Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV - no balls on top end??

T

ThumperBird

Aug 12, 2022
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#1
For you guys & gals who have experience with this bass with active pickups:

I play melodically - almost lead-like - a lot on the higher strings and upper fretboard ala John Entwistle & Geddy Lee etc. I get monster low end tone, but on the higher strings and frets I’m getting a tinny, almost hollow sound. It totally gets lost in the mix and is very non-inspiring.

I run through an Ampeg Scrambler box and a Blackstar U500. I’ve tried all different settings to no avail. Is it a pickup issue or something else?

Love the bass but this is very discouraging.

Thanks in advance for chiming in!

Tristan
 
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#3
Well, although both John Entwistle and Geddy Lee have played T-birds at times it's not really their signature tone. Maybe you need a bass with a different voicing if that's the kind of tone you're aiming for? T-birds can be quite dark and lacking the upper mid cut of say a P-bass. I've always found T-birds more difficult to mix than P-basses, although T-birds have of course also varied a bit tonally over the years/models.

FWIW, "monster low end tone" and higher notes sounding weaker suggest to me that you MIGHT be dialling in a bit too much lows...? It's always easy to go a bit overboard with the lows on active basses. Less lows and more mids could be the answer... maybe... but impossible to say without actually hearing your tone.
 
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#6
I've owned one of these T-birds for years now. It feels phenomenal but the stock electronics package is definitely underwhelming. I use stainless rounds on mine, ignore the pre-amp (both knobs centered) and make most adjustments on the amp. Not particularly versatile but it works in enough situations for me to keep it around.
Some folks have yanked the pre and reported the stock pickups sound better run passive. If you're at the end of your rope with the bass, it might be worth trying.
 
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#7
This seems to me it’s more about strings than the bass or other parts of the signal chain, though EQ is definitely a big part of the story. What are you using for strings, and can you elaborate on what you mean by “balls”?

If you’re looking for more low end on the top end, maybe try an Octave pedal, like an OC-2 or clone.
 
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#8
ThumperBird said:
For you guys & gals who have experience with this bass with active pickups:

I play melodically - almost lead-like - a lot on the higher strings and upper fretboard ala John Entwistle & Geddy Lee etc. I get monster low end tone, but on the higher strings and frets I’m getting a tinny, almost hollow sound. It totally gets lost in the mix and is very non-inspiring.

I run through an Ampeg Scrambler box and a Blackstar U500. I’ve tried all different settings to no avail. Is it a pickup issue or something else?

Love the bass but this is very discouraging.

Thanks in advance for chiming in!

Tristan
Click to expand...

As far as I can tell, the Epiphone Tbird Pro has passive pickups that are paired with an active electronics system (i.e. a preamp). There are active pickups but outside of EMGs they're pretty uncommon. In most cases when you see a bass with "active electronics" this is what that means - passive pickups going into a battery powered onboard preamp.

As far as tone goes, there are a few things to consider outside of fiddling with knobs. What strings are you using? Where are you plucking/picking the strings in relation to the neck and bridge? Does the hollow, tinny sound you describe happen anywhere on the neck, or just on the higher frets? I ask this last question because hollow and tinny is the sort of sound you'd get if your pickups are wired out of phase with each other, but that will be apparent regardless of where you are playing.
 
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#9
I've got a Pro 5 Thunderbird, and being a bit "thin sounding" in the upper registers, and pretty much most of the G-string, is a problem I've had as well.....I quit putting on stainless rounds, and ended up with nps rounds, and a bit heavier gauge string than usual for D/G (don't remember for sure atm, but I think the G is a 50 instead of 45).
This helped, but I had to make amp-side EQ adjustments also.

Eventually, I'm planning on changing out the pre-amp, but for my current usage of that bass, it's mostly fine now.



:)
 
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#10
These are the solution for everything:
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#13
I would start with a new set of the strings you use followed by a real, proper setup by a qualified, experienced guitar repair tech (and puh-leeze, a LUTHIER is a builder and a REPAIR TECH fixes them).

You want to eliminate any possible issues (bad nut slots, bridge problems, misaligned pickup heights, improper relief, bun frets) and start fresh with that done and new strings, to eliminate any old strings/uneven response possibilities.

This often does more than that new pedal or those new pickups or another amp. And with a correctly setup bass with new strings, now you are in a far better position to judge what needs to happen next.
 
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#15
ThumperBird said:
For you guys & gals who have experience with this bass with active pickups:

I play melodically - almost lead-like - a lot on the higher strings and upper fretboard ala John Entwistle & Geddy Lee etc. I get monster low end tone, but on the higher strings and frets I’m getting a tinny, almost hollow sound. It totally gets lost in the mix and is very non-inspiring.

I run through an Ampeg Scrambler box and a Blackstar U500. I’ve tried all different settings to no avail. Is it a pickup issue or something else?

Love the bass but this is very discouraging.

Thanks in advance for chiming in!

Tristan
Click to expand...
I've never had a problem with hollow, tinny sounding high notes from my J or PJ

They are usually louder than the low notes because of the harmonic content. And sound very full.
 
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#17
scuzzy said:
How is the bass eq set and how is the ampeg eq set?
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply @scyzzy I’ve tried some different setting combinations on both but there’s no discernible difference from what I can tell. If you could you suggest some settings I could try out that would be great! I’m not that familiar with how to eq the tone I’m looking for. Justin Chancellor’s tone is something I’ve always vibed with and would strive towards trying to get something at least in the same ballpark. I’ve read some threads on his tone but it sounds like you need to get the same bass he plays…
 
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#18
S.F.Sorrow said:
Well, although both John Entwistle and Geddy Lee have played T-birds at times it's not really their signature tone. Maybe you need a bass with a different voicing if that's the kind of tone you're aiming for? T-birds can be quite dark and lacking the upper mid cut of say a P-bass. I've always found T-birds more difficult to mix than P-basses, although T-birds have of course also varied a bit tonally over the years/models.

FWIW, "monster low end tone" and higher notes sounding weaker suggest to me that you MIGHT be dialling in a bit too much lows...? It's always easy to go a bit overboard with the lows on active basses. Less lows and more mids could be the answer... maybe... but impossible to say without actually hearing your tone.
Click to expand...

@S.F.Sorrow I’m somewhat newer to bass - self-taught and I play with a pick - I do play with a felt pick at times when the music and vibe call for it. Otherwise it’s with a pretty thick nylon pick. I also play 12 string guitar with arpeggiated flat picking - hence why it’s simpler for me to learn the proper way with playing with my fingers. As I got better at playing past just playing root notes, I could hear runs and leads in songs. So I would say that while I play in that style, the tone I’m digging is Justin’s.

I don’t have a lot of funds and can’t afford an actual P-bass. I’d have to pick up something on the less expensive side if there’s something you could suggest.

I will also try turning down the lows and add mods. Any thoughts on the highs setting? Your reply is much appreciated!
 
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