Bass players input needed

[RoyB]

We are building our newest bass a mix of Thunderbird and RD basses what will be flamed top, mahogany body with a mahogany set neck, but Scott and I both being bass players are torn by all the pickup options out there, so what do you think?

[cynic]

Thundertron soapbars

[RoyB]

Thundertron soapbars

Have you tried them? If so what's their tone like?

[Mindseyes]

Darkstar!!!!!!

If I ever go back to playing bass full time, I will be rocking the Darkstars!

By far the best sounding passive pickups ive played.......

Thats going to be a killer looken bass BTW!!!

[marcnorth]

Bassbuckers will look the best for that body style.

No matter which ones you use passive is the way to go.

Batteries suck.

[elduave]

TB Plus Ceramic Humbuckers with Chrome cover and best matching ring.

What's the headstock going to look like?

[RoyB]

TB Plus Ceramic Humbuckers with Chrome cover and best matching ring.

What's the headstock going to look like?

The bassbuckers look just like those, but I never liked the sound of the TB Plus. I think the head will be like the limba bird I built and be based on the Gibson Grabber.

[Stevieconlon]

Mike Lull Tbird pickups

[cmatthes]

I'd say keep it old school - passives.

If you can get the Mike Lull Tbirds, that might be cool. I wasn't sure if he was only putting those out on his basses or not.

Bound top on that, right?

(Cool!)

[Shark]

I'd say keep it old school - passives.

If you can get the Mike Lull Tbirds, that might be cool. I wasn't sure if he was only putting those out on his basses or not.

Bound top on that, right?

(Cool!)

Mike Lull could be a good choice ...

[RoyB]

I'd say keep it old school - passives.

If you can get the Mike Lull Tbirds, that might be cool. I wasn't sure if he was only putting those out on his basses or not.

Bound top on that, right?

(Cool!)

I thought about the Lull's but they are just to expensive and honestly the Fralin sounds every bit as good. Yep it will be bound on this first one.

[killerteddybear]

You should have included a 'carrots!' category.

I'm not familiar with any of the listed pickups, but I'd suggest passive over active.

[LefThanDed]

I think the head will be like the limba bird I built and be based on the Gibson Grabber.

Excellent - that original RD headstock just didn't look right.

Link to Guitar Garage RD restoration...

http://guitargarage.blogspot.com/2009/01/g...er-finally.html

At the risk of sacrilege - what about Bartolini 6RT 6RC?

And here's the declassified Moog schematic from the RD Artist:

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/graphics/...uit_diagram.gif

[RoyB]

I think the head will be like the limba bird I built and be based on the Gibson Grabber.

Excellent - that original RD headstock just didn't look right.

Link to Guitar Garage RD restoration...

http://guitargarage.blogspot.com/2009/01/g...er-finally.html

At the risk of sacrilege - what about Bartolini 6RT 6RC?

And here's the declassified Moog schematic from the RD Artist:

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/graphics/...uit_diagram.gif

My business partner Scott has an original RD Artist and still has the original schematic with it. We even thought about using those controls. If we do active it will be an Aguilar preamp.

[moparmagic]

i think double P stlye would just scream early 80's

[RoyB]

i think double P stlye would just scream early 80's

Is that good or bad?

[Jimbilly]

Somewhere I've got a picture of my natural mahogany '83 BCRich Eagle with dual cream P pickups, that looks very cool.

For tonal options, I really like a splittable hum for the bridge. I'd go with a P or J at the neck, and a splittable hum at the bridge.

[killerteddybear]

Somewhere I've got a picture of my natural mahogany '83 BCRich Eagle with dual cream P pickups, that looks very cool.

For tonal options, I really like a splittable hum for the bridge. I'd go with a P or J at the neck, and a splittable hum at the bridge.

Like a Musicman bridge pup and a J-neck? Suh-weet!

[maxschrek]

Definitely Fralins or Lulls.

T

[LefThanDed]

Double P bass pickups (think Buzzard**)

i think double P stlye would just scream early 80's

Is that good or bad?

**SD Curlee makes me scream "Bad... Very, Very Bad"!

[mc2]

Lull's ....or have the same guy OEM them for you too. If it's a Lull "exclusive/proprietary" with him, ask him to make 90s chrome Orville ones that sound pretty close and look the same.

I think Duncan will also wind OEM '60s TBird PUPs if you have the chrome/nickle cover. Maybe have sme covers made if Duncan says yes. There is also a '70s chrome TBird cover source (3-holes ones) on EBAY with a pile of NOS Kalamazoo ones.

The Darkstars sound great but IMO look ugly/big with two mounted. One (TBirdII) would look OK.

[moparmagic]

i think double P stlye would just scream early 80's

Is that good or bad?

if you me then yes

[Brother Noud]

How about a single passive pickup in the sweet spot?

Such as the SD stingray humbucker, which has four useful tones.

[RoyB]

Well Scott and I have worked a lot on this bass trying to bring together Scott's favorite Gibson bass the RD Artist and my favorite the Thunderbird. So here are the final details.

Mahogany Body with flamed maple top

Mahogany set neck with Rosewood fretboard

34" scale

Hipshot featherweight keys

repro Gibson three point bridge

Fralin Passive Bassbuckers with passive volume, tone and three way pickup selector.

It will have a push-pull function to go from active (Ageilar OB1 preamp) to passive.

[specialk]

That is sweet, Roy. Love the lines on it!