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Advise on the new Thunderbird?

SamJ

SamJ

Founder - Fender MIA Club
Apr 22, 2006
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SFO / HNL
#1
Ok, I haven't been on here in some time and I've been very happily playing my two Fender custom shop Jazz basses. I made the mistake of going into a local shop and seeing the new 2015 Gibson T-Bird... While I wasn't hugely impressed with the finish job (lots of orange peel, etc)... The tone, and feel of this bass was amazing... I was VERY impressed with it and it just didnt' feel like the old T-Birds I'd played with years ago that were meant to be played with a pick..

I was hoping to get some other opinions on it as I've got a change to get one for a good price, and I am VERY tempted.. shall I, someone talk me out of it! haha
 
#2
Sounds like my experience with my NR 'Bird. The tone and playability is great; the finish...not so much.

I think the price bump on the 2015's is crazy, but I don't doubt that these are fun basses to play. If it is in your budget, go for it.
 
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#5
The Gibson T-Birds aren't $1500 better than the Epiphone T-Bird. I played an Epiphone T-Bird the other day, used for $399, and liked it better than the $2000 Gibson hanging next to it. Part of it was set up, part of it was weight. They sounded different but I wouldn't say one was better than the other.
 
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#6
I'm sure it's not $1500 better, or to put it more interestingly, 4 times better... but there is a huge premium to be paid for buying made in the USA vs Malaysia which I'm frankly ok with doing as my part is supporting US jobs ;) However, if it were inferior to the Epi, then I'd not bother with it at all. I did play them side by side and while I was very impressed with the Epi, it didn't have the same feel... the thru neck is something special for me, I miss it from a past friend that I regretted selling.
 
#7
I think TMARK is refering to the Classic Pro, which is neck-through. I have one and slightly prefer it over the Gibson. Great fit and finish, better upper fret access, similar feel, same (pre-2015) pickups etc. The bolt-on Epi, which it sounds like you played, is nice in its own way but not as comparable to the Gibson in terms of specs.

That being said, I do get the appeal of buying American. I don't think you'll go wrong either way.
 
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#8
SamJ said:
Ok, I haven't been on here in some time and I've been very happily playing my two Fender custom shop Jazz basses. I made the mistake of going into a local shop and seeing the new 2015 Gibson T-Bird... While I wasn't hugely impressed with the finish job (lots of orange peel, etc)... The tone, and feel of this bass was amazing... I was VERY impressed with it and it just didnt' feel like the old T-Birds I'd played with years ago that were meant to be played with a pick..

I was hoping to get some other opinions on it as I've got a change to get one for a good price, and I am VERY tempted.. shall I, someone talk me out of it! haha
Click to expand...

I bought the Epi Classic IV and I will put it up against the Gibson any day of the week. I got the Gibson TB Plus™ humbuckers and hardware, the through neck (Epi says 7 ply mahogany/walnut others say it's Gibson't 9 ply) and while you gag on the finish on the Made in USA I adore my beautifully finished bass. Seriously, the Gibson Satin finish is awful and it doesn't hold up like the old finishes. All that being said, I just bought another bass from a fellow TB member and I am considering parting with the T'Bird. I love the sound and the feel Jazz Bass like neck; but, I can't keep all that I want.
 
#9
I have the Epi Pro in natural. Looks, smells, and plays great. I haven't played it next to a Gibson, but if I was considering a purchase I would. If I could get a friend to blindfold me and do the test, I could then try to justify the extra cost, (if the Gibson won). I've read many comments where the Epiphone was preferred over the Gibson, some by Gibson owners. If I bought everything that was a good deal, I would have too many basses, ahhh, too late.
 
#10
The Epiphone "Classic" is truly a great value at it's price, god knows I don't *need* another Thunderbird but if they issued these in Pelham Blue or Inverness Green I'd cave in a second, the QC is good, much better than Gibson's very spotty effort and if I wanted to upgrade the whole project wouldn't come close to the Gibson in price.
The 2015 Gibson doesn't appeal much personally (even tho it was long overdue for changes), I'd have much preferred an accurate re issue of a '63 Thunderbird II or IV. That said, who knows - it may really appeal to a different group of players, I'll have one to review sometime soon and am looking forward to it.
 
