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Thunderbirds by Mike Lull

#81
I've added a Lullbird to my "Wishlist" of Mike Lulls - I can't think of a better bass for lower-slung pickstyle than the Thunderbird body design (I've always been a big fan of SpectorBirds and JacksonBirds as well... anything to upgrade the original design a touch). Count me in for a "Modern-Vintage" version if Mike would add to the options, such as chrome Hipshot "Y" Ultralites and "A"-style bridge, a Maple fretboard, sprayed in Metallic Black with matching headstock. :D
 
#82
Nino Valenti said:
JGhiv_001.jpg
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..i freaking want that in black.
 
#84
TBird1958 said:
He's really had 12! All from the 60's - including a factory painted black ( it was a custom color at the time) one, a small benifit of living close by is that I get a couple of stories from him every time I take one of my 'Birds in for some work. He and Roger are always great and you really get the rockstar treatment. I can't wait to get my Lull Thunderbird!
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Hey V!

Is the Lull a neck thru? Would it be possible to get it with 3 PU's?
 
#85
Rob Martinez said:
When you get your Llulbird, PLEASE post a review here.

How many T-birds do you have and what models?

I have the recent IV and Studio. Can't afford a '63-'64 T-bird. I love my 'birds, but would like a detailed comparison of the Llul T-bird PUs compared to the modern Gibson T-bird PUs.:bassist:
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Rob Martinez said:
When you get your Llulbird, PLEASE post a review here.

How many T-birds do you have and what models?

I have the recent IV and Studio. Can't afford a '63-'64 T-bird. I love my 'birds, but would like a detailed comparison of the Llul T-bird PUs compared to the modern Gibson T-bird PUs.:bassist:
Click to expand...

The day I pick that bass up will be a very special one! I'll probably go in my "stage persona" just for the photo op with Mike and Roger (they're pretty good sports about that!)
I currently have 3 '76 Gibsons, two of which are custom painted by Mike, a '89 retro fitted with all chrome hardware, a 2008 Nikki Sixx, a '77 Greco ( Gibson Japan) Thunderbird II, and a Fenderbird made from an Epi and lots of parts.
Mike's bass is a bolt on neck (4 bolts) with a nicely shaped heel, I'd say that will be its biggest difference from the original - for anyone that wants a bass that approximates what JAE had built for you can have one of Mike's maple necks instead of a mahogany/rosewood one.
A major point are the pick ups - the 64 that was graciously lent for the project was diassembled and the pups were very painstakingly copied - I can't say by who tho! The idea is that the re-issues will be just like the original here.
And if you pony up enough $$$ I'm certain Mike would put together a 3 pick up version, anything's possible it just takes money.
I've posted this before.......apologies to all that have seen it, once the weather's better here I'll wash the car up and get some new group shots.

5birds2-1.jpg


NikkiBird003.gif


NikkiBird007.jpg
 
#87
TBird1958 said:
The day I pick that bass up will be a very special one! I'll probably go in my "stage persona" just for the photo op with Mike and Roger (they're pretty good sports about that!)
I currently have 3 '76 Gibsons, two of which are custom painted by Mike, a '89 retro fitted with all chrome hardware, a 2008 Nikki Sixx, a '77 Greco ( Gibson Japan) Thunderbird II, and a Fenderbird made from an Epi and lots of parts.
Mike's bass is a bolt on neck (4 bolts) with a nicely shaped heel, I'd say that will be its biggest difference from the original - for anyone that wants a bass that approximates what JAE had built for you can have one of Mike's maple necks instead of a mahogany/rosewood one.
A major point are the pick ups - the 64 that was graciously lent for the project was diassembled and the pups were very painstakingly copied - I can't say by who tho! The idea is that the re-issues will be just like the original here.
And if you pony up enough $$$ I'm certain Mike would put together a 3 pick up version, anything's possible it just takes money.
I've posted this before.......apologies to all that have seen it, once the weather's better here I'll wash the car up and get some new group shots.

5birds2-1.jpg


NikkiBird003.gif


NikkiBird007.jpg
Click to expand...

VERY COOL!!!! I love those colors.

I toy with the idea of retro-fitting one of my T-birds (probably the IV, since the Studio already has chrome), I am not a fan of black hardware, but love the T-birds I have.

I am also curious about dropping some Mike Lull T-bird PUs into one of them, or maybe just getting an Epi T-bird and putting them in THAT bass, to see how they sound!
 
#88
I'm SO weak for chrome..........That Nikki 'Bird really sounds great just as it is, yet I already know it'll get all chrome hardware and some of Mike's new pick ups in the next year or so.......
 
#94
I got an epiphone thunderbird but i wanna change the pick ups [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] (this is my bass)...do you know where can I get some chrome orginal/replacement pus for my tbird? the new gibson pickups are smaller, they are sized like guitar's humbuckers
 
#96
KCOR said:
I got an epiphone thunderbird but i wanna change the pick ups [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] (this is my bass)...do you know where can I get some chrome orginal/replacement pus for my tbird? the new gibson pickups are smaller, they are sized like guitar's humbuckers
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I swapped my Epi T-bird pickups for Nordstrand Big Singles -- you'll have to open up the rout a few mm's, and it leaves a gap in the neck/bridge direction -- but the sound! Balls-out awesome.

By the way, our epi's are in a totally different end of the pool than the Lulls will be, which is what this thread is about. There's plenty of epi t-bird threads about just this topic - probably ought to explore there rather than muddy this thread.
 
#99
Zombie!;)

I was out at Lull's today dropping off a project and he had his T-bird hangin' begging to be played. Holy Moly!:eek:

I'm now sifting through my arsenal picking the weak to be sold off to fund getting one of these for myself. Even with Mike's preference for sky high(to me) action this thing played like butter and the tone was to die for. Clear and punchy for days. He was apologizing for the dead strings and I couldn't tell at all. Sounded like a brand new set to me. Amazing. Very light and balanced extremely well. My only pet peeve would be his use of really tiny side markers. I'd ask for bigger personally.

I knew I shouldn't have picked it up....ha.:p
 

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