• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#139,501
Chucky Stiletti said:
hmmm....JPJ, Marcus Miller, Bobby Vega, Jaco, Geddy Lee, Flea...hmmmm..
Click to expand...
Without provoking any religious wars...

For me - Humbuckers>Split P> Jazz

For how I play, what I play, with whom I play, and for the gear through which I play, to my ears, humbuckers sound best. Others that are not doing what I am doing can get great sounds out of who, what, where, when, and how they play; it just isn't for me. That doesn't mean that I can't admire them and learn from them.

And I will argue that Flea does not belong on the list. From 7ender - "Flea Signature Active Jazz Bass®. Sporting a custom-shaped Jazz Bass body and a hot Fender humbucking pickup "
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Glenn Johnson, gaffster and 8 others
#139,502
Chucky Stiletti said:
hmmm....JPJ, Marcus Miller, Bobby Vega, Jaco, Geddy Lee, Flea...hmmmm..
Click to expand...

A J is basically a bass with two single-coil pu's. Depending on how the pu's are positioned related to the neck, bridge and each other (on any 2 single-coil pu bass) will dictate its more specific tonal character. As in, the further the pu's are from each other the more they will emphasize the 2 single-coil scooped tone. Most likely needless to say as most are savvy - but it is what makes a bass like a J sound like it does. A two pu hum-bucker bass is another animal. A bass with two buckers that can be split into two singles would be a very versatile bass as both have their place as go-to sound/tone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Glenn Johnson, gaffster and 7 others
#139,503
PillO said:
Without provoking any religious wars...

For me - Humbuckers>Split P> Jazz

For how I play, what I play, with whom I play, and for the gear through which I play, to my ears, humbuckers sound best. Others that are not doing what I am doing can get great sounds out of who, what, where, when, and how they play; it just isn't for me. That doesn't mean that I can't admire them and learn from them.

And I will argue that Flea does not belong on the list. From 7ender - "Flea Signature Active Jazz Bass®. Sporting a custom-shaped Jazz Bass body and a hot Fender humbucking pickup "
Click to expand...

A P pu with a bucker at the bridge is a great mix.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Glenn Johnson, PillO and 6 others
#139,504
PillO said:
Without provoking any religious wars...

For me - Humbuckers>Split P> Jazz

For how I play, what I play, with whom I play, and for the gear through which I play, to my ears, humbuckers sound best. Others that are not doing what I am doing can get great sounds out of who, what, where, when, and how they play; it just isn't for me. That doesn't mean that I can't admire them and learn from them.

And I will argue that Flea does not belong on the list. From 7ender - "Flea Signature Active Jazz Bass®. Sporting a custom-shaped Jazz Bass body and a hot Fender humbucking pickup "
Click to expand...
sure?
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...pYuIyfJc7QYO6zGF6mBoCy9AQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
 
  • Like
Reactions: Glenn Johnson, PillO, RedVee and 1 other person
#139,506
JIO said:
A P pu with a bucker at the bridge is a great mix.
Click to expand...
Indeed...
FFD0E97B-8BD9-437B-8368-27FB1E8F8C54.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: rdwil191, MCF, Glenn Johnson and 13 others
#139,507
Chucky Stiletti said:
what is it you don’t like about J pups? look? how they feel when you use them as thumb rests? placement on the J body? I mean, other than form factor (obviously) there have been so many variations of that design since it’s inception...
Click to expand...

I’m not saying they are bad and of course there are great players that use em. Heck, some players I deeply admire use em. I’ve owned 4 really nice J’s, active and passive, different pickups, pre’s, etc., and it just isn’t what I’m personally looking for, sound-wise. The closest I came to keeping one was a Bluesman Vintage with the pickups wired in series. Really nice bass. Not trash talking em, just never found one I loved for me, so at some point I just quit trying :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Glenn Johnson, Larry V and 16 others
#139,508
dukeorock said:
I’m not saying they are bad and of course there are great players that use em. Heck, some players I deeply admire use em. I’ve owned 4 really nice J’s, active and passive, different pickups, pre’s, etc., and it just isn’t what I’m personally looking for, sound-wise. The closest I came to keeping one was a Bluesman Vintage with the pickups wired in series. Really nice bass. Not trash talking em, just never found one I loved for me, so at some point I just quit trying :)
Click to expand...

Some things feel good when you quit doing them. My experience with the F is similar, and at this point I'm utterly immune to all of them. On the other hand, if I had the money I'd have a collection of Gibson basses to rival my friend Uwe (from The Gibson Bass book).
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Glenn Johnson, GBassNorth and 12 others
#139,509
JIO said:
A J is basically a bass with two single-coil pu's. Depending on how the pu's are positioned related to the neck, bridge and each other (on any 2 single-coil pu bass) will dictate its more specific tonal character. As in, the further the pu's are from each other the more they will emphasize the 2 single-coil scooped tone. Most likely needless to say as most are savvy - but it is what makes a bass like a J sound like it does. A two pu hum-bucker bass is another animal. A bass with two buckers that can be split into two singles would be a very versatile bass as both have their place as go-to sound/tone.
Click to expand...
^^^this pretty much sums it up for me. I realized after years and years of playing Fender Jazz and P basses that I'm just a Humbucker guy. The single coil scene is ok but I just don't feel the depth and force and thickness of the notes like I do on a Humbucker bass.

