I ordered an Epiphone Thunderbird Classic IV Pro last week in vintage sunburst. Can't wait. I dont have an amp yet, and to date have only been playing guitar through Rocksmith. Very much looking forward to plugging the tbird into rocksmith when it arrives and trying out Slowhands by Interpol, and just working through the career mode of rocksmith to see what techniques get thrown at me.
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Classic Thunderbird Pro IV Review
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
Some may be thicker than others. I've heard that no two Gibson necks are exactly the same due to sanding and whatnot. This might also be true for the Epis.
On that note, jogi68 posted this interesting comparison in another thread:
I have just received my new Epi thunderbird Classic in Arctic white, before i give my views let me qualify my experience.
Been playing for over 40 years, 15 years fully pro, signed to EMI, owned, among others, -
Fender Jazz (1967)
Rickenbackker 4001
Pre Ernie Ball Stingray
Warwick Thumb bolt on 4 string
Alembic Stanley Clarke Custom Deluxe
Spector SSD 95 CUstom
Still own
Sandberg Bullet Custom Shop 5 string
Sandberg Ken Tayler Custom Shop fretless 5 string
Last rig, - EBS Fafner, proline 4x10, proline 1x15, and everything else that has been available in the UK
I fully research, and fully test every piece of equipment i buy. I have read many threads regarding the Classic pro, and noticed many saying it is muddy sounding. I have come to the conclusion these people are not bass players, have absolutely no idea about basses and tone, and should really learn to play the instrument before they dissuade other new players to ignore certain guitars/amps.
Straight out the box my new Epi sounds as bright and growly as any of the basses i have ever owned or played. Set my amp flat, set p/up to neck, rolled off the tone to zero,,,,,not a drop of mud in sight!!!!
Neck heavy???? the people who say this must be 12 years old and built like a paper clip, "GIVE UP AND BUY A BANJO!!!!"
This bass is an absolute delight to play, forget the bass snobs, this Epi stands alongside anything out there.
Been playing for over 40 years, 15 years fully pro, signed to EMI, owned, among others, -
Fender Jazz (1967)
Rickenbackker 4001
Pre Ernie Ball Stingray
Warwick Thumb bolt on 4 string
Alembic Stanley Clarke Custom Deluxe
Spector SSD 95 CUstom
Still own
Sandberg Bullet Custom Shop 5 string
Sandberg Ken Tayler Custom Shop fretless 5 string
Last rig, - EBS Fafner, proline 4x10, proline 1x15, and everything else that has been available in the UK
I fully research, and fully test every piece of equipment i buy. I have read many threads regarding the Classic pro, and noticed many saying it is muddy sounding. I have come to the conclusion these people are not bass players, have absolutely no idea about basses and tone, and should really learn to play the instrument before they dissuade other new players to ignore certain guitars/amps.
Straight out the box my new Epi sounds as bright and growly as any of the basses i have ever owned or played. Set my amp flat, set p/up to neck, rolled off the tone to zero,,,,,not a drop of mud in sight!!!!
Neck heavy???? the people who say this must be 12 years old and built like a paper clip, "GIVE UP AND BUY A BANJO!!!!"
This bass is an absolute delight to play, forget the bass snobs, this Epi stands alongside anything out there.
Bassjocky - I have one and like it a lot. I can get just about any sound I want from the amp's EQ and technique. I have shared a few clips. Maybe not bad muddy but defiitely not bright. Send me some clips of your Classic Pro not EQed sounding like this and then we can say it isn't muddy: Link Removed
Well said.
So it would have to sound exactly like that to not be considered muddy?
There are lots of different non-muddy tones. Mud is pretty specific, and not what an Epi Pro Classic, or contemporary Gibson Thunderbird for that matter, is good at. In my experience, the natural tone of these basses is simply too growly, boxy, and hard-edged to be a good starting point for mud. If you want mud, then you'd probably be better off with something like an old EB-0.
Love My Epi T-Bird - It may be a bit "Goth" but with blind folds on - - you would swear it growls with the others...
Well said.
So it would have to sound exactly like that to not be considered muddy?
So I compare this to truely bright sounding pickups to show that it isn't out of the question to call these pickups muddy, but Bassjacky insults bassists that have a good reason to call it muddy and you agree with him? And he calls them just as bright as any bass he's ever played? The tweeter on my combo doesn't even get pushed when using my Thunderbird. When using pickups that are bright, the tweeter is definitely used.
So I compare this to truely bright sounding pickups to show that it isn't out of the question to call these pickups muddy, but Bassjacky insults bassists that have a good reason to call it muddy and you agree with him? And he calls them just as bright as any bass he's ever played? The tweeter on my combo doesn't even get pushed when using my Thunderbird. When using pickups that are bright, the tweeter is definitely used.
I'd say those who know what mud is would never call them muddy. Mud implies a lack of distinction between notes. Sometimes, mud can be used to great effect with the right song, but if anything these pickups lean other way. Rather than lacking clarity, they are very articulate. Lows on the Thunderbird are distinct, which isn't what you want in a muddy tone. Playing with the EQ and varying technique can reduce some of the edge and emphasize the top end a little more, but you're simply not starting with a muddy tone.
