Members Leu Zhir Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Alright. I know I'm new, but I got ambitions , dig?Anyway, I've been playing the good ol' four string for maybe 3 or 4 years now, and I recently bought a beautiful alpine white Epi Thunderbird. My previous axe was, and still is, a battered Squier P. Its sounds like a cat caught in a box that is being shaken violently. But I'm not here to talk about that. While the T-bird is sexy, it doesn't sound like a cat in a box, and that is my problem. I want it to sound like my P (within reason, of course). What I need from you, oh respectable bass forum gurus, is a relatively cheap split P pickup (or where to find one), and how one such as I could go about installing it in my T-bird. Tank you, ever so much.
Members NeonVomit Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder pickup should do the trick. Or a Fender Percision pickup can't be all bad, either. Welcom to the forum n00b.
Members Leu Zhir Posted January 8, 2006 Author Members Posted January 8, 2006 Heh, I knew you'd do that.I looked up the pickups... pretty nice for the cost.But my biggest issue is getting them into my T-bird.
Members JC Bass Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Ok...I guess I don't quite understand...why did you BUY the Tbird if you don't like the way it sounds? Are you going to replace one of the soapbars on the Tbird? If so, you know you'll have to route the body to make it fit...and it most likely will still leave an ugly space around the pickup.
Members Leu Zhir Posted January 8, 2006 Author Members Posted January 8, 2006 I bought the damn thing online (big mistake #1) so I had no idea how it'd sound. Also, I don't mid a big ugly hole on the thing at all. Nothing a little Bondo won't fix.
Members zenfascist Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Originally posted by Leu Zhir I bought the damn thing online (big mistake #1) so I had no idea how it'd sound. Also, I don't mid a big ugly hole on the thing at all. Nothing a little Bondo won't fix. Welcome, brother. It's good that you realized your mistake. Never buy a bass from the internet just because it looks cool, you're just asking for disappointment. My advice is to buy some passive EMGs, or you could install a preamp and active electronics if you're feeling industrious. They should be a direct replacement (no ugly holes or cutting up your bass) and they're hot and nasty.
Members JC Bass Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 I second the idea of putting EMGs in there with one of their active modules for some major tonal control.
Members sunburstbasser Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Why go to all that work? Are P pickups even properly spaced for a T-Bird? If you want a P, sell the T-Bird and get a better P bass of some kind.
Members Ace Of Bass Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Split pickups encased in a soapbar box do exist. I know EMG makes some, but I don't know if they make passive ones. The active ones might give you a tone you like too, but to get closer to the squier, passive is probably the way to go. (though beibng active doesn't necessarily make something sound a certain way...but that is a bit of a trend.) I know seymour duncan makes some soap-shaped split (p) pickups that are active, but again I'm not sure if they make passives. This is definaly the best way to go to keep your bass happy. Of course, there's also the other option of just adding a 3rd pickup to the bass, between the others. Then, you can use whatever pickup you want. A seymour Duncan 1/4 pounder would probably be a good choice. That said, I think you should be a bit mroe specific about the cat in the box being shaken sound. Personally, I'd say that sounds a bit more like a string type/but/bridge issue than pickups, but it's a bit hard to tell from the audio description. You might try switching the strings on the basses and see if that helps, or (better idea) putting new strings on both and check the difference that makes. You might even be able to switch the bridges and see if that helps. Good luck making your nice awesome thunderbird sound like a POS Squire!
Members JC Bass Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Originally posted by Ace Of Bass That said, I think you should be a bit mroe specific about the cat in the box being shaken sound. I keep picturing the scene from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation... Not exactly a tone that I would want for my bass...but hey...we're all a little different.
