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Thunderbird Club

#127,841
Engle said:
I had a guy come up and admire my PF-50T last week (and then go on about his new Dynaco tube amp), but I could have done the same job with the MB200 and had a slightly different tone. Realistically nobody but me and the tube enthusiast would have been aware.
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"slightly different tone" is the crux....i feel play different when i go through ss than when i go through vt stuff...not better or worse, just different..
 
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#127,842
JIO said:
I bet - but like I said, it was circumstantial for me - like when one first plays a THUNDERBIRD :bassist:
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I love big ol' solid state sleds for bass. That said, I would also love to have an original Ampeg fliptop. In general, I prefer solid state for bass because I like a clean sound, and tubes for guitar because I don't. Everything is negotiable.
 
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#127,844
GBassNorth said:
Take note - only one data point (mine) but I found a significant difference between Hipshot and Hipshot Liscenced tuners. I unwittingly purchased a set of 5 Hipshot liscenced tuners for a bass build I was doing. All were a bit sloppy but 3 were worse than others, which I didn't notice until they were installed and tensioned up. So I called the distributor I purchased them from for 3 replacements, he sent me directly to Hipshot, who without question replaced them. All the replacements worked perfectly and were boatloads better than the first set. So I returned the other two for replacement as well.

Lesson - just buy the damn tuner directly from Hipshot. Might cost a bit more but it's an important part of a bass And can really throw a wet blanket on an otherwise nice instrument.
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Thanks for that @GBassNorth. I was a bit confused when I did the research yesterday. The licensed ones are $16.95 each. I thought that seemed too low for a Hipshot product. The ones on the Hipshot site are $26.95. From your experience, it seems that it’s false economy to try and save $40. Once again, the members on here are proving to be a great resource.

So when I’m done with the mods I plan, the bird will come out to be an expensive one at around $800. But it’s like new, has a great neck with professional rolled edges and the absolutely beautiful Pelham Blue finish. Jeez, more than my wonderful ‘15 cost new (cases excluded). Oh well, it’s only money. And you can’t make THUNDER with money.
 
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#127,845
Chucky Stiletti said:
"slightly different tone" is the crux....i feel play different when i go through ss than when i go through vt stuff...not better or worse, just different..
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I probably play a little differently, but it also depends on the type of music I’m playing.

Rock gigs with the VP into the PF50T cranked are a blast. That’s a way different feel than I would get doing the same gig with a SS amp so I usually bring the PF.

Other gigs, I can make either work and I decide based on load in/out difficulty.
 
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#127,847
Chucky Stiletti said:
but they do, indirectly...if you love your "tone" you play better...if you play better the band feels it and "they" play better...if that happens the "energy" as a whole gets augmented.....the crowd feels this....the bass and it's tone continues to be pivotal...
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no truer words were spoken :thumbsup:
 
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#127,849
mr zee said:
But on the other hand I'm red hot but that's probably the rheumatism playing up.
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You need some of Granny's Rheumatiz medicine!
granny_clampett.jpg



Thunderbird!
 
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#127,853
PillO said:
I have wondered about that. The licensed tuners are half the price with the only noted difference being that they can't be switched between bass side and treble side. I guess their research showed a need for a "value" segment product, so they sourced their own cut price version in China. I expect I will pony up for full price proper tuners.

You get what you pay for.

Thunderbird!
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As I have remarked several times, the AllParts lightweight tuners are as good as the Hipshots for a fraction of the price. I have Hipshots on one Thunderbird and AlllParts on the other two, and there is no quantifiable difference. All made in the same Korean factory from what I hear.
 
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#127,856
fasterpussycat said:
As I have remarked several times, the AllParts lightweight tuners are as good as the Hipshots for a fraction of the price. I have Hipshots on one Thunderbird and AlllParts on the other two, and there is no quantifiable difference. All made in the same Korean factory from what I hear.
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Ive got Hipshot licensed tuners on a couple of basses and they work well. You should be aware that they may have chrome keys, but the body of the tuner is sometimes a grey colour. This may or may not be an issue for you.
 
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#127,857
Gaolee said:
I love big ol' solid state sleds for bass. That said, I would also love to have an original Ampeg fliptop. In general, I prefer solid state for bass because I like a clean sound, and tubes for guitar because I don't. Everything is negotiable.
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Tube heads can easily do a wonderful clean sound (which is what I prefer), so long as the head has enough watts if you need a lot of volume. But then you're talking ungodly heaaaavy. Like you, distortion in bass I don't care for. A little power tube compression when a turning up is OK, but buzz saw just never sounds good when I try it.

Interesting that the first amp I played was an old flip top, which was not mine. Then I rented and Acoustic head and cab for some time. Sounded great as I recall. Wish I had both now!
 
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#127,859
Engle said:
Ive got Hipshot licensed tuners on a couple of basses and they work well. You should be aware that they may have chrome keys, but the body of the tuner is sometimes a grey colour. This may or may not be an issue for you.
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The Orville was all nickel. I don't notice the chrome tuners and bridge and I'm sure no one else does.
 
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