JohnDaBass Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 I'm embarking on a Fenderbird Bitsa build and I am seeking views, opinions and experiences of different Thunderbird PUPs used by Basschat members. I've got a Jazz neck and have an Epiphone Thunderbird bass body on it's way so before choosing PUPs I wanted some input. Tone wise, I'm for a typical Gibson Thunderbird sound. So who has used, Bass Buckers, EMG TBHZ, Seymour Duncan, Bartolini T4CBC or any other PUPs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Typical old growly Thunderbird or typical modern dark Thunderbird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxyFuze Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Point well made above. Take a look at Gemini pickups; several choices, all with detailed sound clips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 These are supposed to be good: https://www.eyguitarmusic.com/Thunderbird-Bass-Pickup-Vintage-Style-for-GibsonChromeNickel_p_2287.html https://www.mojopickups.co.uk/product/thunderbird-bass/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDaBass Posted December 27, 2019 Author Share Posted December 27, 2019 46 minutes ago, Cosmo Valdemar said: Typical old growly Thunderbird or typical modern dark Thunderbird? Old growly Thunderbird would be the objective. But I'm interested to learn what PUPs do what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 41 minutes ago, JohnDaBass said: Old growly Thunderbird would be the objective. Good answer 😎 Thunderbuckers get good reviews - I had a set in a Cataldo Fenderbird a few years ago. https://www.thunderbuckerranch.com/pickups Honestly, I prefer the stock pickups in my Epiphone Vintage Pro - a bit livelier with more top end. Mojos are meant to be good, and are cheaper with custom options available. https://www.mojopickups.co.uk/product/thunderbird-bass/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 +1 for the Thunderbuckers. I have a "66" pair in a Warmoth custom T'bird, and they nail the tone of my 1965 T'bird IV, but they are pricey. Seems to be a bit more choice around now since I got them (which was basically either the Thunderbuckers or Mike Lulls for the "classic" type). Not keen on the modern Gibson units. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 The Epiphone Bass Probucker #760s as fitted to the Vintage Pro Thunderbirds & Embassy Pro basses are excellent, so if you can track down a set I doubt you would be disappointed. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2elliot Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 I have the EMG pickups in my Ultra Bass. They sound great live with a band. They just seem to fit in with whatever I'm playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikkers Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 Try to get a couple of 2nd hand Gibson TBird pups. They pop up once and again on the 2nd hand market. I've searched for good replacements because I thought that the pups of my TBird that was in the process of being built were sounding too dark. To my surprise these pups are very growly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 Just to be awkward, I've squeezed a pair of Dingwall split coil soapbars under the chrome covers on mine, which is my preference for sound. The Epi routs are a decent size to fit most soapbars in, so the world's your oyster, really... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkHeart Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 The new T-Birds with the Pro Bucker 760`s on sound amazing (well they do to me) I had the old alpine white one with the Gibson pickups in but these are far better, I`ve also got one of the active T-Bird pro`s but I changed those pups for a set of custom wound Ghost Dirty Dozens and it`s very dark sounding and full. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rodster Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 +1 for Thunderbuckers. I've got all 3 types (63, 66 & 66S) fitted to my Thunderbird's and they have a great vintage sound. I've also got Mojo & Mike Lulls fitted and they're good but I find they sound a bit more modern to my ears. I'm not keen on the EY pickups, they seem to lack something. The Epiphone Vintage Pro are a good option if you can get them. I've managed to pick up a couple of sets from eBay but they don't seem to come up very often Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDaBass Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 @The_Rodster which Thunderbuckers do you favour 63 ,66 or 66S? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rodster Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 That's a tricky question! Initially the 66S was probably my favourite but recently I've been warming more to the 63 set, although they're in a Non-Reverse T-bird so that might have something to do with it. The 66 & 66S are definitely hotter pickups 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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