• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#187,021
MCF said:
Didn't @TBird1958 mention recently having or has had them in a Tbird?
Click to expand...

Nocturnal said:
I think his are the chrome version?
Click to expand...

I have a set of EY Guitars (China Buckers) in my Orville, they're ok, not great. The bass itself it really nice but those pickups don't really do it justice, frankly, it needs a set of Lulls.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Miles_ONeal, Gaolee and 5 others
#187,022
KaraQ said:
If I'd had to buy pickups for my Classic Pro/Whitebird, I would've been pushing $1100-ish, depending on the pickups. And that was what, a year ago? Almost? I'm sure prices, & especially shipping have gone up since then :nailbiting:
Click to expand...
It’s definitely a challenge. As soon as I locked in on gold trim the options diminished and the prices jumped up. If I had stayed with chrome I could have sourced a bridge for under $50 vs $125 and tuners for $75 vs $150 and chrome pickups for $100 vs $300 and… well you get the picture. Fortunately I did manage to score a fancy body for under $300 and a neck for under $100 (fingers crossed that it doesn’t have any issues). I saved the pup purchase for last so I could see how much budget was left and will try to work with that if possible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Miles_ONeal, Gaolee and 5 others
#187,023
Not gonna be late for Thunderbird Thursday this time! :unsure:


Had the Blackbird out, working on re-learning some of the old Motley Crüe songs I forgot years ago.
Figured that was the obvious bass for the job :D
(but the Nexus strings are a bit too....twangy? Dunno, might try something different on it, I guess. I kinda liked how the Roto 77s sounded........:thumbsdown: )



So, that's what this week's pic is......

20210930_021020.jpg












:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Klondike, MCF, Miles_ONeal and 10 others
#187,024
GBassNorth said:
It’s definitely a challenge. As soon as I locked in on gold trim the options diminished and the prices jumped up. If I had stayed with chrome I could have sourced a bridge for under $50 vs $125 and tuners for $75 vs $150 and chrome pickups for $100 vs $300 and… well you get the picture. Fortunately I did manage to score a fancy body for under $300 and a neck for under $100 (fingers crossed that it doesn’t have any issues). I saved the pup purchase for last so I could see how much budget was left and will try to work with that if possible.
Click to expand...
Real gold ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Nocturnal, dagrev and 1 other person
#187,025
rumblesaust said:
I dislike pedals on the floor so at one stage had my spectracomp hard wired to the face of the head.
I never used the 3 contour buttons so removed the switch actuators (in the off position) to make room for the compressor.
Have recently decided to use it velcro'd to the top of the rack case, so the gaffa tape just hides the original holes.
the footswitch operates an Ibanez mini chorus which is mounted inside. Controls preset to my favourite setting..
The beauty of the GK boost circuit is that it defaults to ON if nothing is plugged into the socket, so just disconnected said socket and used the hole for chorus footswitch.
View attachment 4421969
Click to expand...

That's actually pretty cool! I also have a 400RB mk II version, & at first i never really used the switches. However as of late, i treat the switches more like the rockers of an ampeg svt (ultra low = mid scoop switch, ultra hi = hi boost). I'll use the Lo cut at home mainly to not have my floors rumble (neighbours & such, apartment life...) while being able to have it at a nice recording volume.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Miles_ONeal, GBassNorth and 5 others
#187,026
Chucky Stiletti said:
the part you mentioned is the trim for the low freq oscillator (LFO) circled in blue...the oxidized trace is the supply feed with the red X.....
View attachment 4421793

At first, I saw discoloration of the traces and thought some liquid may have been dropped on the pedal....then, after dagrev mentioned the sponges used back then as PCB spacers (since the PCBs float and are not screwed down to the case) it dawned on me those deteriorate over time leaving a sticky caustic residue that will basically eat through the trace. After a good cleaning and a couple of trace jumpers......thx for your interest btw..



7e5919be-068b-47f0-a300-c07eb61eef35-jpeg.4416399

View attachment 4421806
Click to expand...

Thanks Chucky. I used to be able to read a schematic and know what was going on. These days, I have to spend time thinking about it (and not always figuring it out). Just out of practice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Miles_ONeal, GBassNorth and 3 others
#187,027
Surgery update.

This week I have been trying to play a bit. Endurance isn't there - a couple of songs at a time only. Strength isn't all there yet either, but it is coming along. But perhaps the biggest challenge - there is still some learning to do with the altered function of my index finger and thumb. The thumb is now under control of a different muscle, so it is a learning process (for everything). The index finger is now tied to the middle finger, so I have to get used to that lack of independence.

In hindsight, I now see that there were some songs I was having a little trouble with prior to surgery (that I had previously mastered). I suppose if I had been paying better attention and not just attributing it to my being a hack, I might have seen an early warning (not that I think it would have changed the course and outcome).

Lots of practice in my future as I try to regain some skills and make up for months of not playing. And I have to remember how to play those songs...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Klondike, MCF, Miles_ONeal and 7 others
#187,029
KaraQ said:
Not gonna be late for Thunderbird Thursday this time! :unsure:


Had the Blackbird out, working on re-learning some of the old Motley Crüe songs I forgot years ago.
Figured that was the obvious bass for the job :D
(but the Nexus strings are a bit too....twangy? Dunno, might try something different on it, I guess. I kinda liked how the Roto 77s sounded........:thumbsdown: )



So, that's what this week's pic is......

View attachment 4422022
I have to admit I really like Rotos on some things--and I don't even go for bright, raspy or anything in that direction. They just have some punch in the right places. I am really curious about UltraMags. Should be punchy but a little less bright than 66s. But the price.... Alloy52 is good stuff (Infeld Superalloys, GHS Pressurewounds and GHS Progressives, which are not being made right now).










:)
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: GBassNorth, Nocturnal and PillO
#187,031
PillO said:
Surgery update.

This week I have been trying to play a bit. Endurance isn't there - a couple of songs at a time only. Strength isn't all there yet either, but it is coming along. But perhaps the biggest challenge - there is still some learning to do with the altered function of my index finger and thumb. The thumb is now under control of a different muscle, so it is a learning process (for everything). The index finger is now tied to the middle finger, so I have to get used to that lack of independence.

In hindsight, I now see that there were some songs I was having a little trouble with prior to surgery (that I had previously mastered). I suppose if I had been paying better attention and not just attributing it to my being a hack, I might have seen an early warning (not that I think it would have changed the course and outcome).

Lots of practice in my future as I try to regain some skills and make up for months of not playing. And I have to remember how to play those songs...
Click to expand...
Glad you are at least making some progress. I imagine in another month or so you will look back and see a bit more. On the bright side, you still likely play better than I do!

Playing more may be contingent on getting your basses back from those young cats you "loaned" them to. Hopefully they understand what loan means in this situation.;):D
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Miles_ONeal, Gaolee and 4 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back