Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

Probably... lol

Probably not lol. More groan, roll eyes...

And that probably deserves an ahem.

 

[FlyingPigSound]

Drop in installation
Jury is out on tone improvements.

I get what your saying. I briefly had a Hipshot bridge on my Jack Casady, and didn’t notice any tone difference, and IMO, it looked awful.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

My apologies if this horse has been beat to death...
Who has upgraded their TBird with a Babicz bridge? My new RD has one, and it looks badazz, adjust easily, and the direct full contact has to help sustain?
I have a 2019 TBird and am thinking of a chrome Babicz.
Your input on:
-Ease if install (drop in or mod anchors?)
-Tone improved?
-Pix?

Just don’t windmill. There were gory photos posted.

 

[PillO]

I get what your saying. I briefly had a Hipshot bridge on my Jack Casady, and didn’t notice any tone difference, and IMO, it looked awful.

I am not sure that there is a meaningful tonal difference with any of the Babicz, Hipshot, or Gibson bridges. The Babicz and Hipshot bring individual string height adjustment and the Hipshot brings string spacing. If neither string height nor spacing are important to you, then I don't know that there is a need to replace the Gibson bridge.

My $0.02 and we don't have pennies in Canada anymore.

 

[fasterpussycat]

I get what your saying. I briefly had a Hipshot bridge on my Jack Casady, and didn’t notice any tone difference, and IMO, it looked awful.

Ooooh, get you!

 

[GBassNorth]

Drop in installation
Jury is out on tone improvements.

I get what your saying. I briefly had a Hipshot bridge on my Jack Casady, and didn’t notice any tone difference, and IMO, it looked awful.

I wouldn't think that would be a very good look for a JC either (might look ok in black on black where you can't see it as much). It's a nice bridge, lots of adjustment options and a reasonable price but just not my cup of tea on a JC.

As for the Chrome pup covers on your bird, they look fantastic. Wasn't aware SD made covers to fit the Gibson pups (or are those SD pups under the covers?).

 

[GBassNorth]

Ooooh, get you!

View attachment 3699128

The JC bass seems to be all the rage in these threads. Everybody who has one talks very highly of it. I'd love to hear your thoughts (and other JC owners as well) on how it compares soundwise to a Gibson Thunderbird.

I've recently gone a few steps on to the Semi Hollow bass path with a Gibson LP Memphis SS goldtop...

and a Fender Starcaster....

The Eppi might round out the collection nicely if it has bit more agressive sound.

 

[Butcherboy]

Really? Ours must have been different production years because I am pretty sure they were the same model number. I no longer own it so can't check.



The case did in fact exist. I know a couple of people ordered them and said they were of good quality but looooong.

Bach Kroko oblong baskoffer, extra lang voor oa Thunderbird

 

[fasterpussycat]

The JC bass seems to be all the rage in these threads. Everybody who has one talks very highly of it. I'd love to hear your thoughts (and other JC owners as well) on how it compares soundwise to a Gibson Thunderbird.

I've recently gone a few steps on to the Semi Hollow bass path with a Gibson LP Memphis SS goldtop...
View attachment 3699161
and a Fender Starcaster....
View attachment 3699163
The Eppi might round out the collection nicely if it has bit more agressive sound.

Hard to say for definite at the moment, with the (to me, unknown quantity) Dean Markley strings...

JC -- rounded, slightly woody, chunky and deep with a bit of mudbucker burpy growl.

NR41 -- full range throaty snarl.

You can get a gold JC to match your LP and Bird.

 

[FlyingPigSound]

I wouldn't think that would be a very good look for a JC either (might look ok in black on black where you can't see it as much). It's a nice bridge, lots of adjustment options and a reasonable price but just not my cup of tea on a JC.

As for the Chrome pup covers on your bird, they look fantastic. Wasn't aware SD made covers to fit the Gibson pups (or are those SD pups under the covers?).

Those aren’t just SD pup covers, they are high end pups that cost about $200 each or $380 for a pair:

Thunderbird Bass

 

[davelowell2]

View attachment 3699003

Details, please! That’s awesome!

