The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Johnbob on July 27, 2010, 05:23:35 PM
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Have any of you guys tried the Bartolini T4CBC Thunderbird pickups? Anyone like them? They are supposed to be replacements for the original 60's Tbird pickups and I was wondering how they compared. I was also wondering if they are the same size and if the Greatdealz chrome covers fit over them. Any thoughts?
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I've heard that they don't have anything common with the mid-oriented sound of the tbird pickups, they sound more "modern" and scooped. But I haven't heard myself, so I dont know for sure.
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It's hard to tell in this pic but there's a Bart in the bridge position of my Greenie here, this is shortly after I had it refinned and was still looking for parts to finish up the restoration. The Bart was there when I bought it from BassNW and of course the rest of the bass was a wreck, it was very much like a Gibson as I recall (and I've heard but can't confirm that Bart *may* have produced one of the four variations of black pups that Gibson used) but it obviously didn't look good on the bass - and at that point I was a fledgling member of The Dudepit and was heavily influenced by George's ( '69 Vette, Old man C)collection of chrome beauties and the many debates we had concerning chrome vs. black hardware. So the Bart was removed as soon as I could find a proper '76 pup - No regrets! And just to keep it fun I know I sold the Bart to our very own Baz Cooper! Who knows where it's gone to ;D
At BassNW, photo by Evan Sheely, the owner of many T-Birds, he loved it.
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/Gibson_1976_Thunderbird_Custom_Gree.jpg)
And me and my honey, fully restored ;D
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/blackwhitegreen.jpg)
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So the Bart was removed as soon as I could find a proper '76 pup - No regrets! And just to keep it fun I know I sold the Bart to our very own Baz Cooper! Who knows where it's gone to ;D
I think I know where it is:
(http://www.mojohobo.com/images/bart1.jpg)
This is a Bart I bought from Baz in about 2006. It isn't the same as the current ones as it has only 2 holes instead of 3. The Model number is engraved on the bottom T4CBC-7, I don't know what the -7 means.
(http://www.mojohobo.com/images/bart2.jpg)
For the short time I was able to play it before the headstock fell off I thought it sounded real good.
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I've heard good things about these Barts, obviously clearer than a TB Plus, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.
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I think I know where it is:
(http://www.mojohobo.com/images/bart1.jpg)
This is a Bart I bought from Baz in about 2006. It isn't the same as the current ones as it has only 2 holes instead of 3. The Model number is engraved on the bottom T4CBC-7, I don't know what the -7 means.
(http://www.mojohobo.com/images/bart2.jpg)
For the short time I was able to play it before the headstock fell off I thought it sounded real good.
Nice!
and sorry about the headstock :-\
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Wow....Wouldn't mind trying out a set of 2. Man...If I were to keep a photo albumn of all the Thunderbirds and basses I've owned.....
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Well it looks like it fits in nicely in an original Tbird which is nice. I wonder how hard it would be to pry off the plastic covers so I could use the Greatdealz chrome covers.
"the mojo hobo"- Is that a purple Non-Reverse? It almost looks like Fender's Burgundy Mist Metallic. Kind of cool. What ended up happening with the bass after the headstock fell off? Did you dave it or is it gone?
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Ay...I want first dibs, man......Ha! ha! No seriously, That looks like Heather Poly.
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It is Heather Poly that I sprayed myself on a wreck of a bass I still own. It just needs a new head.
I took the pictures today when I was home for lunch.
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Ah yes, Heather Poly. I wonder if that was the original finish on that. Imagine what that bass would have been worth right now if the finish was original and if it didn't have the broken headstock. I can't imagine they made a lot of Heather Poly Non-reverse birds. Well, I guess compared to other guitars, they didn't make that many NR bird's period.
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Well, I guess you just answered my question. It's a refin but it still looks great in that color. Fix it.
I am intrigued by the Barts now though. I really want new pickups for the Bachbird but affordable options are tough to come by. I can get a pair of these for around $200, that's not too bad but if I can't fit the chrome covers over them then I have to look somewhere else I guess. Man, I want the Lull's but I just cannot afford those right now.
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If the Barts are the same size as current TB Plus pickups you should be able to peel the plastic and fit them in the covers. Joe (Chromium) has done this with the black TB Plus, as well as a few others here I think. There is a thread in the projects section where it is detailed I think. AFAIK the Barts fit in the pickup cavitiy with no routing of the body so it seems like the chrome covers should fit them.
Here:
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=2773.90
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If the Barts are the same size as current TB Plus pickups you should be able to peel the plastic and fit them in the covers. Joe (Chromium) has done this with the black TB Plus, as well as a few others here I think. There is a thread in the projects section where it is detailed I think. AFAIK the Barts fit in the pickup cavitiy with no routing of the body so it seems like the chrome covers should fit them.
They would likely fit into an N.O.S. '76 cover after a "peeling" however you'd be drilling mounting holes at new locations - with possible tragic results unless you can tell where the coils are. I wrecked one Gibson pup trying this.
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I have one of these in my '76 Ibanez Destroyer, great sounding pickup lots of mids and treble bite, doesn't have the warmth and inherent overdrive of a 60's pup, great sounding unit none the less.(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/76Ibanezdestroyernewpg004.jpg)
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NICE
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They would likely fit into an N.O.S. '76 cover after a "peeling" however you'd be drilling mounting holes at new locations - with possible tragic results unless you can tell where the coils are. I wrecked one Gibson pup trying this.
Good point. I hadn't thought about the screw holes being in different locations.
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My God, why can't anything be easy??? Ha..ha. I just want decent, affordable pickups with chrome covers.
