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Thunderbird Club

this guy tried both (SD/Lollars) on an NR BaCH...
Bach T-Bird Bass
IIRC he ended up, in the final rendition of the bass, installing Mike Lull pups due to the authentic 1960' bird sound they have. I don't know if he considered Thunderbuckers at the time or how they stack up against the Lulls.

There's also this other brand that looks interesting but I don't have any sound info on them...
JPG (Josh Parkin Guitars) Ol' Thunder - Thunderbird pickups Handwound | JPG (Josh Parkin Guitars) | Reverb

So if you're looking for TBird replacements it looks like...
Thunderbuckers
JPG
Lulls
Lollars
SD
Chinabuckers
Eppi VP Probuckers
EMG
Bartolini
Others???

I'd love to see where each of these falls on a sound chart vs the stock modern Gibson pup. Here's my take on the Eppi VP vs Modern Gibby...
Darker<----------------------Modern Gibson--------VP----------->Brighter
Old School<-----VP----------Modern Gibson---------------------->HiFi
Mellow<----------------------Modern Gibson-----------------VP-->Agressive
Thick<--------------------VP-Modern Gibson---------------------->Thin
Mud<-------------------------Modern Gibson---VP---------------->Detailed

If other club members can fill in relative info for the other pups it would be great.
 
The reasoning of the top echelon in the music biz (especially pop) is spelled out simply in all caps - $$$
Yeah. I get that. He has produced dozens of big names. Of those who I like, I can’t think of a particular album that he’s produced that comes close to that artist’s best work. U2 is one example. But he seems to be well liked...
 
IIRC he ended up, in the final rendition of the bass, installing Mike Lull pups due to the authentic 1960' bird sound they have. I don't know if he considered Thunderbuckers at the time or how they stack up against the Lulls.

There's also this other brand that looks interesting but I don't have any sound info on them...
JPG (Josh Parkin Guitars) Ol' Thunder - Thunderbird pickups Handwound | JPG (Josh Parkin Guitars) | Reverb

So if you're looking for TBird replacements it looks like...
Thunderbuckers
JPG
Lulls
Lollars
SD
Chinabuckers
Eppi VP Probuckers
EMG
Bartolini
Others???

I'd love to see where each of these falls on a sound chart vs the stock modern Gibson pup. Here's my take on the Eppi VP vs Modern Gibby...
Darker<----------------------Modern Gibson--------VP----------->Brighter
Old School<-----VP----------Modern Gibson---------------------->HiFi
Mellow<----------------------Modern Gibson-----------------VP-->Agressive
Thick<--------------------VP-Modern Gibson---------------------->Thin
Mud<-------------------------Modern Gibson---VP---------------->Detailed

If other club members can fill in relative info for the other pups it would be great.
I was making a list a few weeks ago and came up with the same ones. It would be interesting to know if anyone has tried the JPGs. It sounds like he’ll custom wind if you know exactly what to ask for.
 
IIRC he ended up, in the final rendition of the bass, installing Mike Lull pups due to the authentic 1960' bird sound they have. I don't know if he considered Thunderbuckers at the time or how they stack up against the Lulls.

There's also this other brand that looks interesting but I don't have any sound info on them...
JPG (Josh Parkin Guitars) Ol' Thunder - Thunderbird pickups Handwound | JPG (Josh Parkin Guitars) | Reverb

So if you're looking for TBird replacements it looks like...
Thunderbuckers
JPG
Lulls
Lollars
SD
Chinabuckers
Eppi VP Probuckers
EMG
Bartolini
Others???

I'd love to see where each of these falls on a sound chart vs the stock modern Gibson pup. Here's my take on the Eppi VP vs Modern Gibby...
Darker<----------------------Modern Gibson--------VP----------->Brighter
Old School<-----VP----------Modern Gibson---------------------->HiFi
Mellow<----------------------Modern Gibson-----------------VP-->Agressive
Thick<--------------------VP-Modern Gibson---------------------->Thin
Mud<-------------------------Modern Gibson---VP---------------->Detailed

If other club members can fill in relative info for the other pups it would be great.
Very good characterization/comparison of the Modern and VP PUs.

