Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

With that info, here’s the pup spacing across a number of Tbirds:

Measurement from 12th fret to the Centerline of each pickup
1990 Greco IV 10-7/8” and 14-1/8” (note 33.5” scale)
Gibson 2013 Tbird 10-1/4” and 14-5/8”
BaCH II 10-5/8”
1977 Greco II 11” (note 33.5” scale)
Epiphone VP 11” and 14-7/8”
Epiphone Goth 10-3/4” and 14-5/8”
Gibson 1964 Tbird 10-7/8” and 14-3/8”
Gibson 2015 Tbird 10-1/4” and 14-1/2”
Spector Rex5 Pro 12-3/8” and 15-3/8” (note 35” scale)

Epiphone CP 10-1/4" and 14-1/2" (2019)

This is the sort of thing we need a Wiki for. It needn't be as extensive as the Rumble Club's.

 

[WillyW]

Are we measuring base to tip?

 

[BklynKen]

The 2013 Anniversary bird is right at the top from a playability, fit and finish and feel standpoint and not far below the Greco in sound, similar lows and low mids but not as aggressive in the upper mids and top end.

I don't know, man. I find my 2013 plenty aggressive. Depends on your amp and EQ. Also adding a little dirt to the chain doesn't hurt.

 

[PhR75]

TT in black…

View attachment 4515497

Looks great. Led Zep II between the necks.

 

[WillyW]

With that info, here’s the pup spacing across a number of Tbirds:

Measurement from 12th fret to the Centerline of each pickup
1990 Greco IV 10-7/8” and 14-1/8” (note 33.5” scale)
Gibson 2013 Tbird 10-1/4” and 14-5/8”
BaCH II 10-5/8”
1977 Greco II 11” (note 33.5” scale)
Epiphone VP 11” and 14-7/8”
Epiphone Goth 10-3/4” and 14-5/8”
Gibson 1964 Tbird 10-7/8” and 14-3/8”
Gibson 2015 Tbird 10-1/4” and 14-1/2”
Spector Rex5 Pro 12-3/8” and 15-3/8” (note 35” scale)

1988 Greco TB-70 10-7/8” and 14-3/8”

 

[GBassNorth]

I don't know, man. I find my 2013 plenty aggressive. Depends on your amp and EQ. Also adding a little dirt to the chain doesn't hurt.

My observation is based on the neck vol at 8 and bridge vol at 5 and tone at 5 for each bass. The amp settings unchanged between basses, finger style playing, right hand over the neck pup, no pedals or other sound shaping, and round wound strings (boomers on the Greco, Optima Golds on the 2013, and Fender 7150 on the VP). Change any of those parameters and you could easily get different results.

 

[BklynKen]

My observation is based on the neck vol at 8 and bridge vol at 5 and tone at 5 for each bass. The amp settings unchanged between basses, finger style playing, right hand over the neck pup, no pedals or other sound shaping, and round wound strings (boomers on the Greco, Optima Golds on the 2013, and Fender 7150 on the VP). Change any of those parameters and you could easily get different results.

Right. I keep neck on 10, bridge rolled off, Tone on 10, play over the bridge pickup, and use aggressive stainless steel roundwound strings. Apples and oranges I guess.

 

[GBassNorth]

Epiphone CP 10-1/4" and 14-1/2" (2019)

I added your measurements to the original post so we can have as much as possible of this info in one place

1988 Greco TB-70 10-7/8” and 14-3/8”

Same thing, your info has been added to the original post as well.

Right. I keep neck on 10, bridge rolled off, Tone on 10, play over the bridge pickup, and use aggressive stainless steel roundwound strings. Apples and oranges I guess.

Absolutely! I have no doubt under those circumstances that your 2013 Gibby is plenty aggressive.
It would be interesting to hear a Greco under the same circumstances. I think our Queen uses a similar set up to yours (knobs at 10/0/10, over the bridge pup with a pic and stainless strings).

 

[D.M.N.]

With that info, here’s the pup spacing across a number of Tbirds:

Measurement from 12th fret to the Centerline of each pickup
1990 Greco IV 10-7/8” and 14-1/8” (note 33.5” scale)
Gibson 2013 Tbird 10-1/4” and 14-5/8”
BaCH II 10-5/8”
1977 Greco II 11” (note 33.5” scale)
Epiphone VP 11” and 14-7/8”
Epiphone Goth 10-3/4” and 14-5/8”
Gibson 1964 Tbird 10-7/8” and 14-3/8”
Gibson 2015 Tbird 10-1/4” and 14-1/2”
Spector Rex5 Pro 12-3/8” and 15-3/8” (note 35” scale)
2019 Epiphone CP 10-1/4” and 14-1/2"
1988 Greco TB-70 10-7/8” and 14-3/8”

There's also this old diagram, looks like on NRs the 12th fret to centerline are 10-11/16" and 14-3/16"

Actually the vintage/collectible Tbird market will probably follow the same path as the vintage car market.

