Thunderbird Club

[GonePlaid]

Yeah, usual derail. Full disclaimer, i


Color and sound, sound and color association. Intense!
What would Johnny say?

I did not take this pic.

View attachment 3509647

Neither did I.

 

[Nocturnal]

Just to take things (way) the other way...…….
Why do I still like this stuff? Must have been all those lead paint chips I ate as a child.

"That ain't no garbageman baby! That's Slam Thunderhide!!"

You are not alone my Queen! I still love this trashy stuff.

 

[bylar13]

I switched the ... well ... switch for a stacked pot that on the lower part is a pan ' control that mixes between both pickups, upper control is tone, easy to use and very versatile, I don't need a volume control as I have a volumne pedal at the front of my board.

Got me curious on the Lollars

Here is a "tone demo" I did with the Lollar pick ups. Amp was a Peavey Combo 300 ,1x15, all tone controls flat and recorded on a Tascam hand held recorder. I play everything with a pick. I move the tone control and switch between the pick ups. I forget the order as this is a couple of years old but give a listen and I hope it helps.

Login - Dropbox

 

[JJR58]

There are all kinds of tones from a Bird.
This in particular really floats my boat. Not like i haven't posted this before.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Yeah, the Lollars do their thing. But as with anything, only your ears can determine.

View attachment 3509769

Supertone, Supertone,
We take cool pics with our phone...

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Here is a "tone demo" I did with the Lollar pick ups. Amp was a Peavey Combo 300 ,1x15, all tone controls flat and recorded on a Tascam hand held recorder. I play everything with a pick. I move the tone control and switch between the pick ups. I forget the order as this is a couple of years old but give a listen and I hope it helps.

Login - Dropbox

That just takes me to my dropbox page. 8^(

 

[JIO]

Yup.....
View attachment 3509730

I was a kid with my parents in Sears Dept Store and saw those Silvertones w/amp-in-case. I just thought.., "but, it's a guitar." I wouldn't be surprised to learn there's a modern version of this - considering the small powerful great sounding amps of today. Seems like Phil Jones could make one.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Here's Leon with the new Supertone bridge; he really digs the look. Closest thing to a cowboy hat or fireman's hat he'll be wearing. I didn't think to try to quantify the sustain with the original bridge, but there was plenty, and there still is. The tone may be a bit fuller, especially when I turn the bridge and tone controls up. Either way, it still sounds good, even through the 'zoo. Looking forward to playing it through a good system.

Here's a Thunderbird Thursday shot, just because. No shoes, but that's a djembe and stand yonder (among other things).

Original bridge it to the left. Hopefully you can see why I went with the Supertone. The greater distance between teh saddle and the string end hole gets the silks off the saddles. I had pulled them back somewhat for the old bridge, but it wasn't enough for all of them, and the silk was getting frayed. I'm pretty confident I won't have to do that with the next set of strings and the Supertone.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I was a kid with my parents in Sears Dept Store and saw those Silvertones w/amp-in-case. I just thought.., "but, it's a guitar." I wouldn't be surprised to learn there's a modern version of this - considering the small powerful great sounding amps of today. Seems like Phil Jones could make one.

A borrowed friend's amp in case Silvertone was the first real electric guitar I played.

 

[JJR58]

Just making up for my slacking.

 

[Gaolee]

Well it's got history, which is also mojo. That combined with its pedigree makes it's own value. It's a subjective thing- you buy into it or you don't. But I'd rather have a great instrument, possibly made so because of its history, than a factory-new, high mark axe with possibly lesser parts.

Beats me what it's worth, but the PinkBird is not factory original. It's not for sale, either. The neck pickup was too high. I didn't need to adjust the neck or the bridge after all. I just needed to lower the pickup so the strings didn't hit it. It is all pretty now, but it sure can snarl and bark. Bass Burners take it somewhere beyond and angry piano.

 

[Gaolee]

Sick band name.

It's a sick looking color. And when that sound comes out of a J, it's a sick sound. Not in a good way.

 

[Gaolee]

Just to take things (way) the other way...…….
Why do I still like this stuff? Must have been all those lead paint chips I ate as a child.

Paint chips are fine cuisine with a little fried squirrel and some bean dip. At least where I came from.