Scott told me prior to my first VP that as far as getting close to the 60s tone, the Thunderbuckers were first, and oddly enough the VPs were second on his list--but mentioned they sounded more like the late 60s version as found on the NRs. I really don't need or necessarily want another bass that sounds exactly like the VPs, so I'm hoping I get things worked out. But it's good to know where the various PUs stand in relation to each other.
 
Very good characterization/comparison of the Modern and VP PUs.

Scott told me prior to my first VP that as far as getting close to the 60s tone, the Thunderbuckers were first, and oddly enough the VPs were second on his list--but mentioned they sounded more like the late 60s version as found on the NRs. I really don't need or necessarily want another bass that sounds exactly like the VPs, so I'm hoping I get things worked out. But it's good to know where the various PUs stand in relation to each other.

Lulls are '64 spec patterned exactly after two from an original '64 that was an exceptionally good sounding bass, 8k neck 9K bridge. Mike owned a lot of Thunderbirds and knew very well what was needed to make the first real repro Thunderbird pickups, well before anyone else on the list above. They're quite different from a VP's 760 in my experience, much clearer but there's a nice warm growl.
 
Lulls are '64 spec patterned exactly after two from an original '64 that was an exceptionally good sounding bass, 8k neck 9K bridge. Mike owned a lot of Thunderbirds and knew very well what was needed to make the first real repro Thunderbird pickups, well before anyone else on the list above. They're quite different from a VP's 760 in my experience, much clearer but there's a nice warm growl.
Thanks! Good info!
 
Lulls are '64 spec patterned exactly after two from an original '64 that was an exceptionally good sounding bass, 8k neck 9K bridge. Mike owned a lot of Thunderbirds and knew very well what was needed to make the first real repro Thunderbird pickups, well before anyone else on the list above. They're quite different from a VP's 760 in my experience, much clearer but there's a nice warm growl.

What do you mean by "clearer"? Thanks!
 
I started this Fenderbird over 10 years ago maybe longer and I shelved it. Intended to be a prototype for Fenderbirds I was going to build but I dropped the ball, fortunately Cataldo Basses filled the void. It's finally coming together, waiting on delivery of a Thunderbucker 66 for the neck position.
20200619_170747.jpg
 
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Lulls are '64 spec patterned exactly after two from an original '64 that was an exceptionally good sounding bass, 8k neck 9K bridge. Mike owned a lot of Thunderbirds and knew very well what was needed to make the first real repro Thunderbird pickups, well before anyone else on the list above. They're quite different from a VP's 760 in my experience, much clearer but there's a nice warm growl.

Well Veronica, since you're one of the experts here I would really like to know what do you think about these ones, here's the description:

''These pickups are made for us. They're made from a Thunderbird pickup drawing and are being used by the Premier Builders Guild.

Neck Pickup : 7.90KΩ
Bridge Pickup : 9.20KΩ

3.7" x 1.6"

Vintage Braided Wire is Used

Alnico 5''


Considering the values that they have, would that make them more vintage sounding?, growlier?, beefier?, heavier?... or something?

They look pretty much as the ones that you got installed on your Orville bird that I saw on a video. What do you think?

Here's an image btw : )

gjrnkhckvf7rwrc2p7ai.jpg
 
Well Veronica, since you're one of the experts here I would really like to know what do you think about these ones, here's the description:

''These pickups are made for us. They're made from a Thunderbird pickup drawing and are being used by the Premier Builders Guild.

Neck Pickup : 7.90KΩ
Bridge Pickup : 9.20KΩ

3.7" x 1.6"

Vintage Braided Wire is Used

Alnico 5''


Considering the values that they have, would that make them more vintage sounding?, growlier?, beefier?, heavier?... or something?

They look pretty much as the ones that you got installed on your Orville bird that I saw on a video. What do you think?

Here's an image btw : )

View attachment 3873890

Those are the ones I have in my Orville, and while they're not bad, they lack, for a better term "depth" compared to my Lulls or for that matter a Gibson, Greco or Epi 760. At volume something's missing through out, some bass, some mids and definitely some highs/treble again not bad, but I've heard better right in my own home.
Most all of the other pickups are quite a bit more expensive and there's no doubt in my mind that this is a case of "you get what you pay for"