Another T-bird NGD

[AcornHouse]

Since this is not the first, I'll be brief. This guitar is very comfortable to play and hold, sitting or standing. You don't get a too long feel like you do with a Gibson Firebird, for example. Ready to play from Sweetwater right out of the box, I quickly found a sound I liked.

Some of the pics SW sent of my actual guitar.

 

[2nevets]

Chris
I am on the fence- knowing what you know now would you buy it again?
It is a beauty
Steve

 

[mavuser]

nice Chris! congrats! i really like the grain/"matching" on yours. enjoy!

 

[AcornHouse]

Chris
I am on the fence- knowing what you know now would you buy it again?
It is a beauty
Steve

Yes. I would never normally consider an import, but I'm unlikely to ever have a real T-Bird, so this will have to do; and it does it quite well. I won't have any problems making it an equal member of the rotation.

 

[gilded]

What's the sound that you're getting that you like? Neck? Bridge? Both pickups? Which switch?

Seriously interested with your answer. I get a lot of good sounds with my '00 Bluesbird from both pickups. I'm wondering what a T-Bird could do for me that the Bluesbird can't get!

 

[AcornHouse]

What's the sound that you're getting that you like? Neck? Bridge? Both pickups? Which switch?

Seriously interested with your answer. I get a lot of good sounds with my '00 Bluesbird from both pickups. I'm wondering what a T-Bird could do for me that the Bluesbird can't get!

I've got it set in mode 2 (both pups), with the low cut switch off; tone around 7. Adding in the low cut brings in some lead cutting brightness. (One thing I don't get, is why there's a mode 1 at all, since you can turn either pup on or off in mode 2. Turn off the bridge pup, and you essentially have mode 1, unless there's something else going on.)

Remember that these are mini-humbuckers, so they are a little lighter sound than the fuller bodied HB-1s (or their simulators). Not thin like a thin single coil, more like a smoother Franz/P90. But, because they're in a solid body, not quite as airy as the mini-hums when they're in a Starfire.

So far, I've just been playing through my '55 Gibson GA-9, which is a pure tone clean machine. I haven't put it through any dirtier or high gain amps, yet.

Hope this helps.

 

[matsickma]

I think the Mode switch idea had merit in the early days of rock-n-roll when changing settings required adjusting your amp. The Thunderbird, like the Fender Jaguar, provided an alternative way of making fast rythem-to- lead settings changes.

 

[SFIV1967]

That wood and finish looks amazing! I like!
Ralf

 

[AcornHouse]

I think the Mode switch idea had merit in the early days of rock-n-roll when changing settings required adjusting your amp. The Thunderbird, like the Fender Jaguar, provided an alternative way of making fast rythem-to- lead settings changes.

Yes, you could have different volume/tone set for a one switch change.

 

[Guildadelphia]

Congrats...that looks way cool.

 

[Quantum Strummer]

(One thing I don't get, is why there's a mode 1 at all, since you can turn either pup on or off in mode 2. Turn off the bridge pup, and you essentially have mode 1, unless there's something else going on.)

I use mode 2 for a one-flick switch from whatever mode 1 is doing to a dark-ish neck pickup sound.

Remember that these are mini-humbuckers, so they are a little lighter sound than the fuller bodied HB-1s (or their simulators). Not thin like a thin single coil, more like a smoother Franz/P90. But, because they're in a solid body, not quite as airy as the mini-hums when they're in a Starfire.

Yep. Playing my T-bird marks the first time I've heard (in depth) anti-hums/LB-1s in a solid guitar. IMO they provide a killer set of solidbody sounds. Smoother high end and more girth than the oldies in my Bluesbird. I also like setting the tone to 7 (9 being full up…my T-bird arrived with the vol & tone knobs positioned such that full up was centered on "Volume" & "Tone"), especially when using phase/flange/vibe effects.

BTW, that sunburst finish is very pretty.

-Dave-

 

[stig]

This is doing nothing to alleviate my lust.
What are opinions around here of the new pickups vs. originals? I have both styles in my two electrics - 68 Starfire II and 77 S-100. I love them both so much. Are these pickups close, or merely decent buckers with the right covers?

 

[Quantum Strummer]

To my ears the new Guild LB-1s & HB-1s are in the same tonal ballpark as the oldies. I have sets of both designs, both vintage and reissue versions, but they're in such different guitars that directly comparing 'em is complicated. The reissues are fine & dandy in any case.

-Dave-