Thunderbird IV Rework

Phoenix1744 · #1 10-20-2009, 10:24 PM

I have an Epiphone Thunderbird IV and I've been wondering about replacing it's original pick-ups with Lakland Chi-Sonics. What do you guys think? Is it a good or bad idea?

Darkstrike · #2 10-21-2009, 03:39 AM

How are you gonna get Chi-Sonics, I didn't think Lakland would sell them seperate?

oerk · #3 10-21-2009, 03:46 AM

Sorry if this is a little bit off-topic, but I never liked the pickups on my Epibird either. Too muddy, absolutely no highs.

The Seymour Duncan SSD-4s work pretty well as a replacement. They produce a well defined, slightly scooped sound.

I can't say anything about the Laklands though, but if you can't get them, the Basslines are worth to consider.

Phoenix1744 · #4 10-21-2009, 10:29 AM

Thanks oerk, I've have looked on the official Lakland site and it is selling single and double coil Chi-Sonics. However, as you might expect, they aren't cheap. They went up to about 200-300 bucks a pick-up. I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't permanently damage either the pick-up hardware or the Thunderbird thus rendering the Chi-Sonics a huge waste of money.

I have been playing bass for about 4 years, but I'm an absolute noob (which may already be well apparent) when it comes to the electronics involved.

Thanks for the advice about those Seymour Duncan's. If you know of any other good brands or models let me know. The styles I play in are thrash, death, progressive, and alternative metal if that narrows it down for you. Any advice from you and anybody else would be much appreciated.

- Phoenix

oerk · #5 10-21-2009, 03:54 PM

I got the suggestion for the SDs somewhere in the Epiphone Thunderbird thread, can't remember the name of the poster though. He also suggested some EMGs (DC 35? Can't remember). There's also a set of (pretty expensive) Bartolinis that fit a TBird.

I got the SDs because I didn't want to drop a lot of money into the Epiphone. The dry sound is a bit too scooped for my taste, but for metal, I'd find them pretty much perfect (an active preamp wouldn't hurt either). I can post sound samples if you want.

If you know how to use a soldering iron, swapping the pickups is easy. Keep in mind that you'll probably have to drill new holes for the screws.