Thunderbird Club

[PhR75]

That difference of where the last fret of the neck is situated shows a different spacing to the neck PUP. Is that the 60s spacing you're asking about?

Yes, since I used to think that the Epiphone used the same pickup locations on their bolt-on birds (and Classic Pros and other models with the black pickups) as Gibson in their modern (since '89) version.
The Vintage Pro has the same neck pickup location as the 60's Gibson. Did Epiphone use that already in their bolt-on version?

 

[Keith Rawlings]

Of course Chuck wields a Thunderbird…

 

[PhR75]

I'm too lazy to go measure again, but basically the 60s pickups are closer together, and the modern newfangled spacing is farther apart, with the neck pickup being closer to the neck. I think I have that right. Someone please correct if needed or clarify.

I'm interested in if the bridge pickup was ever moved? The neckpickup variations are fairly well documented but as you say the 60's Gibson seems to have the pickups closer together even when compared to the Vintage Pro and even when realizing the bridge was further south.

And does anybody know why Gibson uses the modern neckpickup placement on those new NR's too? Or is the answer simply "Gibson"?

 

[GBassNorth]

Very interesting. So what is the spacing between the PUPS, are they equidistant? I do like my 3 PUP Dingwall, but wish everything was an inch North of where they are. The bridge PUP isn't useful (to me) soloed. If the other PUP being used is parallel and the bridge PUP is in series I do like it.

I've always wondered why each PUP doesn't have it's own tone control.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s a pic of my 3 pup spacing template laid on a number of my basses. Generally speaking, the further the pup is from the bridge the warmer/thicker (and to a degree louder) it will sound and the less definition it will have, whereas closer to the bridge will normally result in a brighter/thinner sounding pup with more note definition and potentially less volume. Ideally I’ll have enough adjustment in the individual volume and tone control of each pup to get where I want to be.

Thunderbird overlays - note the new bird will probably have a slightly brighter Middle and Bridge tone, so hopefully the added third pup will warm things up quite nicely. Also note the white Greco spacing between pups is almost identical to the new template, so hopefully I’ll be able to get that aggressive Greco snarl. The new bird template also matches the VP bridge pup location exactly and isn’t far off on the second pup either, so hopefully the new bird will have a similar vibe with a bit more warmth on tap.


Non Thunderbird overlays (Humbucker, Jazz and P/J) note the nearly perfect match across multiple styles of basses. These were the basses I used to arrive at the spacing I wanted.


And then a few others just for the heck of it…

 

[KaraQ]

Yes, since I used to think that the Epiphone used the same pickup locations on their bolt-on birds (and Classic Pros and other models with the black pickups) as Gibson in their modern (since '89) version.

The Vintage Pro has the same neck pickup location as the 60's Gibson. Did Epiphone use that already in their bolt-on version?

I'm interested in if the bridge pickup was ever moved? The neckpickup variations are fairly well documented but as you say the 60's Gibson seems to have the pickups closer together even when compared to the Vintage Pro and even when realizing the bridge was further south.

And does anybody know why Gibson uses the modern neckpickup placement on those new NR's too? Or is the answer simply "Gibson"?

My three neck-through Epiphones - Pro 5, Classic Pro, and Vintage Pro - all have the same pickup spacing, measured from the end of the fretboard/last fret.

No idea how their positioning relates to Gibsons.....


Old pics:
P5

CP

VP

 

[dagrev]

Ok, Greco, NR and Flamingo have bridge pickups about the same distance from the bridge.

Greco neck pickup is closest to the bridge, NR is the next closest, and Flamigo is the furthest of the three. TelExplorer is in the other room and I’m not getting up anytime soon, but I think, it’s bridge pickup is further from the bridge, and the spacing is somewhere close to the Flamingo.

Then somebunny put active jazz pickups in the blue one and bassackwards Pbass pickups in the purple one. The green one is an even bigger mess….

then we have the different body tonewoods and fretboard/fingerboard materials to consider

View attachment 4513625

Clearly a mess. I'd start over...

 

[dagrev]

No 'Bird, but I'm itching to get back south to finish up servicing the Acoustic and run my 'Birds through some combo of these amps.

View attachment 4513626

Can't imagine why.

 

[dagrev]

I'm interested in if the bridge pickup was ever moved? The neckpickup variations are fairly well documented but as you say the 60's Gibson seems to have the pickups closer together even when compared to the Vintage Pro and even when realizing the bridge was further south.

And does anybody know why Gibson uses the modern neckpickup placement on those new NR's too? Or is the answer simply "Gibson"?

I'll try to dig out the '64 and measure when I get a chance later tonight, hopefully.

"Gibson" is the correct answer. But it still won't many any sense to think longer on it!

Problem Gibson had: Perfect Thunderbird that was highly sought after.

Answer: Some genius suggested moving things and changing PUs, and the other geniuses also thought it a great idea.

Proving none were as smart or wise as they thought.

 

[dagrev]

A picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s a pic of my 3 pup spacing template laid on a number of my basses. Generally speaking, the further the pup is from the bridge the warmer/thicker (and to a degree louder) it will sound and the less definition it will have, whereas closer to the bridge will normally result in a brighter/thinner sounding pup with more note definition and potentially less volume. Ideally I’ll have enough adjustment in the individual volume and tone control of each pup to get where I want to be.

