Thunderbird Fans

[blueman335]

Any Thunderbird fans out there? I really like them, the pinnacle of Gibson's basses. They got the PU's, PU placement, and scale right (no small feat for Gibson). The neck-thru part is great too. They've got the low end of a P bass, and twin PU's like a J bass. Well-designed instrument.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

I was going to get an epi Thunderbird but decided to go weirder and get an eb3 instead. Next bass will be a p bass, but I may trade the eb3 for a pro 4 if I get the chance.

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[d1dsj]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

I agree Rick, I love the Thunderbird and if I get get another bass I'm hoping it'll be a white one!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

I was going to get an epi Thunderbird but decided to go weirder and get an eb3 instead. Next bass will be a p bass, but I may trade the eb3 for a pro 4 if I get the chance.

I got an EB-3 because I love the SG shape. I'm relacing the big neck HB with a DiMarzio Model One which has 4-leads, so I can wire it for spin-a-split and thin it out when I want. Since there's a lot of real estate between it and the bridge mini-HB, I want to get it routed for a Jazz bass single coil in the middle. That would be a very versatile bass.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

I agree Rick, I love the Thunderbird and if I get get another bass I'm hoping it'll be a white one!

I just picked up an Epi Thunderbird Classic Pro on closeout, as they're phasing out passive PU's and going to actives on that model. The PU's are USA Gibsons. Got it new for 1/3 off retail. Maybe you can find one too (they come in white).

 

[uOpt]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

Well the current Thunderbird is packed with heavy hitting ceramics. Cleaning that up sets you back a solid $300.

Another issue is that passive mixing of those pickups works less well than mixing a Jazz bass.

The result is best shown via Pete Way of UFO. There is a typical thunderbird sound.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

+1 for Pete Way.

I have never got on with the string spacing on 'birds. I would need something more akin to a John Entwistle Fender-bird replica.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

Another issue is that passive mixing of those pickups works less well than mixing a Jazz bass.

I'm not looking at mixing PU's together at the same time, as much as getting a Jazz bass sound with a middle SC. That way I'd have a big neck HB that can dialed from unbalanced coils down to coil cut, a Jazz bass middle SC, and a bridge mini-HB. I'm also going to wire it for independent volume controls, so I can blend PU's in any increments I want. All of these mods would certainly improve the tones and options.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

Dean makes an Entwhistle bass. Anyone tried that in regards to better function over the T-bird?

I didn't know the DiMarzio Model One was a 4 wire. I may be getting one myself if I can find it.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

I didn't know the DiMarzio Model One was a 4 wire. I may be getting one myself if I can find it.

Yes! And it's low output, so it shouldn't be muddy. In single coil mode, it should sound especially good. An over-sized HB right next to the fretboard wasn't Gibson's best decision, but you can work around it and still get some nice tones. I ordered a Model One from one of the big online dealers, and you might be able to find one on eBay too.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

I have a large mahogany body blank here that would be sufficient for a one-piece thunderbird body, to then be paired with a Fender neck.

Sounds like a good project but the question is who makes such a body? I want it properly thinned around the body center.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

DiMarzio Model One ... 4 wire.

Model One and Will Power Neck models both four con + shield. Fractional difference in DC resistance and overall output. WP has polepiece spacing to suit Fender Precision string spacing at the neck position.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

What do you all think of the Epi version? Would you all consider it worth upgrading the pickups or saving up for a Gibson?

I had an older Spector model that was awesome but my dad keeps it now so I want to get another bass. I've always loved the looks of the Thunderbird and have played an Epi unplugged and loved the neck...just never played one plugged in.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

What do you all think of the Epi version? Would you all consider it worth upgrading the pickups or saving up for a Gibson?

I had an older Spector model that was awesome but my dad keeps it now so I want to get another bass. I've always loved the looks of the Thunderbird and have played an Epi unplugged and loved the neck...just never played one plugged in.

