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Wanting to swap out Thunderbird Pro IV pickups

I

ImaRobot

Guest
May 19, 2017
3
1
#1
I'm sorry if there is already a thread on this, but it was difficult putting together the key words for what I'm looking for, so please bare with me. I'd also like to note that this is the first time that I'm making attempt to make changes to any instrument I own, so any tips and help would be deeply appreciated.

I'm going through the process of getting my Thunderbird Pro IV painted, and decided that I want to change out the current hardware and pick ups to better match new color scheme and I'm not sure if I'm leaning more towards nickel or chrome, although I'm thinking nickel. Would there be a reason to choose one over the other when it comes to the bridge/pickups?.

So, I'm not sure if I have to search for active or passive pickups, or if that is just completely irrelevant? On top of that, I'm having a very hard time trying to find one that matches up to the same screw pattern as the ones that come on the Thunderbird Pro IV, that also goes with the preferences I've laid out. What are my options concerning that? Are soapbars generally the same size, or is there a specific sizing that I should be looking for? I'm a complete newbie when it comes to this, so anything tips that you guys can think of would be of great help, and appreciated.
 
#2
Hi Robot

I have been looking into changing the pickups in my Epi Thunderbird and have run into a few issues. As you say getting something to match up to the hole pattern is nigh on impossible, so you will just have to make do with drilling a new hole or two. They would have to match what you have already, so if you have actives then you would need to get actives. You can easily tell as the active basses have a battery pack on the back as well, whereas passive basses don't.

I'd be tempted to go for nickel covers myself as chrome is a sod to keep clean. I'm sure there are those who will tell you that there is a huge difference in the tone, but to be honest, I have never heard it and amped up in a gig. I say go for nickel as this is what Gibson always used for their humbucker covers.

Unfortunately you need to get pickups specifically designed for Thunderbirds, you can't just drop a soap bar in there as they aren't the right dimensions. This does seem to make the pickups ridiculously expensive, which is why I am keeping the stock ones. I bought my bass 2nd hand and it cost me £105, Some of these pickups are that much for a single one (Lollar for example). I personally can't justify spending more than I paid for the bass on pickups.

I have had some experience rewiring and it's not too scary, just take it steady and make sure you really understand the diagram first before taking the soldering iron to it!

What colour is yours going to be?
 
#3
Yukimajou said:
Hi Robot

I have been looking into changing the pickups in my Epi Thunderbird and have run into a few issues. As you say getting something to match up to the hole pattern is nigh on impossible, so you will just have to make do with drilling a new hole or two. They would have to match what you have already, so if you have actives then you would need to get actives. You can easily tell as the active basses have a battery pack on the back as well, whereas passive basses don't.

I'd be tempted to go for nickel covers myself as chrome is a sod to keep clean. I'm sure there are those who will tell you that there is a huge difference in the tone, but to be honest, I have never heard it and amped up in a gig. I say go for nickel as this is what Gibson always used for their humbucker covers.

Unfortunately you need to get pickups specifically designed for Thunderbirds, you can't just drop a soap bar in there as they aren't the right dimensions. This does seem to make the pickups ridiculously expensive, which is why I am keeping the stock ones. I bought my bass 2nd hand and it cost me £105, Some of these pickups are that much for a single one (Lollar for example). I personally can't justify spending more than I paid for the bass on pickups.

I have had some experience rewiring and it's not too scary, just take it steady and make sure you really understand the diagram first before taking the soldering iron to it!

What colour is yours going to be?
Click to expand...
Yeah, after some research I've found that I'm going to just have to make new drill holes for the pick-ups I wanted to get. I eventually settled for Seymour Duncan Shop Custom Shop Thunderbird pickups, as they seem like exactly what I'm looking for. They're a little pricey, but hey, I'm planning to keep this for a while so I'm not to fussed about it. I do have an active bass, but I'm in a predicament really, as I've read that even though its Active, it's using passive pickups.

I'm also leaning towards Nickel, to be honest. It just has a nicer finish, and will go along more with the color scheme I'm aiming for.

Yeah, the pickups I've been looking around at, I've noticed that while they look similar, the sizes are slightly off, and all those where with a black plastic cover. Shopping for this Tbirds is really hard lol, especially when trying to find pickups in chrome/nickel! I didn't want to rip apart my old ones as its sealed with epoxy, so I decided to just save them and if I ever want to revert to old parts, I can. I'm just glad that I started looking into it on my own, because a employee at Guitar Center had told me that its a basic soap bar and that I should be able to just get any one.

As for the wiring, my brother is a genius when it comes to that, so I have that part covered.

The color is a bit out there for a Thunderbird, if I do say so myself. I opted for an Orange cream/Orange creamsicle color, somewhat pastel like, but still holding onto the saturation of pure orange. The good part about it, is that it's completely free. My boss is a professional painter in the automobile industry, and while that's a completely different material to work with, he's done everything from cars, to house hold objects, so I have faith in his abilities. With the color in mind, thats why I was looking towards nickel/chrome for hardware and pickups. The hard part, it seems, is finding the pick guard! I'm looking for an off-white one, and that is nigh impossible to find :laugh:

Thanks a bunch for the reply, I didn't think I was ever going to get one.
 
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#6
ImaRobot said:
I was thinking that, but that thread was a bit overwhelming, and I didn't want to ask a question that might have been covered already. It's hard to search specifics, I noticed.
Click to expand...

Understood.
Overwhelming?, maybe to some.
But i don't think you will be chided for asking over there.
As far as what you might use as a replacement, depends on what type of Tbird tone you're looking for and budget permitting, what you can afford.
I know that is not much help, try the search function here for Tbird replacement pick ups if you don't want to go over to the club.
 

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