Thunderbuckers

weekend warrior · September 15, 2012, 02:31:43 AM

I think im gonna get new pickups for the 76 tbird.Any suggestions on wich ones? Lollar, Thunderbuckers,E.T.C. Im looking for pickups that sound like my 68 non reverse.

dadagoboi · September 15, 2012, 05:37:17 AM

I suggest a set of ThunderBucker 66. Reverse engineered from a set from my '67 Embassy and one from an NR. Steve offers a 30 day money back trial period.

From my understanding the other Thunderbird clones, including Lulls, are made to Reverse specs which are not as hot as NRs. Steve also does Reverse spec as well as the super high output MAX and the EX5 model for 5 strings.

Thunderbuckerranch.com

godofthunder · September 16, 2012, 07:28:27 AM

I like the Thunderbuckers a lot, they really capture the sound and feel of a original Tbird pup. I hve the Overwound '66 and the Max in a number of basses. I also have Seymour Duncan custom shop repro Thunderbird pups in a couple of basses, they are definatley brighter sounding and lack the inherent warmth and overdrive that a 60s Thunderbird pup should have. I don't have any Lulls but SD does make pups for Lull so I would expect them to sound the same. The Thunderbuckers are about half the cost of a Lull. Id take the Thunderbuckes.

Aussie Mark · September 16, 2012, 05:50:13 PM

I dig my Thunderbuckers too

clankenstein · September 16, 2012, 05:57:51 PM

+1

maxschrek · September 16, 2012, 07:44:44 PM

Me too. About to order another set of the 66's.

T

TBird1958 · September 17, 2012, 10:41:03 AM

Quote from: weekend warrior on September 15, 2012, 02:31:43 AM
I think im gonna get new pickups for the 76 tbird.Any suggestions on wich ones? Lollar, Thunderbuckers,E.T.C. Im looking for pickups that sound like my 68 non reverse.

Just me and my .02...........

Considering the relative scarcity of the bass I wouldn't replace the pickups at all. '70's pups are much taller and use 3 screws to mount, '60s are much thinner and use 2 screws, so you'll be modifing the bass, again personally I wouldn't. Not gonna hash the repro pickup thing, I endorse the ones I prefer tho.

dadagoboi · September 17, 2012, 10:58:48 AM

Quote from: TBird1958 on September 17, 2012, 10:41:03 AM

Just me and my .02...........

Considering the relative scarcity of the bass I wouldn't replace the pickups at all. '70's pups are much taller and use 3 screws to mount, '60s are much thinner and use 2 screws, so you'll be modifing the bass, again personally I wouldn't. Not gonna hash the repro pickup thing, I endorse the ones I prefer tho.

The only mod would be a removable 1/2" spacer block and 2 small (hidden) screw holes in each pickup cavity to install any of the TBird clone pickups. Small price to pay for a very different sounding bass IMO. Especially since it's completely reversible with no visible sign of modification.

TBird1958 · September 17, 2012, 11:14:28 AM

When I've modded my later 'Birds I've shaped and glued 1/2"mahogany spacers to fill up yhr pup rout, guess you could screw mount them as well. I really like '76s tho, yes they do sound different than the '60s ones - to me that's whole point, I would unhesitatingly mod any post '88 'Bird......Earlier not so much.

weekend warrior · September 17, 2012, 11:48:03 PM

I love how the 76 plays and feels.However,My 68 Blows it away!The tone is soooooo different.If i can at least capture that same tone with the thunderbuckers Its worth the swap. I wont have to do any serious mods to the 76(and wont)so its worth it to me.I will keep the originals stashed away.

weekend warrior · October 02, 2012, 03:04:32 AM

Got the thunderbuckers today.Installed them without a problem. Totally different bass now!The 76 bird is finally singin.

godofthunder · October 02, 2012, 04:34:51 AM

Quote from: weekend warrior on October 02, 2012, 03:04:32 AM
Got the thunderbuckers today.Installed them without a problem. Totally different bass now!The 76 bird is finally singin.

Nice!

jumbodbassman · October 02, 2012, 12:06:00 PM

I have a 76 and i know they are made different but the 63 thunderbuckers sound pretty close. the 66's have a hotter edge to them and the lull sits somewhere between. being a fender guy I may be the only person that prefers the 63's.

Spiritbass · October 03, 2012, 09:56:15 AM

Quote from: jumbodbassman on October 02, 2012, 12:06:00 PM
I have a 76 and i know they are made different but the 63 thunderbuckers sound pretty close. the 66's have a hotter edge to them and the lull sits somewhere between. being a fender guy I may be the only person that prefers the 63's.

The '63 'buckers are the only version I have experienced, but I think they are excellent!

Aussie Mark · October 28, 2012, 10:29:05 PM

Here's a clip of the 66 Thunderbuckers in my JAEbird - this is a VERY ROUGH incomplete mix of an upcoming song we're working on - the bass sounds great though. JAEbird > Cave Passive Pedals TVTR clean boost > Markbass TTE500 > DI out > Protools. Both pickups on full, tone control on around 1/4 turn. TTE500 EQ flat. No compression or post production at all.

http://soundcloud.com/mdeayton/ht-rough-mix