LeftyBassist.com

Bought this off ebay recently, it was love at first sight!

Nice score!
I'm wondering tho, maybe it's a tad on the heavy side? Any clue what she weighs?

Very cool. Kinda like a poor man's BC Rich with that pickup layout and construction. I really like those old Matsumoku-built instruments, they're solid as a rock and often play and sound great.

Does it have a "normal" output too?

I wish companies would make more instruments with double p-bass pickups. It seems to have been a 70s fad and that was it.

Reminds me of a cross between my Aria Pro II and a Kramer.

Very cool and rare bass. Yes, most "Uncle Matt" instruments are exceptional quality, and the Thunder II has some interesting appointments.

XLR jack was an option to the standard jack back then. i can't recall if these had a 9v or 18v active preamp though.]

pjmuck wrote: i can't recall if these had a 9v or 18v active preamp though.]

My Thunder IA active preamp is an 18v...

Carmine wrote:

pjmuck wrote: i can't recall if these had a 9v or 18v active preamp though.]

My Thunder IA active preamp is an 18v...

Wow, love that bass except for the fact that it is active.

AzWhoFan wrote:Nice score!
I'm wondering tho, maybe it's a tad on the heavy side? Any clue what she weighs?

not sure, pretty heavy though! probally not a great idea to stick her on the kitchen scales!

AustinLeftyBass wrote:Does it have a "normal" output too?

no just the xlr. and im really confised now as to what type of lead i should be using. balanced unbalanced, earthed to jigery whatsit :S
gigged it for the first time on sunday and had some horrible hiss using an xlr to unbalanced jack. tried using the sound mans xlr to balanced jack and no sound came out.... just had to kill the mids and rumble away, annoying...

pjmuck wrote: XLR jack was an option to the standard jack back then. i can't recall if these had a 9v or 18v active preamp though.]

it takes 2 9v batteries, though iv been lead to believe it is actually a 12v circuit? could be wrong. sounds great in passive anyway

rcubed wrote:

Carmine wrote:

pjmuck wrote: i can't recall if these had a 9v or 18v active preamp though.]

My Thunder IA active preamp is an 18v...

Wow, love that bass except for the fact that it is active.

These basses have active/ passive switching (so you're starting with an excellent sounding passive P bass!), Volume knob, a Passive eq knob, an Active eq knob, an Active eq on/off switch, and 'Dual Tone' (series/parallel) switch. The active preamp provides +15DBs of boost in either direction (Bass or Treble) and works in conjuction with the passive eq, which along with the series/parallel switching allows you to dial addtional heft and contour to either the low or high end.