Classic Thunderbird Pro IV Review

[TBird1958]

I'm on a white bass kick right now and that one looks great, Mark. Sure thinking about it now. Thanks.

Ray!

I hear ya on the white bass thing, Baz on LBO is selling a white '93 Orville 'Bird...........I'm so weak, want it bad!

 

[Mastermold]

Great review, very informative. Makes me want one of these now!

 

[SturmUndDrang]

I wish Gibson and or Epiphone would make a single pickup model like the old Thunderbird II. You'd think it would make sense what with all the love for the old single pickup precision, a single pickup Tbird could perhaps offer some direct competion.

 

[hillerup]

Thanks a lot for your great review TBird1958. I was really looking forward to it and coming from such a respectable TBer and T-bird player such as you says a lot.

I still want to try one of them myself though, but to this day I am not aware of any dealers having them available in Germany(or in the rest of Europe for that matter) yet.

To be honest I was kind of disappointed when I tried the active counterpart, it was ok but the magic just wasn't there for me. I said before that I let an late 70's/early 80's gibson get away(pretty much like your own white one), but it has been so long ago that I think I remember it to be a lot better than what it actually was.

I find it to be very attractively priced and I think I would be able to utilize it very well in my current band. I am curious though, what would you guys modify on the bass? I know a lot of you don't like the bridge, but just like TBird1958 I think it work well enough if set properly. My first thing to do would be to add a hipshot X-tender. I would also perhaps change the nut to a graph-tech one, but not necessarily.

Moreover even though the white one is my favourite t-bird color(and also probably favourite bass colour in general) having an option in black would be kick-ass. I am sure a lot of the metal kids would like it.

I've been in contact with Thomann, and have been informed that the alpine white will be available from them from mid january 2013.

 

[grenadilla]

Yes, the bridge. The biggest problem I have found with it is that the front screw goes down only so far, but not far enough to lower the action to where I want it. I've had to lower the back of the bridge but the bridge now slopes downward from front to back. The action is still a little high for my taste, but not so high that I can't get used to it.

Maybe loosen the strings, remove the bridge and file the bottom at the front . It would not show.

 

[Peepaleep]

Maybe loosen the strings, remove the bridge and file the bottom at the front . It would not show.

shorten the front screw you mean? Do can this be dine with just a file? I don't have a grinding wheel.

 

[grenadilla]

shorten the front screw you mean? Do can this be dine with just a file? I don't have a grinding wheel.

I meant file the bottom of the bridge where it presses down on the front screw. That is if string tension pulls the back section of the bridge up [ against the back 2 screws ] and pushes down on the front screw.

 

[vates]

thanks for the review!

now I wonder how these sound with Lull pickups...

 

[J Gold]

Anyone tried the hipshot supertone bridge on the epi yet?

 

[TBird1958]

thanks for the review!

now I wonder how these sound with Lull pickups...

Everything sounds better with Lull Pickups!
They'd cost almost as much as the bass tho, better to just like it for what it is.

 

[bassvi]

Anyone tried the hipshot supertone bridge on the epi yet?

That will be my first and probably only mod if I can't get the action I like from the stock bridge. My alpine white arrives thurs!!!

 

[J Gold]

please let me know how it fits...

 

[moonshinegtrs]

Anyone tried the hipshot supertone bridge on the epi yet?

As soon as I ordered my Epi Classic IV, I started looking for new hardware; I found a Hipshot bridge here in the classifieds (Thanks Porkbun!) and ordered a set of Hipshot clover-key tuners as well. along with these, I installed a set of Dunlop straplocks (don't use the locks, just like the bigger buttons) and swapped the plastic nut for a bone one.

The bridge fit with no problems & I am very happy with it. The original bridge seemed to sit a little high, but the Hipshot fit perfectly. Besides fitting/carving the nut, the only modification I had to do was plug the original tuner holes & re-drill them slightly wider apart to accommodate the clover keys.
Before:

After:

Here is a close up of the bridge:

Next up is to install CTS pots & an orange drop capacitor... And to replace the control cavity cover with one that fits like it should (I'm going to make a new one and probably go with a white one to match the pickguard)... This is the original:

I will be posting a thread with step by step pics on modding this bass soon.

All in all, this is a great looking, playing & sounding bass. Epiphone did an excellent job with these.

Moonshine

 

[J Gold]

Thanks! I may order one soon...
The cavity looks big enough to hold a small preamp and 1 battery, correct?

 

[moonshinegtrs]

Thanks! I may order one soon...
The cavity looks big enough to hold a small preamp and 1 battery, correct?

It's not a big cavity; I think it would depend on the size of the preamp itself, but it probably would do.

If not, it wouldn't be too difficult to install (or have your tech install) a battery compartment...

Moonshine

 

[ggvicviper]

Nice review, and it looks like a cool version of a tbird. I hope one day they can make it in nonreverse form too.

Where is it made? China? Korea? Indonesia?

 

[xgator4u]

The following is an excerpt from the O.P.

The bass is made in Indonesia and initial inspection shows very nice QC overall with neatly applied poly paint and crisp separation between colors on the headstock and around the fretboard.

 

[stiles72]

Is the body angled on the Epi Classic like the Gibson, or is it a straight slab design like the bolt on Epi IV?

 

[vates]

I will be posting a thread with step by step pics on modding this bass soon.

Thanks you for your pictures. I'm looking forward to see that thread

 

[bassvi]

Mine arrived today. I am very happy (in the honeymoon phase, of course) however this is not a bass like my LE Epi Thunderbird, Epi ProV or even a Gibson T Bird I had for a short time. I think I like it better than all of them. The Gibson pickups and the neck through design make a huge difference. ISustains forever. It has the tone of the Gibson. There are minor flaws in the paint job but the fret job is excellent. I can't get over the tone, really. The pickups are awesome and the neck feels great. I was even able to adjust the bridge to my liking. I'm not going to write a review because TBird's is pretty much spot on. I am extremely happy with this purchase. Will post pics as soon as I can, per TB forum expectations It's the basic Alpine White, beautiful, just like the pics already posted. Damn, I like this bass alot...