Thunderbird Club

[GonePlaid]

I don't yell Freebird often, but when I do, it is situations in which is more or less impossible. Last one was solo acoustic guitar player (who seemed amused, but also was playing for tips, so why didn't he at least make an attempt?).

There's a story that Johnny Van Zant and his wife were attending a performance of the Jacksonville Symphony and he hollered it out, whereupon his wife smacked him.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

There's a story that Johnny Van Zant and his wife were attending a performance of the Jacksonville Symphony and he hollered it out, whereupon his wife smacked him.

Him being a Van Zant boy, it's probably true (by all accounts).

 

[BadBassDrummer]

surprised these days don't ask for flameproofing, UL and Osha certificates for gear being carried in.....
we have to buy insurance for gigs with my corporate outfit...all negotiated into the contract.....a far cry from our FLA union cards of the 80s...

I'll just leave this here..

 

[Gaolee]

Lol! my experience with folks that talk like that is that; either they can't afford them or they don't play very well, usually both..

True, but you gotta admit those things are just butt ugly. If you can get as good or better sound out of something, anything else, it's worth it to avoid them. Markbass doesn't have anything special going for it, really, at least from what I can hear. I haven't spent any time with a Markbass amp, partly because I'm completely repulsed by their looks. I don't like the way Hartke cabinets look, with the aluminum cones, either. I also think they sound awful, but that's a different issue that isn't related to how shallow I truly am.

Oh, and I'm getting a Thunderbird painted Burgundy Mist because I'm swayed by looks alone. So, I must be a lousy player, because I could probably spend the money on a Markbass amp. But, I won't until they ditch the logo and trade in yellow for Burgundy Mist. It's a small thing to ask, really.

 

[Gaolee]

In case anybody ever wants to try something odd but wonderful, I recently stuck a set of p90 guitar pickups into my thunderbird. I love the look and feel of the Bird, but I would love more of a p sound most times. BAM! this does the trick.

That makes me wonder what it would sound like if you put P90s in place of the two parts of a split coil P. There would be a bit of modification necessary, but it might be an amazing sound. It would probably blow up amps, if they were hot P90s, because then you would have two of 'em right there in the same place.

I feel another project in the one of these days file coming on...

 

[Dadagoboi]

I tried looking in the dedicated Sterling threads for an answer to this question, but couldn't find an answer. Since there's a whole lot of bass knowledge in this group, I'm confident somebody here can he'p. So here's the issue: I have a Sterling SUB Ray 4 that I use in the current cover band. I like the active electronics, save one issue: the pots are bottom of the line, specifically the treble and bass controls. Their center detents are almost non-existent. I want to replace them, keeping the preamp, which will mean singer/guitarist Jay will have some soldering to do (he doesn't know that yet, but I'll burn one bridge at a time on this project). Is there anything particular I need to know in purchasing new pots, or can the active circuit boards be added to any pot? I don't even know how to play them, much less work on them. LOL!

Impedance has to be the same as the original pot (may be different for each pot) and taper also has to be the same. Original MusicMans used some weird pots but Sterlings are probably standard stuff.

 

[BklynKen]

Here's a Chevelle rig rundown. Lots of Thunderbird content. I'm linking directly to the bassist.

 

[Gaolee]

As if I needed another reason to love you people.

You probably did. We smell kinda funny sometimes.

 

[Gaolee]

Until a week or two ago when someone posted a video here, I had never heard Silversun Pickups, which is kind of appalling. Since then, about every other day someone has posted a link to one of their videos, across a broad spectrum of internet sources. I think they're my favorite new (as if) band. And some of their videos are just plain fun. And Nikki plays those sexy, sexy basses.

Guitar player isn't afraid to show off his Epi logo, either.

In that video, her behavior reminds me of a guitarist I played with. She was always late and spacey. She was fun to play with when she finally turned up, though. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been worth the effort. She also had a voice like Emmylou Harris, which is another reason to tolerate some eccentricity.

 

[Gaolee]

Thanks, it just requires that you hurl yourself down a slippery hill with reckless abandon and navigate around a few flags. The more reckless you are, the better your time.

A low regard for human life, including your own, and a high pain tolerance are keys to success in more fields of endeavor than most people recognize.

 

[GonePlaid]

Him being a Van Zant boy, it's probably true (by all accounts).

Just for the halibut, I went a'Googling. There are big band, concert band and orchestra arrangements of Free Bird. I was thinkin' of writing one. For $45. I can buy one-much easier.

 

[Count Bassie]

I played through one, wasn't impressed, esp. at the cost. But, 'tweetchie zone'. BTW, it needs ear tufts on the corners

I looked at the photo of it after reading this comment, and that's really funny!

