Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

I haven't got a chance to unsolder the tone cap yet, but used the Gibby today. Quick practice with TI Jazz Rounds- not bad, but still wanting more personality or something. Swapped strings and put some used GHS Pressurewounds on. More bass but way less definition--and these strings have great mids. In fact, both strings are very mid present. The TI's are my "fixer" string. Almost any bass that's missing something, the TI JRs will to the trick.

I don't mean to sound like whiny, but I've had more more trouble get what I want out of this bass live than any I've had in decades. Pretty frustrated getting this great bass sounding good. Sounds nice at home, but live is undefined. I even cut the bass to clean it up, but that wasn't the problem. I'll work on the cap option, but I'm thinking I need to find some pickups. It's a wonderful bass and I determined to get it sounding like a Thunderbird should. I wasn't planning to spend money on it, but it's so nice and I love the feel that I don't mind considering PUs if the cap isn't messing thing up.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I'm not too hip with a lotta that stuff, but what I've done with some of our groups videos is post it to Youtube, then post the YT link here. PITA but it works.

TB prolly does that to screen the content..easy and free..

 

[GonePlaid]

TB prolly does that to screen the content..easy and free..

I'll agree with 'free'. Easy? Not for me.

 

[MCF]

For Sale - GIBSON Thunderbird Bicentennial - excellent cond.++

 

[bylar13]

I haven't got a chance to unsolder the tone cap yet, but used the Gibby today. Quick practice with TI Jazz Rounds- not bad, but still wanting more personality or something. Swapped strings and put some used GHS Pressurewounds on. More bass but way less definition--and these strings have great mids. In fact, both strings are very mid present. The TI's are my "fixer" string. Almost any bass that's missing something, the TI JRs will to the trick.

I don't mean to sound like whiny, but I've had more more trouble get what I want out of this bass live than any I've had in decades. Pretty frustrated getting this great bass sounding good. Sounds nice at home, but live is undefined. I even cut the bass to clean it up, but that wasn't the problem. I'll work on the cap option, but I'm thinking I need to find some pickups. It's a wonderful bass and I determined to get it sounding like a Thunderbird should. I wasn't planning to spend money on it, but it's so nice and I love the feel that I don't mind considering PUs if the cap isn't messing thing up.

I have hesitated saying anything, as not to be a downer, espesically after all you went through to get this bass..

My experience was the same as yours when I bought my 2014 T-Bird. I did not like the pick-ups. No amount of amp EQ or string changes ( I use roundwounds, not flats) got me to where I felt I needed to be.

No matter what I did, it sounded like a Thunderbird being played through a couch cushion. It did not sound like all of the great sounds I was familiar with of famous t-bird users. Everything I played sounded like the bass tone from Motley Crue. I don't like Motley Crue, no intention to offend anyone

You have the added difficulty of having the real deal and the the closest thing to the real deal, in close proximity.

You need to change the pickups. There, I said it! ;-)

I ended up with Lollar replacements. Very spendy but I love the way they sound. They fixed the lack of clarity, improved the definition and tightened up the low end.

You have more options than I did at the time. I only knew of Lollar, Mike Lull and Seymour Duncan. The Lull's were more expensive that the Lollars and the Seymour Duncans had to be special ordered. I was unaware of Thunderbucker and the Epi Probucker 760 did not exist.

Maybe see if you can snag a damaged Epi Embassy and use it to provide pickups? I think that will get you much closer to where you want to be. Just an opinion and in no way scientific. Also I do not want to offend anyone inf the club regarding their preference for this kind of stuff. These are simply my experiences and my non-scientific opinions.

I hope you find what your looking for, quickly, easily and with minimal expense!

 

[BklynKen]

I have hesitated saying anything, as not to be a downer, espesically after all you went through to get this bass..

My experience was the same as yours when I bought my 2014 T-Bird. I did not like the pick-ups. No amount of amp EQ or string changes ( I use roundwounds, not flats) got me to where I felt I needed to be.

No matter what I did, it sounded like a Thunderbird being played through a couch cushion. It did not sound like all of the great sounds I was familiar with of famous t-bird users. Everything I played sounded like the bass tone from Motley Crue. I don't like Motley Crue, no intention to offend anyone

You have the added difficulty of having the real deal and the the closest thing to the real deal, in close proximity.

