Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

?...I like a fairly thundrous tone, and rolling off at least some of the highs helps get there. But I sometimes tweak it. I could do that at the amp, but not on the fly while playing- such as when we go straight from one song or mood into another.

Pretty much the same here. My amp has infinitely more tone shaping capability than my basses but I have a tendency to take a "set it and forget it" stance with my amp (exception being adjustments during sound check to compensate for room dynamics). My passive on board settings normally heavily favor the neck and largely turn the tone knob way down, then I dial in the bridge pup to add clarity and bump the tone knob one way or the other to get the level of crispness I need.

All that said, I could probably dime my on board bass controls and pups then fidget with my amp controls to get the sound I want but with all the knobs and choices and options on the face of the amp...

...it would take me ten times longer to get there. (Screen shot of the same amp I use, not my actual amp, I take no responsibility for the settings on the amp in the picture). It is a fantastic amp and based on the old Gibson GB-440, which I think was based on an Acoustic brand amp. Kicks butt with the TBirds.

Anti-clockwise, not counter-clockwise. Get it right lad.

That's Anti-intuitive.

View it at full res; I see six drum mics in the pic, counting the two overheads.

Not sure if I counted right, but I think I counted seven, including the mic in the kick drum on the right. Should sound great either way.

 

[Count Bassie]

Bust out a Kilt, Roger!

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Ha! Not with these legs!

 

[JJR58]

Bust out a Kilt, Roger!

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He's one cool cat.

 

[dukeorock]

Is the drum kit mic'd, kick and overhead only?
Looking forward to hearing some of this. If you're allowed to post it.

Wait for it...

View it at full res; I see six drum mics in the pic, counting the two overheads.

Yes, except the hi hat mic isn’t connected...there’s a mic inside the main kick, then we placed a marching band style kick in front of that kick and mic’d it with my AEA R84 ribbon mic. The overheads are ribbons as well. Coles 4038 clones made some dude in New Jersey.

How many basses? I see three.

Correct! For now, at least. Brought the Hofner, Gibson T Bird and Sabre, but have only used the Hofner so far

I'm more interested in the guitar...Kay?....old Kalamazoo?..

Adrian’s main guitar is a Martin. That weird arch top is something the engineer found at an antique store for $20. It’s a no name

 

[JJR58]

Tumultous Tuesday?

 

[MCF]

I'm funnin'. I like-and play-a lot of jazz. Doing a jazz jam tonight. Unfortunately, typing doesn't indicate 'tongue firmly imbedded in cheek'.

TFIIC.

 

[PillO]

Back to slinging my bass kinda low. The higher up I wear it, the more serious things get... I need music to be fun again.

Go full Trujillo!

 

[MCF]

I'm not a musician, I'm a bass player...

John Kruk:

Leave it to you to quote the Kruckster.

 

[MCF]

playing here never gets old....zero adult supervision as it's tucked away in the hills.....goes back to the mid 19th century including the old still out back (they call the stuff "drip" round these parts)......Neil Young used to show up unannounced and play in here in the 90s...
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surprisingly a great sounding room..
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Did you ever catch Neil there? I believe he tried out versions of his songs on Harvest Moon at a bar close to the ranch. Was that the place?

 

[MCF]

I just got to keep testing the waters here.

Now you’ve done it. Time for a Britt Ekland fix.

 

[MCF]

Really, it's ok. i must move from the corner now.



I can do without DLR's voice on this one.

And now Debbie!

Thus my love of Mel Brooks' movies. None of which could be made today.

Well, Maybe Silent Movie? Filmed at my Alma Mater, UC Irvine!

 

[JJR58]

And now Debbie!

With all respect to her, yes.

 

[Engle]

I'm 'replying' to Mark but this is a general question, and I'm not 'having a go' at anyone either, I'm curious...

Why would you *need* to change your tone? I've always had one basic 'tone' = bass > amp or preamp. Any variation, as Mark says, is achieved by changing the position of my right hand, changing between pick and fingers and changing dynamics (it may stem from my days as a 'cellist -- there are no tone controls on a 'cello). It's bass, no one notices the tone anyway.

Now I have two tones -- bass > amp or preamp and bass > cat tail > amp or preamp.

