TBird Studio- Fiver

veebass · December 03, 2016, 11:45:16 PM

What are these like? I want a good strong B and evenness across the pickups. I play finger style- so is the spacing OK?
Does the pickup just sound like a TB+? Looking at pics of the bass- are the pickups, in fact, just a four string TB+s?
If so, is the B and the G strong?

pjm · December 04, 2016, 01:06:45 AM

Are they short scale?

veebass · December 04, 2016, 01:50:44 AM

Quote from: pjm on December 04, 2016, 01:06:45 AM
Are they short scale?

Nope, 34 inch.

uwe · December 06, 2016, 07:55:09 PM

All your wishes come true: It's long scale, it's TB-Plus pups alright, they are wide enough for both a strong G string to turn heads and derrieres in a Victoria's Secret store and a B string nothing short of mighty for a passive bass (and even most active 5ers) - it would have sunk the Yamato.

String spacing? No fear, the neck is a battering ram and your grubby fingers will find sufficient space. It's a mighty bass and it sounds like it too. Probably Gibson's best 5er ever, a real secret weapon.

For completeness sake: It's set neck, not neck-thru like real Birdies and therefore sounds thuddier than the original, but not undefined. A real TBird is not really a heavy metal bass, this beast could be. Could imagine it with something like Pantera.

Oh, and high register access is more convenient than on the original too. What is doesn't have is the mellow sustainy sweetness of a neck-thru TB, but I seem to be the only person in this forum who cares for that trait anyway.

Psycho Bass Guy · December 06, 2016, 08:20:49 PM

Metal you say?

veebass · December 06, 2016, 10:59:13 PM

Thanks, guys. My questions are answered.
I'll see how the price bids up.

Basvarken · December 07, 2016, 01:43:05 AM

Glenn Five of old school Metal band Anvil uses a 5 string Thunderbird Studio.

uwe · December 07, 2016, 05:45:03 AM

Hey, quid pro quo, more reptile pics required!!! What happened to the house snake?

veebass · December 07, 2016, 11:34:49 AM

Quote from: uwe on December 07, 2016, 05:45:03 AM
Hey, quid pro quo, more reptile pics required!!! What happened to the house snake?

Ha, I'll see what I can do, Uwe.
The Velvet Geckos are active in the evening at present. I'll see if I can get a nice shot of them.
The snake appears to have moved back into the forest at the rear of the house. I suspect she has had some hunting success, as I haven't seen her for a while.