You need to change the pickups. There, I said it! ;-)

I ended up with Lollar replacements. Very spendy but I love the way they sound. They fixed the lack of clarity, improved the definition and tightened up the low end.

You have more options than I did at the time. I only knew of Lollar, Mike Lull and Seymour Duncan. The Lull's were more expensive that the Lollars and the Seymour Duncans had to be special ordered. I was unaware of Thunderbucker and the Epi Probucker 760 did not exist.

Maybe see if you can snag a damaged Epi Embassy and use it to provide pickups? I think that will get you much closer to where you want to be. Just an opinion and in no way scientific. Also I do not want to offend anyone inf the club regarding their preference for this kind of stuff. These are simply my experiences and my non-scientific opinions.

I hope you find what your looking for, quickly, easily and with minimal expense!

What's your backline? With amps like GK, I never felt a lack of clarity.

 

[Toptube]

I'm holding out for a Gold Bullion with gold hardware and a black pickguard as a Non Reverse match to my Gibby Anniversary Bird...

After the NR purchase it'll be a Gold Top Les Paul solid body and a gold JC hollow body to round out the set.

Geddy seems to have a Gold NR. He can't gig right now anyway so, make him an offer

 

[JJR58]

From my limited personal experience with the TB+'s is, ya gotta use rounds.

 

[GonePlaid]

From my limited personal experience with the TB+'s is, ya gotta use rounds.

B-r-r-a-a-a-c-k.

 

[JJR58]

B-r-r-a-a-a-c-k.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I'll agree with 'free'. Easy? Not for me.

for TB..

 

[RedVee]

So much cool stuff in that photo. But what's the fourth knob on the Fenderbird?

that’s the 007 knob; shoots the headstock at arch villains.

I'm holding out for a Gold Bullion with gold hardware and a black pickguard as a Non Reverse match to my Gibby Anniversary Bird...

After the NR purchase it'll be a Gold Top Les Paul solid body and a gold JC hollow body to round out the set.

That’s Gold !

 

[GBassNorth]

I haven't got a chance to unsolder the tone cap yet, but used the Gibby today. Quick practice with TI Jazz Rounds- not bad, but still wanting more personality or something. Swapped strings and put some used GHS Pressurewounds on. More bass but way less definition--and these strings have great mids. In fact, both strings are very mid present. The TI's are my "fixer" string. Almost any bass that's missing something, the TI JRs will to the trick.

I don't mean to sound like whiny, but I've had more more trouble get what I want out of this bass live than any I've had in decades. Pretty frustrated getting this great bass sounding good. Sounds nice at home, but live is undefined. I even cut the bass to clean it up, but that wasn't the problem. I'll work on the cap option, but I'm thinking I need to find some pickups. It's a wonderful bass and I determined to get it sounding like a Thunderbird should. I wasn't planning to spend money on it, but it's so nice and I love the feel that I don't mind considering PUs if the cap isn't messing thing up.

Sorry to hear that things still aren't where you need them. If I still lived in KY I'd pack up my TBirds and a couple of amps and cabs and come down to your place so you could try different birds and amps to see if they sound different than yours. Not sure if we have any other club members near you.

If you really like the bass, it sounds like your best option will be a pup swap. If you want to do it on the cheap consider just replacing the pup you favor the most. If the change is significant and in the right direction you can then decide if you want to spend more money on replacing the other pup.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I have hesitated saying anything, as not to be a downer, espesically after all you went through to get this bass..

My experience was the same as yours when I bought my 2014 T-Bird. I did not like the pick-ups. No amount of amp EQ or string changes ( I use roundwounds, not flats) got me to where I felt I needed to be.

No matter what I did, it sounded like a Thunderbird being played through a couch cushion. It did not sound like all of the great sounds I was familiar with of famous t-bird users. Everything I played sounded like the bass tone from Motley Crue. I don't like Motley Crue, no intention to offend anyone

You have the added difficulty of having the real deal and the the closest thing to the real deal, in close proximity.

