Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

That's interesting. Thanks.



I have no idea what this all means, but thanks. I'm new to bass guitars and I'm in the middle of researching all the information.

I'm a bit ashamed to admit this, but I actually asked my question with a motive to fish out any negative responses for those particular models.



My thread lol.

Those statements really threw me off because I REALLY liked how those basses sound when slapped.

You won't get many negative responses about Thunderbirds here. What you will get is information. If you are looking for the treble bite of a slap tone, I would probably look for at 2015 Thunderbird. Those have DiCola pickups that are insanely hot. If you put stainless rounds on a 1989 and later Gibson or an Epiphone Classic Pro, you will get low end, but you will also get the clank. It will be a thicker sound than a Fender Jazz, and it won't ever get to the nasal whiny sound that a Jazz sometimes has. For what you are doing, you wouldn't have to worry about that so much. The specifics of your slap technique are a big factor for your decision. If you want the bass hiked way up, with your thumb pointing up toward the headstock, then a Thunderbird might be an ergonomic problem. A Ric would not be as much of an issue, although some people don't get along with the sharp body edges. If you slap with the bass lower and tipped up, with a thumb down technique, then a Thunderbird could work fine.

Disclaimer: I suck at slapping and haven't spent the time to develop the technique. I can do it, but don't do it all that much. Thunderbirds sound good with that technique. They have a thicker, meatier sound than most other bass guitars.

 

[Count Bassie]

Put it back together then buy a bridge cover(my solution for[almost]everything).

Yeah it's gonna bug me now... if it stays outta sight, it'll stay off the kitchen table.

(Edit: where do you get one of those?)

 

[GonePlaid]

I don't know. It's got its mojo,its sound. But I do dub reggae, mashup jazzy/funk, 80s pop and whatever with it, and it flies. No compromise.

Jazz Bass, Ric, most any solid body will get you something you can use once you coax it out.

I do/have done everything from big band to concert band to 'jazz' trios to rock. A little EQing and it'll fit anything. Then there's the neck profile-perfect for my shortish fingers. Being an NR, the ergos are a bit different, but that solid slab of mahogany and set neck give me any sound I want.

 

[MCF]

Thanks, you should check out this guy, there is always filing down the saddles too.
Dave's World of Fun Stuff

Back about 15 or 20 years ago, I figured buying a few third gen thunderbirds would be like money in the bank after I saw what happened to the 60's models. The red white and blue models are really pretty rare if you look at production numbers on that 'fly guitar' site. I swapped out the sidewinder pickups on one of them to get that 60's sound. The sidewinder sound is "modern", almost hi-fi to my ears unless I boost the mids and add some grit.

I’d love a ‘76, but you ended up being right about their value. Too rich for my blood.

I’ve probably seen every Dave’s episode there is, including the crazy one where he ground metal off the bottom of a three point to lower it. But someone wanting to learn how to work on guitars can learn a ton from him. I don’t have a lot to do when I travel for work, so that’s my entertainment. I know, boring.

Tomorrow is shim day and we’ll see how it goes. I’ll be using one of the slanted whole pocket shims. One step at a time.

 

[Gaolee]

So.... ?

You were chosen by that bass. That's how it happens. Thunderbirds choose you if you are a Thunderbird person. They know, and they tell you. If you aren't a Thunderbird person, then neck dive, make bad noises, break, and generally throw tantrums to make you go away. Congratulations. You were chosen.

 

[Count Bassie]

+1 on the fatter, meatier tone. Recorded on a phone with the jammy-dub trio, it's got a big, darkish, hefty push and is opaque sounding. Still can sting like a needle with brighter strings.

 

[gaffster]

You won't get many negative responses about Thunderbirds here. What you will get is information. If you are looking for the treble bite of a slap tone, I would probably look for at 2015 Thunderbird. Those have DiCola pickups that are insanely hot. If you put stainless rounds on a 1989 and later Gibson or an Epiphone Classic Pro, you will get low end, but you will also get the clank. It will be a thicker sound than a Fender Jazz, and it won't ever get to the nasal whiny sound that a Jazz sometimes has....

That Jaco sound and style...never really acclimated to it. OK, slapping has a place. I play keys in a martini bar band...they had this very technically skilled bass player for a while who slapped on everything. Why?

 

[TerribleTim68]

...
Disclaimer: I suck at slapping and haven't spent the time to develop the technique. I can do it, but don't do it all that much...

