Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

@dagrev
Something to consider...
Maybe make a lowball offer on a set of used Gibson Studio 5 string pups. I think they are the same physical size as the 4 string pups. You could try them and if they solve the problem great, if the problem still persists then it might not be the pups. And if you don't like them you could probably sell them at no loss.
2008 Gibson Thunderbird 5 Studio Pickups | The Fireplace | Reverb

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

They're not bad by any stretch, but, cranked up with the band there is to my ears not the same tone. I'm not burning to change them out, but it'll happen.

what bass are those on?

 

[dagrev]

Looks like there’s no other way than T-Buckers and chrome hardware......that said, I really liked the original pups on my 13, in fact, they’re going back on..

Want to have Thunderbird with 4 original pickups!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I bought that bass with the sole notion of making a 7enderbird out of it...….

Thinking I may have to try again sometime.

View attachment 3858323

Yow!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

It won't be easy but I'll try.(To sir, With Love-Lulu)

I heard it just that way as I read it!

 

[MCF]

@dagrev
Something to consider...
Maybe make a lowball offer on a set of used Gibson Studio 5 string pups. I think they are the same physical size as the 4 string pups. You could try them and if they solve the problem great, if the problem still persists then it might not be the pups. And if you don't like them you could probably sell them at no loss.
2008 Gibson Thunderbird 5 Studio Pickups | The Fireplace | Reverb

Brilliant!

But that poor bird. “The bass developed cracks and was warped beyond repair.”

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I noticed the way that young lady slung her bass that she's a prime candidate for a TBird.

And she's playing it like it's not almost as big as her. Wow.

These darn klids need to get offa that lawn. And onto mine.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Hmmm...not able to tell, I don't see enough of it. Maybe someone with better expertise will chime in. I saw an article posted Metal Sludge in 2007 saying his 2 Birds were stolen from him, but no details about the basses.

I saw somewhere they were black.

 

[dagrev]

Re @dagrev and his Gibson issues.

About a year ago we had a visitor who was in a metal band and wasn’t getting cut through with his Gibson. The brains trust here was able to find the defective parts and improve his bass back to normal transmission.
He subsequently sold the T’bird anyway but at least it was working properly at that point.
can’t think of his name. I’ll edit if it comes back to me.

edit: was it Mantis Toboggan ?

Hummm. Very interesting.

Man. I’m feeling bad for all the trouble you’re having finding your tone. I’m a relatively noob to the modern Gibson PUPs, not having the ‘13 NR but for a few months and still just using the Slinkys that it came with. I’m happy with it, but I’m not trying to put it in a live mix. I really hope you find a solution.

I really appreciate that, but it's just one of those first world problems. One man's tone is another man's trash, so to speak, and not at all meaning I would think your tone is trash by any means. We all have different likes, and I know different basses work better with some rigs and not at all with others. Cabs often seem to be more important than amps. I just was so excited to get that bass and for it to be my least interesting in terms of tone is a downer. One I hope I can remedy. That said, I really appreciate all the thoughtful input from everyone and patience in allowing me to vent a little.

 

[TBird1958]

Love the thick punchy sound I get out of my 2012 Gibby Anniversary Bird. However, I'm not playing out on stage anymore so just an occasional garage mix with a few friends or playing along with recorded tracks. That said, my VP does cut through better than my 2012 or 2015. The VP has a gritty raw edge to its sound that my Gibby birds don't have. We'll see where the Greco falls out, but our Queen seems to think it'll best the VP in the "in your face" department.

I set the Greco up with some Ken Smith Rock Masters yesterday, I had every intention of shooting a YouTube this afternoon, however after some yard work I'm bushed and not feelin' too Queenie, so next weekend. Perhaps you'll have your Greco by then?

 

[TBird1958]

what bass are those on?

My Orville.

 

[GBassNorth]

I set the Greco up with some Ken Smith Rock Masters yesterday, I had every intention of shooting a YouTube this afternoon, however after some yard work I'm bushed and not feelin' too Queenie, so next weekend. Perhaps you'll have your Greco by then?

Can't wait to hear it. Yours might be restrung before I get mine. It's coming all the way from the east coast and will probably have to be used by the UPS driver for a shield as he navigates all the riot torn towns along the way.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Wow, each pickup having its own tone knob is pretty interesting.

Les Paul guitars (among others) have had that setup for decades.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

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

Four. Freaking. Grand. No, thanks.

 

[GonePlaid]

And she's playing it like it's not almost as big as her. Wow.

These darn klids need to get offa that lawn. And onto mine.

Nice to know there's a future for rock music.

 

[dagrev]

I'm going to say that TB Plus really do sound good with a GK and Steel Rounds, it's not your tone though. Long ago before I changed my '89 to Lulls I tried some TI Flats and was not taken with them at all as well. I have a recollection of Scott @godofthunder59 saying that he didn't like TB Plus through his HiWatts either, his description being "like hitting a slab of meat" or something to that effect. I do like the TB Plus on the Studio Bird that I recently bought, and while I do think some chrome covered ones would look better, they happen to sound really good to me (the SIT Power Steels may have a lot to do it) and I'm keeping that bass stock.
My .02 on new pickups to go ahead and buy a set of the more expensive ones offered from any of the mfgs. that have been mentioned ( I'd add Seymour Duncan) as they're worth it, while I like my EY "ChinaBuckers" they're not as "full" sounding as the pickups on my other Birds.

Thank you for the helpful comments! I appreciate you and everyone taking the time to thoughtfully reply and make suggestions. I can see where a GK would be a different animal altogether. And I recall talking with Scott a over a year ago and he didn't have a high opinion of the TB+ PUPs, but we do all have different objectives. But he and I are alike in that we both want that 60s Thunderbird sound. But as I recall, he said he thought the SDs were a little too clean sounding. I'm considering the Chinabuckers. Cheap and available, unlike the 760s. But Christmas would be a good time for someone to buy me a nice set of PUPs! Any of my family here?!

 

[dagrev]

You so nailed it on the ChinaBuckers, exactly the reason i want to swap out mine.

Hummm. That is good to know.

 

[MCF]

Nice to know there's a future for rock music.

Oh, the kids are all right. We just need to keep encouraging them. I like to visit music stores and the best visits are when a kid is getting an instrument.

 

[dagrev]

@dagrev
Something to consider...
Maybe make a lowball offer on a set of used Gibson Studio 5 string pups. I think they are the same physical size as the 4 string pups. You could try them and if they solve the problem great, if the problem still persists then it might not be the pups. And if you don't like them you could probably sell them at no loss.
2008 Gibson Thunderbird 5 Studio Pickups | The Fireplace | Reverb

Thank you, that is a good thought. However, I'm thinking I might not favor anything that has a "modern" bent to it. But I will definitely think on that.

 

[dagrev]

Brilliant!

But that poor bird. “The bass developed cracks and was warped beyond repair.”

Love the new avatar!