You need to change the pickups. There, I said it! ;-)

I ended up with Lollar replacements. Very spendy but I love the way they sound. They fixed the lack of clarity, improved the definition and tightened up the low end.

You have more options than I did at the time. I only knew of Lollar, Mike Lull and Seymour Duncan. The Lull's were more expensive that the Lollars and the Seymour Duncans had to be special ordered. I was unaware of Thunderbucker and the Epi Probucker 760 did not exist.

Maybe see if you can snag a damaged Epi Embassy and use it to provide pickups? I think that will get you much closer to where you want to be. Just an opinion and in no way scientific. Also I do not want to offend anyone inf the club regarding their preference for this kind of stuff. These are simply my experiences and my non-scientific opinions.

I hope you find what your looking for, quickly, easily and with minimal expense!

excellent post, if installed without major damage, many pickup manufacturers will give a full refund if you don’t like them..

 

[dagrev]

I have hesitated saying anything, as not to be a downer, espesically after all you went through to get this bass..

My experience was the same as yours when I bought my 2014 T-Bird. I did not like the pick-ups. No amount of amp EQ or string changes ( I use roundwounds, not flats) got me to where I felt I needed to be.

No matter what I did, it sounded like a Thunderbird being played through a couch cushion. It did not sound like all of the great sounds I was familiar with of famous t-bird users. Everything I played sounded like the bass tone from Motley Crue. I don't like Motley Crue, no intention to offend anyone

You have the added difficulty of having the real deal and the the closest thing to the real deal, in close proximity.

You need to change the pickups. There, I said it! ;-)

I ended up with Lollar replacements. Very spendy but I love the way they sound. They fixed the lack of clarity, improved the definition and tightened up the low end.

You have more options than I did at the time. I only knew of Lollar, Mike Lull and Seymour Duncan. The Lull's were more expensive that the Lollars and the Seymour Duncans had to be special ordered. I was unaware of Thunderbucker and the Epi Probucker 760 did not exist.

Maybe see if you can snag a damaged Epi Embassy and use it to provide pickups? I think that will get you much closer to where you want to be. Just an opinion and in no way scientific. Also I do not want to offend anyone inf the club regarding their preference for this kind of stuff. These are simply my experiences and my non-scientific opinions.

I hope you find what your looking for, quickly, easily and with minimal expense!

Thank you for your consideration. That is very thoughtful. Like you, I don't want to sound like I'm dumping on an instrument many love, and it's tone which works great for many, but I'm sure my frustration is making it sound that way.

I read and considered the negatives about those basses/PUs (dark, etc), but thought, it's Thunderbird--how far off track could Gibson go? Well, a fair amount it seems! Like I said, at home it can sound good, but in a live setting it either sounds like boomy somewhat hallow lows and/or, to my ear, an odd upper thing that I really can't figure out.

I really love the bass and hope it's a wrong cap, but I'm not really optomistic. If not, I'm thinking of trying to find some ProBucker 760s and turn this into the bass Gibson should be making, IMO. (Not sure what I'll do about the chrome on a black hardware bass--remove the cans maybe.) Scott once told me the 760s were the next best thing after the Thunderbuckers. I would love to just find some 760s, but I have yet to just see a set for sale. The price of shipping a bass these days is crazy, so I rater buy just PUs if possible. Also, used Embassy's don't show up like I would have thought--and they apparently aren't making them any longer.

I'm playing through and Ampeg V-4BH (100w tube head and Ampeg Heritage 410--which is not muddy like other Ampeg 410s). It provides me with big, thick, warm punchy tone. No angry piano. Not GK tone or aggression by any means, but that's not what I'm shooting for.

 

[dagrev]

From my limited personal experience with the TB+'s is, ya gotta use rounds.

Thanks. I think you are right on that. The TI flats are the only non-rounds I've tried thus far. I haven't tried Fender flats, which sound good on VPs but I doubt will work on the Gibby. I've got Cobalt flats (also great on VPs), but they sound kind of similar to the GHS Pressurewounds which didn't work today.

 

[JJR58]

Thank you for your consideration. That is very thoughtful. Like you, I don't want to sound like I'm dumping on an instrument many love, and it's tone which works great for many, but I'm sure my frustration is making it sound that way.