Thunderbird overlays - note the new bird will probably have a slightly brighter Middle and Bridge tone, so hopefully the added third pup will warm things up quite nicely. Also note the white Greco spacing between pups is almost identical to the new template, so hopefully I’ll be able to get that aggressive Greco snarl. The new bird template also matches the VP bridge pup location exactly and isn’t far off on the second pup either, so hopefully the new bird will have a similar vibe with a bit more warmth on tap.
View attachment 4513638 View attachment 4513639 View attachment 4513641 View attachment 4513640 View attachment 4513657

Non Thunderbird overlays (Humbucker, Jazz and P/J) note the nearly perfect match across multiple styles of basses. These were the basses I used to arrive at the spacing I wanted.
View attachment 4513642 View attachment 4513644 View attachment 4513643 View attachment 4513650 View attachment 4513648 View attachment 4513646

And then a few others just for the heck of it…
View attachment 4513645 View attachment 4513647 View attachment 4513649

Nice work! Great visuals!

 

[WillyW]

 

[WillyW]

A picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s a pic of my 3 pup spacing template laid on a number of my basses. Generally speaking, the further the pup is from the bridge the warmer/thicker (and to a degree louder) it will sound and the less definition it will have, whereas closer to the bridge will normally result in a brighter/thinner sounding pup with more note definition and potentially less volume. Ideally I’ll have enough adjustment in the individual volume and tone control of each pup to get where I want to be.

Thunderbird overlays - note the new bird will probably have a slightly brighter Middle and Bridge tone, so hopefully the added third pup will warm things up quite nicely. Also note the white Greco spacing between pups is almost identical to the new template, so hopefully I’ll be able to get that aggressive Greco snarl. The new bird template also matches the VP bridge pup location exactly and isn’t far off on the second pup either, so hopefully the new bird will have a similar vibe with a bit more warmth on tap.
View attachment 4513638 View attachment 4513639 View attachment 4513641 View attachment 4513640 View attachment 4513657

Non Thunderbird overlays (Humbucker, Jazz and P/J) note the nearly perfect match across multiple styles of basses. These were the basses I used to arrive at the spacing I wanted.
View attachment 4513642 View attachment 4513644 View attachment 4513643 View attachment 4513650 View attachment 4513648 View attachment 4513646

And then a few others just for the heck of it…
View attachment 4513645 View attachment 4513647 View attachment 4513649

Is your template one you made or from an existing bird?

I think I have room for one more pickup...

I'll measure placement later...

 

[GonePlaid]

Errrrmmm...Gibson 1966 Thunderbird II Non-Reverse / Sunburst Bass guitar | eBay

 

[Engle]

Although I'm not totally conversant with all those details, I'll say first - yes, a bolt-on. And, the Epi fits that Gibson case exactly the same. The body is, to my eye, exactly the same size. I think you're asking if the neck connects at the same point? And, no there's a difference. I stared at the pickup locations and I can't see that the bridge PUP seems to be the same distance from the bridge and neck PUP to bridge PUP seems to be the same spacing. That difference of where the last fret of the neck is situated shows a different spacing to the neck PUP. Is that the 60s spacing you're asking about? I'm happy to learn something here. I also noticed the logo is different on the pick guards (location and size)

Yeah the logos are different images. The Epiphone Tbird is almost all thinner straight lines, as though it was drawn with a ruler, while the Gibson Tbird is hand drawn with curves. Compare the “necklaces”.

 

[dagrev]

Errrrmmm...Gibson 1966 Thunderbird II Non-Reverse / Sunburst Bass guitar | eBay

This is my dream bass... Gonna stay a dream as well...
Gibson 1966 Thunderbird IV Non-Reverse Used Electric Bass | eBay

Has both PUs as well!

 

[PhR75]

Damn, that strange Jazz Bass of Roy's again (in the hands of Rick Price). Two slanted pickups (one for each pair of strings) and who knows how it's wired. Mr. Wood himself apparently...
Anyway, it sounds absolutely fantastic on "Message From The Country" album.

 

[PhR75]

This is my dream bass... Gonna stay a dream as well...
Gibson 1966 Thunderbird IV Non-Reverse Used Electric Bass | eBay

Has both PUs as well!

I might be wrong but looks like a II modded with a bridge pickup.

 

[TBird1958]

Joan Jett........
White Thunderbirds onstage rule!

 

[D.M.N.]

I'll try to dig out the '64 and measure when I get a chance later tonight, hopefully.

"Gibson" is the correct answer. But it still won't many any sense to think longer on it!

Problem Gibson had: Perfect Thunderbird that was highly sought after.

Answer: Some genius suggested moving things and changing PUs, and the other geniuses also thought it a great idea.

Proving none were as smart or wise as they thought.

And this is the reason I didn't purchase any of the current offering, don't like the repositioned pickups. Just leave it damn-well be, Gibson!

Damn, that strange Jazz Bass of Roy's again (in the hands of Rick Price). Two slanted pickups (one for each pair of strings) and who knows how it's wired. Mr. Wood himself apparently...
Anyway, it sounds absolutely fantastic on "Message From The Country" album.

View attachment 4513803

I've been trying to suss out what this thing is for years. Best I can figure, it's either Telecaster bass pickups or uncovered Strat pickups. Love how it sounds on Message from the Country!

I might be wrong but looks like a II modded with a bridge pickup.

I was about to say the same, bridge pickup looks further back towards the bridge than normal.

 

[Gaolee]

No 'Bird, but I'm itching to get back south to finish up servicing the Acoustic and run my 'Birds through some combo of these amps.

View attachment 4513626

Thunderbird through a 360/361 stack with the bright switch engaged and a little bit of messing around with the odd variable EQ that the preamp has = what bass should sound like. To me anyway.

 

[Gaolee]

I'm interested in if the bridge pickup was ever moved? The neckpickup variations are fairly well documented but as you say the 60's Gibson seems to have the pickups closer together even when compared to the Vintage Pro and even when realizing the bridge was further south.

And does anybody know why Gibson uses the modern neckpickup placement on those new NR's too? Or is the answer simply "Gibson"?

I think the answer is simply "Gibson."