The Last Bass Outpost

Thanks for the tip I'll keep an eye out do that one...

I did end up putting the greco's in my Gibson and I was hugely impressed with the sound, it previously had thunderbucker 66's so they aren't a good sit in for that particular take on the pick up. I would say the greco's are a lot cleaner and more focused more a more detailed high end, they respond fantastically to EQ and can be pushed many ways. The thunderbuckers have a beautiful tone, natural drive like no pick up I have heard but very much a vintage sound and I found myself Eq'ing to suit the vibe.

Putting those 66's in my rickenbacker

After buying my Greco TBII I kept coming back to it for that intense single pick up. I managed to find a pair of Greco tb pickups for sale which I have since put into my Gibson thunderbird, man do they rock. Does anyone know where I would be able to find more? Or if there is anyone maki replicas(without having to go to Seymour Duncan custom shop)


Cheers

Put me down for one in nickel ASAP!!!!

Looks good. Solid and trustworthy

Thanks guys.

Yes It was JMJ's although I am not sure how much he used it.

I just sent payment through for a set of 66' with rings and spacers, not cheap in Oz dollars but I am sure it will be worth it.

Many nickel porn related thunderbird photos to come. Finding a nickel bridge that wasn't a 3-point to fit onto the bass proved difficult so a chrome super tone will suffice. At least until a better bridge comes my way!

I would encourage people to please post pictures of their retro fitted tbirds!

Hello!!

I have been a long time lurker (creepy, breathy laugh) and finally signed up, I usually hang on talkbass but if you like gibsons (read:not a fender fanboy) then this seems the place to be!! I know a lot about what you guys play and collect and it's really encouraging as a younger player to get all this info about thunderbirds in particular from more experienced players!

I have owned 3 thunderbirds, first was a Pelham blue with a badass 1 bridge, chrome hardware and Greco pickups. I was young, silly and most likely stoned and sold that beautiful bass. But I will get back to that.


The second was a Nikki sixx mik.II. Beautifully made bass and the only tb plus pickups I have ever liked. Amazing feeling finish, I just couldn't connect to it or identify with it as really being "mine".



So I moved on to rickenbackers which I do still use and love! I have a 4003 in midnight blue and a 4003 in jetglo with rick hum buckers.... That bass is called "The Dog". But there was still that itch...that desire for the girth and fatness I knew was possible from only one bass.

It took me a few years but I have finally got myself a new thunderbird. A 2014 walnut bird, beautifully built and a real player of a bass.



I just can't deal with the black hardware and it's pickups (sorry Uwe). So nickel is the way! Currently being retrofitted with clover tuners, new bridge. The pickups is where I am currently standing and unsure where to go. I am more than likely going to be ordering some thunderbucker 66' but I may also be able to acquire some nickel covered Greco pickups from up the road.....the ones that were in that Pelham blue thunderbird. Has anyone compared thunder buckers to Greco?

I will most likely get both and put the phatter pickups in my bird and the other set in my jazz (suck it, fender).


TLDR; thunderbirds rock and I'm happy to be here.