A question from a newbie!

MonsterWeapon · #1 02-22-2013, 04:13 PM

Hey guys

I've played some bass when i was younger but i quit after a couple of years.
Now i'm serious about it again and want to start. But the short scale Samick bass from my childhood isn't doing it for me at all so i've been looking at a lot of basses in different price ranges and i've narrowed it down to the new thunderbirds from Epi:

Epiphone Thunderbird IV TV Silver

VS

Epiphone Thunderbird Classic-IV PRO

So the question is what the F is the difference between these two basses (if there are any besides the color?) - and which would you recommend for a very serious beginner?

Thanks in advance!

- Sarah

P.s Sorry if i posted this wrong place, it's my first time here.. so be gentle

Bassist4Eris · #2 02-22-2013, 04:23 PM

Welcome Sarah. I just looked at the specs, and the main difference is the neck. They describe the neck on the Classic IV as "1960s rounded bass profile", where the one on the TV Silver is "1960's SlimTaper". If I had to guess, I'd say the former is like a P-bass, and the latter like a J. Which means the latter would be friendlier for smaller hands.

Sorry, I have no firsthand experience of the TV Silver. I did play my buddy's Classic IV and, while it played nicely (once properly set up) it was quite heavy. Both of these models are made of mahogany and are likely to be a bit on the heavy side.

Strictly my opinion here, but I think the Classic IV is gorgeous; the TV Silver does a lot less for me, visually.

topo morto · #3 02-22-2013, 04:36 PM

BTW have you tried out a thunderbird? The number one thing people complain about is the neck dive.

ejaggers · #4 02-22-2013, 04:41 PM

Welcome Sarah.

I assume you’ve played a Tbird before. They are not for everybody for various reasons. That said, I have a IV that I love, but it took a whole lot of getting use too. I originally thought the neck felt more like a baseball bat than a bass. And many bass players complain about the neck dive, although there’s a pretty simple fix for that. Personally I say go for it and join the Tbird club. If I were you, I’d post your question over there:

The Epiphone Thunderbird Club (Part 2)

057912

TolerancEJ · #5 02-22-2013, 04:44 PM

If there is a music store near you, it would be the best solution if you might be able to try both to learn the one you may like best.

MonsterWeapon · #6 02-22-2013, 04:45 PM

whoa thanks for the quick reply man, much appreciated

So both are practically Classic IV Pros except the TV silver has a slimmer neck?

I agree with you about the silver one not being.. "easy on the eyes"..

Yes i've read a lot of reviews where the weight has been an issue + the diving neck stories.. but i heard it was the mahogany that gave the thunderbird its sound and that the neck diving had been fixed on the new pros? i could be completely wrong here though cause i haven't been able to get my hands on it.. yet!

MonsterWeapon · #7 02-22-2013, 04:49 PM

Thanks for the replies moto, ejaggers and tolerancej!

I actually haven't played a tbird before but i'm gonna try one at a music store asap!
How is the neck dive fixable?
I can't try the silver one, it's not available in my country so i'd have to buy it online :/

MonsterWeapon · #8 02-22-2013, 04:50 PM

moto = topo morto*

Solarmist · #9 02-22-2013, 04:53 PM

Female TBers get help fast here! Welcome, and there's no escape from TB.

You're about to learn the true meaning of GAS!

topo morto · #10 02-22-2013, 04:57 PM

Solutions to neck dive are installing lighter tuners, having a wide, grippy strap, weights (!), and various variations on installing a strap button extender (Thinking about a neck-dive solution... Edit : It works !)

Often the problem isn't just neck dive, it's also that the lower frets are too far away to be comfortable - can't remember if this was an issue with the TBird I tried, but the neck dive certainly was.

MonsterWeapon · #11 02-22-2013, 05:01 PM

Lol! Thank you for the warm welcome Solarmist!
Ooh no i can't afford to learn the true meaning of GAS

MonsterWeapon · #12 02-22-2013, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topo morto

Solutions to neck dive are installing lighter tuners, having a wide, grippy strap, weights (!), and various variations on installing a strap button extender (Thinking about a neck-dive solution... Edit : It works !)

