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Thunderbird Club

#110,841
I haven't paid that much attention to strings, core shapes, gauge of outer windings, none of that kind of thing, probably because I find the cost of experimenting mostly prohibitive. I go shop for strings when I need them.Tension, gauge, steel or nickel, that's all I've ever considered.
I don't know what's on this Bird, round and steel I think. But I like them. Pretty flexy but not too thin.
 
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#110,842
Count Bassie said:
Thanks guys, I'll bust out the little screwdriver and peg 'em down a little. I'll just eyeball them, give them a play and adjust till happy.
I almost always stand when playing, and though I don't do a lot of showy prancing about, animation happens, and "the spirit moves", so sometimes I do experience a little zeal during a set!
Advice and example received, thanks!

(Fixed a screwy typo...)
Click to expand...

Well now I am disappointed. I just assumed that we all did something like this when playing...
tumblr_nnzcazDDlX1ri7m8ao1_400.gif
 
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#110,843
Count Bassie said:
I haven't paid that much attention to strings, core shapes, gauge of outer windings, none of that kind of thing, probably because I find the cost of experimenting mostly prohibitive. I go shop for strings when I need them.Tension, gauge, steel or nickel, that's all I've ever considered.
I don't know what's on this Bird, round and steel I think. But I like them. Pretty flexy but not too thin.
Click to expand...

I have no interest in changing strings weekly as some appear to do. I might feel otherwise if I have a lot more money and a full time tech doing the work... But I have used a number of strings based on recommendations here and each time I change to something else, I think I learn something and find another sound/feel combination. But I have zeroed in on a few that I know I like.

My steel string experiment is ongoing, but I think coming to an end. The Rotos are nice strings and I have nothing against them. But nor do I find anything in particular that makes me love them. So, they are OK, but not special. They do have smooth feel to them; more so than other strings (feels like the windings are a smaller gauge). Perhaps the next step in evolution of the experiment will be Roto NPS; I like the feel of nickel on my other basses. Maybe I am just not a steel string person?
 
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#110,850
Count Bassie said:
Hey I know that some of you have advocated setting your Bird's pickup height right up near the strings. I tend to be a sort of heavy hitting right-hander and am banging into that pickup a lot. Have you found a worthy trade-off between proximity to strings vs backing off p'ups due to amplified string-whack? What's the applicable science on this? I know it's been covered about 1,000 pages back, glad I'm not asking in gen-pop. :thumbsup:

Sometimes I think I'm asking an obvious question, but often you get "collateral information" that is useful thereby.
Click to expand...

All that so depends on the player, strings, pickup type, etc. There’s no right or wrong way to do any of this stuff. What works best for me might be the worst thing for you. It’s kind of why I’m a strong advocate for folks sharing clips to demonstrate their setup, amps, pickups or whatever. Don’t tell me how I should set up anything. Tell me what you like, why you like it, then play me an example of it. Maybe we’re going for something similar enough that I can learn from it. If not, no harm done and it could help someone who is going for something similar.

PillO said:
Maybe I am just not a steel string person?
Click to expand...

Might not be! On my Drake bass, I started loving DR Lo Rider SS strings, so I decided they were my ‘favorite.’ Turns out I can’t stand em on my T Birds. I really don’t know why, either! I know for sure I like Cobalt flats on my Gibson T Bird, KS Bass Burners on my Cataldo, Lo Rider SS on the Drake and TI Jazz Flats on the Hofner. The rest are a bit of a crap shoot at this point. I like the strings that came with my MM Sabre, but have no idea what they are. Still on the fence with that bass anyway, but it plays and feels amazing. The whole MM ‘thing’ is really cool, but not sure it’s for me. Kinda liking the Black Beauties on my Gretsch, but ain’t done experimenting there. At a total loss with the EB3L right now, so time will tell.
 
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#110,853
Spieluhr said:
Tart..... LOL. That's Tina Weymouth, I think. Everytime I see that clip, it occurs to me that Robert Trujillo must have spent hours watching it!
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I have respect for Tina Weymouth- she's got a highly functional, musical ethic and I take a lesson from that venerable player.
But it's fun to call her a tart in that clip!
 
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#110,855
dukeorock said:
Might not be! On my Drake bass, I started loving DR Lo Rider SS strings, so I decided they were my ‘favorite.’ Turns out I can’t stand em on my T Birds. I really don’t know why, either! I know for sure I like Cobalt flats on my Gibson T Bird, KS Bass Burners on my Cataldo, Lo Rider SS on the Drake and TI Jazz Flats on the Hofner. The rest are a bit of a crap shoot at this point. I like the strings that came with my MM Sabre, but have no idea what they are. Still on the fence with that bass anyway, but it plays and feels amazing. The whole MM ‘thing’ is really cool, but not sure it’s for me. Kinda liking the Black Beauties on my Gretsch, but ain’t done experimenting there. At a total loss with the EB3L right now, so time will tell.
Click to expand...

I have different strings for each bass. My midtown gets along incredibly well with Fatbeams. My JC sounds great with Pure Blues. Etc.

My EB3L I have tuned BEAD and currently have DDTs on it. But I think that when it is due for strings, I might have a go with Roto drop zones on it. That low B on it is pure thunder. Every once in a while I wonder what it would be like to have a second JC tuned BEAD.
 
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#110,857
Spieluhr said:
Tart..... LOL. That's Tina Weymouth, I think. Everytime I see that clip, it occurs to me that Robert Trujillo must have spent hours watching it!
Click to expand...

When I see Trujillo, I think he spent hours watching apes...

99DApW6.gif


He is a hell of a player; love his Infectious Grooves stuff. I think his talent is mostly unused in Metallica. And as we have seen in other clips, he is the best guitar player in that band.
 
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#110,858
Count Bassie said:
Yes, you have been no help at all. :)

But that is sound advice! Like using a power tool, letting it do the work. There are interesting textural sonic things you can do though with some physicality when that's called for- a little speaker breakup, stressing the string slightly out of tune with a hard pull, backing off and playing with the fat of your finger closer to the neck. I think of it as the 'tone' of your attack.

I also overthink quite a bit.
Click to expand...

I play really hard live.

This is at the sweet spot.
EI9RD0z.jpg


Flaky chrome plate.
AGBRRhC.jpg
 
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#110,860
PillO said:
When I see Trujillo, I think he spent hours watching apes...

99DApW6.gif


He is a hell of a player; love his Infectious Grooves stuff. I think his talent is mostly unused in Metallica. And as we have seen in other clips, he is the best guitar player in that band.
Click to expand...
I agree this is not really his gig. He's a better player than they need... maybe, perhaps feeling overcome by their notoriety, they decided to to hire up themselves someone from the A list?

And maybe that special training was to help him pass their audition?

Sorry?...
 
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