Thunderbird Club

[Toptube]

Lollar's Thunderbird pickups are amazing. Definitely not cheap. But worth every penny. I have them modded into a Fender Jaguar bass.

Also....I'm not a fan of the vintage correct wiring configuration. Its a pain in the #$$ to keep the outer mesh from touching anything its not supposed to. If I buy Lollars again, i would ask for modern wiring.

FYI, the black chrome doesn't stay nice for a long time. It will likely tarnish and become splotchy, after a couple of years.

 

[BklynKen]

FYI, the black chrome doesn't stay nice for a long time. It will likely tarnish and become splotchy, after a couple of years.

That would actually suit me just fine. You have the black chrome?

 

[dagrev]

'Bird Noir. It's a new genre.
View attachment 4376394

That black NR is about as striking as it gets. Wow! So visually crisp and clean that you just want to hold it. I'll stop before it gets awkward.

 

[dagrev]

So due to a couple of factors, I've nixed the plan for nickel hardware on the new black Thunderbird. Keeping it black. And unless Steve and do black Thunderbucker covers, I'll likely go with black chrome Lollars.

Sounds like a great plan. Can't imagine how good it's going to sound.

 

[Toptube]

That would actually suit me just fine. You have the black chrome?

Yes

 

[BklynKen]

Yes

Nice. Do you have a photo of how they age?

 

[bylar13]

Nice. Do you have a photo of how they age?

My Lollar's with chrome covers and Philadelphia Luthier supplied rings after 3 1/2 years of playing.

 

[BklynKen]

My Lollards with chrome covers and Philadelphia Luthier supplied rings after 3 1/2 years of playing.
View attachment 4376502

Wow, I didn't think chrome did that. Jeff's got nothing on you.

 

[Goatrope]

So due to a couple of factors, I've nixed the plan for nickel hardware on the new black Thunderbird. Keeping it black. And unless Steve can do black Thunderbucker covers, I'll likely go with black chrome Lollars.

Lollars do sound great! The black chrome covers get a bit worn after a couple years, though.

Oh, and did somebody say "Black Friday"?

My 2018 with a pair of black FSOs, as I'm still in recovery.

 

[BklynKen]

Lollars do sound great! The black chrome covers get a bit worn after a couple years, though.
View attachment 4376524

Oh, and did somebody say "Black Friday"?
View attachment 4376525

My 2018 with a pair of black FSOs, as I'm still in recovery.

Thanks. I like how that ages a lot.

 

[Toptube]

Nice. Do you have a photo of how they age?

I don't have a good one on hand, right now.

After work today, I am heading directly to camping, hiking, and huckleberry picking, in the "Indian Heaven" area of Gifford PInchot National Forest.

I can get some pics early next week ; )

*I would say somewhat similar to Goatropes's pic. But not as matte'd. Mine are still semi-chromey. But it also hasn't been played a lot, over the past couple of years. I first modded my Jag with them, in 2013.

 

[BklynKen]

I don't have a good one on hand, right now.

After work today, I am heading directly to camping, hiking, and huckleberry picking, in the "Indian Heaven" area of Gifford PInchot National Forest.

I can get some pics early next week ; )

Thanks, but I think Goatrope's photo is probably good enough. I heard back from Steve Soar and he can paint the Thunderbuckers black, so I'm all good I think.

Have a great time.

 

[Toptube]

Thanks, but I think Goatrope's photo is probably good enough. I heard back from Steve Soar and he can paint the Thunderbuckers black, so I'm all good I think.

Have a great time.

OH there's still gonna be some pics coming

I need to restring that bass, anyway. and I bought my girlfriend a new guitar so, she's been wanting to play.

 

[dukeorock]

Some more Non Reverse fun, I do a bit of explanation after the song, feel free to FF through my pedestrian playing

I thought that was an exceptional demonstration, V! Some playing 'in context' with music (tough to do, but gets the point across), then a great descriptive overview of the instrument, followed by some solo sounds. That's how it's done! Thanks so much for sharing that!

I've only heard YouTube video of Lollars (who also appears t be a good guy) but I think they should be good. I'm toying with the idea of putting a set in my Goth.

The Lollars are outstanding! My main daily driver ('02 Gibson reverse) has em and I love them.

Ken and I discussed this privately the other day, but I'll share here if maybe it could be helpful to someone. I currently have 4 basses with TBird style pickups and I think I recently posted audio of all 4 playing with a drum beat. One day I'll string em all up exactly the same so the differences are more noticeable. Based on the comments from that audio clip everyone had different favorites, but based on the clip I'd be happy recording with any of them. For live playing I tend to favor the Gibson w/Lollars over the others. Just a bit beefier in the lows. For recording aggressive stuff I tend to prefer my Cataldo MR41 with a single ThunderBucker '66 pickup. It sits in a track a bit easier than the Gibson and I'm really not sure why…it just often tends to.
For less aggressive stuff I like my Fano w/ Dennis Fano TB style pickups. I don't have enough playing time with my Greco reverse to have much of an opinion, but it recorded nicely, even with those Pure Blues strings that I really don't care for. The Greco is also a tad heavy and neck dives, so I either have to try some ultra light tuners to see if that helps, or sell it once my '21 Gibson NR shows up. It's a great bass, but I have way more basses than room at the moment

My Lollards with chrome covers and Philadelphia Luthier supplied rings after 3 1/2 years of playing.
View attachment 4376502

Mine look very similar

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Steve Soar at Thunderbucker Ranch makes some banging pups…..dig his QA methods…
going on 5 years on these (67 N/B) and the ring I got from him…..this bass gets gigged weekly on average…..

 

[GBassNorth]

Black chrome covers on my 1990 Greco still look reasonably fresh… especially compared to the chrome covers on my 1977 Greco.

 

[GBassNorth]

I got tired of you people bragging about your NRs, so I made my own NR Reverse. So there. Got to get better PUs.
View attachment 4376340

That's some fine lookin tone wood right there. I think Pallet wood is native to France. It's pretty rare so you don't see many basses built from it.

@dukeorock has both. I get the feeling the Thunderbuckers and Lollars are close enough that with a little EQ you couldn't tell the difference. Especially in a mix. But I like Steve and would rather support him.

Our Queen swears by Lull pups, but they are very pricey.

That black NR is about as striking as it gets. Wow! So visually crisp and clean that you just want to hold it. I'll stop before it gets awkward.

Clean up on isle three.

 

[dukeorock]

That's some fine lookin tone wood right there. I think Pallet wood is native to France. It's pretty rare so you don't see many basses built from it.

I think they pronounce it 'Pallay' wood

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Some more Non Reverse fun, I do a bit of explanation after the song, feel free to FF through my pedestrian playing

Quit dissing your playing, it's just fine! My only complaint is the drop in volume at the talking time. 8^)
Love this. Thanks.
"more wood..." ahem!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Now why did you go and tell him that? He'll worry about that now. And I totally get it. I'm pretty OCD with my basses too.

Because that's what it looked like. That stuff bugs me. I need to fix that on my VP...