As owners of interesting collections pass away, the estate sells all or parts of the collection via special auction houses where the remaining collectors enter into a bid frenzy to snap up nice stuff that wasn’t previously on the market. In essence the premium stuff continues to consolidate into fewer and fewer hands and the remaining private collections get bigger and bigger.

Eventually the truly premium stuff will be owned by a handful of international collectors with very deep pockets. If we’re lucky (and still alive) we’ll be able to pay an admission price to go into a collection house and view the really cool stuff that we could have afforded to buy 10 years ago but will never be able to afford again.

Unfortunately, once in the hands of a private mega collector, very little is ever let loose at a reasonable price for the GenPop to purchase. The only bright side is there are still plenty of small collectors and individuals with an abundance of gear that may decide to sell stuff off every now and then. As long you have funds on hand and can move quick there’s a chance you can still find some nice gems, but it does get harder every year.

Ugh, don't remind me. It's grim. Every passing month, the likelihood of getting an original 60s bird in any condition dwindles...

 

[PhR75]

I recall that the '76-'79 had the neck pickup a bit north of 60's birds.

 

[GBassNorth]

There's also this old diagram, looks like on NRs the 12th fret to centerline are 10-11/16" and 14-3/16"
View attachment 4515839

Good catch! I forgot about that pic.
I’ve added the pup locations to my original post.

 

[GBassNorth]

I recall that the '76-'79 had the neck pickup a bit north of 60's birds.

If there’s Bicentennial bird pup location dimensions out there it would be nice to have them.

 

[PhR75]

If there’s Bicentennial bird pup location dimensions out there it would be nice to have them.

I recall the difference was about 1/2" but don't quote me on that.

I didn't have any other tool available and it's metric anyway but I wanted to compare the VP and the Telebird. I think I got the front pickup location from my friends VP but he provided it from the end of the fretboard and the Fender neck has less wood after the 20th fret. Life is so hard...
The bridge pickup location was from
my '76 IIRC.

And to keep on with the theme...spot the LZ II!
Merry Christmas everyone.

 

[KaraQ]

Right. I keep neck on 10, bridge rolled off, Tone on 10, play over the bridge pickup, and use aggressive stainless steel roundwound strings. Apples and oranges I guess.

......
Absolutely! I have no doubt under those circumstances that your 2013 Gibby is plenty aggressive.
It would be interesting to hear a Greco under the same circumstances. I think our Queen uses a similar set up to yours (knobs at 10/0/10, over the bridge pup with a pic and stainless strings).

I've taken to doing something unusual (for me) with the Redbird lately.....neck at 5-6, bridge & tone at 10.


Imo, sounds pretty great with the BEAD tuning & DR DDTs, through my Mark IV Peavey



Everything else (other than the Blackbird ) is all neck, all the time, sometimes with a smidge of bridge, just for a bit of clarity? definition? - something along that line.....

 

[Bent77]

I recall the difference was about 1/2" but don't quote me on that.

I didn't have any other tool available and it's metric anyway but I wanted to compare the VP and the Telebird. I think I got the front pickup location from my friends VP but he provided it from the end of the fretboard and the Fender neck has less wood after the 20th fret. Life is so hard...
The bridge pickup location was from
my '76 IIRC.

View attachment 4515851
View attachment 4515852View attachment 4515853
And to keep on with the theme...spot the LZ II!
Merry Christmas everyone.

Looks like you have all 6 variations of the ITOD album as well

 

[GonePlaid]

A Very Merry Christmas-and/or whatever else one celebrates-to all fellow 'Birders.

 

[PhR75]

Seems to be a preference to use the neck pickup only, aye? Why I stress so much about the "correct 60's pickup locations" is because I so much adore Entwistle's sound on "Who's Next" and "Quadrophenia" and he used both pickups. I know, I ain't no Entwistle and yes, it's was in his hands. Thankfully with an approximate Entwistle playing style imitation, some amp eq and "almost there" basslines I can manage that sound with the VP bridge pickup too close to the bridge or not. I swear a spider crawled from behind the cab.
Still, a Fenderbird wouldn't hurt...

 

[dagrev]

Are we measuring base to tip?

 

[dagrev]

I recall that the '76-'79 had the neck pickup a bit north of 60's birds.

Hummm. I'll have to measure when I have time.

Then there are these...

 

[dagrev]

Merry Christmas to all! May all your Thunderbirds be bright!