Thunderbird Club

[tyohars]

Don't use emotions to think with. Not their purpose. Wait for what you really want then the happiness factor will be higher instead of the regret factor. No one should ever buy a bass they don't really love.

But white is cool...
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Wow, the sunburst 4x more beautiful than in pict! Never see the sunburst in real life before, just ebony and white. Yeah I know white is cool (had a white PBass) just don't like it on Thunderbird

 

[dagrev]

Tbh I don't like flats too. My favorite strings are GHS Boomers (tried more expensive strings than this and don't like it). Might go with pressure wounds. Thanks! Can you give me the dimensions of the bass? There's someone who make custom case for Thunderbird here, but it's for CP/Gibson/more normal Thunderbird. They don't have a dimensions for VP.

Here's what to do then, GHS Round Core Boomers. Done! I think regular Boomers are my favorite strings on a VP. They are not super bright but have presence. If those are too bright, the Round Cores are a little more mellow and polite while retaining that Boomer sound. Might be able to get to measurements later after work.

 

[dagrev]

Wow, the sunburst 4x more beautiful than in pict! Never see the sunburst in real life before, just ebony and white. Yeah I know white is cool (had a white PBass) just don't like it on Thunderbird

I certainly understand. The burst finishes look great and seem to always have nice grain. I actually prefer the burst.

 

[tyohars]

Here's what to do then, GHS Round Core Boomers. Done! I think regular Boomers are my favorite strings on a VP. They are not super bright but have presence. If those are too bright, the Round Cores are a little more mellow and polite while retaining that Boomer sound. Might be able to get to measurements later after work.

thanks man, really appreciate for your help. If not because of your words (and the price the seller gave me), I might not give the VP second chance. I'm going to order the case soon, cause they need at least 10 days to make. The (ebony or sunburst) Thunderbird would come next week if they still have in stock and they're going to give me the updates at least on this Friday.

 

[tyohars]

I certainly understand. The burst finishes look great and seem to always have nice grain. I actually prefer the burst.

And I love the ebony, it's classy. I never like ebony basses, but on VP? That's a different level

 

[Count Bassie]

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NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

 

[GBassNorth]

The CP officially out of stock. The store apologize to me and offering a new VP for just $534. I think it's a good deal, wdyt? I can change the pickup later, can I?

Yes, that's a very good deal. But try string changes and amp settings before assuming you need a pickup change. The stock strings are very bright. I use Fender 7150 nickel Rounds on my ebony vp and they sound great. Boomers might be another good option.

Yeah I don't like the brightness from it and that's it. But for that price (even cheaper than a CP lol) and how I love the looks for the Thunderbird, I might want to consider it

Go for it.

I say go for it. The mistake people make who check out Thunderbirds for the first time is EQing them the same as Fenders. They won't sound good that way. Start at neutral settings on the amp and go from there.

This!

Strings solve a lot of problems.

Ditto!

Very good deal. Put on some Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats and turn the bridge pickup and tone down, and re-eq the amp.

If you don't normally like flats (which is the case with me) you might still like Cobalt Flats. They are the most round wound sounding flat I've ever tried.

Those bits of stick came in handy as a sort of pad when re-installing bridge inserts

...'til they fell apart, anyway


The Pro 5 now has nice, new bits of rubbery things under the pickups ....enough that they'll push up on the strings if I had some reason to
Also, keeps them from vibrating inappropriately

LOL - And all this time I thought "inappropriate vibrating" was a feature.

One word then: Flats.

The strings that come on those are some bright version of a stainless steel I would imagine. In other words the strings that are on it are probably really bright from the factory. As you know, there are many options if you don't want bright strings even if you are around. There are coated strings, tapes and then flats of many flavors. GHS Pressurewounds are a great option to tone down brightness and string noise. As I said at the beginning, I do not like a really bright sounding bass. None of my VPs are shrill or bright sounding by any means. Big, fat and punchy. It's all about the strings in the app settings for that part. VPs do not have to be harsh, cranky or bright. But they can be and do it well. Thunderbirds are not one trick ponies and neither are VPs.

