Bigwan Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Prompted by a combination of reading a few Fenderbird threads, drooling over some Lulls on the bassdirect site (thunderbirds and his PT series) and my recent falling out with all things jazz bass, I've had another mad idea. How about fitting thunderbuckers to a precision? Although I have a p bass already (2 if you count my Lakland 5 string) another would never go amiss, especially with a pair of dirty Gibson-esque pickups. Is this totally nuts? Anyone tried it? I could just get a thunderbird I suppose, but I'd be a bit nervous of the ergonomics having never tried one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 [url=http://www.mikelull.com/site/instruments/basses/bass-PT4_PT5.html]Here you go...[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Some people like the Tbird ergonomics (I believe BC member shaggy is one). I don't; I found the Epi Tbird I had was very uncomfortable to play standing up. It was fine sitting down, but that's not terribly rock+roll, is it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted October 16, 2013 Author Share Posted October 16, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1381869238' post='2244875'] [url=http://www.mikelull.com/site/instruments/basses/bass-PT4_PT5.html]Here you go...[/url] [/quote] Yeah as I said I've been perving over those on the bassdirect site. Alas I don't have 2 grand spare! I was thinking more of dropping thunderbuckers into an MIJ fender P or similar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 [quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1381871232' post='2244916'] Some people like the Tbird ergonomics (I believe BC member shaggy is one). I don't; I found the Epi Tbird I had was very uncomfortable to play standing up. It was fine sitting down, but that's not terribly rock+roll, is it [/quote] I too love the Thunderbird and have never had a problem it has got to be one of the coolest bass designs of all time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 I'd go for it - there are a fair number of Thunderbirds around nowadays but not many Precisions with T.Bird pickups. Dare to be different! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 I played a Mike Lull PT4 and JT4 at Bass Direct a couple of months ago and they were just lovely, particularly the mahogony bodied PT4, Mr Lull's T-Bird pickups are stunning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 But even the Thunderbuckers aren't cheap (and they are least pricey of the currently available T-Bird replacement pickups). And by the time you've had the extra routing and wiring done to your MiJ Fender P you'll probably spent as much again as the bass cost you in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 [quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1381871232' post='2244916'] Some people like the Tbird ergonomics (I believe BC member shaggy is one). I don't; I found the Epi Tbird I had was very uncomfortable to play standing up. It was fine sitting down, but that's not terribly rock+roll, is it [/quote] Don't let your experiences with an Epiphone "Thunderbird" make up your mind. Apart from having roughly the same shape they have little in common (different woods, different construction, different pickups, different hardware) with the original Gibson Thunderbirds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1381925415' post='2245497'] But even the Thunderbuckers aren't cheap (and they are least pricey of the currently available T-Bird replacement pickups). And by the time you've had the extra routing and wiring done to your MiJ Fender P you'll probably spent as much again as the bass cost you in the first place. [/quote] No, but then again they're only pickups I've come across that I like as much as G&L MFDs, so I guess you get what you pay for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted October 16, 2013 Author Share Posted October 16, 2013 Starting to wonder if I should put these in my USA fender... No must resist! I had an sq series squier until recently that I sold in a fit of madness. It would have been perfect as it had been pretty molested by the previous owner anyway. I know what you're saying BRX, but a Lull is out of the question, I'm not gonna buy a t-bird as I'm scared of the ergonomics not suiting me (and they're a bit too "look at me!") and, as pointed out, the thunderbuckers are probably the cheapest t-bird style pickups while still seeming to be excellent quality. May be worth more than the bass I would end up putting them in, but it wouldn't be the first time! I'd probably do the unthinkable and have a rattle at modding the donor bass myself to fit the pickups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorsetBlue Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Can't you get Gibson TBird pickups from an epiphone dealer as spares, as they are fitted to the Thunderbird-Classic-IV-PRO? Or are you specifically after chrome covered ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 [quote name='DorsetBlue' timestamp='1381999775' post='2246439'] Can't you get Gibson TBird pickups from an epiphone dealer as spares, as they are fitted to the Thunderbird-Classic-IV-PRO? Or are you specifically after chrome covered ones? [/quote] Current Gibson Thunderbird pickups are completely different to those which appeared on the original T-Birds in the 60s. It's not just the colour of the covers that have changed, whereas the current crop of replacement pickups from Thunderbucker, Lull and Lollar are based on the original classic designs. Which you like best of course is entirely subjective. BTW Gibson/Epiphone in the past have been very reluctant to sell replacement parts without a genuine instrument to receive them, and TBH if the Epiphone T-Bird pickup sounds good to you, it would probably to simpler and maybe even cheaper to buy a second hand one and butcher it for the parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samashton12 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 I adore my Thunderbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) Taken a punt on a tokai t'bird on evilbay as a modding platform to add thunderbuckers to. If it doesn't fit me I should be able to get shot of it here nice and cheap. Edited October 18, 2013 by Bigwan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 I'm not sure which PUs you're after but are these any good? