Issue with Thunderbird Studio

[Joe Kay]

I just love this bass but after a few attempts at trying to fix the following issue, I may have to just let it's beauty shine from my wall rack instead of

seeing the light of stage or studio. Here's the deal:

 

On the A String only, the C and C# notes are "dead" sounding compared to every other note on the fretboard. I've got it set up with new strings by my

longtime instrument guy, and he assures me it is not the frets, or truss, etc. We have troubleshot this thing with multiple amps, cables, rooms, etc.

One thing of note is that playing without an amp, it appears that the issue is not there. To reiterate the problem, the fundamental gets WAY lost when playing

with a band - it's like the bass drops out totally in the mix.

 

Our only two ideas now are that the electronics/pickups are doing some phase cancellation (both pickups exhibit the problem independently and

blended however), or there is something about the design of the bass that is failing to resonate these notes properly. There is such little info

about the T-Bird Studio online that I am feeling pretty hopeless. I don't really want to swap out the pickups just to find out that's not the problem,

but if anyone has had or heard of this issue than I would gladly try anything to fix it. As best I can tell, the serial number is 035570553 if that helps with

the dating of this instrument. I can post a pic if necessary.

 

Thanks for your help and I am happy to provide any additional info to nail down this issue.

[Riverside]

Ask your luthier if he has a clamp-on, whatever, piezo pickup.

 

If the bass is not muting those notes physically, then the pickup is the problem.

 

Perhaps pup placement is a problem, but that's a whole 'nother deal.

 

Good luck.

[Joe Kay]

Good idea with the piezo pickup - I will try and make that happen. Thx.