Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

You got it!!!!!!!!

Of course. It's a Thunderbird thing.

 

[JJR58]

Of course. It's a Thunderbird thing.

Uuummmmmm, yeah, that's it.

 

[GBassNorth]

Isn't that Letters to Cleo playing in the bar??

Yes it is. Not a bad band for the era. Kinda similar to the band Garbage. I liked em both not sure if LtC is still around. Haven't heard anything from them for nearly a decade. At that time in my life I was really into alternative and indie music with female lead vocals. My favorite bands back then were NY Loose, PET, Mazzy Star and Portishead, unfortunately all are defunct now, but I still listen to and play along with the CDs.

 

[GBassNorth]

So what strings are we all using on our Vintage Pros? I've just had mine set up with Rotosound nickels and it isn't working at all - they feel really floppy, particularly the E. I'm guessing it's a dodgy set as I've used these for years but it's put me off a bit.
I know this was discussed quite recently on here but the discussion moves on so quickly I've lost track of where it was!

Here's my VP string search findings to date...
Stock VP strings - killer aggressive sound, tons of upper mids and lower mids, too much finger noise and fret clack for my tastes. Preference on a scale of one to ten (with 10 tops) = 7

DR Silver Stars - completely tamed the top end, beautiful bright silver color, reduced finger noise, lost the aggressive nature of the bass, tension seemed low compared to the stock strings. Preference on a scale of one to ten = 6

EB Cobalt Flats - sweet top end, brighter sounding than the Silver Stars but less finger noise than the stock strings, great bottom end and solid mids, very bright for a flat, maybe even brighter sounding than some nickel rounds, with tone knob rolled off a lot of note definition is lost. Preference on a scale of one to ten = 8

Fender 7150 Pure Nickel Rounds - not too much finger noise, very nice top end, ultra punchy, beautiful lower mids and lows, very nice tension, excellent note definition even with the tone knob rolled off. Approaching nirvana for me. Excellent option for finger players who like Cobalt Flats but want a tad crisper sound. Preference on a scale of one to ten = 9

After a month or two of play time I'll flip these out for Roto rounds, if anyone else has a string selection they recommend for the VP please speak up. I'm still looking for the perfect string for this bass.

Notes:
Tone preference = deep, dark, smooth, well defined, lower mid punch, sweet upper mids, no brittle highs, no finger noise.
Feel preference = tight, not floppy, not rubbery, slick, not sticky, not rough, well balanced tension across all strings.
Visual preference = not much, no gaudy silk colors.
Playing style = fingers only, no pick, no slap, no tap, no pop.
Right hand home position = between the neck pup and neck heel.
Tone knob position = at or less than 50% up.
Pup volume positions = neck solo or neck set at twice the volume of the bridge pup.
Music played = everything from hard rock to polka and waltz, mostly swing and classic/progressive rock.

Also worthy of noting - the required string length on this bass far exceeds the required string length of my 35" scale basses. Some of the strings I've tried on this bass are borderline long enough in the G and D positions.

Have you tried Dr's? You won't have a problem with floppy strings with those!

Im a huge DR Black Beauties fan (both tension and sound) so I tried the DR Silver Stars on the VP. With standard tuning they were WAY too floppy. Didn't like them very much.

Those are the floppiest strings I can stand, and I have heavy gauge.

I'll second that on the DR Silver Stars.

Really? Try DR drops then... And tune standard eadg, like I did on one of my Hamer Blitz's. If you want piano bass that will do it!

I have a set of Helbourg strings that I normally use on my Warwicks that I'm going to try on the VP next. Our TBird club leader highly recommends them on Gibson basses.

 

[TBird1958]

I'll be very interested to hear your thoughts on the Jonas Hellborg strings and the VP, they are indeed great sounding on my '89 that has Lull pick ups - I'd suggest working on one's callouses before a night of finger style though!

 

[Nocturnal]

I haven't changed mine out from the stock yet - I don't "love" them. I'm thinking Ken Smith Rock Masters for it, it needs a bit more "bass and lo mid presence" to my ear.

