Black Thunderbird Pickups

[Bionic-Joe]

Does anybody know the difference between the older and newer black thunderbird pickups?? I think the older ones had a P bass style (staggered) hidden under the black cover, while the newer ones are more of the traditional style. I'm also looking for 1 of the older P style black pickups as well.

[exiledarchangel]

Theory says that pee-style pickups sound kinda clearer, not so low-mid heavy as normal humbuckers, but I don't know if older tbird pups are pee pickups in disguise.

[TBird1958]

Joe,

Here's some pup shots, the first are two of the three variations of TB Plus that I'm aware of, the split coil one is from my '89 and has had a chrome '76 cover put on it after it's outer black plastic shell was peeled off. The second is a later version I got from Scott (bass IV).
The second one is also very similar in apperance to an Orville pup, chrome cover aside.





For comparison a nakkie '76




And last a Lull with my BaCH, before I modified it - note how thin it is, like the original Gibson from the '60s

[Dave W]

That's a split-coil configuration all right, but with twin blades for each coil I can't imagine it sounds much like a P pickup.

[Bionic-Joe]

Thanks Guys. If anybody has one, let me know.

[exiledarchangel]

That's a split-coil configuration all right, but with twin blades for each coil I can't imagine it sounds much like a P pickup.

Must sound similar to those dimarzios

[Dave W]

Maybe, maybe not. The coil shape has a lot to do with the sound. The DiMarzios don't sound much like a traditional P but they do have the short fat coil shape overall. The split-coil T-bird pickups don't.