Okay, so it's not just me then. I really have no clue what I'm doing and I tend to get an odd tone when I try it. My wife wants me to learn because she thinks it's cool af. I'm just so lost.

 

[Count Bassie]

[QUOTE="MCF, post: 23439260, member: 267260" It’s a CP, right? If it were mine, I’d fix the insert and go with the Babicz which has the more traditional look. But I forget, Do you windmill? The Hipshot seems to be a good choice too.[/QUOTE]

Not a windmiller. Lol. I'l find some other way to injure myself, I'm sure.

 

[Gaolee]

Yeah it's gonna bug me now... if it stays outta sight, it'll stay off the kitchen table.

(Edit: where do you get one of those?)

You can get covers from Thunderbucker Ranch. There are other places, but I don't remember what they are.

 

[GonePlaid]

Yeah it's gonna bug me now... if it stays outta sight, it'll stay off the kitchen table.

(Edit: where do you get one of those?)

I found a chrome one online for(used to be)my EpiBird 5er. IDK 'bout black. 'Course there's always paint.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I've always said way too many adults are nothing more than children in larger bodies. And I don't mean the staying young at heart thing. When I was a kid I thought the adults were pretty smart and was impressed by all they seemed to know. When I became an adult I realize they often weren't any more mature than the typical teen. I expect kids to be and act stupid…..

In years of working with, and generally being around teens, I have often found myself asking, “Who is supposed to be the adult here?” When looking at issues involving teens and adults. Hint: in these cases the adult was acting more juvenile or just plain childish.

 

[GonePlaid]

Okay, so it's not just me then. I really have no clue what I'm doing and I tend to get an odd tone when I try it. My wife wants me to learn because she thinks it's cool af. I'm just so lost.

I have a bone spur on my right thumb. Slappin' ain't happ'nin'.

 

[Gaolee]

That Jaco sound and style...never really acclimated to it. OK, slapping has a place. I play keys in a martini bar band...they had this very technically skilled bass player for a while who slapped on everything. Why?

My brother, who played Js, called that sound "articulate." Um, not really. It sounded like an adult who never grew out of being Little Lord Fauntleroy. The sound I object to isn't the Jaco sound, exactly. Jaco had more of a rasp than a whine. It's not my favorite sound. Jaco's sound came partly from his amplification, but those amps don't have to sound like that.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

That's interesting. Thanks.



I have no idea what this all means, but thanks. I'm new to bass guitars and I'm in the middle of researching all the information.

I'm a bit ashamed to admit this, but I actually asked my question with a motive to fish out any negative responses for those particular models.



My thread lol.

Those statements really threw me off because I REALLY liked how those basses sound when slapped.

wouldn't be my first choice but my 2013 worn high is a decent slapper....i just prefer single coil (if passive) pups for their snap when popping..

 

[GonePlaid]

My brother, who played Js, called that sound "articulate." Um, not really. It sounded like an adult who never grew out of being Little Lord Fauntleroy. The sound I object to isn't the Jaco sound, exactly. Jaco had more of a rasp than a whine. It's not my favorite sound. Jaco's sound came partly from his amplification, but those amps don't have to sound like that.

I've seen a few videos where the bass sounds pretty good and in the small bit of showing the bass man-or woman-it's a J. So I guess it can be done(?).

 

[Gaolee]

I've seen a few videos where the bass sounds pretty good and in the small bit of showing the bass man-or woman-it's a J. So I guess it can be done(?).

A J can sound good. I say awful things about them, partly out of orneriness. But, a J can also be about the worst sounding bass guitar ever made in the wrong hands and with the wrong eq.

 

[Gaolee]

Apropos of nothing:

 

[MCF]

My brother, who played Js, called that sound "articulate." Um, not really. It sounded like an adult who never grew out of being Little Lord Fauntleroy. The sound I object to isn't the Jaco sound, exactly. Jaco had more of a rasp than a whine. It's not my favorite sound. Jaco's sound came partly from his amplification, but those amps don't have to sound like that.

I love and hate Jaco’s sound. I admit to not “getting it” all the time. But this was my intro to it and I like him on this:

 

[GonePlaid]

A J can sound good. I say awful things about them, partly out of orneriness. But, a J can also be about the worst sounding bass guitar ever made in the wrong hands and with the wrong eq.

It seems, especially in the hands of jazz guys, they wanna sound like a Tele(guitar)down an octave.