Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

Don't buy that, Scott! I couldn't charge you for one. Check your PMs.

I love our club!

 

[dagrev]

I was thinking the same in that I’ve heard much better examples of the L2000 tone wise.

After listening with decent earbuds I think the sound of the G&L is even less like any G&L I recall hearing. None I've owned ever sounded anything like that. It sounded like he had the bass cut back and the treble up all the way on the instrument. I could certainly be wrong, but a G&L could sound that way by rolling the bass back. They can be tone monsters. Never had maple or alder, but one I have is ebony FB and is brighter than rosewood and sounds nothing like that. The Gibson sounded even better in the buds. As stated, sat in the mix great. It would be interesting to know what strings he was using.

Not bashing the video at all, so I hope it doesn't come across that way. I found it really interesting.

 

[TBird1958]

I love our club!

You have to know that George and Scott go back at least 15 years - Gibson bass forum on The Dudepit, what a wild and wooly place that was!

 

[dagrev]

You often mention your disappointment in the TB+. I don't understand why you don't just get a set of Thunderbuckers or the like. Then you'd be totally happy.

In one way I do kind of like that it sounds different and not just like some of the others, if that makes any sense. I also keep hoping I might hit on the ideal match in strings for it to help it do what it does best. I'm liking the GHS Precision Flats on it, but changing the PUs is never out of my mind. In fact, I would say it's likely one day. I'm also afraid if I put Thunderbuckers (my first choice) or even Epi ProBuckers in it I may never play my VPs again! For now I've got too much with moving and getting some of the things of this house addressed. But it may likely happen one day. Also, I've have to measure, but it looks like the pickups are spaced farther apart from each other which would be affecting tone as well. But that may be an optical illusion.

 

[dagrev]

NBD !

Been looking for an ebony Gibby lately and didn't bond with the one I tried yesterday, after driving almost 2 hrs to see her and was pretty bummed.

This popped up in the local Marketplace about a week ago. It's mint. It's trans black. It's a Thunderbird. It sounds and plays gorgeously (not unlike VPs ?). It's also a rare black Pro, I believe it's the 1st time I've seen one in our locals. Still looking at Gibsons tho, we'll see about that later this fall.

I'm now giving her a good clean-up and a better set-up will come tomorrow, after she gets her flats.
So here's the flock !

View attachment 4338704

Looks great Mike! Congrats!

 

[dagrev]

It really is personal preference, but I personally agree with your assessment
When I was a kid, the first brand new bass I ever bought was a ‘80 or ‘81 (can’t remember!) G&L L1000 and I was over the moon for it at the time. Sadly, it was stolen around ‘86 or so and I became a Pbass dude for many years after. I’ve often wondered if those early L1000’s sound as good to me now as they did to me way back then

I think they did sound that good! Especially the old mahogany body L1000s!

 

[Bassmike62]

Looks great Mike! Congrats!

Thx

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

It really is personal preference, but I personally agree with your assessment
When I was a kid, the first brand new bass I ever bought was a ‘80 or ‘81 (can’t remember!) G&L L1000 and I was over the moon for it at the time. Sadly, it was stolen around ‘86 or so and I became a Pbass dude for many years after. I’ve often wondered if those early L1000’s sound as good to me now as they did to me way back then

Bummer…..do you remember the transition from active to passive?

 

[dukeorock]

I think they did sound that good! Especially the old mahogany body L1000s!

Mine was either the very first or second year they were out

Bummer…..do you remember the transition from active to passive?

Man, I don’t :/

pic of me playing the L1000 around 1985. Don’t fear the mullet!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Solide, mon ami !

Tre gentil...merci!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

NBD !

Been looking for an ebony Gibby lately and didn't bond with the one I tried yesterday, after driving almost 2 hrs to see her and was pretty bummed.

This popped up in the local Marketplace about a week ago. It's mint. It's trans black. It's a Thunderbird. It sounds and plays gorgeously (not unlike VPs ?). It's also a rare black Pro, I believe it's the 1st time I've seen one in our locals. Still looking at Gibsons tho, we'll see about that later this fall.

I'm now giving her a good clean-up and a better set-up will come tomorrow, after she gets her flats.
So here's the flock !

View attachment 4338704

Sweeeet!!

 

[dagrev]

Bummer…..do you remember the transition from active to passive?

The first L1000s in the early 80s were passive and at some point which I can't recall they went active. I'm almost certain the L1000s didn't start active, but I've been certain before and wrong! I'll have to dig up a G&L book to know. After moving, it may not be handy.

 

[dagrev]

Mine was either the very first or second year they were out



Man, I don’t :/

pic of me playing the L1000 around 1985. Don’t fear the mullet!
View attachment 4338904

Likely is was passive then. The switch was parallel, single coil, and the OMG setting.

Ain't nothin' wrong with a Mississippi Mudflap when done right!

