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Thunderbird Pickups

#42
Far be it from me to tell you what to do as I've hacked into way more basses looking for "that" tone than I care to mention. However you keep talking pickups, why not get a "real" versatile pre-amp and have that installed instead. Your tonal variation will be much more substantial. I'm thinking an OBP-3 would be the cat's ass.

H
 
#44
you know John, thats kind of a cool idea if the labor is that cheap...buy a preamp, let the guy install it in 15 minutes, and if you dont like it, you can always have him take it out later when you find the correct pickup for what you want it to sound like. then sell the preamp on ebay or something and make some money towards the new pickup set cause they will raise your EPI to the " HolyHell did I just drop 200 bucks in pickups and pots into this %^&&*%$ thing" category...

...it would be a "cheaper" experimental wise start to your quest for your specific tone out of the bird to check into a preamp, cause you might like it.
 
#45
amimbari said:
you know John, thats kind of a cool idea if the labor is that cheap...buy a preamp, let the guy install it in 15 minutes, and if you dont like it, you can always have him take it out later when you find the correct pickup for what you want it to sound like. then sell the preamp on ebay or something and make some money towards the new pickup set cause they will raise your EPI to the " HolyHell did I just drop 200 bucks in pickups and pots into this %^&&*%$ thing" category...

...it would be a "cheaper" experimental wise start to your quest for your specific tone out of the bird to check into a preamp, cause you might like it.
Click to expand...

Are the thunderbirds already routed for one? If not, the labors gonna be a bit more.
 
#47
you would need 2 videos, done by the same person same song, same amp settings etc..., one Epibird with TBplus and one with EMG to make it a true comparison, and I don't think KYRAL210 is going to have that for you
Click to expand...

Well, no. I will be making a video for the SSB-4 set in my Epi Thunderbird, but I dont have any EMG 35DC's at hand. However I do have a video of my Schecter C5 Bass with 40DC's in.

I know the Schecter will not be the same as the Thunderbird, but as part 1 of the video will show, I have made a number of mods to my Thunderbird, so it is unlikely to be 100% as yours. Besides, mine is a Thunderbird Goth, which has a Mahogony body, unlike the alder of the Epiphone Thunderbird IV.

Please be patient for my video...

:ninja:
 
#51
kyral210,

I'm really grateful for the videos you did of this. I have the Epiphone ThunderBird IV Vintage Sunburst Bass and was trying to get more of the John Entwistle vintage Gibson sound too, but just could not EQ the stock pickups out of the mud.

As you know, the Sunburst version of the bass uses different woods (maple neck/alder body).

The mods I made were:

1) Replace stock Epiphone pickups with Seymour Duncan SSB-4's
2) Replace tone control with StellarTone ToneStyler Bass tone control

I am VERY PLEASED with the results of this mod.

Here are some before and after sound clips:

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Slap Bass w/ very little EQ, just slight smiley. I could never get the stock pickups to slap well... the G string came out to full sounding and rude.
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Here's a clip of me playing bass part of Red Barchetta w/ Epiphone ThunderBird IV mixed:

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Epiphone ThunderBird IV Isolated:

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#53
KCOR said:
do you know where I can find chrome replacement PUs for my epiphone tbird (like the vintage 60's/70's ones)?
thanks
Click to expand...

Bring lots of money!
Even 70's vintage 'Bird pick ups sell at about 300.00 apiece on ebay *when* you can find them at all - 60's versions are completely different in construction and dimensions and are even more rare and expensive.
My best suggestion (again bring money!) would be some of Mike Lull's that he's had made for his version of the Thunderbird, they're available separately but at 289.00 apiece
they ain't cheap!
 
#54
kyral210 said:
No

Gibson Thunderbirds come with Gibson TB Plus bass pickups. The difference between the Epiphone and Gibson versions is just quality. The Epiphone ones are ceramic duel coil passive pickups, but they just lack something.

Like all Epiphone (standard, not studio) instruments, the wood isnt that bad, but the pickups suck! Change the electronics and they come to life!

I would wager the EMG 35DC's would be the best pickup choice inside your thunderbird, but they retail around $100 each, whereas the Basslines SSB-4 set (neck and bridge pickups) are $100 total. The price is what drove me to buy the SSB-4 set, and frankly I love them! I was so glad to sell my stock Epiphone Thunderbird pickups.
Click to expand...
but from your youtube vids it looks like the ssb4 buckers dont quite fit right in a t-bird. true?
 
#56
This doesn't really help anyone... but I thought it was a cool project.

A customer bought a NOS T-Bird cover from eBay and had me install a one of my pickups in it.

Now I'm going to see if I can get various size chrome covers made, because I think it came out really nice.
 

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#60
Here's some information on the Lollars:
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I'm thinking this is the way I want to go for the Fenderbird build I'm planning.

I've got to get the body routed and need help. Can anyone tell me the rout dimensions on an Epi Thunderbird? The Lollars seem to be sized for that.
 

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