As for the the sound clip you posted, it's hard to say. By the time it gets to my ear, it's been through an amp, cab, microphone, digital file compression, computers, and then either my PC speakers or headphones. I suppose if I were to compare my Jazz to my Epi Classic, the natural EQ curve of the Jazz is somewhat more top-end oriented with less of the percussive hard-edge of the Thunderbird. Not better or less muddy, but different. Brightness is there, but it isn't the focus of the tone as it would be on a Marcus Miller Jazz, for instance. Some of this might be attributed to the difference between humbucker pickups and single coils, ceramic vs. alnico magnets etc., but as you've mentioned, much of that can be compensated for with the amp. If they weren't such versatile pickups, that probably wouldn't be possible. As it stands, however, they are articulate and have great range. As such, I simply can't agree with anyone who calls the tone of the Epi Classic or Gibson muddy. If they were, I would get a very different sound when I play mine, and you wouldn't hear descriptions like "angry piano" or "Ric-like" tossed about.
Long story short, I'm inclined to think people who call them muddy don't know what they're talking about. And although the sound clip you posted seems nice, it also seems to lack the character or edge that I'd want in a Thunderbird... but who knows what that bass really sounds like, given all the links in the chain before it makes it to my speakers. Through my rig it might be a different story.
I'll have those pickups in a few weeks and have clips of sotck strings stock pickups and stainless strings on my classic pro and will do sound clips with the new pickups. Should be a good comparison.
I've had mine for going on a year now, and she's my baby. This is essentially a Gibson T-bird, the ONLY difference being that the Epiphone's neck is 7 ply and the Gibson's is 9 ply.
One thing that has bothered me is that the bridge is not resessed on the Epiphone. I know this seems like a minor thing, but actually I really would like the action 1 or 2 mm lower.
I tried one at a store recently and I was floored by the sound of that bass. It has a sweet, beefy and punchy sound. I loved the sound with either pickup soloed or blended. Sounded great plucked high near the neck or low near the bridge.
However, the alternative shape of the bass did not agree with my body. I could not find a way to be comfortable with it either sitting or standing up.
I am wondering if I could not just stick a pair of Thunderbird pickups on a Jazz bass and get that sweet sound?
However, the alternative shape of the bass did not agree with my body. I could not find a way to be comfortable with it either sitting or standing up.
I am wondering if I could not just stick a pair of Thunderbird pickups on a Jazz bass and get that sweet sound?
I don't see why not, as long as the routs are the same distance from the bridge saddles.
A Thunderjazz!
Love my Epi Classic Pro, but I also do think that the sound is not bright at all. Coming from a Spector player this might not shock you
it has nowhere near the treble response of active basses like this one, but still...
... in no way can the sound be called muddy. That is definitely not true. It delivers precise low end and a very pleasant bark/growl when played with a pick. Extremely nice bass sound imo, like a really pissed off piano on steroids. It also just sits in the mix very nicely without hassle. Remind me of my P-Bass, the one i never need to fiddle with any control on my amp to make it sound good in a band setting. The T-Bird does that too, but differently. Better attack and punch in the sound, less of that "i carry the whole band sound with a single note" that the P-Bass does so well.
Love my Epi Classic Pro, but I also do think that the sound is not bright at all. Coming from a Spector player this might not shock you
it has nowhere near the treble response of active basses like this one, but still...... in no way can the sound be called muddy. That is definitely not true. It delivers precise low end and a very pleasant bark/growl when played with a pick. Extremely nice bass sound imo, like a really pissed off piano on steroids. It also just sits in the mix very nicely without hassle. Remind me of my P-Bass, the one i never need to fiddle with any control on my amp to make it sound good in a band setting. The T-Bird does that too, but differently. Better attack and punch in the sound, less of that "i carry the whole band sound with a single note" that the P-Bass does so well.
Great review TBird, and I enjoyed reading all you others folks' posts. I tried one of these basses earlier this week in my local branch of The Rock Shop (New Zealand, in case you were wondering). In short: I have to get one! I love my Fender & Squier basses to bits, but this Epi has something tone-wise that I've been missing. Will be heading back down to the shop with my rig to get some definitive sound comparisons. Cheers y'all, it's long overdue that I joined this forum.
I bought an Alpine white Epiphone Classic IV Pro Thunderbird bass and am very impressed. The width of the nut on my bass is 1 and 3/8 inches, pretty thin. EASY to play! I sold all my Gibson Thunderbirds about a year or two ago, and when I started to jam classic rock with some friends, thought of getting an Epiphone IV with the bolt on neck. My local music store had this and sold it to me for $440, so I had to get it! The sound is very similar to the Gibson Thunderbird bass, at 1/3 the cost. If I enjoy this one enough gigging, I may get a VSB finish as a back up!
Mine was my main gigging bass for about 9 months, but I've gone back to my SB2 for my current project for a vintagey sound. Have some new flats on order, I and gonna see how it reacts with those, and then see how the band (Western/Folk) reacts when I bring it to rehearsal 
NicJimBass
Flossin'? I thought your name was Munson!
Haven't done a proper gig with it, and not sure I will anytime soon, but did break it out for a couple open mic nights at a local dive. Overall, I'd say it sits at the front of the mix, especially depending on how you use the volumes. I tend to favor the neck pickup more often than not, either going solo or with the bridge pickup rolled off slightly. A friend at the jam took some video on his iPhone, and the 'bird was clearly audible, and raunchy as crap! The tone will probably never be my primary, but in a rock setting, it is awesome. BTW, my rig is a Mesa Fathom (M6) into a Mesa Powerhouse 212, just for reference.