#11
I suppose the premium asked for the Gibson name can only be valued on an individual basis. Are any the following important, and to what extent?: Prestige, made in USA, materials used, exclusive pickups and electronics, OHSC, etc. For some folks, it's absolutely worth the premium cost, for others not so much. I don't believe it's a right vs wrong situation, but rather a matter of what floats your boat. Thing is, the OP seems smitten by the new 2015 model specifically due to one of it's distinctions - the new pickups and electronics - something that isn't offered on the Epiphone.
 
#12
I think a lot of us would like to make sure the OP is aware of other lower cost options that could get him a high percentage of what he likes in a T-Bird. Depending on which Epi he picked up to compare makes a big difference. The pro models are neck thru. The pro classic is listed to have Gibson pickups and a three point bridge, where the regular pro has a nice top loading bridge. It makes me feel better to get as much value for my money as possible. I enjoy it more (floats my boat) when I know I got a good deal in addition to a great bass, but the US economy could use a boost. I don't think we "talked him out of it" anyway.:bassist:
 
#13
Don't misunderstand, I have one problem with the finish, and that is the orange peel over the rosewood (not on the fretboard itself, but on the side) ... otherwise the finish is amazing. More importantly, it's a genuine nitrocellulose as compared to the synthetic polymers used on the imports, which while very nice to look at, encase the wood in an air tight case making for a trade off... there are some who swear by the importance of this, even though my ears don't detect the difference, some who are more experienced and discerning do..

I played this instrument side by side with a 2014 Gibson, and both the neck thru Epi and the bolt on, this one was my favorite (YMMV)..

That all being said, I found the "one" ... the finish was great, the tone great, and action great and I got a decent price for it.. $2250..

here she is.. no regrets, I'll stack it against any of my $4000+ Customshop Fenders (in the last family photo)

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#16
Thanks, yes... very loud! It's pure passive, but it's as loud as my 9v and 18v active setups.. Great tone, unique, a bit like some of the Alembic's I've played.

As for the strings, YES SIR.. Roto's .. I restrung it as soon as I got it home!
 
#17
I would suggest putting some cloth on that stand you have the tbird on, or leave it in its case. The nitro finish will get destroyed on most foam and rubber stands because it reacts with the plasticizers in the foam and rubber and turns the finish. Hate to see a beautiful bird disfigured
 
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#19
When I was thinking of getting a Thunderbird ... went down to the local GC and tried the ones they had in stock, a used Gibson, all 3 versions of the Epiphone and I walked out thinking what to pick, after the so called "thinking about it" I ran a cross a deal on the Epiphone Pro ( the one with the active pick-ups/preamp ) strung it up with my favorite strings and gigged it for awhile, the thing that bothered me was the lack of tone that one could get out of the pick-ups, couldn't get a warm sound out of it, it just had this dark sound/feel to it, well I sold it and moved on, I then came across a deal on the Epiphone Classic Pro with the Gibson USA pick-ups & it also had the Hipshot Supertone Bridge installed and again, I strung it up with the strings I like and gigged it for a while and I really like the USA pick-ups and i could get the sound I wanted ( I am aware of the high output humbucklers that Gibson makes, I also have a double cutaway Money Bass, most people don't know that the later humbucklers do have a wide range of sound ... IMHO ), so this was a keeper and also a good platform to customize the bass to my liking, which I have done ( I swapped out the Tuners for the Hipshot Ultralites and changed out the pickguard ) so all in all do you want to spend a lot of money up front and buy a new Gibson or settle for the Epiphone Classic pro ( I really didn't consider the bolt on neck Epiphone, as I really wanted the through neck/body version ) granted the Gibson T-Bird has a sightly differant feel vs. the Epiphone Classic Pro, but if you want to ease into one. give the Epiphone Classic Pro a try
 
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#20
SamJ said:
Don't misunderstand, I have one problem with the finish, and that is the orange peel over the rosewood (not on the fretboard itself, but on the side) ... otherwise the finish is amazing. More importantly, it's a genuine nitrocellulose as compared to the synthetic polymers used on the imports, which while very nice to look at, encase the wood in an air tight case making for a trade off... there are some who swear by the importance of this, even though my ears don't detect the difference, some who are more experienced and discerning do..

I played this instrument side by side with a 2014 Gibson, and both the neck thru Epi and the bolt on, this one was my favorite (YMMV)..

That all being said, I found the "one" ... the finish was great, the tone great, and action great and I got a decent price for it.. $2250..

here she is.. no regrets, I'll stack it against any of my $4000+ Customshop Fenders (in the last family photo)

410379091.gif


410379089.gif


410379090.gif
Click to expand...

NICE Gibson Thunderbird!! Enjoy!
 
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