Thunderbird Club

[RedVee]

Quick review:

I got demoted to the shop, so I have the beater Jazz bass with EB sleazy rounds 105-45

Ran it front pickup only, tone off 20%, and subjected everyone within earshot to 20 minutes of “Bassically/NIB” in a round.

the three volumes work brilliantly
Drive
Drive vol
Clean vol

As a straight preamp, works everything as good as the TC spark (which I love)
Definitely has a solid dB rise

Each gear is distinguishable, but somewhat subtle unless you gas it (which I did )
1 is supposed to be b15. Sounds good, no basis for comparison. It is smooth

2 is supposed to be SVT. I’m using one, so yes But it will do pissed off SVT at grandma acceptable volume

3 is supposed to be ac30. Never played one. But it has a much less smooth grit to it (read the manual for why, asymetrical) You can hear it for sure. It sounds more janky (good way) OD like an Orange to me

4 To be the ACC360. I love this setting. More of a creamy thick OD

end result: Would buy after testing in a store if I didn’t already have it

I used the same settings, turned the amp off the big volume, and used the cleaner channel 2.
I’m sure there’s much more there with twiddlingView attachment 4529662View attachment 4529663

Sounds great.

this is another 4 on the floor.

 

[Larry V]

Either a Gibson or a damn good copy. Fretboard looks ebony, though.

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I stand by assessment that this is a Gibson Custom Shop lefty made for Justin. I posed the question to him but haven't heard back yet.

 

[Larry V]

I vote darn good copy.

I don't think they'd put a fake Gibson in an International ad for the NHL using a real rock band, IMO. You can see "Gibson" on the headstock. I went through a ton of pics of Justin and this is the only time he shows up with a Thunderbird of any kind so I'm thinking that a sponsorship has happened.

Just my opinion since I don't have anything but what we're all seeing in this vid.

 

[Larry V]

hot off the press - NR T-bird content

Haha... now some of these posts I'm seeing make more sense.

You beat me by 2 days posting up this lefty NR. I didn't see your post when I posted mine so I thought I was posting, "Breaking News!".

Great job getting the scoop!

 

[icefly]

I´m searching a Tbird in my conuntry to call "mine".
These blemishes and scuffs are easy to solve? Or must be sanded and refinished?

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Another one appeared, refinished in White, built in July/2013, the value reasonably lower than the Pro Oil Natural finish.

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After discarding Pro Oil Natural, due to the higher value and some details like scratches, missing battery cover and after the refinished Alpine White was sold, I bought a brand new IV Sunburst.
So, 15 days to delivery and anxiety increasing.

 

[dagrev]

I hear ya. I’ve never been big on bass pedals, but the GAS is starting to percolate.

I know exactly what you mean. I think we're going to need the extra strength version that is compounded with good sense.

 

[dagrev]

My forever bass column….


Too many fretted though…


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Put the wire pullers down and step away from the fretted bass sir, or I'm gonna have to taze you.

 

[dagrev]

$260 shipped. Wasn’t bad

Not at all considering the the High/Low pass filters could easily cost half of the price or more.

 

[Bent77]

Now, I haven’t used either before, so I may not know if/what/how
Mostly messed with the HP, for about 30 seconds. I could hear a difference, but it was not a drastic difference. Dropped on 70ish and messed with the drive knobs

Not at all considering the the High/Low pass filters could easily cost half of the price or more.

 

[Engle]

LOL - the black bass/guitar on the back wall with the thrush sticker on it (two instruments to the right of the Dan Armstrong).

That’s a 59 Silvertone. The pickup and pickguard/controls are a reversible mod I did.

A more recent shot in stock form:

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I don't think they'd put a fake Gibson in an International ad for the NHL using a real rock band, IMO. You can see "Gibson" on the headstock. I went through a ton of pics of Justin and this is the only time he shows up with a Thunderbird of any kind so I'm thinking that a sponsorship has happened.

Just my opinion since I don't have anything but what we're all seeing in this vid.

why Custom Shop? why not just a brand new 2021? are they all custom shop? what am I missing?

 

[Larry V]

why Custom Shop? why not just a brand new 2021? are they all custom shop? what am I missing?

It's a lefty and they don't have any production lefties for sale as far as I know.

 

[MCF]

Not at all considering the the High/Low pass filters could easily cost half of the price or more.

