I hesitate to post this. $45 Thunderbird pickups.

[veebass]

my 2 X 8s haven't show up they are week over maximum eBay estimate- contacted seller yesterday. Waiting for response.

[nofi]

don't you live in italy. if so, that may explain the delay.

[lowend1]

I think there's a delay if you're anywhere but China. Mine are a week overdue (NJ) and others have been waiting as well. The odd part is that my second order arrived, but the first has been delayed.

[veebass]

don't you live in italy. if so, that may explain the delay.

No, Australia. We have industrial action in Customs but they never got that far. The tracking indicates they never left China. I have messaged the seller through eBay advising them and asking for a replacement set as they are a week over.
No reply yet. I'll let you all know what they say.

[veebass]

Heard back from the seller- returned because "magnetic". Resent them today. Let's hope they have sorted out the issue with them being magnetic.

[Dave W]

The Chinese postal service is surprised that magnetic pickups are magnetic?

[lowend1]

The Chinese postal service is surprised that magnetic pickups are magnetic?

Apparently.
I hope nobody is shipping pussy willows.

[Basvarken]

A BaCH Fenderbird came in today. I ordered it to install these Hong Kong Thunderbuckers.
But the bass sounds incredibly good straight out of the box already... Guess I sort of forgot how good these actually are.

Now I'm in dubio what to do. Should I go ahead and install those Thunderbuckers anyway? Or should I figure out some other new project?

[Stjofön Big]

Unusually beautiful bass, that one, Rob! But don't you think it deserves rings around the p-ups? Just for the sake of plain beauty?

[Alanko]

I wouldn't screw down the surrounds or anything until you know the Hong Kong pickups are superior to what you have there.

The wildcard option would be to gut the Hong Kong pickups, slim down the stock pickups and fit them in the covers. The metal pickup covers might change the tone to some degree, but it would be effectively the same setup as you have now but more visually appealing.

[Basvarken]

Point is, the Hong Kong humbuckers are slightly wider than the Artec humbuckers. So I'd have to route the body a bit to get them to fit.
And after that, there is no way back.

I agree they do look better... 

[Basvarken]

Wait. I've got it. I still have this baby 




It has a Bicentennial Thunderbird humbucker in the bridge position.
And an Artec in a chrome casing in the neck position.
I've never been too convinced about the Bicentennial pickup. So this would be a good test bunny for the new pickups.

I'll leave the Fenderbird stock (for the time being...)

[uwe]

"I've never been too convinced about the Bicentennial pickup."

Amen! Public perception tainted by nostalgia.

[Alanko]

I aspire to be in the position where one day remember that I have a polaris white non-reverse T-bird stashed away for modification duties.   

[Basvarken]

Yeah, that sounded a bit weird. I just meant that I never intended to use the pickups from Hong Kong on an other bass than the Fenderbird. I had that idea stuck in my head.