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Thunderbird Club

#101,461
GonePlaid said:
There are a coupla places I found while a-googling that have in stock Honduran mahogany. Probly want an arm and a leg for it.
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The same species is being grown commercially now and is calles genuine mahogany. It is relatively inexpensive. It may or may not be worth a fig. I have not worked with it.
 
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#101,463
Gaolee said:
The same species is being grown commercially now and is calles genuine mahogany. It is relatively inexpensive. It may or may not be worth a fig. I have not worked with it.
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What I've read about Honduran mahogany seems to indicate the wood was 35-50 y/o when Gibson got it so 'pre aged'. IDK if new growth would(wood?)have the same characteristics.
 
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#101,466
dukeorock said:
IMO, the MB series amps are so superior to the PF’s, it’s silly. I’d do that if I were you. I still have a busted MB800 sitting around somewhere. Keep forgetting to get it fixed!
My D800 has been so reliable I just haven’t thought about amps in awhile.



The only reason I’d ever use any contour on any amp, is for a quick ‘room eq tweak’ on an upright gig. Never on electric bass, but that could just be me :)
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I almost never mess with eq or any other tone shaping with amps. I figured out that the upright should have closer to 15k on the low pass on the Broughton, but that is about all I do unless the envelope or octaver are on. Then that is the only addition. Bow through the whole chain is amusing. Useless but amusing. Which reminds me, I never made a fuzz bow recording. I am remiss.
 
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#101,467
TBird1958 said:
Exactly Roger. Even the 700RBII is really loud, I always think of The Nasty Habits as a loud rock band, but honestly I've never had that amp up half way at any venue - it would kill people.
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It could be an old Acoustic stack that way. Except those open up pretty well at low volumes.
 
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#101,468
GonePlaid said:
Seriously, most of our gigs start 6:30-ish while folks are still ordering and eating so we gotta"keep it down", playing standards and bossa novas. By about mid first set we can start really rockin': Kansas City, Mack the Knife,etc.:smug: In other words, our usual audience is 50+ and goes home early. And so do we.:)
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The perfect gigs!
 
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#101,470
Chucky Stiletti said:
or just making one load in and one load out trip. love to look at the drummer's face while doing it..:laugh:
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I just end up hauling everything else, too. CroMagnon also means pack mule.

Plus I have a van. It is a small one now, but it is still a van that is big enough for a PA, drum kit, bass rig, bass guitar and upright, all shoehorned in like a puzzle.
 
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#101,471
GonePlaid said:
What I've read about Honduran mahogany seems to indicate the wood was 35-50 y/o when Gibson got it so 'pre aged'. IDK if new growth would(wood?)have the same characteristics.
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No, it would not. I have some chunks of Honduras that I have had for 30 years now, and they were fairly old when I got them. I made some chairs out of that wood, but have not decided what to do with the rest. There is not a lot, and I am in no rush.
 
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#101,472
GonePlaid said:
I bought that Kasino new in 1970. It still has the original speakers which do 'fart' a little below A, but it still sounds pretty good, esp. for 70s technology. If anyone wants to hear it, go on YT at "Driftwoods of Treasure Coast Live", published by John Kerrison(bro-in-law)and look for "Ain't too proud to beg" , "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll" and "Tequila". Unfortunately, due to heat and humidity, I was playing an Epi EB-3L, not the 67 'Bird.
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do you remember what you paid for it?
 
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#101,473
wolfkeller said:
I was just reading something about the Vintage Pro epi. Being the Evil lefty i havent touched one. Ive heard that these have some great pickups in them. I recall that its a new design specifically for this bass. For you who have both, how would you compare to modern Gibson's?
One of my tbirds (non gibson) has always sounded kinda crappy to me. Mostly due to cheap wood i believe. Ive tried many different pickups as a way to improve the sound. As of now ive settled on Gibson's which do a good job. Ive looked at the Thunderbuckers but maybe these epi pups?
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I have a modern Gibson TBird (gold Anniversary model in my avatar) as well as an Eppi VP TBird and an Eppi Goth TBird.

The Anniversary Bird is creamy smooth to light grind along the same tonal path as a Fender Precision except a bit more on both the top and bottom end if needed. Generally more heft than a P bass, more low and low mids. I have some very nice Fender P basses that have pretty much been retired by this bird.

The Epiphone TBird Vintage Pro is all that on steroids in every direction. Gobs of grit and grind if needed, just about as creamy on the bottom end as the Gibby, sparkling high end if needed, and authoritative mids. It's a much more aggressive sound than my Gibson and wants to be noticed in a mix. I don't have a vintage 1960's TBird to compare it to but those that do claim it's about as close to a vintage bird as they've ever heard. Eppi knocked it outa the park with this one.

My Epiphone Goth has been modded with all new electronics, but in its original state it was much more mid focused than the others. Not much grit or grind, plenty of bottom end and adequate top end. Stock it didn't sound as close to the traditional TBird sound as I was anticipating, might be because of the different pups and maple bolt on neck.
 
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#101,474
GBassNorth said:
I have modern Gibson TBird (gold Anniversary model in my avatar) as well as an Eppi VP TBird and an Eppi Goth TBird.

The Anniversary Bird is creamy smooth to light grind along the same tonal path as a Fender Precision except a bit more on both the top and bottom end if needed. Generally more heft than a P bass, more low and low mids. I have some very nice Fender P basses that have pretty much been retired by this bird.

The Epiphone TBird Vintage Pro is all that on steroids in every direction. Gobs of grit and grind if needed, just about as creamy on the bottom end as the Gibby, sparkling high end if needed, and authoritative mids. It's a much more aggressive sound than my Gibson and wants to be noticed in a mix. I don't have a vintage 1960's TBird to compare it to but those that do claim it's about as close to a vintage bird as they've ever heard. Eppi knocked it outa the park with this one.

My Epiphone Goth has been modded with all new electronics, but in its original state it was much more mid focused than the others. Not much grit or grind, plenty of bottom end and adequate top end. Stock it didn't sound as close to the traditional TBird sound as I was anticipating, might be because of the different pups and maple bolt on neck.
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Very good, be cool to try these pickups out if i come across them
 
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#101,477
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