Used to love those. Did you guys get both P.I. & T.C. versions of the 2.5 ?
I wasn’t too enamoured of the original sloped nose though
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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I wasn’t too enamoured of the original sloped nose though
Yeah, mine was the tc. It was about 10years old when I got it, bit of a rust bucket but engine ok. Ran it for a few years then got something more modern. Ford cortina
I’d rather the Triumph
From about 72 (when the bigger body TC came in anyway) we stuck Falcon 200 & 250 ci 6’s up the snout of our Cortinas. To compete with GM Holden’s Torana. A mate had a TC 200ci with the 3 Spd manual, on the floor. First time I’d seen that.
The Aussie ones werent always well assembled. One magazine reported they had one with the 2 front seats with different colour cloth inserts to each other. Another reported a dealer mole talking about taking a client on a test drive and the dash dropped out when they hit a bump.
We used to say ‘wouldn’t be Cort-in-a small Ford ‘. Something like that.
I’m sure they UK ones were better, I know it was a top seller for many years.
Confessions of a Cobal Flats lover...
Adored Cobalt flats on my VP so I put a set on my 2015 Bird. Wasn't as thrilled with the sound. Lowered the pups, raised the action, lifted the treble side of the pups, tweaked the amp settings, tried every possible option with the onboard controls. Just couldn't get the bass to sound right.
Pups up / action low = too boomy, chorus effect on some notes, phase cancellation on other notes, numerous dead spots, very uneven volume across the strings, sustain largely choked out.
Pups down / action high = too quiet, G and D strings completely lost in even a modest mix, all strings lost in a heavy mix even at full onboard volume.
Treble side of pups raised / action slightly lowered = about as good as it was gonna get, G and D strings increased volume, chorus effect minimal, phasing minimal, sustain ok, bass still completely lost in a heavy mix.
Finally had to say the heck with it and remove the Cobalts. Put on a set of Cocco nickel rounds and all appears to be going in the right direction. Sound has improved drastically. Much less mid focused, much better balance in volume across the strings, no obvious dead spots, no phasing or chorus effect. These strings appear to be a higher tension so I'll let them sit at pitch overnight before I make any neck adjustments. I suspect I'll be able to drop the action back down to where I like it (very low). I'm hoping I can raise the pups a bit as well to bump up the volume a bit.
Conclusion - as I eventually suspected, the magnets in these 2015 pups are monsters, Cobalt strings are exceptionally attracted to the magnets. There's nothing wrong with Cobalt strings or these pups, I just don't think they play well together. Are Cocco nickel rounds the perfect string for this bass? Probably not, I just happened to have an unused set laying around. I still have set up work to do as I dial in the new strings, but my string search for the 2015 will probably continue.
Adored Cobalt flats on my VP so I put a set on my 2015 Bird. Wasn't as thrilled with the sound. Lowered the pups, raised the action, lifted the treble side of the pups, tweaked the amp settings, tried every possible option with the onboard controls. Just couldn't get the bass to sound right.
Pups up / action low = too boomy, chorus effect on some notes, phase cancellation on other notes, numerous dead spots, very uneven volume across the strings, sustain largely choked out.
Pups down / action high = too quiet, G and D strings completely lost in even a modest mix, all strings lost in a heavy mix even at full onboard volume.
Treble side of pups raised / action slightly lowered = about as good as it was gonna get, G and D strings increased volume, chorus effect minimal, phasing minimal, sustain ok, bass still completely lost in a heavy mix.
Finally had to say the heck with it and remove the Cobalts. Put on a set of Cocco nickel rounds and all appears to be going in the right direction. Sound has improved drastically. Much less mid focused, much better balance in volume across the strings, no obvious dead spots, no phasing or chorus effect. These strings appear to be a higher tension so I'll let them sit at pitch overnight before I make any neck adjustments. I suspect I'll be able to drop the action back down to where I like it (very low). I'm hoping I can raise the pups a bit as well to bump up the volume a bit.
Conclusion - as I eventually suspected, the magnets in these 2015 pups are monsters, Cobalt strings are exceptionally attracted to the magnets. There's nothing wrong with Cobalt strings or these pups, I just don't think they play well together. Are Cocco nickel rounds the perfect string for this bass? Probably not, I just happened to have an unused set laying around. I still have set up work to do as I dial in the new strings, but my string search for the 2015 will probably continue.
My cortina looked something like thisI’d rather the Triumph
From about 72 (when the bigger body TC came in anyway) we stuck Falcon 200 & 250 ci 6’s up the snout of our Cortinas. To compete with GM Holden’s Torana. A mate had a TC 200ci with the 3 Spd manual, on the floor. First time I’d seen that.
The Aussie ones werent always well assembled. One magazine reported they had one with the 2 front seats with different colour cloth inserts to each other. Another reported a dealer mole talking about taking a client on a test drive and the dash dropped out when they hit a bump.
We used to say ‘wouldn’t be Cort-in-a small Ford ‘. Something like that.
I’m sure they UK ones were better, I know it was a top seller for many years.
Some of the rads put Lotus engines in
We called that the TD I think. Maybe TE.
With 2.0 4, and sixes 3.3 & 4.1 litre engines
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Lotus Cortina, I was only 8 then.College friend got one of these brand new in '66. Used to squeeze five of us into it.
That would make a cool Bird decal variant.
An idea ive been toying with, couldn't get original pic to fit so have used this one instead
![WP_20190527_11_28_36_Pro[2268].jpg](https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/wp_20190527_11_28_36_pro-2268-jpg.3427528/ "WP_20190527_11_28_36_Pro[2268].jpg")
or
I like the car in the first pic. Rendering and angle, but without the Bird logo.
I am inclined to agree with the count. I will add that perhaps some sort of outline of the car without colour might be the right look. Something like this
or
maybe simplified
But it is your bird. Do what you please with it. Ahem.
How does one remove the bird logo from the pg?
Just had a gander at some sketches on bing, could be a cool idea.I am inclined to agree with the count. I will add that perhaps some sort of outline of the car without colour might be the right look. Something like this
or
maybe simplified
But it is your bird. Do what you please with it. Ahem.
Custom guard? I'd look in on our own Larry (sorry, can't come up with his screen name to ping him), he's done some custom cut pickguard for a few of us. Don't know if he's still doing them, but that'll get you in a direction.
Thanks for the good description of what you found. I can't quite find the perfect pup height on my VP or 64 Embassy yet. I think bridge pup up and then think crank it way down. Another day in the life of a bass tone-craver.
One question that has likely been answered, but how different does the '15 sound from the VP? As I recall the Gibson's are less bright and some might say scooped or modern sounding.
I know-just an example to check out.Nup, youngsters mistakethat’s over an iron cross the Celtic cross is different
View attachment 3427500
"Saloon" has a somewhat different meaning in the states.(see every Western movie)
