Thunderbird Club

[JJR58]

I'm not in charge of recruitment this time around (and that is a massive relief) so have not had interactions with drummers -- 'me hit!' -- but I get the impression they're a bit snotty (and snooty) and too good for the likes of us.

We won't have the Zoom recorder anymore, so no bad recordings...

Probably a relief to have that off your plate.

 

[JJR58]

Oh, not neck dive again.
4” Italia leather strap, (multi purpose, nudge, nudge....)
Besides, mine sit just right and they don’t try to take down my shoulder.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

And One More (sic):

Another new to me band. Not chill. What's the guitar Morgan is playing? I haven't seen one in eons and can't recall the model.

 

[Gaolee]

NBD: Epi Vintage Pro. Bought to replace a Classic lost to pawn, sound is amazing these are some HOT pickups! My other bass a Schecter with active EMGs and while it sounds awesome this is unique and versatile. How are ya'll dealing with the tendency to flip forward from the top of the instrument? I'm far too novice to never view the fretboard and while I can see this as it stands seriously improving my technique by force, it is frustrating at present. On my Classic I moved the neck straplock to eliminate the neck dive but I am loathe to mar her surface and don't know where to move which straplock anyway :0

Thanks!

The easiest way is to run the strap in front of the lower bout instead of behind. That works for several people here.

 

[JJR58]

And One More (sic):

Another new to me band. Not chill. What's the guitar Morgan is playing? I haven't seen one in eons and can't recall the model.

If i'm not mistaken, the guitar is a Framus?

 

[badgenes]

Cool!

It sounds like you are describing the body tilting forward from the top to point the fretboard toward the ground. Suggestions in no particular order:

1. Rear portion of the strap looped over the rear to pull the upper edge toward the body
2. Use the forearm of the plucking hand to keep the body orientation how you prefer
3. Use the side markers on the fretboard to know where you are

Thank you for understanding my admittedly vague or unnecessarily complex query.

1. Seriously not trying to be dense, but doing a good job nonetheless: Can you elaborate as I'm just not visualizing (or physicalizing) this configuration.
2. True but I've already got carpal due to the job that pays the bills (sys admin) and it hurts to have it press on forearm.
3. LOL This one I truly appreciate as: Get better dude! Necessary and a pursuit I am engaged in heavily. The issue isn't so much that I can't see at all (although that is part of it) as that I don't know *** my fingers are in relation to the dots. Maybe a few days with it will gain some familiarity as I am so used to my Schecter Riot 4. This instrument feels so good otherwise.

 

[badgenes]

I've not had this happen, you might try your strap at some different lengths to start with. I tend to wear my Birds a little higher, but that's just me. Also, I'm happy to add you to the club if you like, we just want a picture of your new Thunderbird.

Sweet, will do in a bit. Do I PM or post as reply?

 

[badgenes]

Gday mate, welcome. Please post pictures.

Neck dive seems to be in the way you wear a T’bird. Try hanging it a little lower, with the neck angled up a bit more steeply. That also improves reach to the low frets.

The roll forward of the bass body I get also. Not helped by my belly. Anyway, a few people just run the strap across the front of the bass to hold it. Just on that rear 3/4 piece of the body. Simple and costs nothing to try.

My post was perhaps a mistake in referencing the two unrelated issues. No neck dive with the VP at all, it is comfortably angled without effort. However unlike my other bass it tends to roll forward from the top such that the fretboard faces the floor, not my audience (dogs if happen to like the song I am repeating over and over and over)

 

[Miles_ONeal]

If i'm not mistaken, the guitar is a Framus?

That's it. I had forgotten they had been around that long. I think it's a version of the Strato Super.

 

[Count Bassie]

Sweet, will do in a bit. Do I PM or post as reply?

Just post, and if you want to address or single someone out you can do so by putting @ in front of their screen name. As you type their screen name, suggestions for member names will appear... just click on the one you want to address.

 

[fasterpussycat]

@badgenes, arrange strap as below.

