Thunderbird pickups

[Dark Horse]

Hi ! I've started building a project I call the "Thunderslab". It's pretty much the bastard child of a T-Bird and a 51 P Bass. Mahogany slab style body, maple neck, T-Bird pickup, etc..

Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions on the pickup. I'm leaning toward Lollar, but of course there's Lull, Thunderbucker, Gibson, etc..

Any thoughts on preferences in T-Bird pickups (and why) are appreciated!

Oh, and here's a pic of the Thunderslab so far....got a ways to go, but it's taking shape!

 

[Bass4LifeRS]

I like the name! Looking forward to hearing it.

 

[Dark Horse]

I guess people don't have much experience with T-Bird pickups. I'll probably just go with a Lollar... Hard to go "too" wrong with Jason's pickups !

 

[Gabeja15]

I'd have a look at Thunderbucker. He winds a thunderbird pickup specifically for single "sweet spot" applications.

Also, this is getting a bit ridiculous. I decided to build a 51 P-bass a year or two ago after drooling over your builds. Not last week, I disassembled it to refinish it and drop in a pair of Gibson TB+'s I picked up in the classifieds!

 

[Dadagoboi]

Nice project!

Here's my take on a slab P/J crossed with a TBird. ThunderBucker pickups. This one was for a customer. Mine will have a single ThunderBucker in the sweet spot. The pickups were cloned from my '64 originals.

Steve can custom wind you an 'S' model which was developed specifically for single pickup applications. Here's one in my 12er

and one in a Phantom Clone

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[Toptube]

I modded a Fender Jaguar two years ago. I was looking to get the non-reverse thunderbird tone.
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Based on the sound samples available, Lollar nailed the non-reverse thunderbird tone. Whereas the other options out there either put their own spin on it (Lull) or maybe the samples weren't ideal or in the case of Duncan, no samples at all.

I absolutely love my Lollars. the neck pickup is killer. I think that you would love it.

However, if you aren't necessarily looking for a dead-on tone or would like a few options to choose from, Thunderbucker ranch offers 3 or 4 different winds. And they even cost a little less.

 

[depalm]

Bought a Lull T-Bird in november and love the way those pickups sounds.
They're hot but very smooth and dynamic.
Great pair of humbuckers.

 

[Dark Horse]

I'd have a look at Thunderbucker. He winds a thunderbird pickup specifically for single "sweet spot" applications.

Also, this is getting a bit ridiculous. I decided to build a 51 P-bass a year or two ago after drooling over your builds. Not last week, I disassembled it to refinish it and drop in a pair of Gibson TB+'s I picked up in the classifieds!

Thanks for the kind words ! Make sure you post pics of your bass when you get it done !


Still working on the Thunderslab, but concurrently also designed and started making templates for another "slab meets t-bird" project, which I'll be calling "The Ironhead."

Here's a pic of the templates. As you can see, it's a 2 pickup model with a non-reverse influenced guard, a shortened lower horn, modified headstock, etc. Itll also have a one piece African Mahogany body. The headstock seems large in the pic, but it'll be shaved a bit.

I'll be starting it early next week.

 

[darren1970]

I'd recommend Steve at Thunderbucker Ranch too.
Fantastic customer service. Mine should be arriving any day soon.