Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

I tried the Gibson again today, with time with Fender Flats. I had a tiny more time to try a few EQ options. The good news is I'm getting closer to a tone I like. I'm finding myself not being frustrated buy the tone when playing like before. I played everything with a pick, and that does bring some definition. I also tried the EQ of Nikki M. from her rig rundown. It looks odd, but does work pretty well with a pick. Don't think I cut the mids quite that much though.

Her settings

 

[BklynKen]

I tried the Gibson again today, with time with Fender Flats. I had a tiny more time to try a few EQ options. The good news is I'm getting closer to a tone I like. I'm finding myself not being frustrated buy the tone when playing like before. I played everything with a pick, and that does bring some definition. I also tried the EQ of Nikki M. from her rig rundown. It looks odd, but does work pretty well with a pick. Don't think I cut the mids quite that much though.

Her settings
View attachment 3876295

Ah, Ampeg head. FWIW, I've never been happy with the sound I get from my Gibson from Ampeg heads.

 

[dagrev]

Ah, Ampeg head. FWIW, I've never been happy with the sound I get from my Gibson from Ampeg heads.

Ampeg's can have a deeper tone and can see where that might not always work ideally with a deeper sounding bass. I'm hoping I can figure out which mid setting needs to be cut or boosted, along with the ideal string for my tonal objectives. I know I sure love playing the Gibson. Other than my '64, it seems like it was made for me.

 

[BklynKen]

Ampeg's can have a deeper tone and can see where that might not always work ideally with a deeper sounding bass. I'm hoping I can figure out which mid setting needs to be cut or boosted, along with the ideal string for my tonal objectives. I know I sure love playing the Gibson. Other than my '64, it seems like it was made for me.

Do you like Nikki Monninger's tone? She plays the same exact bass through Ampeg, so you should be able to get her tone, assuming you like hers.

 

[dagrev]

Do you like Nikki Monninger's tone? She plays the same exact bass through Ampeg, so you should be able to get her tone, assuming you like hers.

I'm not that up on their music, but I do like how her bass sounds on a couple live clips, but not that much on the studio versions. Live "Panic Switch" and "Circadian Rhythm," for example. I don't have a bass that sounds like that, so If I can get there, I think that would work in our mix well. I don't need it to sound exactly like my other Thunderbirds and am fine with it having it's own tone, I just need to work on improving where it's at. I've got some DR Pure Blues that might go on for next weekend.

 

[Gaolee]

Ah, Ampeg head. FWIW, I've never been happy with the sound I get from my Gibson from Ampeg heads.

I'm not a fan of Ampeg amps in general. Then again, I have never played through a B15. Other than that, the ones I have played through had a scratchy, dull, brown quality to the sound. They detract from the blues and greens and teals that a Thunderbird makes.

 

[MCF]

Sure is lookin' good! Glad it's in better shape that expected. That's always a very pleasant surprise given it could seriously go in the other direction. The white VP was "used" from Sam Ash (via Reverb), still have the ProBucker stickers on it and discounted significantly. I have still yet to find any indication it was ever played. I hope you are very satisfied with it. It certainly provides another tonal option from your other basses. Hopefully one you love!

I’m loving it. I became a little concerned intonating it as I kept having to move the saddles further and further back. Thankfully, there’s still a bit of space left for the E. But it’s the closest on any bass I’ve ever had to running out of length.

I don’t have a scale, so I’m not sure of the weight. It’s definitely heavier than my ‘15 and lighter than my two EPI Limited Editions and the ‘13 NR. Maybe about the same as the Goth. Still getting used to the HUGE headstock. I’m convinced that it would balance perfectly (it isn’t bad at all anyway) if the headstock was the “normal“ size.

I’m learning the tone which (you’re right) is different from all the others. Kind of a fun adventure.

 

[GonePlaid]

Ah, Ampeg head. FWIW, I've never been happy with the sound I get from my Gibson from Ampeg heads.

I had a mid 70's blue line SVT/810 rig. Never got the sound I wanted out of it. In its defense, I also never got to crank it as I've heard ya gots to push them to get tone. The 67 NR THUNDERBIRD and it were not a good match.

 

[dagrev]

I’m loving it. I became a little concerned intonating it as I kept having to move the saddles further and further back. Thankfully, there’s still a bit of space left for the E. But it’s the closest on any bass I’ve ever had to running out of length.

I don’t have a scale, so I’m not sure of the weight. It’s definitely heavier than my ‘15 and lighter than my two EPI Limited Editions and the ‘13 NR. Maybe about the same as the Goth. Still getting used to the HUGE headstock. I’m convinced that it would balance perfectly (it isn’t bad at all anyway) if the headstock was the “normal“ size.