 

[JJR58]

Paint chips are fine cuisine with a little fried squirrel and some bean dip. At least where I came from.

Oh my!

 

[dukeorock]

I switched the ... well ... switch for a stacked pot that on the lower part is a pan ' control that mixes between both pickups, upper control is tone, easy to use and very versatile, I don't need a volume control as I have a volumne pedal at the front of my board.

Got me curious on the Lollars

From what I’ve seen here, the most popular pickups are (in no order)

Lollar
Thunderbucker Ranch- ‘63’s &66’s
Lull
#760’s (in Epi Vintage Pros)

I can’t judge on the Lulls because I’ve never tried em. The reviews are glowing from those who have, though.
They are the most expensive option.

I have a TB ‘66 in my Cataldo NR and a pair of Lollars in my Gibson. I also tried the TB ‘63 in my Cataldo. To me, the ‘63’s sound closer to the #760’s. Think chunkier P bass. At least that’s my takeaway.

I currently have both of my T Birds strung the same (Cobalt flats) and the ‘66’s and Lollars sound extremely similar, though not exact. I could be perfectly happy either way. I’d say the Lollars are a tad smoother and punchier and the 66’s are tad more aggressive.

 

[Gaolee]

From what I’ve seen here, the most popular pickups are (in no order)

Lollar
Thunderbucker Ranch- ‘63’s &66’s
Lull
#760’s (in Epi Vintage Pros)

I can’t judge on the Lulls because I’ve never tried em. The reviews are glowing from those who have, though.
They are the most expensive option.

I have a TB ‘66 in my Cataldo NR and a pair of Lollars in my Gibson. I also tried the TB ‘63 in my Cataldo. To me, the ‘63’s sound closer to the #760’s. Think chunkier P bass. At least that’s my takeaway.

I currently have both of my T Birds strung the same (Cobalt flats) and the ‘66’s and Lollars sound extremely similar, though not exact. I could be perfectly happy either way. I’d say the Lollars are a tad smoother and punchier and the 66’s are tad more aggressive.

You didn't mention Chinabuckers. Those are what the PinkBird has for now. There were rumors that #760s were Chinabuckers, but I'm not convinced. They are raw and aggressive with the right strings. They can be fairly tame with other strings. They don't have as detailed a sound as I'm beginning to look for all of a sudden. So, I might have a set of them for sale in a few months.

 

[JJR58]

You didn't mention Chinabuckers. Those are what the PinkBird has for now. There were rumors that #760s were Chinabuckers, but I'm not convinced. They are raw and aggressive with the right strings. They can be fairly tame with other strings. They don't have as detailed a sound as I'm beginning to look for all of a sudden. So, I might have a set of them for sale in a few months.

What are you thinking of replacing them with? I ask cause i know of what you speak.
The CB's are cool for what they are, but they are what they are, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[TBird1958]

You didn't mention Chinabuckers. Those are what the PinkBird has for now. There were rumors that #760s were Chinabuckers, but I'm not convinced. They are raw and aggressive with the right strings. They can be fairly tame with other strings. They don't have as detailed a sound as I'm beginning to look for all of a sudden. So, I might have a set of them for sale in a few months.

China Buckers aren't the same as Epiphone 760's I have both in the house right now, there's way more going on with the Epi pups, but I do like the CBs as well, I think they'll do better with some other strings, probably Ken Smith RockMasters - as opposed to the Hellborg Sig strings.

 

[Richard I]

agreed on the bridge mod (and price), this is a T-Bird however and different rules seem to apply at least here in North America for these instruments...i have no doubt that instrument will sell quickly without a price reduction, further, Japanese customers may pay even more..

Crazy, crazy market

From what I’ve seen here, the most popular pickups are (in no order)

Lollar
Thunderbucker Ranch- ‘63’s &66’s
Lull
#760’s (in Epi Vintage Pros)

I can’t judge on the Lulls because I’ve never tried em. The reviews are glowing from those who have, though.
They are the most expensive option.
[...]

How do Lollars compare with stock Gibson pups?

It is impossible to change pu covers without changing the whole pickups, I suspect

 

[SJLee]

I got a Coffin case for my 67 'cos of length.
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Beautiful bass there GonePlaid!