 

[Count Bassie]

Edit...
My 5er is an Ibanez SR505, with stock pup's and an aftermarket preamp installed. I'm gonna find out what that is in a minute here...

@GBassNorth Don't know what this is, but here's the control cavity of my SR505.

 

[badgenes]

@badgenes, arrange strap as below.

View attachment 3421540

DOH. I see, will be trying this in a bit thanks for the illustration cause I was thinking "They mean across the lower wing...over the strings? Well hell I might just sound better that way too..."

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

@GBassNorth Don't know what this is, but here's the control cavity of my SR505.
View attachment 3421543 View attachment 3421544

looks stock...what are the controls?..

 

[TBird1958]

Let's see if this works...…...First time for us playing this.

 

[GBassNorth]

You really are extraordinarily Nebby
* Geordie not Yiddish, although Yiddish may also apply.

LOL - haven't heard that word since I last visited Newcastle.
I think there's also a Pokémon reference there but doubt you meant that one.

NBD: Epi Vintage Pro. Bought to replace a Classic lost to pawn, sound is amazing these are some HOT pickups! My other bass a Schecter with active EMGs and while it sounds awesome this is unique and versatile. How are ya'll dealing with the tendency to flip forward from the top of the instrument? I'm far too novice to never view the fretboard and while I can see this as it stands seriously improving my technique by force, it is frustrating at present. On my Classic I moved the neck straplock to eliminate the neck dive but I am loathe to mar her surface and don't know where to move which straplock anyway :0
Thanks!

Congrats on the VP! Excellent basses. Post a picture here and join the club.
As for the forward tilt - it's easiest to remedy by running the bridge end of your strap across the face of your bass to the strap pin instead of running it behind the bass to the strap pin.

If you don't like doing that you can install a second bridge end strap pin on the end of the bass about 4 inches up from the stock strap pin. Then be sure to have your strap locked into both end pins. This eliminates the tendency of a single end pin to act like a pivot point which is what makes your bass fall forward.

TBirds are also more comfortable for most if they hang a little lower than a typical Fender type bass. I have the upper horn on mine right at about belt buckle height and normally position the neck at about 1:00 or 2:00 vs a dead horizontal 3:00 position. It also helps keep the bird from flipping forward.

 

[JJR58]

Let's see if this works...…...First time for us playing this.

This sounds awesome V!

 

[Count Bassie]

looks stock...what are the controls?..

Lower left, Master Vol.
Lower right concentric, outer ring is Pan, inner ring seems to be a not very effective tone control.
Upper left, neck p'up tone.
Upper right, bridge p'up tone.

I think.

 

[JIO]

@badgenes, arrange strap as below.

View attachment 3421540

Exactly - have done this for many years.

 

[dagrev]

Ok, strings. I need a set of half rounds or flats that aren't high tension or thuddy, for 5 string bass with a lot of upper mid in its voice. I want to try and even that tendency out some, so I can use it for reggae... that predominant upper mid needs to sit back enough so I can get into the D string without my bass' presence leaving that lower, dubby-tone emphasis.

Some of you guys are string mavens, any thoughts? Should I just go for tapes? I kind of need something that will still give up some highs when needed, that bass does service in the 80s band too.

Edit... there are so many choices: hex core, round core, all the variations of windings... flat, half round, yadda-yadda. Steel or nickel. Tapes... which I had on a 7ender once and actually got some highs out of. But it's too much and why I tend to stick with a few. But this bass has me second- guessing myself with that upper mid thing, seems to be baked in and eq-ing it out ain't quite happening... probably the after market preamp that someone installed. Anyway..

Thanks for your time here.

Sounds like GHS Pressurewounds are at least going in the direction you describe. Of course so much depends on the cab being used as much as anything else. Try the lightest set and that might work, or be a close option. The PWs have been described as the Swiss Army knife of strings. Edit: Just noticed the PWs in 5 are Med. Might get Jason to build a set for you.