Thunderbird Club

[fasterpussycat]

I play stranglehold as well! I probably read the same thing as you and picked up a used TC Blood Moon phaser cheap. The sound was subtle. I probably could have played with it more, but the phaser went to my brother who likes it for guitar and is still using it. I ended up picking up a TC Thunderstorm flanger (again got it cheap) and can get about the right sound with that. I also use it for a rather psychedelic version of She Sells Sanctuary that we do.

The TC Thunderstorm is a fantastic (and cheap) device. The Vortex, its 'pro' digital cousin made my Thunderbirds sound cold, thin and metallic.

 

[fasterpussycat]

Thunderbirds with just a hint of drive.

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[PillO]

The TC Thunderstorm is a fantastic (and cheap) device. The Vortex, its 'pro' digital cousin made my Thunderbirds sound cold, thin and metallic.

Digital vs analog. There is something about the bucket brigade and the filtering needed to make it work that add a nice warmth to the sound.

 

[PillO]

Thunderbirds with just a hint of drive.

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Very similar to what I can get with the Hotwax.

But I would argue slightly more than a hint of drive

 

[fasterpussycat]

Digital vs analog. There is something about the bucket brigade and the filtering needed to make it work that add a nice warmth to the sound.

The choices for 'analog flanger with top mount jacks at a reasonable price' were very limited. It's excellent in all respects.

 

[dagrev]

Two words... TUBE AMP!

Amen Brother! Ain't nothin' like hot glass plus a Thunderbird.

 

[dagrev]

So, the GHS pressurewounds aren't striking my fancy so ordered some DR LowRider SS, which I already have on my Ric and like. I like the reduced finger noise of the GHS, but the tone isn't grabbing me, which is funny as I remember liking this string way back....oh well, I'm sure my tastes have changed many times since then...

Don't feel bad about not liking the PWs. I love them on a couple basses but not an any Thunderbird for some reason. Just not a good fit for what I want. (Big thick bottom with lower-mid to mid punch. No clank.) I've been through a lot of strings. I love Infeld Supperalloys on the '64 Tbird, TI Jazz Rounds on the '64 Epi Embassy, Fender flats (or TI Flats) on the '76, GHS Round Core boomers on the VP which sounds almost as good as the '64s).

As much as I would like to love one or two strings and claim they sound fantastic on everything, it just isn't so.

 

[dagrev]

There's a thread over in the GP of a really good player demo'ing that YYZ pedal. I think.
Just can't find the link right now. But seems to be a good representation of what it can do.

THanks! I'll do some searching. Sounds interesting...with a Thunderbird on the front end.

 

[gidbass]

Don't feel bad about not liking the PWs. I love them on a couple basses but not an any Thunderbird for some reason. Just not a good fit for what I want. (Big thick bottom with lower-mid to mid punch. No clank.) I've been through a lot of strings. I love Infeld Supperalloys on the '64 Tbird, TI Jazz Rounds on the '64 Epi Embassy, Fender flats (or TI Flats) on the '76, GHS Round Core boomers on the VP which sounds almost as good as the '64s).

As much as I would like to love one or two strings and claim they sound fantastic on everything, it just isn't so.

Yes, I too have learned that one type of string doesn't fit all basses.

I run Cobalts on my L2k, and soon on my TBird
Roto 55 solo on my spector
and DR Lowrider SS on my ric.

Luckily, none of those strings are particularly expensive.

I'll just package up the GHS and keep them for spares on one of the others.

 

[dagrev]

Just some more VP string data points from my trials and tribulations...

DR Silver Stars (essentially the same as Black Beauties but Silver) - E string seemed floppy, sucked too much top end out of the bass. Otherwise good and smooth with nice bottom end. Can get lost in the mix.

Helbourg Strings - plenty aggressive sounding, not as smooth on slides as I'd like, a bit too much top end for my tastes. Probably a good string for a pic player in an 80's band. No problem cutting through a mix.

Cobalt Flats - nearly perfect in every regard with this bass. Probably the best flat wound for the VP if you're not looking for a pure traditional Roto type flat wound sound. More grit and growl when wanted, more top end when wanted, more complexity in tone than Rotos, yet still very deep and smooth on the bottom, well balanced mids. Some say they have a bit more grip than most flats, feel about the same to me. You will be heard loud and clear in a mix.

