Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

I apologize for another incorrect post about tube circuits.

As always, there's a lot more going on, so the above should be ignored.
You can learn more about the behavior of this circuit here (written by someone who really knows this stuff).

I intend to stop posting about tube circuits. Posted *here* because the subject came up, but I'll stop now.

Spoiler: Excessive backstory

In high school electronics class, I was the guy who knew his way around all things tube - amps, TVs, etc. I could troubleshoot all kinds and come up with circuits to do specific things (like warm overdrives for guitars). But never having used any of it since then, time has made those memories, well, memories.

I think @Chucky Stiletti knows more about tube circuits than I have forgotten.

 

[GonePlaid]

Seems like a good price. Clearly, you should buy it!

It's like the one I'm getting in, only with all the parts, and no assembly required!

Your bass reminded me of this: That's the last time I buy a flute from IKEA.

 

[Thumper]

I was at a summer jam outdoor concert in about 1978. Most of the groups were straight up rock bands. REO Speedwagon (headliner I believe and before they went pop-rock), Thin Lizzy, Foreigner hadn't been out long, and I can't recall any others, But Steve Miller band was one of the acts in between. He actually got some booze from the crowd. What he did was perfectly fine and sounded great. It was just his musical style was fairly different from everybody else on the bill. Felt bad for him because I thought he did just fine. From what I remember. It was the late '70s....

View attachment 3948197

I saw Captain Beefheart, and Steve Miller, at Knebworth when I was stationed in England in 1976. Then Pink Floyd came out and did Dark Side of the Moon in quadraphonic from first to last song. Steve Miller Band acquitted themselves quite nicely.

 

[dagrev]

I was taking a break from work this morning and did a very short and horrible clip comparing the 06 Gibson to the VP. First time I've ever recorded anything so don't laugh. This was recorded on an iPad with no editing or accessories. It's just sitting in front of my Ampeg the 4B and 212 cabinet about 5 foot away. Both have GHS strings. The Gibson has round core boomers and the VP has regular boomers with a fair amount of age. Pay no attention to the playing as I am just noodling. At one point the Gibson slipped from my lap while kneeling and it got a little weird but I wasn't gonna go back and redo it as you still can get the idea. The Gibson is first then the VP with fingers, then Gibson with pick and then VP.

Both sound kind of similar in a living room setting. In a big room in a live mix they are quite a bit different. Live both of them sound much bigger. The VP sounds a little small sounding but is huge live. The Gibson here sounds pretty tight, but live yesterday it was kind of flabby and booming in indistinct.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[BklynKen]

I was at a summer jam outdoor concert in about 1978. Most of the groups were straight up rock bands. REO Speedwagon (headliner I believe and before they went pop-rock), Thin Lizzy, Foreigner hadn't been out long, and I can't recall any others, But Steve Miller band was one of the acts in between. He actually got some booze from the crowd. What he did was perfectly fine and sounded great. It was just his musical style was fairly different from everybody else on the bill. Felt bad for him because I thought he did just fine. From what I remember. It was the late '70s....

View attachment 3948197

Not to be confused with REO Speedealer, which I think is the better name.

 

[BklynKen]

Your bass reminded me of this: That's the last time I buy a flute from IKEA.
View attachment 3948263

It's actually called the Flüte.

 

[Jebberz]

I had my first rehearsal with the T-Bird (T-Bird Pro in NO finish) since I bought it in February. Here are my impressions so far:

- Sound is fantastic, straight to VT-Bass Deluxe pedal then into the PA. EQ (Hi-Low) are very efficient, and I control the mids just by switching pick-ups. As any other basses with blends that I tried, I prefer Full Neck or 50/50 Neck/Bridge, as intermediary positions are far to subtle to make an impact in a rock band situation (at least to my ears). I'd consider changing the blend to a switch to simplify things live, bu the center detent is nice and firm so not a problem right now.

- Ergonomic : Plays like a dream (just came out from the tech and he did an excellent job to put the set-up to my liking). I've put a strap button in the traditional position and also in the back of the neck, and I prefer the traditional position. a bit of neck dive, but manageable with a comfy wide strap. The weght is heavy, so for long gigs, I will alternate with my very light Jaguar to avoid excessive fatigue.

I just love this bass, and I still wonder why I took so long before buying a T-Bird...

 

[GonePlaid]

It's actually called the Flüte.

A) No umlaut on my keyboard. 2)Google said "That's the last time I buy a flute from IKEA.

 

[Gaolee]

I had my first rehearsal with the T-Bird (T-Bird Pro in NO finish) since I bought it in February. Here are my impressions so far:

- Sound is fantastic, straight to VT-Bass Deluxe pedal then into the PA. EQ (Hi-Low) are very efficient, and I control the mids just by switching pick-ups. As any other basses with blends that I tried, I prefer Full Neck or 50/50 Neck/Bridge, as intermediary positions are far to subtle to make an impact in a rock band situation (at least to my ears). I'd consider changing the blend to a switch to simplify things live, bu the center detent is nice and firm so not a problem right now.