Often the problem isn't just neck dive, it's also that the lower frets are too far away to be comfortable - can't remember if this was an issue with the TBird I tried, but the neck dive certainly was.

I'll keep that in mind when i get my hands on a tbird. Thanks for the advice and the link

!

Immigrant · #13 02-22-2013, 05:09 PM

I would choose the Classic Pro over the TV Silver because I prefer neck thru over bolt on when it comes to Birds. That's just me. I'm sure there are more differences between the two, but I'm too lazy to read.

Welcome to TB!

ejaggers · #14 02-22-2013, 05:10 PM

Take some time to fill out your public profile so we will know things like what country you are from. I looked you up and the only thing it says about you, is that you are male.

ejaggers · #15 02-22-2013, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Immigrant

I would choose the Classic Pro over the TV Silver because I prefer neck thru over bolt on when it comes to Birds. That's just me. I'm sure there are more differences between the two, but I'm too lazy to read.

Welcome to TB!

Why do you prefer neck thru? That always scares me. What if, God forbid, but you have trouble with the neck? I've never known how you can fix a neck thru w/o it costing and arm/leg. I'm asking because out of my 8 basses, none are neck thru.

Mark4 · #16 02-22-2013, 07:28 PM

Other than the body shape, these are very different instruments.

The Classic Pro is basically a foreign-made Gibson, but with a poly finish and slightly better access to the upper frets. It has neck through construction, Gibson pickups, and a thin neck that's narrow at the nut.

The TV Silver is basically a standard bolt-on Epi Thunderbird in a different color. Bolt-on construction, a fat neck that's wide at the nut, darker-sounding Epiphone pickups etc.

If possible, I'd try them both out first.

MonsterWeapon · #17 02-23-2013, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejaggers

Take some time to fill out your public profile so we will know things like what country you are from. I looked you up and the only thing it says about you, is that you are male.

Thanks i had no idea that was even possible. Just filled it out

MonsterWeapon · #18 02-23-2013, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark4

Other than the body shape, these are very different instruments.

The Classic Pro is basically a foreign-made Gibson, but with a poly finish and slightly better access to the upper frets. It has neck through construction, Gibson pickups, and a thin neck that's narrow at the nut.

The TV Silver is basically a standard bolt-on Epi Thunderbird in a different color. Bolt-on construction, a fat neck that's wide at the nut, darker-sounding Epiphone pickups etc.

If possible, I'd try them both out first.

It's not possible for me to try them out. The biggest music store here doesn't even have the Classic Pro yet.
Are the Gibson pickups a pro or a con quality wise?

Immigrant · #19 02-23-2013, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejaggers

Why do you prefer neck thru? That always scares me. What if, God forbid, but you have trouble with the neck? I've never known how you can fix a neck thru w/o it costing and arm/leg. I'm asking because out of my 8 basses, none are neck thru.

I like to go through "what ifs" also when considering anything, but I don't go too far with it or I'd never leave my house. But then, what if my house caught fire?

I've only had two neck issues, one was twisty (a "bolt thru") the other had a hump that was planed out.

From what I've seen and what I've owned (so i could be in error), the bodies on bolt-on Birds are thicker and heavier than the neck thrus. On some basses (Ibby BTBs) fret access is better on the neck thru models. I've never had a problem with a neck thru bass, twisting or otherwise, and I think if they were that susceptible to defects, many companies would discontinue them.

To each their own. That's why there's several kinds. If I was even remotely interested in another T-Bird, it would be a neck thru only. That's just me.

Mark4 · #20 02-23-2013, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterWeapon

It's not possible for me to try them out. The biggest music store here doesn't even have the Classic Pro yet.
Are the Gibson pickups a pro or a con quality wise?

The Gibson pickups are a plus. They help give the Classic Pro the modern Thunderbird tone, and that's well worth the price difference in my opinion.

Here's a great review by TBird1958:

Classic Thunderbird Pro IV Review

The only thing I'd add is that the Classic Pro is actually 9-ply construction rather than 7. There's a lot of misinformation floating around on the web, even on the Gibson website. This is coming from somebody who owns one and closely looked at several.