Very true!

Here's what to do then, GHS Round Core Boomers. Done! I think regular Boomers are my favorite strings on a VP. They are not super bright but have presence. If those are too bright, the Round Cores are a little more mellow and polite while retaining that Boomer sound. Might be able to get to measurements later after work.

Bingo! Dagrev, you're the man when it comes to string advice, you never steered me wrong and always been spot on with string suggestions.

 

[MCF]

Bass of the week for our own @JIO on Notreble Nice!

Bass of the Week: Gildaxe Devil Magnum

Congrats Geo!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Catch up already Rog!...

 

[MCF]

The CP officially out of stock. The store apologize to me and offering a new VP for just $534. I think it's a good deal, wdyt? I can change the pickup later, can I?

That is an amazing price for a new one. Remember, the volume knobs and tone knob are your friends. Try backing off the bridge pickup volume and the tone knob. Those pickups are highly regarded around here and I find them to be very versatile. Strings matter too and how you eq the amp. I’m guessing with time and patience you should find the sound you’re after. Pretty much any one of us here will gladly take those pickups off your hands should you decide to change them.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

this country sometimes.......just saying...

 

[MCF]

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Oh my. Very nice blue. But I wonder if they’ll do a four saddle bridge. Sometimes tradition should be left to the past.

 

[GonePlaid]

this country sometimes.......just saying...
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Hey! An Earl Scheib paint job and she's ready and rarin' to go.

 

[JIO]

Dead Flowers is one of their best (honky tonk) C&W songs. Love this, too.

That is a good one. And Wild Horses too.

 

[MCF]

Try the Alpine White one and I think I can live with the VP. I don't like the Alpine White one but they don't have the sunburst or ebony one. They ask me to wait while checking the stock for a few days. Should I pull the trigger on Alpine White or waiting for sunburst or ebony (which I prefer)?

That’s kind of funny. Alpine White seems to be hard to come by over here recently.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

That is a good one. And Wild Horses too.

Sweet Virginia comes to mind too..

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Eurovision 2021 winners.....strange mesh...cool longhorn..

 

[Gaolee]

And I love the ebony, it's classy. I never like ebony basses, but on VP? That's a different level

Same here. I don't have any black instruments, but would probably go for a black VP if I ever get one.

 

[Gaolee]

this country sometimes.......just saying...
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That'll buff out. No problem.

 

[tyohars]

Yes, that's a very good deal. But try string changes and amp settings before assuming you need a pickup change. The stock strings are very bright. I use Fender 7150 nickel Rounds on my ebony vp and they sound great. Boomers might be another good option.


Go for it.


This!


Ditto!


If you don't normally like flats (which is the case with me) you might still like Cobalt Flats. They are the most round wound sounding flat I've ever tried.


LOL - And all this time I thought "inappropriate vibrating" was a feature.


Very true!


Bingo! Dagrev, you're the man when it comes to string advice, you never steered me wrong and always been spot on with string suggestions.

thanks! I'll try boomer first, since that's my favorite strings. I usually used 40 opposed to usual 45. Do I need to try with 45 first before changing to 40?

That is an amazing price for a new one. Remember, the volume knobs and tone knob are your friends. Try backing off the bridge pickup volume and the tone knob. Those pickups are highly regarded around here and I find them to be very versatile. Strings matter too and how you eq the amp. I’m guessing with time and patience you should find the sound you’re after. Pretty much any one of us here will gladly take those pickups off your hands should you decide to change them.

thank you! But even if I change the pickup, I'm not in US .

That’s kind of funny. Alpine White seems to be hard to come by over here recently.

it's everywhere here, the ebony and sunburst hard to find.

Same here. I don't have any black instruments, but would probably go for a black VP if I ever get one.