Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

I get the same w/both at 10. I simplify by not using the bridge pup at all. Mine is a TBird II with some useless thing by the bridge.

So you have an extra vintage pickup. Don’t take this the wrong way Plaid, but that pickup is probably worth more than any of the worn out kidneys some of us jokingly talk about selling around here.

 

[GonePlaid]

So you have an extra vintage pickup. Don’t take this the wrong way Plaid, but that pickup is probably worth more than any of the worn out kidneys some of us jokingly talk about selling around here.

I joke about it a lot 'cos I like the tone without it, but I think I may have a shot pot. I don't care about getting it looked into since I'm happy with the bass as is. "If it ain't broke...."

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I get the same w/both at 10. I simplify by not using the bridge pup at all. Mine is a TBird II with some useless thing by the bridge.

I’ll trade you a ThunderBucker for that bridge pup.....would personally fly to Florida and expertly swap...

 

[GBassNorth]

As a slight aside here, how do you (and others) run your Thunderbirds tone wise? Pickup volume blends/tone setting/preferred string choice, and so on.
I know we aren’t going to be comparing apples with apples here and you will adjust depending on situation but what’s YOUR Thunderbird sound when you sit and play on your own and want to hear what you want to hear?

NV=8ish
Tone=0 to 5
BV=0 to whatever is needed to drive clarity to notes in the mix
Strings= typically round wound nickel, sometimes flats or Tapes
Right hand= over neck pup for punch and drive, over end of fretboard for creamy smooth Tone.
Finger style only, my Thunderbirds are limited by lack of ability to competently use a pic.

That's just weird looking. Why would there be a cap at every pot?

This pretty much explains it...
Mojo Tone Volume Mod for Guitars
I tried it on my FrankenGoth as an alternative to traditional wiring but really didn't notice much difference, so out it came. It might be a better fit for guitars where treble is typically a highly desired thing.

 

[GonePlaid]

I’ll trade you a ThunderBucker for that bridge pup.....would personally fly to Florida and expertly swap...

'preciate the offer, but 'cept for the PG-and I have the original-I'm leaving it stock 'til I sell it or "buy the farm". In which case my heirs will do something stupid with it.

 

[MCF]

Finger style only, my Thunderbirds are limited by lack of ability to competently use a pic.

We’ll always have this in common.

 

[KaraQ]

As a slight aside here, how do you (and others) run your Thunderbirds tone wise? Pickup volume blends/tone setting/preferred string choice, and so on.

I know we aren’t going to be comparing apples with apples here and you will adjust depending on situation but what’s YOUR Thunderbird sound when you sit and play on your own and want to hear what you want to hear?

On my IV, neck at 10, bridge & tone around 7-8. Rotosound flats.

On the Pro V, I'm still tinkering a bit, but used the settings of the IV as a starting point. Same strings, just one extra

 

[Thumper]

For those of us from the other side of the tracks where bass knobs didn't have numbers, is 0 full open or closed? And does that mean treble or more bassy?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

For those of us from the other side of the tracks where bass knobs didn't have numbers, is 0 full open or closed? And does that mean treble or more bassy?

0 = more bassy, actually less trebley

 

[Thumper]

Oh, ok. I put the knobs on wrong on my Embassy's, but guess I'll leave them as is. At least I can follow the discussion now.

 

[MCF]

Cool thread starting in the GP.
Before & After - Your resurrection project

 

[MCF]

And there’s this:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/dingwall-d-bird-aquamarine-sparkle.1465852/

 

[PillO]

You didn’t actually read through that thing did you? Still on pain meds?

Read the first couple of pages and the last couple that lead up to closure. In between, I skimmed.

 

[Dluxe]

I found another one of these recently. I want to eventually swap out the Artek for a traditional looking pickup.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I found another one of these recently. I want to eventually swap out the Artek for a traditional looking pickup.

View attachment 3853031 View attachment 3853032

Nice score! Does it have the belly cut?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

But that's just extra headroom, right?

Seriously. If you can't play hard enough to get at least 1kV out of THUNDERBIRD pickups, then you are not related to Thor. At all.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I get the same w/both at 10. I simplify by not using the bridge pup at all. Mine is a TBird II with some useless thing by the bridge.

I didn't really start using the bridge at all until I got the VP. And only for certain sounds.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I played an outdoor wedding a few years ago. The drummer was stung a number of times, but she never missed a beat. We didn't find out how bad it was until later on, when we were loading out and she wasn't very happy about the world.

Did y'all tip her extra?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

That's just weird looking. Why would there be a cap at every pot?

It's more of an issue with guitars, but as you roll off the volume, a pot by itself cuts the treble from the pickup as well. The caps on the volume pot let the treble through.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

If it's a post 1988 Thunderbird reissue, the big clovers will overlap. If that's ok with you, then it can be done just fine. I prefer the mini-clovers just in case.

Bet it's not a problem on a VP.