 

[GonePlaid]

Those aren’t just SD pup covers, they are high end pups that cost about $200 each or $380 for a pair:

Thunderbird Bass

I looked at those-and others-to replace the P/J pups on[no longer]my EpiBird 5er. With the routing involved-beyond my abilities-and the fact that the neck and my left hand never quite got along, the project didn't get off the ground.

 

[PillO]

I wouldn't think that would be a very good look for a JC either (might look ok in black on black where you can't see it as much). It's a nice bridge, lots of adjustment options and a reasonable price but just not my cup of tea on a JC.

As for the Chrome pup covers on your bird, they look fantastic. Wasn't aware SD made covers to fit the Gibson pups (or are those SD pups under the covers?).

One additional factor to consider:

With the JC being semi-hollow, it has a light body and a propensity to neck dive. With an extra pound or so at the bridge. It balances well (small tug countered by strap friction). I suspect adding Hipshot ultralights would be even better.

 

[PillO]

The JC bass seems to be all the rage in these threads. Everybody who has one talks very highly of it. I'd love to hear your thoughts (and other JC owners as well) on how it compares soundwise to a Gibson Thunderbird.

I've recently gone a few steps on to the Semi Hollow bass path with a Gibson LP Memphis SS goldtop...
View attachment 3699161
and a Fender Starcaster....
View attachment 3699163
The Eppi might round out the collection nicely if it has bit more agressive sound.

I love my JC, my Thunderbird and my Midtown. All three are different. The JC at the highest impedance setting is the growliest and clean on the lowest setting. The neck on the JC is a bit wider (1.65" vs 1.5") than a bird and fatter. The Midtown is thumpier with a mudbucker in the neck position and a neck similar to the JC.

 

[Glenn Johnson]

The JC bass seems to be all the rage in these threads. Everybody who has one talks very highly of it. I'd love to hear your thoughts (and other JC owners as well) on how it compares soundwise to a Gibson Thunderbird.

I've recently gone a few steps on to the Semi Hollow bass path with a Gibson LP Memphis SS goldtop...
View attachment 3699161
and a Fender Starcaster....
View attachment 3699163
The Eppi might round out the collection nicely if it has bit more agressive sound.

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I am not a big fan of the JC tonewise. Maybe I would like it better if it had a neck that didn't go out of adjustment every other week, and if the 12th fret could be properly seated on the E string side. Even so, I don't dig the tone. YMMV.

 

[gaffster]

Playing keyboards out at a fish camp today on the edge of the swamp. Gotta look to my right to keep an eye on the gators cruising by. I will get with the manager and try to get a gig with another band out here so I can rock my t-bird and swat the skeeters simultaneously.

 

[MCF]

My apologies if this horse has been beat to death...
Who has upgraded their TBird with a Babicz bridge? My new RD has one, and it looks badazz, adjust easily, and the direct full contact has to help sustain?
I have a 2019 TBird and am thinking of a chrome Babicz.
Your input on:
-Ease if install (drop in or mod anchors?)
-Tone improved?
-Pix?

Your NBD thread seems to have interest. Congrats on a cool bass!

It’s a direct drop in for Gibsons. Not so much for Eppies. My ‘15 seems to sustain forever. I have no idea if it’s the neck thru, the Babicz, the wood or a combination of everything. It’s pretty magical.

 

[MCF]

Playing keyboards out at a fish camp today on the edge of the swamp. Gotta look to my right to keep an eye on the gators cruising by. I will get with the manager and try to get a gig with another band out here so I can rock my t-bird and swat the skeeters simultaneously.
View attachment 3699314 View attachment 3699316

Nice scenery Bobby.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Ooooh, get you!

View attachment 3699128

which looks gorgeous to me!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Playing keyboards out at a fish camp today on the edge of the swamp. Gotta look to my right to keep an eye on the gators cruising by. I will get with the manager and try to get a gig with another band out here so I can rock my t-bird and swat the skeeters simultaneously.
View attachment 3699314 View attachment 3699316

Awesome!
Looks like the bass is a THUNDERBIRD?