Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

Ah, I think this explains it. I think I have one "Dual Sound" switch instead of two. I forget what exactly that does. I figure I have one instead of two either because mine is four years older or because I have different pickups.

View attachment 3804316

Dual sound = series/parallel. I love that.

 

[BklynKen]

Dual sound = series/parallel. I love that.

If I remember correctly, the switch will add some grit. I don't know what the difference is between series and parallel. I just find a position on any bass I have that sounds good and stick with that.

 

[Gaolee]

1. I was being a smartarse.

2. see above

We are always very serious around here. We take everything you say especially seriously.

 

[Gaolee]

Gibson reused numbers which adds to the confusion. My '76 could be a '76 from Kalamazoo--or a 2005 Mandolin. Hummm. Thunderbird mandolin. Always wanted a mandolin.

My oldest Thunderbird is a 1991. That's the Flamingo.

 

[Gaolee]

If I remember correctly, the switch will add some grit. I don't know what the difference is between series and parallel. I just find a position on any bass I have that sounds good and stick with that.

That's how I deal with knobs, switches, and all that. All the switching in the world usually ends up with me using it to find what I want to hear, although there are times it gets changed for a song or two.

I'm doing the same thing with drums right now. Retuning the heads, damping and undamping, swapping ride cymbals, changing EQ on the kick drum while recording. It's endless. That's why it's so much fun. Nobody will ever mistake my playing for Alex VanHalen, but oh, well. It's still fun.

 

[davelowell2]

I finally got my VP rewired with new pots, series parallel push/pull.

Only problem is a bit of noise when I touch the neck pickup.

If I also touch the strings while touching the pickup, the noise goes away.

Also, only in series not parallel.

I’ll have to figure this one out but hopefully it’s just a bad solder joint or something easy.

 

[kringle77]

Nice. I'm doing a build and planned on doing a series, parallel configuration only. How does series sound?

 

[Thumper]

I finally got my VP rewired with new pots, series parallel push/pull.

Only problem is a bit of noise when I touch the neck pickup.

If I also touch the strings while touching the pickup, the noise goes away.

I’ll have to figure this one out but hopefully it’s just a bad solder joint or something easy.

Once you get this sorted out, can you post or PM the wiring diagram, I need it for my Thunderjazz project.

 

[Thumper]

Nice. I'm doing a build and planned on doing a series, parallel configuration only. How does series sound?

Like rolls of nickels in a sock slammed upside your head. I would do both series and parallel if you do anything besides Hard Rock. Parallel is useful for a Classic Rock tone (e.g. Long Cool Woman).

 

[davelowell2]

Nice. I'm doing a build and planned on doing a series, parallel configuration only. How does series sound?

Series has more mids, like one big pickup.
I’ll get some clips up when I get the noise figured out.

 

[davelowell2]

Once you get this sorted out, can you post or PM the wiring diagram, I need it for my Thunderjazz project.

This one.

 

[Thumper]

This one.


View attachment 3804454

Except maybe using 500k pots for the volume?

 

[RexxRokket]

I highly recommend the run of 2013 Les Paul Basses if you can find them.
The headstocks are more traditional looking to me..If Gibson made them in another color I would probably have one of those as well..Gold top is always awesome...

View attachment 3804234

Besides the early 90's LPB these are cool, not sure about if the quality of the woods still the same tho, but very pretty indeed.

 

[WillyW]

This has one more switch than the lefty above. What do the various controls do?

These are gorgeous. If Thanos snapped all the THUNDERBIRDS out of existence, I would start looking for one of these to try. Always loved their look.

Ah, I think this explains it. I think I have one "Dual Sound" switch instead of two. I forget what exactly that does. I figure I have one instead of two either because mine is four years older or because I have different pickups.

View attachment 3804316

I try not to touch the switches and knobs, for all I know there is a self destruct button...

 

[BklynKen]

I try not to touch the switches and knobs, for all I know there is a self destruct button...

I like that approach.

 

[davelowell2]

Except maybe using 500k pots for the volume?

I used 500 for volumes and 250 for tone, .047 cap.

 

[WillyW]

What pots do y’all use for the Gibson soapbars?

I’m changing these out, and can’t read the values.

 

[Gaolee]

What pots do y’all use for the Gibson soapbars?

I’m changing these out, and can’t read the values.

View attachment 3804481

Conventional wisdom is 500 for humbuckers. I don't know of any reason Gibson would not have used those.

 

[WillyW]

Conventional wisdom is 500 for humbuckers. I don't know of any reason Gibson would not have used those.

thanks, I have some Duncan soaps and they recommended 250’s but I think I did 500k vol 250k tone with .033uf cap.

was thinking of doing the same

 

[GBassNorth]

Some Quarantine fun to kill the time...

According to Whatculture.com these are the 10 greatest vocal performances in classic rock history:
10. The End - The Doors
9. Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones
8. Runnin With The Devil - Van Halen
7. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
6. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
5. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
4. Because - The Beatles
3. Child In Time - Deep Purple
2. Dream On - Aerosmith
1. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

I don't disagree that those are all great songs, but I'm sure I could easily come up with another 10.

So just sticking with the list - Can you name the bass used on the original recording of each song? Any birds? Possibly The Who?

I'm pretty sure #1 was a Stingray and #4 was a Hofner. Was #10 a Rhodes keyboard?