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-USA-Thunderbird-Bass-Humbucker-pick-up-Neck-/261310325705?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3cd74f23c9"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-USA-Thunderbird-Bass-Humbucker-pick-up-Neck-/261310325705?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3cd74f23c9[/url] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-USA-Thunderbird-Bass-Humbucker-pick-up-Bridge-/261310326597?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3cd74f2745"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-USA-Thunderbird-Bass-Humbucker-pick-up-Bridge-/261310326597?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3cd74f2745[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1382002333' post='2246487'] Current Gibson Thunderbird pickups are completely different to those which appeared on the original T-Birds in the 60s. It's not just the colour of the covers that have changed, whereas the current crop of replacement pickups from Thunderbucker, Lull and Lollar are based on the original classic designs. Which you like best of course is entirely subjective. BTW Gibson/Epiphone in the past have been very reluctant to sell replacement parts without a genuine instrument to receive them, and TBH if the Epiphone T-Bird pickup sounds good to you, it would probably to simpler and maybe even cheaper to buy a second hand one and butcher it for the parts. [/quote] +1 to all that. Thunderbuckers [b]are[/b] pricey, but they're astonishing pickups; as punchy and growly as a really good "P" p/up but with more depth and clarity. Each one is hand-wound to order, and Steve at the Thunderbucker Ranch is as helpful as can be. It seemed an expensive gamble at the time fitting to my gigging Fenderbird ( [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/180496-the-welsh-fenderbird-mk-2-a-quest-for-perfection/page__p__1736514__hl__welsh__fromsearch__1#entry1736514"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/180496-the-welsh-fenderbird-mk-2-a-quest-for-perfection/page__p__1736514__hl__welsh__fromsearch__1#entry1736514[/url] ), but never looked back. Sounds like a good project this, but if you prefer the Fender-type body then personally I'd make a non-reverse Fenderbird with jut one p/up (I use just the neck p/up 90% of the time) - in a nice aged white or Pelham blue would look and sound the absolute mutts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1381869238' post='2244875'] [url="http://www.mikelull.com/site/instruments/basses/bass-PT4_PT5.html"]Here you go...[/url] [/quote] Nooo!! Massive GAS attack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted October 22, 2013 Author Share Posted October 22, 2013 (edited) Further to this madness I've hatched a further nutty one... and I blame BRX (and some time spent on that other site where folk talk about basses - makes me feel dirty spending too much time there, but I digress). Having visited the Lull site more than once and laying eyes on [url=http://mikelull.com/images/basses/jt524/03-gallery.jpg]this loveliness[/url] I'm starting to wonder whether the rather good Lakland 5 string P I have for sale wouldn't be a better home for a pair of thunderbuckers... An email has been sent to Steve at thunderbucker ranch to check his 5 string pickups will handle the spacing. Also the tokai t'bird landed today - nice bass for the dough. HUGE headstock. Big chunky neck, very oldschool precision like. HUGE headstock. Silly low action with light strings. Did I mention the HUGE headstock? Edited October 22, 2013 by Bigwan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 And now that idea has run into problems too... Steve @ thunderbucker is happy enough that the pickups can handle the spacing, but while doing a little measuring I noticed something. [Url=http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o225/Thornmoon/Basses/Lakland/DSCN0068_zps315addc3.jpg]This[/url] is a Lakland 55-64. Compare that to [url=http://cdn.mos.musicradar.com/images/Product%20News/Guitar/jan11/fender-namm/fender-american-special-precision-bass.jpg]a standard 20 fret p-bass[/url]. Considering I'm hoping to achieve something like [url=http://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Lull_PT5_files/PT5Top.jpg]this[/url] in layout. It seems that Lakland have 2 different versions of pickguard on the 55-64 and I have the one that'd make fitting a bridge humbucker look a bit messy... Still possible if I don't mind changing the bridge to get the bridge pickup situated right, or fashioning a new pickguard the same as the alternate lakland variety, which incidentally would leave 2 pickguard screw holes out in no man's land... Back to the drawing board me thinks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Why not increase the size of the pick guard to enclose both pickups? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 Cos then it'd look like something you'd play... ;-p If I move the pickups closer to where a 60s Thunderbird would have them (rather than the Lull placement) then it'll work, although the bridge pickup will be half in, half out of the pickguard. Never used Photoshop or I'd mock it up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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