That said, there are times when single coils come in handy. For me that's when I want to play super crisp and clean, or chords and simultaneous multi string playing, or with some pedals that just don't get along well with buckers. But in a 100 song run that might be one or maybe two songs for me wth the music I mostly play today. That's why I built my FrankenGoth with dual Humbuckers and coil taps. I can play down and dirty with either or both Humbuckers, then flip one switch and just have the outside coil on either or both pups activated. Very very versatile and sounds wonderful, but I have to admit it's in Humbucker mode 90+ percent of the time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Glenn Johnson, dagrev and 7 others
#139,512
dukeorock said:
I’m not saying they are bad and of course there are great players that use em. Heck, some players I deeply admire use em. I’ve owned 4 really nice J’s, active and passive, different pickups, pre’s, etc., and it just isn’t what I’m personally looking for, sound-wise. The closest I came to keeping one was a Bluesman Vintage with the pickups wired in series. Really nice bass. Not trash talking em, just never found one I loved for me, so at some point I just quit trying :)
Click to expand...

I get this. If you know what works for you, enjoy it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Glenn Johnson, GonePlaid and 6 others
#139,513
TBird1958 said:
Some things feel good when you quit doing them. My experience with the F is similar, and at this point I'm utterly immune to all of them. On the other hand, if I had the money I'd have a collection of Gibson basses to rival my friend Uwe (from The Gibson Bass book).
Click to expand...

We thought you were already working on that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Glenn Johnson, GonePlaid and 4 others
#139,514
JIO said:
I've never had a '76 in my hands, but I can imagine it's the same as a gen1 '63-'65 II/IV. The new Epi Pro is the closest yet but has a number of differences and the joint may be one of them. So just curious, no need to know as long as they stay put! :)
Click to expand...
My '76 also has that V joint just like the '60s versions, just as you thought. The paint and finish are such that there is a very tiny crack/impervection along the Vs. It's a good way of attaching those wings. Like you, I'm curious on the VPs as well.

By the way, that bass you completed pages ago is really classy. Great job!
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Glenn Johnson, GonePlaid and 7 others
#139,515
dukeorock said:
I’m open to different necks to a point! I love the Fano I have, but a couple of earlier models I tried were super skinny at the nut, but really wide behind the first few positions. I’ve hit a point where I love Gibson T-Bird necks and most J necks, except I don’t love J pickups. A typical P neck feels a bit wide to me these days, unless I’m seated, then it doesn’t matter much. I dunno why I’ve gotten a little fussy in the last few years, but I have :/
Click to expand...
Being particular is a perk that you earn with age. Just an indisputable fact.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Glenn Johnson, GonePlaid and 7 others
#139,516
dukeorock said:
I’m not saying they are bad and of course there are great players that use em. Heck, some players I deeply admire use em. I’ve owned 4 really nice J’s, active and passive, different pickups, pre’s, etc., and it just isn’t what I’m personally looking for, sound-wise. The closest I came to keeping one was a Bluesman Vintage with the pickups wired in series. Really nice bass. Not trash talking em, just never found one I loved for me, so at some point I just quit trying :)
Click to expand...
Gotcha. I was trying to understand if it was just a J pup thing (in Js or other basses) or an overall J Bass thing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Glenn Johnson, GonePlaid, GBassNorth and 3 others
#139,517
JIO said:
A J is basically a bass with two single-coil pu's. Depending on how the pu's are positioned related to the neck, bridge and each other (on any 2 single-coil pu bass) will dictate its more specific tonal character. As in, the further the pu's are from each other the more they will emphasize the 2 single-coil scooped tone. Most likely needless to say as most are savvy - but it is what makes a bass like a J sound like it does. A two pu hum-bucker bass is another animal. A bass with two buckers that can be split into two singles would be a very versatile bass as both have their place as go-to sound/tone.
Click to expand...
The bass you are describing, with humbuckers that can be split sounds a lot like a 2015 Thunderbird or 2013 and later EB.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Glenn Johnson, RedVee and 5 others
#139,518
dukeorock said:
View attachment 3664053 Lord help me, but I’m going to attempt a somewhat serious question. I got this new (to me) Fano bass with Dennis Fano designed T-Bird style pickups. The bass is awesome, btw. Plays great and all. I normally set my neck pickup higher than the bridge pickup, but on the Fano it’s the other way around. Neck pickup is quite low and doesn’t change by just loosening the screws. I’m going to try raising it up at some point, but for now I will say it’s super growly in a pretty neat way. Probably too growly for the gig I’m on tonight, but that’s what I brought. Anyone here set their bridge pickup higher than the neck pickup? Just curious how y’all prefer your setup. I don’t think there’s a ‘best’ way, just as I don’t think there’s a ‘best’ string, amp or whatever. Just curious what others like and why
Click to expand...
For some seemingly odd reason, my '64 is set that way, and not to favor the bridge PU. The neck is stronger than the neck, maybe a little more than normal. Can't really explain why other that is just sounds great that way. I'm thinking it contributes to the monster-thick lows with that bass. Looking at it seems a little odd like things need adjusting, but playing it sounds so good I refuse to change anything.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Glenn Johnson, GonePlaid and 6 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back