• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#110,441
TravStaff said:
View attachment 3367772 View attachment 3367772 View attachment 3367773 I had always bat Fender guy but on a whim bought an Epi Pro bird and that was it.

I now own a 2006 Gibson Thunderbird studio
And a 2012 Gibson Tbird

The birds cut through the mix in my band better than my P-bass with Seymour Duncan quarter pounder pickups.

I’ve NEVER had an issue with neckdive either which is the first thing many people complain about. Maybe they are using cheap straps.

I’m thinking about adding a kill switch, I usually have both volume knobs and tone up all the way anyway so might replace one knob with a kill switch
Click to expand...
Sweet! I really like the finish on the 2012 bird!
Join the club if you're not already a member, jump in the waters fine!
 
  • Like
Reactions: ToddOfThunder, Chucky Stiletti, Mike.C. and 9 others
#110,445
  • Like
Reactions: ToddOfThunder, Klondike, GBassNorth and 7 others
#110,446
ThaCoast said:
So i'm debating swapping the pickups in my Tigerbird from passive to active. I've a set of EMG P/J that i pulled from a 73 pbass i had restored in the process. Currently, tiger sports a Quarter pounder split P in the middle, & a Classic stack J in the bridge (was part of a set but having 3 pickups in it really lacked tone rather than giving it variety. & I'm a passive guy dominantly, but was thinking, maybe one Active equipped bass wouldn't be the end. By all means, the current sound isn't bad at all, it's got balls & definition as all hell. It's all going to a single killswitch, to be kept in mind for the active pup swap if ever i do proceed with it.

Anyone wanna talk me out of installing Active pickups in my bass? If not, have any insight on how EMGS have worked for you perhaps. what you enjoy of them, or for those who don't use active pickups, what has put you off of them? I know i never was particularly drawn to the tone, but it might just be the guitars over bass pickups. in basses the preamp suffers more than the pups themselves.

EDIT: Tigerbird was built inspired by Nikki Sixx's Hamers & spectors which did sport EMGS going to single volumes. I guess, in retrospect, this would just be the nail in the coffin for the whole Nikki vibe. & listening to isolated motley crue bass tracks, & they do sound good.
Click to expand...

upload_2019-3-26_13-33-3.png


EMGs installed w/o a battery.

Verdict: The battery is necessary, if you want to have the same overall volume as with other passive basses. They don't sound bad without, but the lack of battery gets a lack of needed output boost. In which case, i'll be updating the output jack to a stereo one, along with finding space within my cavity for the battery. I'm quite pleased, I've never been an active guy, as life goes by things change, which can lead to good things :D

I'll most likely patch up the leftover pickup hole from the dual Jazz pickup of the bridge, take some sand paper to the emg covers to wear them down for the overall look. & seal the whole thing in a few more coats of satin - after having burned the patch work of course ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Engle, rdwil191, Nocturnal and 13 others
#110,447
dukeorock said:
Ok, did a quick voice/speech test on 6 different ribbon mics. 3 of them are vintage Shure 330’s. With decent earbuds or headphones, the differences should be apparent
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

My takeaway

1. Shure 330 ‘Uni-Ron’ ($500ish)- very smooth and even. Not a ton of low end. Could be a really nice drum overhead.
2. Shure 330 ‘Uni-Tron’ ($500ish)- very similar to the ‘Uni-Ron.’ Nice mic!
3. Shure 330 ‘Uni-Tron’ ($500ish)- VERY different from the other two. Has more of an SM57 kinda vibe
4. AEA R84 ($1,100 new)- very classic ribbon thing. Big lows, muted highs. Probably the darkest sounding of the bunch, but not in a bad way. Vintage RCA vibe.
5. Avantone CR-14 ($260 new)- the only Chinese made mic in this test. Highest output next to the Stager. I actually like this mic a lot and am tempted to grab a second one for stereo stuff and drum overheads. Nitpicking, I’d say the mids are less articulate and sometimes sound a bit ‘smeared’ compared to the others, but a fantastic value and really nice mic.
6. Stager SR-3 ($1,500 new)- the Stager starts with the RCA 44 concept, but shaved off a lot of low end and adds presence to the original design. Incredibly well made too!

