Appreciating the string comments. I recently bought a set of EB Cobalt flats and was considering trying them on my Tbird, wondering if such a thing was complete heresy. Tried the Roto 66s and wanted to love them, but they felt like barbed wire under my fingers. Never knew if it was just that set or not. Was also considering slapping the flats on my Jack Casady, just to try something new (at least to me).
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
Just get in line for the(coming)Epiphone RI, NR, VP, Thunderbird II/IV in yer choice of Sunburst, Pelham Blue, Kerry/Inverness Green, Dark Cherry, Walnut, or White.So you’re saying I should buy another bass, it should be a non-reverse, and I should put rounds on it?
Not helping.
Felt the same way about Rotos. Try Ken Smith Rock Masters or Burners
I started life on SS Rotos at the end of the ‘70s. Loved everything about them for my Rick. I drifted away from those, but tried a couple sets more recently, and couldn’t replicate the magic from my memory.
Now I run the Dunlop Super Bright Nickel on all the round-wearing basses. Smoother under the fingers than SS, but still...... super bright.
The Dunlop’s were working OK for me on the TBird as a SS set, but I think it’s the nature of SS to be more dry, scratchy, grabby under the fingers as compared to something like Nickels.
I’m also a LaBella flats lover for the 7enders, but went with the Cobalts on the TBird for more aggressive sound. Give ‘em a try.
Edit to add Club suggestions:
Rounds:
SIT Powerwounds (nickel)
TI Jazz Rounds
DR Black Beauties
SIT Power Steels
Ken Smith Bass Burner
R66s in Nickel
Flats:
Cobalt flats
Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flatwounds
D'Addario Chromes
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By all accounts she is a down to earth person that happened to photograph really well. And she’s got a great voice
I have labella flats on my JC and they work. Please report back on the Cobalt flats if you put those on yours.
I'll intrude here to say that so far. I think the Cobalt Flats sound the best on my VP with little or no EQing. I'm looking for big but tight/solid lows, with some mid punch and no screech or clank, yet with slight snap. I'm not looking for "angry piano." Cool sound, but not for me and what I'm doing.
I read an interview with GL. He says that when he toured with Pete Way, he didn't understand why he played a Tbird. But now that he has tried them, he gets it - it is the low midrange growl. He said that he wished he had tried one much earlier.
So you’re saying I should buy another bass, it should be a non-reverse, and I should put rounds on it?
Not helping.
I didn't say that, but yes you should. Maybe you should have one with flats, one with steel rounds and one with nickel rounds. Yeah, you need 2 more.
Gotcha! I only use the neck pup* with tone normally at 7, 5 for mellow, 10 for[close to]angry piano.
* pot on bridge pup may be 'shot'. What the hey, it is 52+ y/o.
I had no problem with RS66. But the cobalt flats were like trying to play a cheese grater.
I started life on SS Rotos at the end of the ‘70s. Loved everything about them for my Rick. I drifted away from those, but tried a couple sets more recently, and couldn’t replicate the magic from my memory.
Now I run the Dunlop Super Bright Nickel on all the round-wearing basses. Smoother under the fingers than SS, but still...... super bright.
The Dunlop’s were working OK for me on the TBird as a SS set, but I think it’s the nature of SS to be more dry, scratchy, grabby under the fingers as compared to something like Nickels.
I’m also a LaBella flats lover for the 7enders, but went with the Cobalts on the TBird for more aggressive sound. Give ‘em a try.
Edit to add Club suggestions:
Rounds:
SIT Powerwounds (nickel)
TI Jazz Rounds
DR Black Beauties
SIT Power Steels
Ken Smith Bass Burner
R66s in Nickel
Flats:
Cobalt flats
Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flatwounds
D'Addario Chromes
Consider:
DR Pure Blues (I love them on my JC, might have to try them on the bird).
DR Fatbeams (my Midtown loves those and now will never wear anything else)
NYXL
My JC loves the Pure Blues. Fantastic low midrange growl. I get compliments on the tone (`cause it sure ain't the playing).
Well here was my morning. I had to get out paddling before the thunderstorms were forecast. I don't want to the tallest thing on the lake and I don't carry my 2 iron when I kayak.
For those wondering how high the level of Lake Ontario is right now (come on, all of you are wondering), the NOAA only measures to 6ft over normal and it shows maximum.
So, I paddled past a park on the Hamilton side. This picnic table would normally be 6-8 ft above the water. You can see that if you were to sit there, any waves would be getting your ass wet.
And one for @GonePlaid This is my footwear of choice for kayaking with the HMCS Haida in the background, one of the Tribal Class Destroyers that saw service during WWII. Now a museum in Hamilton.
For those wondering how high the level of Lake Ontario is right now (come on, all of you are wondering), the NOAA only measures to 6ft over normal and it shows maximum.
So, I paddled past a park on the Hamilton side. This picnic table would normally be 6-8 ft above the water. You can see that if you were to sit there, any waves would be getting your ass wet.
And one for @GonePlaid This is my footwear of choice for kayaking with the HMCS Haida in the background, one of the Tribal Class Destroyers that saw service during WWII. Now a museum in Hamilton.
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But what's in the bottle???
Just wondering since you went in something of a circle.Nice pics.
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Here's my first deployment: USS Yorktown, now a museum in Charleston, SC, USA. BTW, what kinda tone do you get outta the cheese grater?[I know I'm gonna regret asking]
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Thank you.
Two guys I know were both on the Enterprise, but at slightly different times.
I was on USS Yorktown in 66; USS Enterprise in 67.
But what's in the bottle???
Nice pics.
Water. Just water. It is hot out (and humid) and I would have to be pretty desperate to drink the lake water. For most paddling (typically 10km+) I carry 2 X 750mL bottles of water.
Thanks. When I see something interesting I grab a quick shot. Plus the phone is my emergency communications - I can dial 911 and there are police boats out on the lake who can respond.
Exactly the sound I'm after. The Cobalt Flats delivered that goal in spades on my VP as well. However, in the spirit of experimentation I pulled them off after a few weeks and installed some Fender 7150 nickel rounds and got equally good results. So for those looking for warm punchy tight lows and mids and a smooth top end with definition - try Cobalt flats. If you don't like flats try the Fender 7150 roundwound nickels, either one will deliver the goods. Not sure which one will last the longest without loosing its mojo but I suspect the Cobalts would be better on that front.
I see a sub in that picture also.
I don't know what it is like in USN or RN, but in RCN, submariners are... weird.
You're making me want to try more strings, for the first time in my life.
I wonder what the Cobalt Rounds would sound like? I really like Fender Pure Nickles on a '62 Jazz. Full and thick, solid mids with a light, not harsh top-end--not dull at all. Haven't tried any other fender rounds since DA seems to be making them. I hate DA nickle plated rounds and figured the Fender version would be similarly honky and bland sounding.
