Thunderbird Club

[Butcherboy]

what’s your rig look like?

…ehem…?

 

[godofthunder59]

…ehem…?
View attachment 4427461 View attachment 4427462

Oh yeah!

 

[godofthunder59]

Great minds think alike

 

[PillO]

Wandering around my local L&M last night. There is a GK 410 for C$199. The rat fur looks dirty, as does the rest. But, for that price... If I could think of a use for it, it would be paid for and waiting for me to pick it up.

 

[godofthunder59]

View attachment 4427465 View attachment 4427463
Here's a pic of it installed, note the empty cover in the bridge position cranked all the way down. The bass functions as a II and as most of you know I luv a single pup burd.

I cleaned off the back of the Epiphone 760. It reads " designed by Epiphone USA"

 

[dagrev]

View attachment 4427458 View attachment 4427459 So TBird58 our royal highness and I are doing a pickup swap. Mark sent me his Vintage Pro 760 probucker pickups and I am sending him the pickups from my 2021 Nonreverse.
First the Gibson units. Well made and cleanly soldered, cloth lead and braided ground. Cover is stamped nice and clean very crisp. Dimensions and construction very close to a 60's unit. Neck pickup reads 10k, bridge about 9.8k
Epiphone pickups, a bit more liberal with the solder not as neat. Cloth covered lead and braided ground. Cover not stamped quite as clean and plating on the edges not as smooth, might be some contamination under there. The Epi pickup has the Epiphone logo on the bottom. It looks for all the world like a 60's unit, very similar to the new Gibson execution not quite as precise. Neck reads 10k, bridge 9.5k. These pickups had a foam block attached underneath for adjustment tension. I'll get the mess cleaned off for a better picture.
It's pretty clear to me that these pickups come from different sources. My guess is that the Gibson are USA in origin possibly Seymour Duncan or TV Jones. They certainly remind me of the Seymour Duncan custom Thunderbird pickups that I have.
For now I have installed the Epiphone neck pickup in my '21 NR and put a empty cover in the bridge position. I have also removed the tone cap, I just want to hear the pickup for now. So far I am happy with the results, rehersal next week will be the real test.

Interested. Thanks for the through update. Awaiting further results.

There's no shortage of solder where the Epis are made. There to counter neck dive!

 

[godofthunder59]

…ehem…?
View attachment 4427461 View attachment 4427462

 

[WillyW]

what’s your rig look like?

Middle set is only used if I hate my roadie...

no bird content... no apologies...

 

[dagrev]

Middle set is only used if I hate my roadie...

no bird content... no apologies...

View attachment 4427570

You're not in the pic playing are you?

 

[TBird1958]

A band I'm really glad I got to see on this tour, the late ( under appreciated) "Steamin' Steve Clark and his Firebird, Rick Savage with a Hamer Scarab as well. I caugth them at the Tacoma Dome, Tesla opened for them with Brian Wheat playing one of his Thunderbirds that night.

 

[JIO]

no affiliation - but a good price

Epiphone Thunderbird IV Bass | eBay

 

[GBassNorth]

View attachment 4427458 View attachment 4427459 So TBird58 our royal highness and I are doing a pickup swap. Mark sent me his Vintage Pro 760 probucker pickups and I am sending him the pickups from my 2021 Nonreverse.
First the Gibson units. Well made and cleanly soldered, cloth lead and braided ground. Cover is stamped nice and clean very crisp. Dimensions and construction very close to a 60's unit. Neck pickup reads 10k, bridge about 9.8k
Epiphone pickups, a bit more liberal with the solder not as neat. Cloth covered lead and braided ground. Cover not stamped quite as clean and plating on the edges not as smooth, might be some contamination under there. The Epi pickup has the Epiphone logo on the bottom. It looks for all the world like a 60's unit, very similar to the new Gibson execution not quite as precise. Neck reads 10k, bridge 9.5k. These pickups had a foam block attached underneath for adjustment tension. I'll get the mess cleaned off for a better picture.
It's pretty clear to me that these pickups come from different sources. My guess is that the Gibson are USA in origin possibly Seymour Duncan or TV Jones. They certainly remind me of the Seymour Duncan custom Thunderbird pickups that I have.
For now I have installed the Epiphone neck pickup in my '21 NR and put a empty cover in the bridge position. I have also removed the tone cap, I just want to hear the pickup for now. So far I am happy with the results, rehersal next week will be the real test.