 

[KaraQ]

Maybe it's the light in the room I took the pic. In this close-up, you can see the grain under the black, especially in that middle part, where the painted lines are more apparent. But from 5-6 feet away, she's black. As for strings, my lazyness finds justification in the James Jamerson school of thought....

View attachment 4338781

I like changing strings around, but only when I want to
The rest of the time, I usually use them until I think they're totally dead.

Unless they're flats. Those are supposed to be dead, yes?

.... Also, I've have to measure, but it looks like the pickups are spaced farther apart from each other which would be affecting tone as well. But that may be an optical illusion.

I measured the pickup spacing a while back in all the Thunderbirds I had at the time (7) - the three neck-through 'birds (CP, VP, Pro 5) were spaced the same. All of the bolt-ons were different from the neck-throughs, and from each other

Never measured a Gibson though....but I think it's the same as the CP/VP/Pro? But maybe not for all years?

 

[BklynKen]

Having owned a G&L 2500 Tribute in the past and a modern Tbird now, I’d say his clip is pretty accurate. To my ears the bird sat better in the mix and sounded what I expect a bass to sound like (not a baritone guitar). By comparison, I felt the G&L was trying to compete too hard with the guitars for similar sonic space. Likewise, the G&L played by that player had the exact same fault that mine had (when I had mine I thought it was just me or possibly the strings) the darn bass has a split personality. The A and E strings in passive mode sound relatively deep (maybe a bit buzzy) but the G and D strings sound twangy and thin with almost no heft to the note. All my thunderbirds are much better balanced than that from string to string. I’ll keep my birds.

BTW - very nice playing by the YouTube guy whomever he may be. I suppose in a real world situation he’d EQ the basses differently to get the sound he liked best, but doing it this way gives a very good relative comparison.

Definitely in the area, at least for the Thunderbird, but I don't love the tone he's getting, especially the honk that I EQ out.

 

[GBassNorth]

I like changing strings around, but only when I want to
The rest of the time, I usually use them until I think they're totally dead.

Unless they're flats. Those are supposed to be dead, yes?




I measured the pickup spacing a while back in all the Thunderbirds I had at the time (7) - the three neck-through 'birds (CP, VP, Pro 5) were spaced the same. All of the bolt-ons were different from the neck-throughs, and from each other

Never measured a Gibson though....but I think it's the same as the CP/VP/Pro? But maybe not for all years?

Kara - I think I recall you and MCF claiming the limited edition Eppi thunderbirds were darker sounding than your other birds. If that’s the case, can you attribute it to pup placement or is there something else going on with caps or pup design? My Goth basses are plenty dark sounding but I wonder if the limited edition birds will be the same or even darker. Any light you or @MCF or others can shed on it would be helpful.

 

[GBassNorth]

Vintage 1977 Bird sighting …
Invalid Link Removed
no affiliation.
I can’t believe how expensive these things are getting. Seems like just a couple of years ago you’d be able to catch one like this for a bit over $2000, apparently not anymore.

 

[KaraQ]

Kara - I think I recall you and MCF claiming the limited edition Eppi thunderbirds were darker sounding than your other birds. If that’s the case, can you attribute it to pup placement or is there something else going on with caps or pup design? My Goth basses are plenty dark sounding but I wonder if the limited edition birds will be the same or even darker. Any light you or @MCF or others can shed on it would be helpful.

I don't think it would be pickup placement, at least in this case.
I hadn't checked the Redbird & Blackbird previously, but just a quick check shows they're within about 1/16" of each other.
The Blackbird is Chinese, the Redbird & Brownbird are both Korean (and placement measures the same)
The other China 'bird I had was much more different with p/u placement, but didn't sound hugely different from its Korean look-alike.

From what I can tell, most of the electrics (other than the Blackbird, obviously) are all the same, pots, wiring.
The cap....not sure about. The two Brownbirds had caps that looked different, but had the same rating. The one in the Redbird has no markings I can find

So, pickups? Probably?
They look the same as the other Korean pickups I have, but don't judge a pickup by its cover, right?

 

[KaraQ]

Vintage 1977 Bird sighting …
Invalid Link Removed
no affiliation.
I can’t believe how expensive these things are getting. Seems like just a couple of years ago you’d be able to catch one like this for a bit over $2000, apparently not anymore.

The red Greco that's on eBay is sorely tempting, especially since "the seller sent an offer" of 10% off....

 

[GBassNorth]

The red Greco that's on eBay is sorely tempting, especially since "the seller sent an offer" of 10% off....

The Greco birds are certainly a joy to play. There’s at least one out there (in Japan IIRC) that’s quite a bit cheaper and has better hardware on it, but it’s a burst. Says the “truss is maxed out” but I guess there’s a chance it just might need lower tension strings or a couple of backing washers on the rod. I don’t think it’s a poly finish, so should be easy to refin in red if you wanted to spend the money.