Thunderbird Club

[godofthunder59]

Scott, do you recall what the factory stock cap was in your '21 NR?

I'll have to see if I have it still, mighta tossed it. It was a tiny thing, if there is anything to read on it I'll need a magnifying glass.

 

[WillyW]

I'll have to see if I have it still, mighta tossed it. It was a tiny thing, if there is anything to read on it I'll need a magnifying glass.

it's like a .5volt ceramic, so without a hubble telescope I don't think numbers can be gotten.

 

[dagrev]

Quick pics... (I can read a tape. This one was one left in the house when we bought it.)

 

[WillyW]

Quick pics... (I can read a tape. This one was one left in the house when we bought it.)
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I wish I had FireBird basses left in my house when I bought it!

 

[dagrev]

 

[Gaolee]

Advertised as “completely original”…sigh
View attachment 4514472

Uh...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

TT….

 

[D.M.N.]

IIRC, a few months back someone in here sent off a Greco pickup to be analyzed and possibly replicated, right? Any updates on that?

 

[GBassNorth]

Quick pics... (I can read a tape. This one was one left in the house when we bought it.)
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IIRC you also have a vintage 1960s IV. Can you flash a pic of the tape measure on that one starting at the 12th fret? I’d be interested to see how it compares to the VP.

 

[GBassNorth]

IIRC, a few months back someone in here sent off a Greco pickup to be analyzed and possibly replicated, right? Any updates on that?

That was me. And that was the plan but the company that I contacted three times that specializes in that sort of thing never returned any of my emails or phone calls, so I wrote it off and just purchased Chinabuckers instead. Figured they’d work as a place holder until I found something better. I don’t recall the name of the pup builder off the top of my head but can look it up if you want. I’d still like to do it but it’s gotta be with somebody reliable if I’m gonna yank a non replaceable pup out of a perfectly good bass.

 

[PhR75]

Speaking of Chinabuckers; are the Probuckers different from those?
My Telebird's bridge pickup is a bit noisy (not humming but it picks up all the pick and finger hits). 9, 2 kOhm chinabucker that is.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

That was me. And that was the plan but the company that I contacted three times that specializes in that sort of thing never returned any of my emails or phone calls, so I wrote it off and just purchased Chinabuckers instead. Figured they’d work as a place holder until I found something better. I don’t recall the name of the pup builder off the top of my head but can look it up if you want. I’d still like to do it but it’s gotta be with somebody reliable if I’m gonna yank a non replaceable pup out of a perfectly good bass.

why not Thunderbuckers?

 

[D.M.N.]

That was me. And that was the plan but the company that I contacted three times that specializes in that sort of thing never returned any of my emails or phone calls, so I wrote it off and just purchased Chinabuckers instead. Figured they’d work as a place holder until I found something better. I don’t recall the name of the pup builder off the top of my head but can look it up if you want. I’d still like to do it but it’s gotta be with somebody reliable if I’m gonna yank a non replaceable pup out of a perfectly good bass.

Ah, drat. Was it Thunderbucker Ranch? Curtis Novak might be able to do the job, I've only ever read good things about his work.

Speaking of Chinabuckers; are the Probuckers different from those?
My Telebird's bridge pickup is a bit noisy (not humming but it picks up all the pick and finger hits). 9, 2 kOhm chinabucker that is.

No, I do not believe they are the same. At least they do not sound the same head to head when I've tested them. And I believe the Epi Probuckers are hotter than the Chinabucker. Really wish the Probucker was purchasable. Might take the bridge pickup out of my Epiphone and out it in the Bach when it's finished up, and put the Chinabucker in the bridge of the Epi since I never use that position.

 

[Nocturnal]

For Thunderbird Thursday and Christmas time:

 

[TBird1958]

Speaking of Chinabuckers; are the Probuckers different from those?
My Telebird's bridge pickup is a bit noisy (not humming but it picks up all the pick and finger hits). 9, 2 kOhm chinabucker that is.

They are different, I do think the Probuckers are the better of the two.

 

[WillyW]

They are different, I do think the Probuckers are the better of the two.

Are those the ones I have in my epimophone?

 

[GBassNorth]

why not Thunderbuckers?

They were and still are a strong contender as are Lulls.
But I really really wanted to reverse engineer the Greco pups with a builder we could all buy copies from if wanted. I figured adding more aftermarket sound options to our choices would be nice.

I still might do it but it’s gotta be a company I trust to do a thorough and accurate job, right down to the types of magnets used, the strength of the magnets, the wire type and wind pattern, etc. If I’m gonna yank a perfectly good non replaceable pup from a perfectly good vintage bass and probably pay in excess of $1000 for the engineering, it better be done right. Right now my confidence in the original builder (Klein Pickups) is low, and that’s a shame since this type of job is exactly what they claim to specialize in.

 

[Gaolee]

Are those the ones I have in my epimophone?

If it is a Vintage Pro or '60s or whatever it's called now. With chrome hardware and pickup covers. If it's a Classic Pro, then it's essentially a Gibson with a poly finish instead of a nitro finish. I hope I didn't garble that up.

 

[WillyW]

If it is a Vintage Pro or '60s or whatever it's called now. With chrome hardware and pickup covers. If it's a Classic Pro, then it's essentially a Gibson with a poly finish instead of a nitro finish. I hope I didn't garble that up.

These heezerbajeebers… so would a metal cover fit on these?

 

[Gaolee]

These heezerbajeebers… so would a metal cover fit on these?


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Those are Gibson TB+ pickups. You can cut the plastic off of them and replace the plastic with metal. Several people have done that.