Great info thx for posting!
Looks like Gibby/Eppi installed the higher resistance pup in the neck position, I was always under the impression the higher value went in the bridge location. Is this unique to the VP and New NR, did the vintage birds go this route as well?

I’m in the midst of a unique bird build and have yet to decide on which pickups to use. Considering the all maple semi hollow body construction and bolt on maple/rosewood neck I don’t expect it to sound anything like my other birds, but pickup selection is proving to be a challenge.

 

[dagrev]

no affiliation - but a good price

Epiphone Thunderbird IV Bass | eBay

That's a good price for just the bass, let alone the case being included. Good opportunity for someone to "upgrade" to a VP!

 

[TBird1958]

View attachment 4427458 View attachment 4427459 So TBird58 our royal highness and I are doing a pickup swap. Mark sent me his Vintage Pro 760 probucker pickups and I am sending him the pickups from my 2021 Nonreverse.
First the Gibson units. Well made and cleanly soldered, cloth lead and braided ground. Cover is stamped nice and clean very crisp. Dimensions and construction very close to a 60's unit. Neck pickup reads 10k, bridge about 9.8k
Epiphone pickups, a bit more liberal with the solder not as neat. Cloth covered lead and braided ground. Cover not stamped quite as clean and plating on the edges not as smooth, might be some contamination under there. The Epi pickup has the Epiphone logo on the bottom. It looks for all the world like a 60's unit, very similar to the new Gibson execution not quite as precise. Neck reads 10k, bridge 9.5k. These pickups had a foam block attached underneath for adjustment tension. I'll get the mess cleaned off for a better picture.
It's pretty clear to me that these pickups come from different sources. My guess is that the Gibson are USA in origin possibly Seymour Duncan or TV Jones. They certainly remind me of the Seymour Duncan custom Thunderbird pickups that I have.
For now I have installed the Epiphone neck pickup in my '21 NR and put a empty cover in the bridge position. I have also removed the tone cap, I just want to hear the pickup for now. So far I am happy with the results, rehersal next week will be the real test.

I think you're on the money with Seymour Duncan as the maker, Mike Lull's Thunderbird production lagged at one point because TV Jones couldn't keep up with demand for pickups, Mike went to SD and they also produced them to is spec utilizing his covers.

 

[GonePlaid]

Great info thx for posting!
Looks like Gibby/Eppi installed the higher resistance pup in the neck position, I was always under the impression the higher value went in the bridge location. Is this unique to the VP and New NR, did the vintage birds go this route as well?

I’m in the midst of a unique bird build and have yet to decide on which pickups to use. Considering the all maple semi hollow body construction and bolt on maple/rosewood neck I don’t expect it to sound anything like my other birds, but pickup selection is proving to be a challenge.

Well, here's two:

 

[dagrev]

Well, here's two:
View attachment 4427811

Hum, new twist....Instead of those pickups will fit Thunderbirds, Thunderbirds will fit those pickups.

 

[lowendblues]

Scott, that rig sounds fantastic!

 

[dagrev]

I think you're on the money with Seymour Duncan as the maker, Mike Lull's Thunderbird production lagged at one point because TV Jones couldn't keep up with demand for pickups, Mike went to SD and they also produced them to is spec utilizing his covers.

It's great that you and Scott were able to arrange a trade where both come out with more of what each wants! This place is so cool. Where are we again?

 

[TBird1958]

It's great that you and Scott were able to arrange a trade where both come out with more of what each wants! This place is so cool. Where are we again?

Well, Scott and I go back quite a ways, to The DudePit and Last Bass Outpost, he's the real deal for sure. We've chatted on the phone and in many ways are like brothers of a different Mother, he makes this a great place to hang out and share everything Thunderbird related.

 

[dagrev]

Well, Scott and I go back quite a ways, to The DudePit and Last Bass Outpost, he's the real deal for sure. We've chatted on the phone and in many ways are like brothers of a different Mother, he makes this a great place to hang out and share everything Thunderbird related.

You do as well!