Members Thumper Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 You're wasting your time trying to make a T-Bird sound like a P-Bass. You're comparing apples and oranges. Best bet: Get some EMG replacement T-Bird pups. Chopping and routing an Epi T-Bird just isn't cost effective, and you'll lose any resale value if you bugger it up. My two cents
Members Leu Zhir Posted January 8, 2006 Author Members Posted January 8, 2006 wow, wasn't expecting so many replies... Anyway, sorry about the vague descriptions and stuff, I didn't want to have to tell you my entire plan and create a wall o' text for you all to wade through, but I guess it's about time I did. Oh well, here goes... My rig (like I said, you'll all want to kill me for sure...) 1 5W Pignose amp (my cute lil' sonic destroyer) Preamped into... 1 SWR LA10 combo (tee hee) Once again, preampmed into... 1 Crate 100W combo (borrowed from the drummer) This, coupled with my economy Squier P, yields the most unstable, raunchy, squealing, and, dare I say it, cat-trapped-in-a-box-like sound ever imagined. And I am damned proud of it. If you couldn't tell, I am most definately not a bass player's bass player. I can't groove, I detest active EQ (anything more than 3 bands is too much for me), and I haven't a clue what a pocket is. I play punk music. Please don't disown me yet. I know I'd ruin the value of the T-bird if I routed new pickup holes and stuff, but I have no intention of selling it. The sound that the soapbars get is simply too...well, good for what I do. I'm a punk at heart, and the T-bird has always resonated deeply with me. I know it seems shallow to blow 400 bucks on something just because it looks cool, but that 400 didn't come easy! I plan to make this bass into what it calls me to become. Give a punk a chance. Either way, it isn't like its your money, now is it?
Members Jazz Ad Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 How much are you willing to spend on it ?
Members Crescent Seven Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Originally posted by Thumper You're wasting your time trying to make a T-Bird sound like a P-Bass. You're comparing apples and oranges. Best bet: Get some EMG replacement T-Bird pups. Chopping and routing an Epi T-Bird just isn't cost effective, and you'll lose any resale value if you bugger it up. My two cents {censored} that. You should just router the entire top so you can put any type of pickup anywhere you want it. I'm going to buy a P bass and router it out so I can have a Ric pup, a split-P, 2 jazz pups, a soapbar, and a MM up by the neck. Sorry. C7
Members sunburstbasser Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 So why not use the T-Bird for home stuff and use the P bass for playing in a band if its how you want it to sound?
Members Leu Zhir Posted January 8, 2006 Author Members Posted January 8, 2006 ^you make a good point.But if you guys are so hellbent on me not desecrating my T-bird, what could you suggest along the lines of a good, cheap bass modeler pedal? BTW, I have a $200 budget for those who are pro-T-bird desecration, so bounce some ideas off me. Holy crap, I just realized that no one bashed my rig...I'm speechless...
Members lownote Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Leu Zhir My rig (like I said, you'll all want to kill me for sure...) 1 5W Pignose amp (my cute lil' sonic destroyer) Preamped into... 1 SWR LA10 combo (tee hee) Once again, preampmed into... 1 Crate 100W combo (borrowed from the drummer) This, coupled with my economy Squier P, yields the most unstable, raunchy, squealing, and, dare I say it, cat-trapped-in-a-box-like sound ever imagined. And I am damned proud of it. If you couldn't tell, I am most definately not a bass player's bass player. I can't groove, I detest active EQ (anything more than 3 bands is too much for me), and I haven't a clue what a pocket is. I play punk music. Please don't disown me yet. I know I'd ruin the value of the T-bird if I routed new pickup holes and stuff, but I have no intention of selling it. The sound that the soapbars get is simply too...well, good for what I do. Welcome. Re. your tone - if you like it, that's what counts - great description, it sounds distinctive. Like you said, its your $$$, but for my 2 cent - trying to make the soapbar Epi sound like your P (which you seem happy with) is likely to be disappointing & expensive (relatively speaking). IMO - live with it, send it back (30 -45 day return?), or sell it. It's not likely to replicate your P, no matter what you do, & once you start cutting it up, it's not likely to be worth much either. "Just because they're pretty, it doesn't mean you can live with um.'" .
Members Ace Of Bass Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Originally posted by Leu Zhir ^you make a good point.But if you guys are so hellbent on me not desecrating my T-bird, what could you suggest along the lines of a good, cheap bass modeler pedal?BTW, I have a $200 budget for those who are pro-T-bird desecration, so bounce some ideas off me.Holy crap, I just realized that no one bashed my rig...I'm speechless... Well, I think the obvious, simpliest, and prossibly best choice is to take the pickup out of your p bass and put it in the Tbird.you might be able to find a soapbar pickup cover (just the cover.) then, glue the top of your P-pickups to the cover, so it'll fit perfectly in the neck pickup hole. Or, just put the pickup in the neck pickup hole as is if you don't care about looks. Turn off the back pickup, and you're done.