I read and considered the negatives about those basses/PUs (dark, etc), but thought, it's Thunderbird--how far off track could Gibson go? Well, a fair amount it seems! Like I said, at home it can sound good, but in a live setting it either sounds like boomy somewhat hallow lows and/or, to my ear, an odd upper thing that I really can't figure out.

I really love the bass and hope it's a wrong cap, but I'm not really optomistic. If not, I'm thinking of trying to find some ProBucker 760s and turn this into the bass Gibson should be making, IMO. (Not sure what I'll do about the chrome on a black hardware bass--remove the cans maybe.) Scott once told me the 760s were the next best thing after the Thunderbuckers. I would love to just find some 760s, but I have yet to just see a set for sale. The price of shipping a bass these days is crazy, so I rater buy just PUs if possible. Also, used Embassy's don't show up like I would have thought--and they apparently aren't making them any longer.

I'm playing through and Ampeg V-4BH (100w tube head and Ampeg Heritage 410--which is not muddy like other Ampeg 410s). It provides me with big, thick, warm punchy tone. No angry piano. Not GK tone or aggression by any means, but that's not what I'm shooting for.

And your rig is some hefty mutha!!!
I mean that in a good way.

 

[GonePlaid]

Thank you for your consideration. That is very thoughtful. Like you, I don't want to sound like I'm dumping on an instrument many love, and it's tone which works great for many, but I'm sure my frustration is making it sound that way.

I read and considered the negatives about those basses/PUs (dark, etc), but thought, it's Thunderbird--how far off track could Gibson go? Well, a fair amount it seems! Like I said, at home it can sound good, but in a live setting it either sounds like boomy somewhat hallow lows and/or, to my ear, an odd upper thing that I really can't figure out.

I really love the bass and hope it's a wrong cap, but I'm not really optomistic. If not, I'm thinking of trying to find some ProBucker 760s and turn this into the bass Gibson should be making, IMO. (Not sure what I'll do about the chrome on a black hardware bass--remove the cans maybe.) Scott once told me the 760s were the next best thing after the Thunderbuckers. I would love to just find some 760s, but I have yet to just see a set for sale. The price of shipping a bass these days is crazy, so I rater buy just PUs if possible. Also, used Embassy's don't show up like I would have thought--and they apparently aren't making them any longer.

I'm playing through and Ampeg V-4BH (100w tube head and Ampeg Heritage 410--which is not muddy like other Ampeg 410s). It provides me with big, thick, warm punchy tone. No angry piano. Not GK tone or aggression by any means, but that's not what I'm shooting for.

Just a thought: can you get far enuff away from the amp in a live setting to hear what it sounds like "out front"? I've found-playing live-that if it sounds good to me @ ~5-6', it's sounds like[word meaning not as good]to the audience.

 

[dagrev]

Sorry to hear that things still aren't where you need them. If I still lived in KY I'd pack up my TBirds and a couple of amps and cabs and come down to your place so you could try different birds and amps to see if they sound different than yours. Not sure if we have any other club members near you.

If you really like the bass, it sounds like your best option will be a pup swap. If you want to do it on the cheap consider just replacing the pup you favor the most. If the change is significant and in the right direction you can then decide if you want to spend more money on replacing the other pup.

I really appreciate your kindness George, and know you certainly would gladly do that. There is a GC across town, possibly they have one, but given they had different PUs since '89--what was in '06 might be different from what is used today.

I'll try different options. I have no intention of selling the bass. It is really nice and I love playing it. I just don't love hearing it right now. I never thought a Thunderbird would be my worst sounding bass. That can be remedied, I'm sure. I just have to get there, once I find out the right option for "there."

 

[bylar13]

Geddy seems to have a Gold NR. He can't gig right now anyway so, make him an offer

My stuff was Orange and Peavey. At rehearsal spaces, a mix of GK/Hartke and a bunch of other low end crap.

The other side of this is that it's all placebo. Because I paid $400 for a set of pick-ups, they HAVE to sound better or I am an idiot, right? Like I said, no actual science was used in the formation of this opinion!