Epiphone Thunderbird vs Pro IV model - Page 2

Topspin · #21 02-01-2013, 08:30 AM

A silverburst standard was my first real bass. To say it looked cool was an understatement.
It's a shame the tone wasn't my thing and the bridge pulled out. I fixed it and passed it on.

funnyfingers · #22 02-01-2013, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badstonebass

Kept hitting the singer with it.

That's one of the reasons I love my headless! You know exactly where it is at all times.

Gaolee · #23 02-01-2013, 09:33 AM

Yeah, I'm kinda dangerous on stage no matter what bass I play. The P is the worst, since I play the 'Bird nearly vertical. That solves any neck dive problems and makes it insanely comfortable to play. For me, it is far more comfortable than a Fender, but I'm probably a freak.

I have had a bolt on 'Bird and now have a Pro IV. There are a whole lot of differences. The bolt on 'Bird neck is very large. It isn't just wide, it is deep, too. It is like a P neck only with some girth instead of a flattened out D-shape like Fender seems to think is a good idea these days. I really liked it. The pickups are better than they have a right to be. It is passive. The finish is so thick that you could probably toss it in the ocean, and it would be fine when it washed up if the barnicles didn't foul the strings too much. Overall, it's a decent bass once you sort out where the upper strap button is. The three point bridge is not my favorite.

The Pro IV is very different in most ways. Some are really obvious, like the fact that it is neck through. The bridge is much, much better. The neck is thin and feels almost delicate to me, although I don't think it is partciularly delicate. It has a good shape for its width and doesn't feel like a noodle or flattened out road kill. The frets are tall, which I don't especially like, and mine is de-fretted now anyway. The neck is a really good shape for de-fretting, at least to my hands. I hate the preamp. It can sound OK, but it is hard to get much besides a very modern, scooped sound. You can slap and pop with it just fine, once you get used to the idea that you are doing that on a 'Bird. It sounds very different from a bolt on for all of these reasons. They are both good and long, but that's what a 'Bird is all about anyway.

As far as finish, the Pro IV I have is burst just like the bolt on was, but the bolt on was practically black, while the Pro IV is a much more varied color and the finish looks a whole lot better. There are a couple of chips in the finish on my current 'Bird. Finish on the body is very thick, but the neck finish seems to be much thinner. If you like a matte finish, you can get a Pro IV with what I guess is a clear, matte finish. It feels much thinner than the high gloss burst finish.

Otherwise, they are identical.

TBird1958 · #24 02-01-2013, 10:04 AM

I've owned two Standard Epi's, the first was a pretty run-of-the-mill S/B finish one that I flipped in a deal to get a real '76 Gibson - I didn't give it a second thought and haven't ever missed it.
The second one was purchased with the idea of making it into a Fenderbird of sorts, which did happen

Gaolee · #25 02-01-2013, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBird1958

I've owned two Standard Epi's, the first was a pretty run-of-the-mill S/B finish one that I flipped in a deal to get a real '76 Gibson - I didn't give it a second thought and haven't ever missed it.
The second one was purchased with the idea of making it into a Fenderbird of sorts, which did happen

That's what would have happened to my bolt on 'Bird if my son didn't want it. He's got it now, but I don't think he plays it much. He's a trumpet player, so what can you expect?

funnyfingers · #26 02-02-2013, 04:15 PM

I will make it official next week and order the Pro IV Classic. It is on the water now, so will take about 30 days to get here. $430.

funnyfingers · #27 02-06-2013, 09:15 AM

The local store got in 2 Classic Pros today with factory cosmetic flaws. $389!

Typically he can't ever find the flaws and has only had one Gibson Les Paul come in with a noticable one, but someone bought it right up.

funnyfingers · #28 02-06-2013, 04:11 PM

Here it is Epiphone Thunderbird Classic IV Pro!

rockscott · #29 02-06-2013, 04:22 PM

I have a pro 4, love it!

1stnamebassist · #30 02-06-2013, 08:06 PM

I just got my Classic 4 today in white. Bass is great in every way. No problem setting up the action the way I like it. Much better than the standard Epi Thunderbird, which I liked very much.

Wallace320 · #31 02-06-2013, 08:52 PM

I'll take it from the shop where I'll trade the Phoenix, then bring it to my tech for overall check-up, Hipshot Gb7 bass extender instalment, then final setup.
If nothin' goes wrong I'll bring it at tomorrow night's cover band rehearsals to fully test it aside new drummer auditions

I'll let you know more about it

Not my moment yet

Congrats and enjoy your brand new acquisition

Cheers,
Wallace

funnyfingers · #32 02-07-2013, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1stnamebassist

I just got my Classic 4 today in white. Bass is great in every way. No problem setting up the action the way I like it. Much better than the standard Epi Thunderbird, which I liked very much.

What specifically do you mean by the way you like it? The action seems incredibly low, so do you mean a little higher?

I did like the standard as well. Even besides tone, which I don't care too much about, I am just amazed at getting a neck through bass for under $400!

AuntieBeeb · #33 02-07-2013, 05:37 AM

So which is the one that's passive but neck-through?

I know I've tried a neck-through and a bolt-on version, both passive. I'd often cited the difference as evidence that neck joint does make a crucial difference to tone...but then you say the neck-through also has better pickups in it?

funnyfingers · #34 02-07-2013, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuntieBeeb

So which is the one that's passive but neck-through?

I know I've tried a neck-through and a bolt-on version, both passive. I'd often cited the difference as evidence that neck joint does make a crucial difference to tone...but then you say the neck-through also has better pickups in it?

The Classic Pro is neck through with passive. The Pro is active neck through. The classic only came out in August, so I am guessing you've checked them out recently?

AuntieBeeb · #35 02-07-2013, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funnyfingers

The Classic Pro is neck through with passive. The Pro is active neck through. The classic only came out in August, so I am guessing you've checked them out recently?

Well, now I'm really not sure! I did try one in December which I guess must have been the Classic. But the first neck-through I tried was a couple of years back. I think it was a limited run as this one shop was selling them off cheap, but I'm *fairly* sure it was a passive neck-through...

I think I might just bury my head in the fire bucket for a bit and hope the confusion resolves itself.

Wallace320 · #36 02-07-2013, 06:01 AM

It's out for a few years now and the one I also recently (last year) bought

The other neckthru Epiphone reverse Thunderbird is passive Classic
It sports Gibson soapbars and traditional three pivots Epiphone
bridge.

Now it's one of the few sought after Epiphone out there, due to sheer power of its full mahogany/Gibson soapbars combo.

Cheers,
Wallace

funnyfingers · #37 02-07-2013, 06:45 AM

Also I don't notice any neck dive. Maybe because the strap is at the neck. The thing I do notice is the body leans forward and putting the bottom part of the strap over the the bottom of the top wing solves this...

funnyfingers · #38 02-07-2013, 06:47 AM

Oh is it odd that my headstock is all black?

Wallace320 · #39 02-07-2013, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funnyfingers

Oh is it odd that my headstock is all black?

My Pro (vintage sunburst, much like yours, black pickguard on mine) has, more or less, a full black headstock

Cheers,
Wallace

Ps: no "particular" neckdive (especially with a leather strap) leanin' towars the audience is unfortunately typical for many of these basses (Violin basses too)

funnyfingers · #40 02-07-2013, 07:29 AM

Why does a leather strap matter?