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Thunderbird Club

#144,721
fasterpussycat said:
Woke up and thought 'time to make a wee demo'. Haven't even had any tea yet, barely awake etc.

Bass > Darkglass Vintage Ultra > DAW ... prolly should have done it direct to DAW (maybe later).

1. Jack Casady
2. JAEbird
3. NR41
4. Orville

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...
The Casady really holds its own against the Tbirds.
I wonder how they would compare in a mix?
 
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#144,722
Bassmike62 said:
They all sounded good but for whatever reason, the NR41 clip stood out, at least to my old ears.
Click to expand...

The NR41 is my favourite bass but all three Birds have the Snarl™. Will be interesting to find out what the JC is like without dead DM strings (or maybe that's the way DMs always sound).
 
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#144,723
BklynKen said:
I agree with Bassmike62, I think they all sound great, but if I had to choose one for tone, I'd say the NR41. Cool riff, too.

Not quite as cool as Kat's demo here, but last night I was playing with an EHX Electric Mistress XO flanger and was making some really fun and weird sounds, if impractical for whatever I do. I'm just hitting a B the entire time.

2013 Gibson Thunderbird > Damnation Audio MBD-1 > EHX Electric Mistress XO > GK MB150/112 > iPhone 7 Voice Memos app in front of the amp (super high tech here).

Click to expand...


wheeeeeeeeee!!!!! -- might find it a bit annoying if I had to use it in anger though.
 
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#144,725
Beginner Craig said:
Hi all. T-Bird #2 on the way. I’m looking to change my strings in the Blackbird with DR Black Beauties. I’ve heard good things about them. Question is. What sort of tone do you guys get out of them and how long do they usually last. Looking at ordering the 50-100 gauge.

Thanks
Click to expand...
So, I'm probably not the one to ask and I kinda feel like others are gonna go "I don't agree" but I strung my Goth with black beauties, because more Goth right? I felt like it gave it a deeper tone, more lows, but it had a bit more "growl" if that makes sense. So almost like maybe the low-mids were cranked up a bit more. Again, I'm not a tone wizard and in most cases I struggle to explain a given tone, I've never chased tone or been able to create a given tone on demand, so I'm no tone expert here. But that was what I thought of them.

As for how long they live; well, I strung mine up about 2 months ago and it has been played maybe a total of 1 hour since then. I'm not even sure the strings have really taken a set yet so I can't help you there. :roflmao:
Disclaimer: I own 9 basses and I don't have a "this one gets played the most", nor am I gigging so they all get little play time. At my rate these strings will rust before they actually wear out. Your mileage will surely vary.
 
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#144,726
TerribleTim68 said:
So, I'm probably not the one to ask and I kinda feel like others are gonna go "I don't agree" but I strung my Goth with black beauties, because more Goth right? I felt like it gave it a deeper tone, more lows, but it had a bit more "growl" if that makes sense. So almost like maybe the low-mids were cranked up a bit more. Again, I'm not a tone wizard and in most cases I struggle to explain a given tone, I've never chased tone or been able to create a given tone on demand, so I'm no tone expert here. But that was what I thought of them.

As for how long they live; well, I strung mine up about 2 months ago and it has been played maybe a total of 1 hour since then. I'm not even sure the strings have really taken a set yet so I can't help you there. :roflmao:
Disclaimer: I own 9 basses and I don't have a "this one gets played the most", nor am I gigging so they all get little play time. At my rate these strings will rust before they actually wear out. Your mileage will surely vary.
Click to expand...

thanks for the info mate
 
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#144,727
MCF said:
Start with In My Tribe, Blind Man’s Zoo and Our Time in Eden. The latter was the last studio release with Natalie who left not too long after. You’ll recognize a lot of the songs. The band continued after that with various different lineups. I saw them in Sacto about 3 years ago and while interesting, but not quite the same magic as in late eighties/early nineties.
Click to expand...

Groove is always the first thing I listen to in any given song, even the ones from pop-tarts (I lollled at that one). I instantly liked the sound and vibe on Our Time in Eden, added a few songs on the iPhone. It's the one closest to her 1st solo album. The Motown-tinged Few and far between was a nice discovery and found out James Brown's brass section was on that.

Thx :)
 
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#144,728
Beginner Craig said:
Hi all. T-Bird #2 on the way. I’m looking to change my strings in the Blackbird with DR Black Beauties. I’ve heard good things about them. Question is. What sort of tone do you guys get out of them and how long do they usually last. Looking at ordering the 50-100 gauge.

Thanks
Click to expand...

i put a set of Black Beauty DR’s on last night..you’ll like them.
45-105
5D6F3264-0FF9-4E4C-BBB1-91316DB0B472.jpeg
 
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#144,729
Engle said:
I’m comfortable taking my (2 piece) maple neck TBird out in a gigbag, but I’m glad I got a hard case for my VP, even though it’s huge.
Click to expand...

I use HSC's for storage - gig bags for... gigs! :bassist: (including my '64 II)
 
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#144,732
Beginner Craig said:
Hi all. T-Bird #2 on the way. I’m looking to change my strings in the Blackbird with DR Black Beauties. I’ve heard good things about them. Question is. What sort of tone do you guys get out of them and how long do they usually last. Looking at ordering the 50-100 gauge.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I've used Black Beauties for years on dozens of different basses, including my Thunderbirds.

They are great strings from a longevity standpoint if you're a finger style player. The coating will wear off quickly if you're a pick player. Assume you'll get two to four times the life out of these vs typical round nickel strings unless you use a pick. If you use a pick then assume you'll blast through the coating after a couple of weeks of playing time. Net, I wouldn't recommend these for pick players.

From a sound standpoint they are very consistent from set to set and relatively speaking respond very similar regardless of the bass they are put on. Generally speaking, they reinforce what ever lows and mid lows your bass already has, that won't be deminished in any way. Your mids may become a tad less agressive. Your upper mids will become noticeably more mild and your top end (zing, clank and sheen) will be significantly tamed down. I normally resort to these strings to correct for a bass that is overly top end focused, i.e. Stingray, Or if I want to achieve a specific blacked out stealth look, i.e. Goth.

If for some reason you like the sound but are a pick player and don't want to deal with the aesthetic down side of flaking strings, then look no further than DR Silver Stars. They are essentially Black Beauties but are silver in color so you don't see visible coating chipping from pick playing.

PS - just tried the super heavy Taper wound Black Beauties for the first time and am really liking them. They seem to increase the bottom end a bit more but otherwise are very true to the regular Black Beauties.
 
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#144,734
Beginner Craig said:
Hi all. T-Bird #2 on the way. I’m looking to change my strings in the Blackbird with DR Black Beauties. I’ve heard good things about them. Question is. What sort of tone do you guys get out of them and how long do they usually last. Looking at ordering the 50-100 gauge.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Am the only one asking what your second Thunderbird is?

Congratulations!
 
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#144,736
BklynKen said:
I agree with Bassmike62, I think they all sound great, but if I had to choose one for tone, I'd say the NR41. Cool riff, too.

Not quite as cool as Kat's demo here, but last night I was playing with an EHX Electric Mistress XO flanger and was making some really fun and weird sounds, if impractical for whatever I do. I'm just hitting a B the entire time.

2013 Gibson Thunderbird > Damnation Audio MBD-1 > EHX Electric Mistress XO > GK MB150/112 > iPhone 7 Voice Memos app in front of the amp (super high tech here).

Click to expand...

Some interesting sounds but I'm not knocked out by the melody.:whistle:
 
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