I’m learning the tone which (you’re right) is different from all the others. Kind of a fun adventure.

That's great. So glad to hear the good news!

Just from the feel, I think my VPs may be a tad heavier than the 06 Gibson, but not by much. I suspect the headstock is where all the extra weight is! I'm not sure what they were thinking. I know they likely did a few things to improve and others to make it impossible for someone to try to pass one off as a vintage instrument (with some work of course). I think the neck might seem just a wee bit thinner on the Gibson. I like it better if I had to make a preference.

 

[JIO]

I'm not a fan of Ampeg amps in general. Then again, I have never played through a B15. Other than that, the ones I have played through had a scratchy, dull, brown quality to the sound. They detract from the blues and greens and teals that a Thunderbird makes.

I've never played through a frig but I love my '76 B-15n for any bass I plug into it. I installed a late '60s JBL speaker which took it from great to amazing sounding tonally. It does tend toward a darker tone but that suits me to a T because I like mid-range-y basses. So the combination results in a full, round foundation with a very flavorful mid-range distinction. No clank and it's not wanted. If I want power and clank, I use my SWR rig w/4x10 400w head.

I think you would like a rich chocolatey brown over a dull scratchy brown.

​

 

[TBird1958]

I tried the Gibson again today, with time with Fender Flats. I had a tiny more time to try a few EQ options. The good news is I'm getting closer to a tone I like. I'm finding myself not being frustrated buy the tone when playing like before. I played everything with a pick, and that does bring some definition. I also tried the EQ of Nikki M. from her rig rundown. It looks odd, but does work pretty well with a pick. Don't think I cut the mids quite that much though.

Her settings
View attachment 3876295

I may have missed the post, where are your "usual" settings on this amp?

 

[Gaolee]

I've never played through a frig but I love my '76 B-15n for any bass I plug into it. I installed a late '60s JBL speaker which took it from great to amazing sounding tonally. It does tend toward a darker tone but that suits me to a T because I like mid-range-y basses. So the combination results in a full, round foundation with a very flavorful mid-range distinction. No clank and it's not wanted. If I want power and clank, I use my SWR rig w/4x10 400w head.

I think you would like a rich chocolatey brown over a dull scratchy brown.

​

Yep. Ampeg cabinets are fine, from my experience. It is the amps I do not like much.

 

[BklynKen]

Yep. Ampeg cabinets are fine, from my experience. It is the amps I do not like much.

Exactly my experience. First time I was wowed by an amp was a GK 800RB through an Ampeg cab.

 

[MCF]

That's great. So glad to hear the good news!

Just from the feel, I think my VPs may be a tad heavier than the 06 Gibson, but not by much. I suspect the headstock is where all the extra weight is! I'm not sure what they were thinking. I know they likely did a few things to improve and others to make it impossible for someone to try to pass one off as a vintage instrument (with some work of course). I think the neck might seem just a wee bit thinner on the Gibson. I like it better if I had to make a preference.

I prefer the neck on my ‘15, but I’m pretty much neck agnostic anyway. I wasn’t always like that, but frequently shifting among basses and to my acoustic guitar got me to the point of not really minding differences after a few seconds.

 

[dagrev]

I may have missed the post, where are your "usual" settings on this amp?

I post Nikki's pic just for reference.

Bass: 6-6.5 Mid: 6-7 (#3 mid setting) Treb: 5. No buttons depressed.

 

[dagrev]

Yep. Ampeg cabinets are fine, from my experience. It is the amps I do not like much.

That's funny. I like the amps better than most of their cabs.

 

[Gaolee]

I post Nikki's pic just for reference.

Bass: 6-6.5 Mid: 6-7 (#3 mid setting) Treb: 5. No buttons depressed.

She scoops it a whole lot more than you do, then.

 

[Gaolee]

I prefer the neck on my ‘15, but I’m pretty much neck agnostic anyway. I wasn’t always like that, but frequently shifting among basses and to my acoustic guitar got me to the point of not really minding differences after a few seconds.

Upright to EB2 to Precision to Thunderbird to acoustic archtop with a v neck to flattop with a round neck means I am always confused. It takes a lot of work to suck at everything.

 

[BklynKen]

Upright to EB2 to Precision to Thunderbird to acoustic archtop with a v neck to flattop with a round neck means I am always confused. It takes a lot of work to suck at everything.

But that in itself is a talent!

 

[BklynKen]

I post Nikki's pic just for reference.

Bass: 6-6.5 Mid: 6-7 (#3 mid setting) Treb: 5. No buttons depressed.

I would've thought you'd have them memorized. ;-)