Fender 7150 Nickel Rounds - so far my favorite round wound on the VP. Delivers nearly everything the Cobalt Flats do but with a true round wound sound (the Cobalts are almost halfway between a round and flat in sound). Perfect top end, deep rich bottom end, nice low mid punch. Very versatile on the VP, can cover full round wound range and as the tone knob is rolled off even does a decent job of inching into flat territory. Sounds great in a mix.

Roto Swing Flats - very traditional flat wound sound, kind of low and mid range focused. Not a great top end but ok. Feel great, well balanced nice tension. Just a middle of the road string on a stellar bass.

That's it for now, as always, this is a very subjective topic. With different ears, hands, amp, cab, playing style and environment you might get completely different results. But the information is probably directionally correct at least.

Since we seem to like the same sonic territory, I think you wold like the GHS Round Core Boomers. You have be very interested in the Fenders. I love the Round Cores on the VP at present, but am tempted to try the Fenders. I do have a set of Fender Pure Nickles. I'm not sure how much less top end they might have, but if they produce the big thick bottom like the RC Boomers, I may have another option! I don't think I have a old set of RC Boomers, but if I turn some up when I look later I'll sent them to you for a try.

 

[gidbass]

$80?
Homedepot #707475 @ $18.75 would do it.

Now that I purchased the set, I think I can see how I can make them work, the $4 set from Harbor Freight...I love that place!

Thanks for the suggestion and I'll report back here, hopefully later tonight with the results.

 

[PillO]

Big thick bottom with lower-mid to mid punch. No clank.

I know her...

Thunderbird!

 

[Dadagoboi]

Yeah, there's a '77 Thunderbird in there somewhere...

 

[dagrev]

Yeah! I wanna pee like an angry piano!

Also known as a UTI.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

The TC Thunderstorm is a fantastic (and cheap) device. The Vortex, its 'pro' digital cousin made my Thunderbirds sound cold, thin and metallic.

One common complaint I have seen for the Blood Moon is that when you engage the effect, the volume jumps up. I take it this is not a problem on the Thunderstorm?

Also, the Cattail demo sounds great. I can see using it quite a bit.

 

[BklynKen]

Thunderbird: SIT Power Steel 50-105
Eagle: Rotosound RS66 45-105

So far happy with the Rotos on the Eagle. I have a set of Ken Smith Rock Masters 45-105 on order to check out, but happy to stick with the Rotos if those don't work.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Also known as a UTI.

 

[Engle]

Now that I purchased the set, I think I can see how I can make them work, the $4 set from Harbor Freight...I love that place!

Thanks for the suggestion and I'll report back here, hopefully later tonight with the results.

I've been using a cheapo set for about 25 years now!
Things to keep in mind:

• Make sure the point where the string leaves the nut (at the end of the fingerboard is the highest point in the slot, so keep the file angled that way as you are filing.
• Protect the peghead with some tape so you don't scratch it with a file.
• Ideally the slot should be half the depth of the string diameter. A little deeper is ok, as long as the string doesn't get caught in the sides of the slot.
• A lot of times the top edges of the nut are much too square for my liking, so I will round them off with the flat file in the needle file set, followed by a little 220/320 sandpaper
• Polish the nut after you are done: 320/400/600 wet & dry, then some brasso on a rag. Just takes a few minutes and everyone likes a shiny nut. (Of course this won't work if the nut is made of really soft plastic, but then you should make a new nut out of something better. I use corian countertop samples)

 

[Engle]

Yeah, there's a '77 Thunderbird in there somewhere...

The Tshirt is a nice touch!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I've been using a cheapo set for about 25 years now!
Things to keep in mind:

• Make sure the point where the string leaves the nut (at the end of the fingerboard is the highest point in the slot, so keep the file angled that way as you are filing.
• Protect the peghead with some tape so you don't scratch it with a file.
• Ideally the slot should be half the depth of the string diameter. A little deeper is ok, as long as the string doesn't get caught in the sides of the slot.
• A lot of times the top edges of the nut are much too square for my liking, so I will round them off with the flat file in the needle file set, followed by a little 220/320 sandpaper
• Polish the nut after you are done: 320/400/600 wet & dry, then some brasso on a rag. Just takes a few minutes and everyone likes a shiny nut. (Of course this won't work if the nut is made of really soft plastic, but then you should make a new nut out of something better. I use corian countertop samples)

So you have coriander THUNDERBIRDS?