alder, ash and maple. They both have different pu's/pots (250/500) and neck fitment designs. (bolt-on/set-neck/neck-thru) A fender does not sound like a Gibson, and visa-versa. Class dismissed. :laugh:
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kat888 said:
The only significant difference between my two Thunderbirds is a little brightness.

Exhibit A:
maple neck/ebony FB, 6 screw neck, poplar body, 2 point low mass bridge/claw tailpiece, Thunderbucker 66S pickup, single volume pot.

Exhibit B:
mahogany neck/rosewood FB, set neck, mahogany body, 3 point bridge, Thunderbucker 66S pickup, single volume pot.
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JIO said:
I listen to those who design and make instruments, like the late Phil Kubicki. Phil said this; "When I'm asked, what's the best wood to use for the body of a bass, people are surprised to hear me say that the neck wood actually contributes more to the sound of a solid body instrument than the body wood does - although, to be honest, I think the pickups and electronics probably play the largest role in determining the plugged-in sound of an electric bass."

Having owned a few Factors - I'm here to say that what he said was true.
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Perhaps the new initiation should be to go out into Gen Pop and claim that tone wood, neck wood, fretboard, strings, pickups, etc. make no difference to sound. Only shape matters.
 
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#73,344
GonePlaid said:
Yes. My right thumb is on the front pup and right"pinkie"on the rear plucking with index and"bird"(appropriate)fingers. Ring finger just kinda hangs there. I took both of them off at one time and forgot where the hell I'd put them but got lucky and found them again. I like keeping it "as built". I f I wanna get rounder tone-on ballads, thumb goes on neck end,"pinkie"on front cover. Might be "bad"technique but it works for me.. Oh. If I'm using the plectrum,it's between pups.:bassist::)
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Cool. I ask because it seems uncomfortable (to me) and I also heard they can affect the tone? Do you use roundwounds?
 
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#73,349
Chucky Stiletti said:
Cool. I ask because it seems uncomfortable (to me) and I also heard they can affect the tone? Do you use roundwounds?
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No. I prefer the rounder sound of flats-currently"Chromes".I DID use rounds years ago but noticed they had a tendency to chew up my fingers and the frets. I never noticed any difference on or off but I wasn't really looking for that. For awhile in the late 70's, I used Ernie Ball"Red Tubies"nylon tape wound and,yes,they were RED. BTW, on my Epi 5 string NR it's a P/J set-up and I rest my thumb on the"P" pup. I rarely use the "J":D
 
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#73,350
For clarification our group does"Classic Rock"and jazz-we could actually do all jazz but that's not what the crowd wants to hear. We throw some in for our own sake but they'd rather hear"My Girl"or "Johnny B. Goode",etc. Every once in awhile someone trying to be"funny"hollers"FREE BIRD".The crowd laughs and then we play it. Nyaah,nyaah.:smug:-Be careful what you ask for!:D
 
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#73,351
JJR58 said:
On that note, this is for @dukeorock.
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Rumblefish - Hey I have one of those, and not a bit of Tort on it!
blackfishbodyfront-jpg-jpg.jpg

blackfishbodyrear-jpg-jpg.jpg

Reverend Rumblefish 5L (one of only four made in this finish). The "Blackwood" finish is actually Formica and it sounds great! They had some truly funky finishes (fish eye, lava, Blackwood, etc).

I now return you to your regularly scheduled Thunderbird goodness.
 
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#73,352
JIO said:
It's a slippery slope. Without getting to deep down the rabbit hole, Gibsons are generally know for being made of mahogany, and Fenders alder, ash and maple. They both have different pu's/pots (250/500) and neck fitment designs. (bolt-on/set-neck/neck-thru) A fender does not sound like a Gibson, and visa-versa. Class dismissed. :laugh:
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Don't forget largely single coil vs largely Humbucker. That is a HUGE difference!
 
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#73,353
GBassNorth said:
Rumblefish - Hey I have one of those, and not a bit of Tort on it!
View attachment 2965826
View attachment 2965827
Reverend Rumblefish 5L (one of only four made in this finish). The "Blackwood" finish is actually Formica and it sounds great! They had some truly funky finishes (fish eye, lava, Blackwood, etc).

I now return you to your regularly scheduled Thunderbird goodness.
Click to expand...

I have a strange feeling that i'm going to get another demerit and sent to the corner of my room.
 
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#73,356
JJR58 said:
I have a strange feeling that i'm going to get another demerit and sent to the corner of my room.
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LOL - of all the basses I own (and that's a lot!) it by far has the best resonance unplugged. Not my favorite bass plugged in but darn nice and light years ahead of any other Jazz equipped Fender bass I've played. Alas, at the end of the day, I'm a Humbucker sucker and have over time migrated away from single coil offerings.
 
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