For voiceover work, my favorite would possibly be the Stager, depending on the voice. The Shure 330 ‘Uni-Ron’ would be my second, followed by the Avantone for most voices. I still think the AEA has a certain ‘authoritative’ quality over the others, but that’s not always what’s needed
Click to expand...
Nice job. You sound like you could do the news on radio in case the music thing doesn’t work out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, Chucky Stiletti, GonePlaid and 5 others
#110,448
PillO said:
What was the coolest song? I like many of their songs. Especially the ones that are a bit tongue in cheek.

And I think googling someone is illegal in some states.
Click to expand...

When something new I like on LSUG comes on, I snap a quick pic of the screen so I don’t forget who they are and then explore them through Spotify when I get home. Great station that exposes a lot of talent to new listeners. When I find something great I’ll actually purchase a cd or two. Or sometimes a vinyl copy. I like to support new artists that way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, Chucky Stiletti, RedVee and 4 others
#110,450
TravStaff said:
View attachment 3367772 View attachment 3367772 View attachment 3367773 I had always bat Fender guy but on a whim bought an Epi Pro bird and that was it.

I now own a 2006 Gibson Thunderbird studio
And a 2012 Gibson Tbird

The birds cut through the mix in my band better than my P-bass with Seymour Duncan quarter pounder pickups.

I’ve NEVER had an issue with neckdive either which is the first thing many people complain about. Maybe they are using cheap straps.

I’m thinking about adding a kill switch, I usually have both volume knobs and tone up all the way anyway so might replace one knob with a kill switch
Click to expand...

IME Birds only require a single knob/pot. Try turning down the bridge pup entirely, you may be surprised. Also try cranking the neck pup up danger close to the strings. That's where little Ms Mojo lives.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ToddOfThunder, MCF, Miles_ONeal and 7 others
#110,451
MCF said:
When something new I like on LSUG comes on, I snap a quick pic of the screen so I don’t forget who they are and then explore them through Spotify when I get home. Great station that exposes a lot of talent to new listeners. When I find something great I’ll actually purchase a cd or two. Or sometimes a vinyl copy. I like to support new artists that way.
Click to expand...

I don't take a picture of the screen - can't use the cellphone while driving lest you incur the $1000 penalty. I just have to remember the artist name then look them up on Spotify once home. Also like you, I will pick up a CD of an artist I like too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, GBassNorth, Chucky Stiletti and 4 others
#110,453
Chucky Stiletti said:
interesting, our Petaluma is very close to Napa Valley where most CA wines come from..
really like (we get a bunch of them over here) Australian wines, would like to try that as I never seen an Aussie sparking wine...
Click to expand...

Yes there are a few. Sparkling Reds as well. Mostly traditional style whites (shhh can’t say Champagne) and a couple of Prosecco style.

A few better ones (I’m told) (trad style):

* Croser (Petaluma) are Sth Aussie,
* Arras is Taswegian and
* Chandon from Victoria.
You may recognise that last name, yep it is the French company. They have an investment in Victoria.
(I think they do the same in the US?)

Chucky Stiletti said:
Tapioca pudding on the specials today!
Click to expand...

I haven’t had Tapioca pud for a very long time. No hurry to change that,
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, GBassNorth, Chucky Stiletti and 3 others
#110,454
RedVee said:
Yes there are a few. Sparkling Reds as well. Mostly traditional style whites (shhh can’t say Champagne) and a couple of Prosecco style.

A few better ones (I’m told) (trad style):

* Croser (Petaluma) are Sth Aussie,
* Arras is Taswegian and
* Chandon from Victoria.
You may recognise that last name, yep it is the French company. They have an investment in Victoria.
(I think they do the same in the US?)



I haven’t had Tapioca pud for a very long time. No hurry to change that,
Click to expand...
I love Tapioca pudding.:bag:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal, GBassNorth, Chucky Stiletti and 3 others
#110,458
ThaCoast said:
View attachment 3367931

EMGs installed w/o a battery.

Verdict: The battery is necessary, if you want to have the same overall volume as with other passive basses. They don't sound bad without, but the lack of battery gets a lack of needed output boost. In which case, i'll be updating the output jack to a stereo one, along with finding space within my cavity for the battery. I'm quite pleased, I've never been an active guy, as life goes by things change, which can lead to good things :D

I'll most likely patch up the leftover pickup hole from the dual Jazz pickup of the bridge, take some sand paper to the emg covers to wear them down for the overall look. & seal the whole thing in a few more coats of satin - after having burned the patch work of course ;)
Click to expand...
upload_2019-3-26_16-5-43.png


fixed that for you..:thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Engle, ToddOfThunder, GonePlaid and 4 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back