Andy Field (agedhorse) has been including HPFs in his Mesa amps for awhile now. Including a LPF is a bonus. And four simulators of legendary amps is great. I have an inexpensive Zoom B1Four that does simulations pretty well for the price, although some sound a bit rough. I really want to get closer to an actual ACC tone for some songs. This pedal may be just the ticket for that without the weight and size.

Running this pedal through the effects loop of the Subway channel on the two channel Mesa TT800 should sound a lot better than the Zoom. I could switch between the Boogie channel that is based on the Mesa 400 tube monster (Fender tone stack) and the ACC tone through the other channel with a tap on the amp’s foot switch for tube tone and classic solid state tone. Modern tech is great.

My birthday is next month; I may have just talked myself into getting one. You and @Bent77 are shameless enablers.

 

[MCF]

It's a lefty and they don't have any production lefties for sale as far as I know.

Yet. Who knows what they’re thinking.

 

[GonePlaid]

Yet. Who knows what they’re thinking.

Thinking? They don't need no stinkin' thinkin'.

 

[MCF]

Now, I haven’t used either before, so I may not know if/what/how
Mostly messed with the HP, for about 30 seconds. I could hear a difference, but it was not a drastic difference. Dropped on 70ish and messed with the drive knobs

You won’t hear a huge difference with your ears. Set the HPF by starting with it off and playing at a good volume level. Slowly turn the knob clockwise until you begin to notice a subtle difference. Then stop. You’re speakers will thank you.

 

[Bent77]

You won’t hear a huge difference with your ears. Set the HPF by starting with it off and playing at a good volume level. Slowly turn the knob clockwise until you begin to notice a subtle difference. Then stop. You’re speakers will thank you.

That’s kind of what I did, mostly just as a guess having read enough about it to be dangerous.

And as for being an enabler, jump on in, the water is fine...

 

[Gaolee]

After discarding Pro Oil Natural, due to the higher value and some details like scratches, missing battery cover and after the refinished Alpine White was sold, I bought a brand new IV Sunburst.
So, 15 days to delivery and anxiety increasing.

View attachment 4529980

Nice! The first thing you are probably going to want to do is relocate the upper strap button to the heel of the neck. Every IV like that I have ever played benefits from that change, since it improves the balance tremendously. It's where the strap button is on the Pro you looked at and also the white one. In the picture, it's still on the vestigial upper bout. I thought that Epiphone had started putting the strap button on the neck plate where it belongs a while ago, so you may not need to do anything except tune it up and play it.

And congratulations. Thunderbirds can be elusive until one picks you. Then it's the beginning of a flock if it really decides you are a Thunderbird person. You will know, because it will let you know. Each of us was picked by Thunderbirds. We only think we picked them.

 

[Gaolee]

Now, I haven’t used either before, so I may not know if/what/how
Mostly messed with the HP, for about 30 seconds. I could hear a difference, but it was not a drastic difference. Dropped on 70ish and messed with the drive knobs

I find that a HP/LP filter is almost inaudible when it is working properly. It just makes the bass sound a whole lot better and more like itself. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense on the surface, but what it means to me is that it cuts the amount of power an amp is devoting to rumble and high overtones that don't contribute to a good sound. It increases the amount of overhead the amp has for the things that matter. That could be wrong, but it's how I understand it. It works very well for me so long as I remember to adjust it differently for doghouse and Thunderbird. They are different, so they need different settings. The doghouse, amplified, needs a decent amount of low cut and less high cut. The Thunderbird thrives on the low end, but benefits from cutting out some of the higher frequencies. Other than that, it doesn't do anything at all.

There's some debate about where it should really go in the signal chain. I put it right after the wireless receiver and before anything else. Others put it at the end of the signal chain, right before an amp or DI box. It has worked well enough for me where it is that I haven't tried moving it around at all.

 

[MCF]

After discarding Pro Oil Natural, due to the higher value and some details like scratches, missing battery cover and after the refinished Alpine White was sold, I bought a brand new IV Sunburst.
So, 15 days to delivery and anxiety increasing.

View attachment 4529980

Congrats! You’ll no doubt be thrilled with it. I have really come to like the Epi IV pickups. IMO, stainless steel strings really bring out the Tbird character in them. I like 45-105 SIT Power Steels or Dunlop Marcus Miller Superbrights on my Epi IVs. If those aren’t available, you might try the Rotosound stainless steel strings. I prefer the former two because they feel smoother than the Rotos. But Rotos should be available everywhere. Just a suggestion…