- Ergonomic : Plays like a dream (just came out from the tech and he did an excellent job to put the set-up to my liking). I've put a strap button in the traditional position and also in the back of the neck, and I prefer the traditional position. a bit of neck dive, but manageable with a comfy wide strap. The weght is heavy, so for long gigs, I will alternate with my very light Jaguar to avoid excessive fatigue.

I just love this bass, and I still wonder why I took so long before buying a T-Bird...

Thunderbirds are one of those things that are not for everybody, but if they are for you, then they really work. They choose their players and behave perfectly for those they choose. If it hadn't chosen you, it would be a handful!

 

[GBassNorth]

I was taking a break from work this morning and did a very short and horrible clip comparing the 06 Gibson to the VP. First time I've ever recorded anything so don't laugh. This was recorded on an iPad with no editing or accessories. It's just sitting in front of my Ampeg the 4B and 212 cabinet about 5 foot away. Both have GHS strings. The Gibson has round core boomers and the VP has regular boomers with a fair amount of age. Pay no attention to the playing as I am just noodling. At one point the Gibson slipped from my lap while kneeling and it got a little weird but I wasn't gonna go back and redo it as you still can get the idea. The Gibson is first then the VP with fingers, then Gibson with pick and then VP.

Both sound kind of similar in a living room setting. In a big room in a live mix they are quite a bit different. Live both of them sound much bigger. The VP sounds a little small sounding but is huge live. The Gibson here sounds pretty tight, but live yesterday it was kind of flabby and booming in indistinct.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Would love to hear it, but for some reason the sound file won't launch on my iPad.
Hmmmm, failure to launch on the iPad, must be some form of Electronic Disfunction.

 

[GonePlaid]

Would love to hear it, but for some reason the sound file won't launch on my iPad.
Hmmmm, failure to launch on the iPad, must be some form of Electronic Disfunction.

Hmm. Weird. I had no problem on my iPad. 'Course I don't have an iPad.

 

[dagrev]

Would love to hear it, but for some reason the sound file won't launch on my iPad.
Hmmmm, failure to launch on the iPad, must be some form of Electronic Disfunction.

Sorry, I'm no help there. I don't have a SoundCloud account and just put it in my Google drive to share. That may have something to do with it. I've never saved or shared a music file so it may not work for others as well.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

I had my first rehearsal with the T-Bird (T-Bird Pro in NO finish) since I bought it in February. Here are my impressions so far:

- Sound is fantastic, straight to VT-Bass Deluxe pedal then into the PA. EQ (Hi-Low) are very efficient, and I control the mids just by switching pick-ups. As any other basses with blends that I tried, I prefer Full Neck or 50/50 Neck/Bridge, as intermediary positions are far to subtle to make an impact in a rock band situation (at least to my ears). I'd consider changing the blend to a switch to simplify things live, bu the center detent is nice and firm so not a problem right now.

- Ergonomic : Plays like a dream (just came out from the tech and he did an excellent job to put the set-up to my liking). I've put a strap button in the traditional position and also in the back of the neck, and I prefer the traditional position. a bit of neck dive, but manageable with a comfy wide strap. The weght is heavy, so for long gigs, I will alternate with my very light Jaguar to avoid excessive fatigue.

I just love this bass, and I still wonder why I took so long before buying a T-Bird...

I moved the bottom strap pin up some on the radius of the body. About the same spot as Neck Thru Spectors. It seemed to help a lot with playing comfort and neck dive.

Plus added a small leather loop on the center mounted pin, to anchor the guitar cable. Works great.

 

[Jebberz]

I moved the bottom strap pin up some on the radius of the body. About the same spot as Neck Thru Spectors. It seemed to help a lot with playing comfort and neck dive.
View attachment 3948386
Plus added a small leather loop on the center mounted pin, to anchor the guitar cable. Works great.

Thanks for the tip, I might try it if I find some long time discomfort with my current set-up

 

[Jebberz]

Thunderbirds are one of those things that are not for everybody, but if they are for you, then they really work. They choose their players and behave perfectly for those they choose. If it hadn't chosen you, it would be a handful!

I guess I'm a choosen one - lucky me.

Still gassing for a white one, how the painted neck feels? The satin neck on mine feels just great...

 

[PillO]

It's actually called the Flüte.

 

[PillO]

A) No umlaut on my keyboard. 2)Google said "That's the last time I buy a flute from IKEA.

Yeah, it is a lot more keystrokes to get umlauts on a flip phone.

 

[BklynKen]

Yeah, it is a lot more keystrokes to get umlauts on a flip phone.

They're really not necessary on burner phones.

 

[GonePlaid]

Yeah, it is a lot more keystrokes to get umlauts on a flip phone.

I only do this [stuff] on my desktop.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

I guess I'm a choosen one - lucky me.

Still gassing for a white one, how the painted neck feels? The satin neck on mine feels just great...

The painted necks are fine... after all it is a Nitrocellulose Laquer finish. Doesn't grab like some poly finishes, like a Ricky.

But if it tends to feel like it drags a little in high humidity while playing. The Baby Powder trick works great. Just a pinch on palm in left hand.

It is an old Jeff Beck trick.