Thunderbird Club

[RedVee]

For our friends from Oz... (who also play guitar)

Rare Australian Map Electric Guitar Aussie MIJ Custom 3 Humbuckers Australophile | eBay

Looks a bit uncomfortable!

Way back when, a new builder built something similar for a competition. I’m a bit scratchy in the details - will google when I get a chance.

 

[TBird1958]

Are those PMC Thunderbird PUPs on Reverb chinabuckers? $89 includes trim rings. Once I get PUPs, I can send my ThunderJazz parts to Mo's for assembly. Or else wait until I can spring for Thunderbuckers (might be less than 30 days, I might have a buyer for my IEM system).

I have a set of those in my Orville right now, they don't sound bad - but, they are lower output volume wise and they are not as "full" sounding as my Lulls, there just isn't as much "there". I'd wait for the Thunderbuckers.

 

[JIO]

Looks a bit uncomfortable!

Way back when, a new builder built something similar for a competition. I’m a bit scratchy in the details - will google when I get a chance.

Like the US continent-shaped guitar bodies it's more of a novelty item for hanging on a wall.

 

[TBird1958]

YES! Love everything about this.

Thank you, good Sir!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

My Zeppelin tribute has been playing quite a bit. We open the show with a Bad Company set, I use a fretless P for most of the Bad Co. but sneak in my trusty bird for a few songs in the set.View attachment 3615470 View attachment 3615471 View attachment 3615472

Love that fretless.

 

[fasterpussycat]

Are those PMC Thunderbird PUPs on Reverb chinabuckers? $89 includes trim rings. Once I get PUPs, I can send my ThunderJazz parts to Mo's for assembly. Or else wait until I can spring for Thunderbuckers (might be less than 30 days, I might have a buyer for my IEM system).

Patience! The Chinabuckers are adequate. Thunderbuckers are an order of magnitude better -- like lifting a veil off the tone (if you will excuse the mangled metaphor).

I have a set of those in my Orville right now, they don't sound bad - but, they are lower output volume wise and they are not as "full" sounding as my Lulls, there just isn't as much "there". I'd wait for the Thunderbuckers.

+100

 

[Thumper]

Patience! The Chinabuckers are adequate. Thunderbuckers are an order of magnitude better -- like lifting a veil off the tone (if you will excuse the mangled metaphor).



+100

I just listened to Cataldo's soundcloud demo of Thunderbucker v Chinabucker PUPs. Initially I liked 1 and 4, after numerous listens, I changed to 1 & 3 (all Thunderbucker). While both sound good; IMO, the Thunderbuckers have a sweeter, more present mid.

If the ThunderJazz was for a Classic Rock or Country band, where deeper, softer tones are required, I would just go Chinabuckers and call it a day. However, this project bass is for my Hard Rock band where the mids are more prominent, so I'll hold out for Thunderbuckers.

 

[Thumper]

Idle hands, devil's workshop.

Awesome presentation and tone! Kinda makes me miss my '76 (mine did have neck dive). I'd love to hear that bass with nickels.

 

[Engle]

So, your suggestion is: If you want to play Gibson basses, have your arms stretched!?

Or get a short scale

 

[TBird1958]

Awesome presentation and tone! Kinda makes me miss my '76 (mine did have neck dive). I'd love to hear that bass with nickels.

I've tried some Nickel strings over the years, they didn't quite have "it" for what I was doing - driving hard with a pick, they just felt "soft" and the notes didn't snap with the same authority. That said, I think were one primarily playing fingerstyle, Nickel would probably give a much warmer, wider tone.

 

[Engle]

From last nights Toy Drive gig:

I see what people mean about Markbass amps being really loud. I had the gain at 4 and the master at 1.
I wish they would have been stacked vertically so I could hear on stage.

The VP got a lot of love from the audience, musicians and the sound guy.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

From last nights Toy Drive gig:
View attachment 3615761 View attachment 3615762
I see what people mean about Markbass amps being really loud. I had the gain at 4 and the master at 1.
I wish they would have been stacked vertically so I could hear on stage.

The VP got a lot of love from the audience, musicians and the sound guy.

did you end up putzing with the VLE/VPF controls?

 

[Thumper]

I've tried some Nickel strings over the years, they didn't quite have "it" for what I was doing - driving hard with a pick, they just felt "soft" and the notes didn't snap with the same authority. That said, I think were one primarily playing fingerstyle, Nickel would probably give a much warmer, wider tone.

I did use a pick some with my '76 back in the 80's, trying to work it in again now, but without much success or desire. Same with steels, don't like them for fingerstyle.

Just listened to Anderton's review of a 2019 Gibson Thunderbird, and a 2019 Epiphone Vintage Pro, preferred the Epiphone, more grunt, less pillowy, again, all IMO.

 

[BklynKen]

I've tried some Nickel strings over the years, they didn't quite have "it" for what I was doing - driving hard with a pick, they just felt "soft" and the notes didn't snap with the same authority. That said, I think were one primarily playing fingerstyle, Nickel would probably give a much warmer, wider tone.

I play fingerstyle and use steels for mostly the same reason as you.

 

[dagrev]

Not sure I agree with your first premise. I was a humanities major at UC Irvine in the seventies. Wonderful school. Wonderful professors. Not once was I taught what to think. I was taught to think critically and question everything. Maybe it’s different now. If it is, that’s a shame. But to say anymore would get into politics. We don’t do that here. I do agree with you about THUNDERBIRDS!

I understand. Things have indeed changed, and a/my generalization is just that. Just what I hear from my younger family members and friends kids in recent years could fill a book. But I will say it was largely that way at during most of my undergraduate level work at a well known school. But I'll leave it alone. As you correctly say it's venturing into forbidden areas.
But Geddy finally was correctly educated on the value of Thunderbirds, and that's a good thing!

 

[dagrev]

Idle hands, devil's workshop.

Nice. I like the tone of my '76!

 

[Count Bassie]

Idle hands, devil's workshop.

What a sound!

 

[TBird1958]

Visited The Bass Shop in West Seattle yesterday.....Can't say I've ever seen anything like this Ibanez before.

 

[Count Bassie]

Visited The Bass Shop in West Seattle yesterday.....Can't say I've ever seen anything like this Ibanez before.

View attachment 3615834

That looks cool...

 

[Gaolee]

Visited The Bass Shop in West Seattle yesterday.....Can't say I've ever seen anything like this Ibanez before.

View attachment 3615834

A hollow body Artcore? I thought about picking up one of those a while ago. They seem to be bargains for the price and sound like hollow bodies with humbuckers. If you do not like the electronics, they are a PITA, just like nearly every other archtop ever made.