I feel you can't go wrong with a neck thru Thunderbird that's $500 or less. Getting a good set of pickups and some weight reduction or readjustment will make it a destroyer of worlds as far as I'm concerned.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

I have one of the Thunder ProIV models. I liked the features of that one better, plus the bridge seems alot more solid then the standard tbird bridges. Its a killer axe, but harder to play. The neck seems so long on it. I prefer my Charvel bass, so have been trying to sell the Tbird.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

I feel you can't go wrong with a neck thru Thunderbird that's $500 or less. Getting a good set of pickups and some weight reduction or readjustment will make it a destroyer of worlds as far as I'm concerned.

That's good to know! I'm definitely more of a guitar player, but would love to get back into the bass–keeping my options opened.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

That's good to know! I'm definitely more of a guitar player, but would love to get back into the bass–keeping my options opened.

WAITWAIT
I should add that it is MY OPINION that a neck thru T-bird is great. I am not necessarily the most thoughtful of buyers, and I have a few things locked into my head that I can't shake about what I like, one of which is that neck-thru is always better all the time, and visible neck-thru is the bestest thing of all. I have heard a lot of bad things about Thunderbirds in the vein of "It's put together by 5 year olds" and "will attempt to neck-dive to it's death if you look at it funny", as well as I've heard that it plays bass notes like Nicolaus Cage emotes on-screen. WITH IT'S WHOLE FACE AND GOOGLY EYES AND EVERYTHING COMES OFF AS LOUD AND CRAZY.

Odds are that if you can find either a decent Ibanez sr numberover200 or a Fender/Squier P-Bass, you will get a much better instrument. The Ibanezes sometimes comes with really nice Bartolini pickups.

But take my suggestions with a grain of salt. I bought an EB3 so I'm not to be trusted.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

I feel you can't go wrong with a neck thru Thunderbird that's $500 or less.

+1. I'm really liking my Thunderbird Classic Pro IV. For me it's easy to play. Sounds great.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

WAITWAIT
I should add that it is MY OPINION that a neck thru T-bird is great. I am not necessarily the most thoughtful of buyers, and I have a few things locked into my head that I can't shake about what I like, one of which is that neck-thru is always better all the time, and visible neck-thru is the bestest thing of all. I have heard a lot of bad things about Thunderbirds in the vein of "It's put together by 5 year olds" and "will attempt to neck-dive to it's death if you look at it funny", as well as I've heard that it plays bass notes like Nicolaus Cage emotes on-screen. WITH IT'S WHOLE FACE AND GOOGLY EYES AND EVERYTHING COMES OFF AS LOUD AND CRAZY.

Odds are that if you can find either a decent Ibanez sr numberover200 or a Fender/Squier P-Bass, you will get a much better instrument. The Ibanezes sometimes comes with really nice Bartolini pickups.

But take my suggestions with a grain of salt. I bought an EB3 so I'm not to be trusted.

Haha! No worries man! Btw, one of the best sounding guitars I've ever had was a Jackson Soloist that was neck thru–incredible tone! The music pastor at the church I was playing in rammed into it accidentally during practice and broke the trust rod...I miss that guitar! The Spector that my dad has is a neck-thru as well.

The Ibanez basses I've played I hated...don't know why but just something about their necks I don't like and the tone was terrible IMO. I have played a MIA Fender that I loved–both the tone and the neck. The Thunderbird I played I loved the feel of the neck on it, saw a guy do a YouTube video of upgrading the pickups to Seymour Duncan set of SSB-4s IIs and it sounded awesome...replied to this thread to see what you guys' thoughts were...

Thanks though for info!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thunderbird Fans

The Thunderbird I played I loved the feel of the neck on it, saw a guy do a YouTube video of upgrading the pickups to Seymour Duncan set of SSB-4s IIs and it sounded awesome...replied to this thread to see what you guys' thoughts were...

My neck-thru T-bird came with passive Gibson mini-HB's. I'm really liking them so far, no plans to change. For different tones, I've got a few other basses.