For me it depends what I’m playing. I’m in a cover band, so the tone I use for “I feel good” is different than the tone for Sledgehammer, or Carry on Wayward son.
I also play some jazz, sometimes with a burpy JB tone.
And I was in a reggae band. Even there I would roll the tone back for the dubbier stuff and roll it up a bit for the ska.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Did you ever catch Neil there? I believe he tried out versions of his songs on Harvest Moon at a bar close to the ranch. Was that the place?

You're thinking of The Catalyst..

 

[MCF]

Thanks guys for the fast paced response on my should I EMG question xD I"ve pulled the EMGs out of hiding, so i will be doing some tests over the course of next week - too busy with other builds & music ventures .

Also, browsing Reverb & I thought i"d leave these here. Not mine, just found them unique & cool + they're birds

Gibson Thunderbird IV 1996 Sparkle Red | GT Gear
Gibson Thunderbird Silverburst | Michael's Gear Locker
2001 Gibson Blackbird Thunderbird Nikki Sixx Limited Run Bass Guitar w/OHSC

I wish my dad had kept the blackbird he had way back, definitely would've owned it afterwards. But i'm equally happy, if not more, of owning his DeArmond Starfire special III he had owned for 7-8 years before passing it down to me. It's one of my main guitars.

Oh that Sixx is nice!

 

[Count Bassie]

For me it depends what I’m playing. I’m in a cover band, so the tone I use for “I feel good” is different than the tone for Sledgehammer, or Carry on Wayward son.
I also play some jazz, sometimes with a burpy JB tone.
And I was in a reggae band. Even there I would roll the tone back for the dubbier stuff and roll it up a bit for the ska.

Funny, I tend to pick a tone for the gig/ night and pretty much hang there all night. Reggae is different than 80s pop, but I pretty much dial in and go...

 

[Gaolee]

It’s funny, when I play my Gibson T Bird, the bridge pickup acts as a sort of ‘tone control’ and the neck pickup is always all the way up, but I rarely turn the bridge all the way down. I’d swear it sounds better using both pickups. But, my Cataldo only has one pickup and I’ve never once thought, “if only this bass had a bridge pickup.” Gotta be some weird psychological stuff going on there for me.

You use the bridge pickup the same way I do. Except I use the tone knob as well. Come to the dark side, Mark!

 

[Gaolee]

Update. Found a gig bag for the Vintage Pro. 69.99 with free shipping. And awesome support. Emailed back and forth, and they were very patient with me, even getting the inside dimensions to me.

Website is coffingear.com. the model that fits is the VX3. The other bass bag is the EB something. It's a half inch shorter and a few narrower. Should fit the other birds....but doubt it would fit the VP. I have no affiliation with these guys....just passing on info.

Seems high quality. Expect it to last.

Also not happy with the Dunlap strap locks. Stick out too damn far. First time trying these. Seem nice, but need a smaller profile.

Gonna go back to the ones I have on the Jazz and Ric.....as soon as I remember who freakin makes 'em.

The VP kicked ass in the final rehearsal for our Houston gig. The Jazz already shipped with the rest of the gear....might be carrying this with me.

What's the chances the VP fitting on the overhead compartment in a smaller Delta plane??? LOL.

Good luck with Delta. Thats all I have to say about that!

I have straplocks called Loxx or soething close. They are much lower profile than Dunlap or Schaller. They work like Dunlaps.

 

[Gaolee]

Remove the neck.

Another job for the versatile Sawzall!

 

[Gaolee]

I'm 'replying' to Mark but this is a general question, and I'm not 'having a go' at anyone either, I'm curious...

Why would you *need* to change your tone? I've always had one basic 'tone' = bass > amp or preamp. Any variation, as Mark says, is achieved by changing the position of my right hand, changing between pick and fingers and changing dynamics (it may stem from my days as a 'cellist -- there are no tone controls on a 'cello). It's bass, no one notices the tone anyway.

Now I have two tones -- bass > amp or preamp and bass > cat tail > amp or preamp.

Because we can. Some days it doesn't sound right and a tone or pickup tweak fixes it. Same with moving attack location and technique. Different days need different things.

 

[Gaolee]

On the Pro-V, if I go with a simple VV set up, I'll have 2 spare holes. One of them, I think could house and on/off switch because I typically leave the last bass played plugged in. That way, rather than unplug, I can just turn it off.

And for the rest, tear it all out, go passive and install Alumitones. And remove the frets. That is what thos bass guitars really want to be.