I installed Rock Masters on my VP and am enjoying my re-acquaintance with them. I thought they sound much better than the stock strings.

Yes it is. Not a bad band for the era. Kinda similar to the band Garbage. I liked em both not sure if LtC is still around. Haven't heard anything from them for nearly a decade. At that time in my life I was really into alternative and indie music with female lead vocals. My favorite bands back then were NY Loose, PET, Mazzy Star and Portishead, unfortunately all are defunct now, but I still listen to and play along with the CDs.

Sounds like we listened to a lot of the same music back then. LTC were a great band and her voice sounds as good as she looks.

 

[TBird1958]

Thanks Andy!

 

[Engle]

So what strings are we all using on our Vintage Pros? I've just had mine set up with Rotosound nickels and it isn't working at all - they feel really floppy, particularly the E. I'm guessing it's a dodgy set as I've used these for years but it's put me off a bit.
I know this was discussed quite recently on here but the discussion moves on so quickly I've lost track of where it was!

Mine has RS66s and I’m pretty happy with them!

 

[GonePlaid]

Alright, which one of you bought that 8string? I was sent on a mission from someone here. Got to GC, and gone. We are not happy.

Always call first. Saves time, gas, or train fare. It still sux.

 

[GonePlaid]

these Rocotos are not only super hot but also pretty flavorful..
View attachment 3155307

They'd prolly kill my a$$

 

[GonePlaid]

Check out the guy strumming the t-bird like an acoustic geetar!!!

You can bet the music was dubbed either b4 or after.

 

[GonePlaid]

Maybe a different heat you might be able to.....................

Oh, I can take a Lot more heat than my bitter half or kid, just not as much as I used to handle. BTW, I hate jalapenos. The heat? Meh. The taste, yuck.

 

[GonePlaid]

I put Rotosound tapes on the '91 and haven't had a chance to play it since. This is causing anguish. I'm probably going to call in sick if this work stuff doesn't stop. It's all in my head. And my head is sick of waiting to find out what the strings sound like. Who wouldn't accept that as a reason for a day off?

Not only legitimate, but possibly qualifies for family emergency leave!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

You can bet the music was dubbed either b4 or after.

I did NOT expect a suspended chord there. Zappa's influence?

 

[JIO]

Watching a movie from the late 1990's and spotted a bird in play...

Nice white one.

Ah.., teen movies...

How many times do I have to say it? White Thunderbirds are the bomb on stage, lots of nice looking women in front of the bassist, it's no accident - Thunderbird!

Pic taken just before a throng of hot females rushed the stage... (not)

 

[GBassNorth]

If you look real hard you'll see her flash the Bird at you...

Right around 2:22 for just a split second.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Yes it is. Not a bad band for the era. Kinda similar to the band Garbage. I liked em both not sure if LtC is still around. Haven't heard anything from them for nearly a decade. At that time in my life I was really into alternative and indie music with female lead vocals. My favorite bands back then were NY Loose, PET, Mazzy Star and Portishead, unfortunately all are defunct now, but I still listen to and play along with the CDs.

Just scored tickets for Garbage at the fox in Oakland for early Oct. Very much looking forward to that

 

[RedVee]

Been pondering that Studio bird from a few weeks ago. If I had any handyman skills that could be a cool project base.
Do the wings thinner for weight reduction, maybe make it 32” scale to be different (and because I find it kinda comfortable).

That started me thinking of @Christine’s builds. Hope she is going ok.

 

[Larry V]

We also have a jar of dried chipotles that are good for all kinds of things. Jalapenos are ripening now. Those don't dry so well.

Jalapeño do dry really well... you have a jar of them and they're called chipotles.



What Makes a Chile a "Chipotle"?

They'd prolly kill my a$$

You're putting them in the wrong end!

Hey now!

If you look real hard you'll see her flash the Bird at you...

Right around 2:22 for just a split second.

...and if by 'Bird you mean Firebird, you'd be correct.

I'm on a roll!

Good morning, everyone!

 

[Count Bassie]

If you look real hard you'll see her flash the Bird at you...

Right around 2:22 for just a split second.

There's a good looking bird...