Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

I think if one said most they would have a 90% chance of being 100% correct.

Played the '55 today in my quest to get it sounding better. I must say that with some EQing and Fender Flats I was pleased. The change I seemed to like best was leaving the head alone and dialing back the what is called the "Low Contour" on the BBE Sonic Stomp and boost slightly what is called "Process" on it. On the bass the tone was about half open, maybe. I ended up achieving a big sound that wasn't mushy. Not punchy by any means, but a nice big low end for everything to sit in and on. A little more punch might be nice, but I was happy with the tone while playing and wasn't thinking about what I need to adjust between songs. For a little more punch I might try some TIs I have in the box. They tend to not be massive in lows and likely have more mids than any flat. But is it the right mid? We'll see. But I am happy enough with the Fenders if something doesn't come through doing something better.

I really like to not do much EQing and prefer to set my head mostly flat and slightly boost some lows and mids. I have been running most basses wide open on the treble the last 10 years, but I'm thinking that is not for me with this bass. Flats sound thicker (even across the spectrum) to me than rounds, so that may what I need to keep on this bass. Thanks to Bob and Chuck for the encouragement to keep at it and get this great bass sounding good. I think I'm on the right path. I sure love playing it.

I hate to say it but EBCFs might sound good if I were to cut even more of the highs. But I have this condition...
View attachment 4611641

EBCFs really working….talk about old school..going into the non-pro SVT II and an Ashdown 4 x 8 cab…..somehow, the realization that the signal goes from the Cobalts to the 8” drivers without passing through a single semiconductor lattice is REALLY satisfying…..EQ set flat on the amp, tone control on bass set to 4…. pick is a Dunlop .73 nylon….
https://youtube.com/shorts/YJuwZh8jUjI?feature=share

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I obviously have less self control than you do, but that’s ok, I kept it civil.

Having owned one of those, I had several thoughts, but chose to walk away.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I disagree. The big headstock contributes to the Thunderbird tone. Chopping it off reduces the resonance at one end.

But the really ugly thing is the strap button on the face of the bird!

"I have no respect for this bass or those who play it do I'll see what I can stir up." If I wanted to move the lower strap button that far, a recessed button on back would be the way to go.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

As soon as I saw the orange shoe laces and the striped socks, I realized that he was not to be taken seriously... About anything. I guess that is how life is as a full-time troll.

Hey, now.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Recently on the T-bird fb page - '65 NR

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I was never attracted to the late '60s NR T-bird in the past - but in retrospect, I like it a lot. Love the very deep "belly contour" the Gen1 never had. There's other reasons but I'll leave it there for now.

when are you gonna tell us the other reasons?….
what’s up with the dual logos?…

 

[bobyoung53]

EBCFs really working….talk about old school..going into the non-pro SVT II and an Ashdown 4 x 8 cab…..somehow, the realization that the signal goes from the Cobalts to the 8” drivers without passing through a single semiconductor lattice is REALLY satisfying…..EQ set flat on the amp, tone control on bass set to 4…. pick is a Dunlop .73 nylon….
https://youtube.com/shorts/YJuwZh8jUjI?feature=share

I play along to YouTube quite a bit and have gone through Steely Dan, it takes a lot of listening and playing, but at least we don't have to pick the arm up and put it back at the beginning over and over again any more. Some of the changes in their later stuff is so counterintuitive (and so good) even if I take the time to learn them if I don't see the song again for a while I'll forget them but they do come back quickly. The only song I can ever remember doing and it was at a jam was 'Do It Again'. The guitarist who used to sit in and do that song became fairly well known later on (Duke Levine) while I remained stuck in Worcester (Lodi).

 

[BklynKen]

It was brilliant to program the engine management computer to detect an emissions test and produce the correct results.

And they would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for those meddling engineering kids...

View attachment 4612392

The glasses must've been really uncomfortable underneath that mask.

 

[icefly]

Recently on the T-bird fb page - '65 NR

About tone, is there difference, among reverse and non-reverse Tbirds?

 

[JIO]

when are you gonna tell us the other reasons?….

Back when I first got my '63 II in '74 (as a 21yr old), I saw a late '60s T-bird and it seemed like a different bass, which in many ways it was. I've never played one in a group setting but I don't doubt that they sound pretty much the same as a gen1 because so much is the same; same scale, mahogany, same pu's/electronics, same neck profile, same pu location, and same tuners & bridge. The neck-thru/set-neck difference is functional/structural, and different - but I doubt it has anything to do with the sound/tone. So it mainly comes down to the way it looks.

My more recent interest in Danelectro/Silvertone Hornets and my Coral (Dano) Deluxe Bass won me over to a similar body-shape. Even my '63 Burns of London has a visually relative body shape. The combination of liking the shape more and accepting that it is essentially a different model of the same bass instead of an alteration/fix of the gen1 T-bird has me seeing it in a new light.

current medium-scale project -

 

[JIO]

About tone, is there difference, among reverse and non-reverse Tbirds?

As I noted above - I doubt it.

 

[GonePlaid]

About tone, is there difference, among reverse and non-reverse Tbirds?

Assuming same strings, pickups, bridge(s), etc. at same settings, prolly not enuff to hear.

 

[BklynKen]

About tone, is there difference, among reverse and non-reverse Tbirds?

In theory, no, but I notice a little difference between my 2013 Reverse and Non-Reverse. Could be one is neck-through and the other set-neck.

 

[Larry V]

In theory, no, but I notice a little difference between my 2013 Reverse and Non-Reverse. Could be one is neck-through and the other set-neck.

Could be distance of strings to P/Ups which make a huge difference as been noted here many, many times.

 

[BklynKen]

Could be distance of strings to P/Ups which make a huge difference as been noted here many, many times.

I didn't remember seeing that the R and NR had different pickup placement, at least of the same year (reissues).

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

was under the impression early 60’s buckers differ in number of windings from late 60’s units….many claim the latter sound better (hotter)…..main reason Steve Soar (Thunderbucker Ranch) makes the distinction in his product offering or so i thought..

 

[bobyoung53]

Could be distance of strings to P/Ups which make a huge difference as been noted here many, many times.

That's easily changed though.

 

[Larry V]

That's easily changed though.

Of course it is but is the difference a good thing or a bad thing? I like my basses to sound different or what's the point of having more than a primary and a backup?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I play along to YouTube quite a bit and have gone through Steely Dan, it takes a lot of listening and playing, but at least we don't have to pick the arm up and put it back at the beginning over and over again any more. Some of the changes in their later stuff is so counterintuitive (and so good) even if I take the time to learn them if I don't see the song again for a while I'll forget them but they do come back quickly. The only song I can ever remember doing and it was at a jam was 'Do It Again'. The guitarist who used to sit in and do that song became fairly well known later on (Duke Levine) while I remained stuck in Worcester (Lodi).

favorite go-to for learning tunes and learning Olde English to better understand Beowulf in it’s original print lol….youtube is truly amazing..

 

[bobyoung53]

Of course it is but is the difference a good thing or a bad thing? I like my basses to sound different or what's the point of having more than a primary and a backup?

Well yes but that's why I have different brand basses . I usually only bring one bass to a gig anyway. I play around with my basses a lot though, pickup height etc.

 

[bobyoung53]

favorite go-to for learning tunes and learning Olde English to better understand Beowulf in it’s original print lol….youtube is truly amazing..

I also have SiriusXM on my computer out here and play along to that a lot too, lately my favorite has been the late Tom Petty Buried Treasure channel, the man had impeccable taste (means he liked the same stuff as me ) he played a lot of stuff you didn't hear every day. Old soul, blues, rock and roll British invasion, etc