• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird pickup suggestions

#21
dmusic148 said:
There you go. It's typically a 'bird shaped body with a Fender style neck.
Nothing wrong with the stock pickups-it's just that as far as I know Gibson doesn't sell them. So you have to go aftermarket.
Click to expand...

Exactly - If I could buy Gibson pups, I would... My basic plan is to buy an Epi body, Fender neck, some good pups, and make a Fenderbird out of it... I've been somewhat underwhelmed with the Epi pups I've played - and want something better for this project... I'm also pondering a lefty neck for the upside down headstock thing - that might be pretty cool...

Anyways, thanks for the suggestions, everyone - I appreciate it...


- georgestrings
 
#23
dmusic148 said:
You know, I bought an epi for my girlfriends kid a couple of xmas's ago and that thing really sounds good. I mean for real. Might want to look at that again.
Click to expand...

I'm certainly willing to, but any Epi T-birds I've ever played didn't sound anything like my '06 Gibson T-bird, and that's what I'm attempting to duplicate - or atleast get close to, sound-wise... It would be nice if a loaded Epi would work, since I can usually pick one of those up fairly cheap - but I've never thought they sound all that good...


- georgestrings
 
#24
I'll second the lollar idea. i bought a set of his p-bass pickups and they are fantastic!! He seems to be even more proud of his T-bird replacements, so i'd consider listening to them or discussing your tone desires with him.

I think ill be getting a set for this electra jazz bass. not happy with the stock single coils, and it looks like a set of t-birds should drop in fairly nice.

image_zps2de67856.jpg
 
#25
There are (at least) three different variations of the Epi 'bird floating around out there right now:

- the original, with the square-ish Asian pickups
- the Pro, with the four-knob active circuitry
- the Classic, with American Gibson pickups

That last one is the newest, and IMHO, the one to go for. :)

Invalid Link Removed

But Fenderbirds are cool too. I made a RayBird earlier this year with a lefty StingRay neck and a single Novak EB-BS pickup. It's loads of fun. :)
 
#26
georgestrings said:
Exactly - If I could buy Gibson pups, I would... My basic plan is to buy an Epi body, Fender neck, some good pups, and make a Fenderbird out of it... I've been somewhat underwhelmed with the Epi pups I've played - and want something better for this project... I'm also pondering a lefty neck for the upside down headstock thing - that might be pretty cool...

Anyways, thanks for the suggestions, everyone - I appreciate it...


- georgestrings
Click to expand...




A bit like this.....:)

thunderbirds022.jpg
 
#28
georgestrings said:
Yeah, that's the ticket!!! BTW, what pups do you think are closest to the Gibson TB+ pups on my '06???


- georgestrings
Click to expand...


If what you really like is the tone of contemporary Gibsons, I'd start by watching ebay, they come up pretty often. The other aftermarket ones mentioned are all very good replicas of Thunderbird pickups from the 1960's - thus they are completely different in every way. One post mentioned Bartolini, a '76 'Bird i got from BassNW had one in it - not a bad pickup.
The only real downside to current Gibsons is that there aren't any Chrome covered ones :crying:
 
#29
Since we're sharing pics, here's a current shot of my RayBird, recently updated with an Aguilar OBP-1:

DSC00928.jpg


It's a happy accident that the lefty StingRay neck lets me use a Hipshot D-Tuner, which I prefer to have on all of my four-stringers. :)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back