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Bartolini could probably tell you if you can drill the holes in the original places to fit a GreatDealz cover.
Has anyone used SD SSB-4 pups? They're passive and a drop in replacement for Bach. I have not heard them but am thinking about trying a pair. Very reasonably priced.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/74
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Actually, I have a SSB-4N in my ex-Hörnisse Bach. I had bought it previously for some reason and never used it. I like it much better than the Artec and it is a perfect drop-in replacement. I'm using a 500k pot and 0.1 uf cap and it gives me some very nice bottom.
(http://www.mojohobo.com/images/body.jpg)
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My God, why can't anything be easy??? Ha..ha. I just want decent, affordable pickups with chrome covers.
Indeed!
I figured by the time I was done Horse-Assin' around it just made more sense to use Lull's, I know, I know $$$$.
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Yeah, that's why I haven't jumped on a set of pickups yet because I figure that after all is said and done I will probably spend close to what the Lulls cost. I'm actually usually very good about this type of stuff and like to just get what I want from the get go and not mess around. You know, just bite the bullet and be done with it AND be happy in the end but they are so expensive so if I am only considering spending about $200 on a pair because after you factor in the fact that I've already spent about $80 in covers that I will at least cut the price in half of buying Lulls. That's IF I can make the mods with the covers easily enough. The Duncan pickups are really cheap which is super nice.
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Bartolini could probably tell you if you can drill the holes in the original places to fit a GreatDealz cover.
Has anyone used SD SSB-4 pups? They're passive and a drop in replacement for Bach. I have not heard them but am thinking about trying a pair. Very reasonably priced.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/74
I had a pair in Fenderbird and I liked them. Middish to my ears and warm - I didn't think they had the growl thing going on though.
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Actually, I have a SSB-4N in my ex-Hörnisse Bach. I had bought it previously for some reason and never used it. I like it much better than the Artec and it is a perfect drop-in replacement. I'm using a 500k pot and 0.1 uf cap and it gives me some very nice bottom.
I had a pair in Fenderbird and I liked them. Middish to my ears and warm - I didn't think they had the growl thing going on though.
Thanks for the info, I'm gonna give a set a try.
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What's funny to me is that my Bartolini pickup came in a bass from California to Washington and now is residing comfortably in Illinois..............Little fugger is better travelled than me >:(
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"the mojo hobo" - So you have a Bart in the Heather Poly NR-Bird and A SD in the Bachbird. Which one do you like better? Does one sound more like the original 60's pickup than the other or are neither of them similar to the 60's pickups but good in their own way? Does one have more mids or low end, etc? I think I am going to go with one of these two pickups so now I need to narrow it down and I would love to get a review from someone who actually owns both. I'm sure everyone else would also like to hear from someone that owns both. Thanks
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Think either of those pups looks fine in black plastic....not like a Model 1 or anything.
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What's funny to me is that my Bartolini pickup came in a bass from California to Washington and now is residing comfortably in Illinois..............Little fugger is better travelled than me >:(
Actually it's in Ohio now after a stop in Illinois :mrgreen:
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"the mojo hobo" - So you have a Bart in the Heather Poly NR-Bird and A SD in the Bachbird. Which one do you like better? Does one sound more like the original 60's pickup than the other or are neither of them similar to the 60's pickups but good in their own way? Does one have more mids or low end, etc? I think I am going to go with one of these two pickups so now I need to narrow it down and I would love to get a review from someone who actually owns both. I'm sure everyone else would also like to hear from someone that owns both. Thanks
I really like the SD in the Bach. I did like the Bart also, but it has been at least 3 years since I've heard it, and about 30 years since I played an original '60s pickup. There are others here who could better address that.
The SD has a very nice low end. I like good clean bottom and it delivers. I don't remember the Bart being too much different.
Of course your fingers, ears and perception will all be different than mine, both are good pickups but don't expect either to sound like a '60s pickup.
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I really like the SD in the Bach. I did like the Bart also, but it has been at least 3 years since I've heard it, and about 30 years since I played an original '60s pickup. There are others here who could better address that.
The SD has a very nice low end. I like good clean bottom and it delivers. I don't remember the Bart being too much different.
Of course your fingers, ears and perception will all be different than mine, both are good pickups but don't expect either to sound like a '60s pickup.
IIRC I heard Seymour Duncan quoted as saying he designed his basslines pickups to be in between EMGs and Barts tonewise. That was when they were introduced.
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Actually it's in Ohio now after a stop in Illinois :mrgreen:
It just gets worse! ;)
I want your E5 A/B set avatar back too!
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It just gets worse! ;)
I want your E5 A/B set avatar back too!
OK there you go. For a while anyway.
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:P
Oh man! 200 tons of Chrome as only the C.B.& Q. + EMD could do!
Definately Diesel's finest hour there ;D
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Mark, if you ever get to Illinois you have to check out the Illinois Railway Museum. I'll admit I haven't been there in about 20 years and it looks like it has grown a bunch. They have a Nebraska Zephyr. It is an articulated consist that was plulled by those E5s, and they run it!
(http://www.irm.org/cgi-bin/image.pl?width=300&img=/pictures/300/9911cbq01.jpg)
Check out http://www.irm.org
http://www.irm.org/cgi-bin/image.pl?conf=img800&img=/gallery/albums/Members_Weekend_2006/aac.sized.jpg
http://www.irm.org/cgi-bin/image.pl?conf=img800&img=/gallery/albums/thereturntrip-121808/aaa.sized.jpg
http://www.irm.org/cgi-bin/image.pl?conf=img800&img=/gallery/albums/Members_Weekend_2006/aah.sized.jpg
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That is the sexist Diesel ever!