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Thunderbird Club

So I have an actual sorta technical question: what pickup settings do people tend to use? Obviously this is going to depend on your amp, the style of music you play, and your personal tastes, but I'm kind of curious.

I've been mostly using bridge at 10 and neck at about 9, which does give something of a midrangy honk, but the other day I tried going neck 10 and bridge 0, and I'm really liking it - it's closer to a P-bass tone but with some piano-ish quality.

Mainly all neck. Occasionally a bit of bridge and tone as well. Rarely, bridge up to 7-8 with neck on 10, tone up to 5
 
If I couldn't live in Washington, Colorado would likely be my choice, the place you posted pics from are familiar to me as I've visited some of them and they were also destinations for the railroad I model, the Rio Grande.
If I couldn't live in Washington, I don't know where I would go. Oregon or British Columbia, most likely. I like it here a whole lot. Western Colorado isn't bad, though. Eastern Colorado flattens out too much. Funny thing is that I like parts of New Mexico quite a bit as well.
 
So I have an actual sorta technical question: what pickup settings do people tend to use? Obviously this is going to depend on your amp, the style of music you play, and your personal tastes, but I'm kind of curious.

I've been mostly using bridge at 10 and neck at about 9, which does give something of a midrangy honk, but the other day I tried going neck 10 and bridge 0, and I'm really liking it - it's closer to a P-bass tone but with some piano-ish quality.
There are several of us who don't use the bridge pickup at all and one who removes them. I typically run the neck pickup wide open at all times, but adjust the bridge pickup from 0 to about 8 depending on what I'm hearing and whether it sounds right at the time.
 
The quality of the gig bag would be on par with Sire gig bag (if you familiar with that) planning to use the gig bag for rehearsal and the case for gig (using car)
The gig back should work on your motorcycle. I would't try going too fast with that strapped on. I can't imagine trying to carry a Thunderbird in a case on a motorcycle unless the motorcycle had a sidecar to put the case in. Even then, it might not fit too well. Case for the car makes good sense, although it's not 100% necessary unless you are throwing the bass into the car with a whole lot of other stuff you need to protect it from. If you can put it on the back seat by itself and make sure it doesn't fall off the seat, a gig bag should be fine.
 
Don't fall off and you will be fine. Fall off and a case probably won't help all that much.

I can't imagine a Thunderbird HSC on a motorcycle. A surf-board yes... (even one in a "gig-bag") I guess if you were creative and resourceful you could design and fabricate a system like this to carry a HSC.

upload_2021-5-27_14-37-27.jpeg
 
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You should visit Scotland. I’d love to live in Edinburgh, but it just gets too damn crowded. Beautiful country. And once they warm up to you, wonderful people.
My mom(and a friend) went to visit Australia, on the way home they visited Fiji and New Zealand. When she got home she told me I wouldn't want to come home from New Zealand. All I have seen and all I have heard, I believe she might be right. Would love to visit both New Zealand and Scotland, part of my ancestry drives straight to Scotland.
 
Actually, what I did was go through the set list, and tried to figure out the tone I was hearing and put a J, P, T or V (mudbucker) next to the songs. Both my Thunderjazz and ThunderP have a series switch. For a T (or Stingray) I run both PUPs and tone wide open. For a P, its series on. For a thick, thuddy tone, it's series on, full bass. For a J, I slightly roll off the neck PUP.
 
Some Thunderbird action from last night's debut show for my sons' new band.

My oldest son moved to rhythm and the newest member took over on bass. The set starts off in Eb which is played on my TBird and then it moves to standard E and Steve the new guy plays his Ibanez.

If you hit the "show more", there's hot links to the start of the individual songs so you can sample their performance if you'd like. My favorites are Mr. Brownstone, Crazy Train and Seek 'n Destroy.

Looking for comments both positive and constructive in criticism. Thx!

https://youtu.be/E8v2yTtzhE8?t=25

I don't have time to watch the whole thing right now but will later. Thanks for sharing!

I transported my Factorbird to rehearsals via motorcycle in a custom gig-bag/backpack I made for it. Fortunately it's 'headless'. :)

TT
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I have never owned a bass with a maple fretboard, but that stealth Bird would be mighty tempting.
 
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If I couldn't live in Washington, Colorado would likely be my choice, the place you posted pics from are familiar to me as I've visited some of them and they were also destinations for the railroad I model, the Rio Grande.

Next time you two are in Denver, call me.
My wife & I will treat you to the best Mexican food in town, & we can talk model building (I build WWII German & Russian AFV models), bass playing and all things Thunderbird over margaritas & palomas! :thumbsup:
 
Tomorrow is the start of Memorial Weekend. Remember to replace your car, mattress, or major appliance.

I'm planting flowers, replacing bark & mulch and building models this weekend.
And as usual, Mexican food and margaritas will happen. :thumbsup:
Was going to replace the wife's car, but my car guy advised waiting another year, especially if buying new...
Besides, she still can't decide on a new Trail Blazer, Escape or Bronco.
 

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