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Thunderbird Club

#9,061
tomshepp said:
I think the pickups are the most significant part of the TBird thing.... for me anyway. After that?, I think the mahogany and either set neck or neck through.... as opposed to either Maple/alder or maple/ash and the bolt on design. As far as the coolness factor?, I like em' both, but the TBird edges out the Fenders.
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I tend to agree - it all depends if eyes are shut when listening to a "T-bird". Sound wise, it's the pu's/electronics, their placement between the nut and bridge etc., and the type of wood. Those factors on any shaped bass will "sound" more or less like a T-bird. Looks wise, a T-bird is a T-bird. (body primarily) Put them together and you have a full-on 100% T-bird. Bolt-on vs neck-through, 3 point bridge vs 2 part or mahogany neck vs maple neck etc.., very minor differences sonically. Historically, the major difference (in sound) between a Fender and a T-bird is in the pu's (single-coil vs hum-buckers)
 
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#9,062
TBH, i prefer bolt on necks to neck through construction for a few reasons: 1- I don't buy into that neck through has more sustain & what not being that everything is on one path rather than being split, 2- if something were to happen to the neck, i can replace it faster & inexpensively rather than having to trash the body/neck portion & buying a complete new one, 3- it's fun to mix & match.

The 3 point bridge is really just to each their own. I like it cause it's the classic look. But gibson could've done better with it compared to any other bridge out there with individual saddle height adjustment. But since the whole bridge is on a curve i guess there's no need for that. What justifies a true tbird is the originals (& accurate copies). But most of all, a tbird is the shape. Put those same pickups into an ash/alder body & you get a completely different tone. It's bright, has that in your face high mids punch.
 
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#9,064
ThaCoast said:
Since i'm starting an RD bass build for a friend of mine, I took the template i had just to see if i would actually want to build my own someday. Well the answer is no. As much as it does look cool & is different from a bird, i much prefer the thunderbird body shape over the RD. Never had a chance to try the Non-reverse model but i have a feeling that i wouldn't want to build my own either. No diss on it, i just think to my eyes the reverse looks more appealing & has that attack look to it. IDK :p
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Agreed! Also not a diss to to the non-rev fans, just never appealed to me, while I love the reversed TBird.
 
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#9,067
ThaCoast said:
TBH, i prefer bolt on necks to neck through construction for a few reasons: 1- I don't buy into that neck through has more sustain & what not being that everything is on one path rather than being split, 2- if something were to happen to the neck, i can replace it faster & inexpensively rather than having to trash the body/neck portion & buying a complete new one, 3- it's fun to mix & match.

The 3 point bridge is really just to each their own. I like it cause it's the classic look. But gibson could've done better with it compared to any other bridge out there with individual saddle height adjustment. But since the whole bridge is on a curve i guess there's no need for that. What justifies a true tbird is the originals (& accurate copies). But most of all, a tbird is the shape. Put those same pickups into an ash/alder body & you get a completely different tone. It's bright, has that in your face high mids punch.
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You may be correct that a mahogany body helps land a 'true' T-bird tone but I'd have to see what @Dadagoboi has to add to this as he builds splendid T-bird-esk basses out of various body woods with full on T-bird pu's/electronics. As a personal example, I made a Fenderbird using a mahogany Epi body, a maple/rw bolt-on neck and (2) Wilkinson MM style hum-buckers with an w/active preamp and I can dial in a pretty effective T-bird tone with it.
 
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#9,068
Thank you for the Birthday wishes guys!
I have today off and for the most part I'll be very self indulgent and just have some fun - including playing the basses :) However the Queen does have to repair one the humble castle's toilets today as well - Some Rockstar :roflmao:
 
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#9,069
veebass said:
Just to prove not all Australian wild life is dangerous.
These guys and another one out of shot showed up at the window this morning while I was reading and carried on at me until I got up and put some seed in the feeder,landing on me while I put the seed in.
They aren't domesticated- completely wild. This type often turn up when it is overcast.
We have five species of Cockatoo and six species of smaller parrots visit our property. Most of them will visit the feeder from time to time.
The birdlife here is amazing.
Not TBirds- but pretty nice anyway.
2qxb7te.jpg


EDIT: More visitors. These guys chased the first ones off!

143doh0.jpg
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Aren't those just baby angry Cassowaries? :roflmao:
 
#9,071
JIO said:
You may be correct that a mahogany body helps land a 'true' T-bird tone but I'd have to see what @Dadagoboi has to add to this as he builds splendid T-bird-esk basses out of various body woods with full on T-bird pu's/electronics. As a personal example, I made a Fenderbird using a mahogany Epi body, a maple/rw bolt-on neck and (2) Wilkinson MM style hum-buckers with an w/active preamp and I can dial in a pretty effective T-bird tone with it.
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The original TBirds (including Bicentenials) were made with GENUINE Honduras Mahogany. Everything after that was not. I'd say very few people have actually compared a through neck 60s TBird side by side to other versions. So it's a moot point.

If a person likes whatever TBird he owns with whatever pickups it has in it, that's all that matters.

I Own a '77 Sting Ray with original Alnico magnet pickup. Doesn't sound much like a 60s Tbird to me. Neither does my bolt on Epi, come to think of it.
 
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#9,074
Dadagoboi said:
I Own a '77 Sting Ray with original Alnico magnet pickup. Doesn't sound much like a 60s Tbird to me. Neither does my bolt on Epi, come to think of it.
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Now that's funny! Good one, Carlo!

I guess my point was more about the "Frankenstein-ing" of a TBird. That being that one MUST start with a TBird body then that's the launch point for mods. It would be like someone dropping a 454 SS motor into a Mustang and then claiming it was a Chevelle. That's why to me, a Fender body with TBird p/ups does not a TBird make.
 
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#9,077
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#9,079
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