 

[fasterpussycat]

I tried looking in the dedicated Sterling threads for an answer to this question, but couldn't find an answer. Since there's a whole lot of bass knowledge in this group, I'm confident somebody here can he'p. So here's the issue: I have a Sterling SUB Ray 4 that I use in the current cover band. I like the active electronics, save one issue: the pots are bottom of the line, specifically the treble and bass controls. Their center detents are almost non-existent. I want to replace them, keeping the preamp, which will mean singer/guitarist Jay will have some soldering to do (he doesn't know that yet, but I'll burn one bridge at a time on this project). Is there anything particular I need to know in purchasing new pots, or can the active circuit boards be added to any pot? I don't even know how to play them, much less work on them. LOL!

The pot values should be marked on the case.

 

[PillO]

Oh, and I'm getting a Thunderbird painted Burgundy Mist because I'm swayed by looks alone. So, I must be a lousy player, because I could probably spend the money on a Markbass amp. But, I won't until they ditch the logo and trade in yellow for Burgundy Mist. It's a small thing to ask, really.

OR... You are such a great player with such a great and identifiable tone, that there is nothing left to worry about except aesthetics...

Just trying to find a positive alternative however unlikely.

You probably did. We smell kinda funny sometimes.

Speak for yourself! I don't smell funny, I smell hilarious.

A low regard for human life, including your own, and a high pain tolerance are keys to success in more fields of endeavor than most people recognize.

It is how I have always succeeded... That and prostituting myself.

 

[PillO]

Thanks, it just requires that you hurl yourself down a slippery hill with reckless abandon and navigate around a few flags. The more reckless you are, the better your time.

A low regard for human life, including your own, and a high pain tolerance are keys to success in more fields of endeavor than most people recognize.

Now that I think about it, this more or less sums up the legal profession...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I tried looking in the dedicated Sterling threads for an answer to this question, but couldn't find an answer. Since there's a whole lot of bass knowledge in this group, I'm confident somebody here can he'p. So here's the issue: I have a Sterling SUB Ray 4 that I use in the current cover band. I like the active electronics, save one issue: the pots are bottom of the line, specifically the treble and bass controls. Their center detents are almost non-existent. I want to replace them, keeping the preamp, which will mean singer/guitarist Jay will have some soldering to do (he doesn't know that yet, but I'll burn one bridge at a time on this project). Is there anything particular I need to know in purchasing new pots, or can the active circuit boards be added to any pot? I don't even know how to play them, much less work on them. LOL!

Never been a fan of PCB mounted pots but you can't beat the production cost savings. Unfortunately, as PCBs become cheaper (meant for a one time only component insertion) removing stiff parts like pots usually damages them, regardless of the skill of the tech. RoHS lead free solder commonly used today doesn't help things. I would be willing to bet that if you sent it back to EB, they would swap the whole PCB assembly. Assuming there is room in the cavity, that the PCB is secured by something other (screws for example) than the pots and that you can find someone skilled enough, the option of wiring the new pots using say, 20 gauge stranded wire to the PCB is a good one since it opens a wide choice of high quality available pots. This option may also eliminate mechanical stress on the PCB. Of course, resistance value and power rating should be within 5% of the original parts.

 

[Gaolee]

OR... You are such a great player with such a great and identifiable tone, that there is nothing left to worry about except aesthetics...

Just trying to find a positive alternative however unlikely.

Or maybe a roadie. Schlepping a 360 is a bit of a chore at times. Fortunately, I don't have weekly gigs I have to deal with. If I did, the little Carvin amp would get a whole lot more stage time. It is plenty big for most venues I'm likely to play at, plus, both it and my pedalboard have DI capacity. Once the soundman has the signal, I only care if butts are moving.

 

[Gaolee]

Speak for yourself! I don't smell funny, I smell hilarious.

It is how I have always succeeded... That and prostituting myself.

I'm not even funny most of the time. It doesn't make the smell go away for some reason. It's why prostitution hasn't worked very well. I did drive the last of the Checker cabs in NYC, though. So, I know a few things I really didn't want to know about prostitutes. More reasons to avoid the whole issue, if you need a reason and don't own an NFL team.

 

[PillO]

RoHS lead free solder commonly used today doesn't help things.

I hate the new solder. Higher melting point makes it more difficult to work with (for those of us who are infrequent solderers). We wouldn't be in this situation if people had controlled themselves and not eaten solder. Oh well, I still have a stockpile of the good (old) stuff.

 

[Gaolee]

I hate the new solder. Higher melting point makes it more difficult to work with (for those of us who are infrequent solderers). We wouldn't be in this situation if people had controlled themselves and not eaten solder. Oh well, I still have a stockpile of the good (old) stuff.

You just need a high heat soldering gun. I used to drive myself crazy with a soldering iron, but since I got the soldering gun, life is great! It doesn't need to be hot all the time. You just pull the trigger, it heats way, way up, and the new stuff just melts and does its thing. Then you let go and in a matter of seconds, it is mostly cool again. Beats me how that works without blowing fuses, but it does.