Members Leu Zhir Posted January 8, 2006 Author Members Posted January 8, 2006 Yeah... maybe I'll reconsider...My biggest problem, I think, is greed. I know I'll have the money for another P if it comes to that (I snagged mine brand new for $180, it's the super cheap affinity model, though), and despite the lack of the word "Fender" on the headstock, it holds a special place in my heart. I'm the poorest bass player I know, but I'm happy. Yet I can't bring myself to let go of the T-bird. It's the nicest axe I'll probably ever have. I'm not scared to limit myself, though. I find myself most creative when I don't have to worry about specific tonal differences or stuff like that. I used to have 2 modeling pedals that collected dust under my bed. I only asked for a new one because I figured I might be able to squeeze a P sound out of that. I guess my quest is all for naught, eh, guys? Maybe when I'm a big fat rockstar I can screw up all the basses I want.And this time, they'll be Gibsons...
Members fremenblue Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 How 'bout a Rio Grande Pitbull in the bridge route? I've heard those are the ultimate snarlin' bitch. Then, turn down the bass some and up the mids and highs. Or, roll off your front pup and just play on the back pup. Yeah, your rig is definitely unique. Not what I'd go after, but then I don't play the kind of music you do. I give you points for being creative, anyway.
Members Leu Zhir Posted January 8, 2006 Author Members Posted January 8, 2006 Ha...thanks, but "creative" isn't the word I'd use.More like "everything but the kitchen sink".Seriously, I'm playing with stuff that I'd expect you guys to ream me for. I've looked at the stuff you all play...it's almost all boutique! *so jealous* Anyway, I am rather embarassed at the junk I have to use, but I'm sure as hell not embarassed of the sound.
Members fremenblue Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Originally posted by Leu Zhir Ha...thanks, but "creative" isn't the word I'd use. More like "everything but the kitchen sink". Seriously, I'm playing with stuff that I'd expect you guys to ream me for. I've looked at the stuff you all play...it's almost all boutique! *so jealous* Anyway, I am rather embarassed at the junk I have to use, but I'm sure as hell not embarassed of the sound. I played for a good while through nothing more than a Peavy Minx 10, then "graduated" to a Fender Bassman 60 (1x15). So you're McGyver'ing a little. Not gonna get bashed here. Some of us do play boutique stuff, no doubt. Took me 20 years of work to get to where I can afford what I have. . . soon my back will be too trashed to hump all this crap around and I'll be selling it all for a little combo amp. Ah, well. . . wife's mentioned getting rid of the big stuff for an SWR Super Redhead. Think I might like that.
Members Crescent Seven Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Originally posted by Leu Zhir Ha...thanks, but "creative" isn't the word I'd use.More like "everything but the kitchen sink".Seriously, I'm playing with stuff that I'd expect you guys to ream me for. I've looked at the stuff you all play...it's almost all boutique! *so jealous*Anyway, I am rather embarassed at the junk I have to use, but I'm sure as hell not embarassed of the sound. We only rag on dudes that are douchebags, you seem pretty cool. That and the fact that you're perfectly willing to butcher a perfectly good bass tells me that you're probably crazy enough to hang out here. I didn't even have a "rig" for the first 6 years I played bass, I had a practice amp and a P bass, so I won't talk {censored}. As far as boutique, I think the most widely owned cabs on the forum are the Avatars, and they are considered budget. Avatar I build my own cabs, too. You might look into that if you want a stage rig...C7
Members Leu Zhir Posted January 8, 2006 Author Members Posted January 8, 2006 Truthfully, building my own cab has been a lifelong dream for me.I'm actually going to attend the Musicians Institute in LA to learn how to craft my own basses. But my own cab... I can see it now...8x10, really freakin' loud, upholstered in lime green shag carpet, with a frankenstein switch to turn it on... Oh baby...
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