Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

why not Thunderbuckers?

Chucky,
IIRC you have a bass with thunderbuckers in it and you also have a Greco. If that’s correct, what’s your take on the difference between the two pup types?

 

[WillyW]

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

I may just do that.. I gots some plans...

 

[KaraQ]

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.

Yes

 

[dagrev]

TT….View attachment 4515008

 

[dagrev]

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.

Glad to! Looks like the VP is not exactly like the 60s. On the 60s the bridge is also moved toward the neck a little. Might be part of why VP can lack a little low-end.

 

[GBassNorth]

Glad to! Looks like the VP is not exactly like the 60s. On the 60s the bridge is also moved toward the neck a little. Might be part of why VP can lack a little low-end.
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Thx for the pics!
I’ll add that info to my pup position listing for various birds and post later today.

 

[dagrev]

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.

Was that Klein's that didn't get back to you? I don't need to know who it was, but if it was them I'm disappointed.

 

[dagrev]

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.

Good luck finding a Probucker. Best bet might be to find a rough Embassy and use it for parts.

 

[GBassNorth]

Was that Klein's that didn't get back to you? I don't need to know who it was, but if it was them I'm disappointed.

Yes, that’s correct. A shame really, since it looked right up their alley. I could understand if they replied back and said the market wouldn’t be worth it, but they flat out didn’t even respond to two emails and a phone message. Not a lot of faith in working with them at this point.

 

[PhR75]

Good luck finding a Probucker. Best bet might be to find a rough Embassy and use it for parts.

Yes. I think the pickup just might need a new wax.

 

[dagrev]

Yes, that’s correct. A shame really, since it looked right up their alley. I could understand if they replied back and said the market wouldn’t be worth it, but they flat out didn’t even respond to two emails and a phone message. Not a lot of faith in working with them at this point.

Well I hate that. I thought they might be an ideal place to get that done. Very unimpressed with people who won't reply--even just to say, we aren't interested.

 

[RedVee]

I still have my great grandfather's axe.(the handle's been replaced 5 times and the head twice). All original.

My Dad had one of those!

 

[PhR75]

Glad to! Looks like the VP is not exactly like the 60s. On the 60s the bridge is also moved toward the neck a little. Might be part of why VP can lack a little low-end.
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Thanks, my eyes didn't deceive me. And damn, I thought I was so close. Well, at least the neck pickup is in the "right" position. And did I just got an excuse to have a Fenderbird built with the exact 60's positions...

 

[GBassNorth]

Well I hate that. I thought they might be an ideal place to get that done. Very unimpressed with people who won't reply--even just to say, we aren't interested.

I’ll probably give them one more chance but it won’t be until after I’ve finished my BlingBird sometime in January, unless I really like the Chinabuckers and just decide to keep them in and drop the reverse engineering option.

 

[RedVee]

Yes. I think the pickup just might need a new wax.

Maybe more than a wax

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

tough question as it can be pretty subjective…..not really a fan of “descriptive” terms to try and explain tone etc….also not a fan of a nicely dialed in bedroom tone as from experience, it usually doesn’t carry over well to a live situation…..also not a fan of posting clips unless it’s to prove/drive a point or show the beauty of these instruments when played…….all i can really say here is that I really like them both and that there’s lots of overlap in their tonal character…a couple of clips (posted previously) with both basses…..both going through the same rig…..same settings; neck pup dimed, bridge pup on 5, tone on 5….plectrum on both..RS66 on both….
BaCH with Tbuckers


Greco

 

[Blazer]

You know, I noticed that there's a lot of people here who love their Cheap Trick tunes.

Here's something cool to cater to those people.

 

[dagrev]

I’ll probably give them one more chance but it won’t be until after I’ve finished my BlingBird sometime in January, unless I really like the Chinabuckers and just decide to keep them in and drop the reverse engineering option.

I've talked to the guy on the phone and had no problem. Answers as "This is Mr. Klein," and the dude is younger than I am by a good decade from the pics.

 

[dagrev]

Maybe more than a wax


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When my dad would see a car all rusted like that he would always say, "Wonder what kind of wax they use?"

 

[dagrev]

You know, I noticed that there's a lot of people here who love their Cheap Trick tunes.

Here's something cool to cater to those people.

I'm not whining and it just is what it is. But I've noticed in the last couple of decades a lot of famous players have horded instruments on an unheard scale. Guys always bought plenty, but now you have had so many (more than ever before it seems) with more money than they could ever spend and they hunt, scourer and buy just about anything decent in sight. Many have admitted to have crew hunting for them to buy what they can. I forget how much space Joe Bonamassa leaves open on tour just for what he buys to bring home. Not only that but he searches the web for them. One guitarist said his wife has accounts and does the searching and buying for him on line. As these people begin to "decline" there may be a flood of great instruments hitting the market.