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Epi Thunderbirds

T

The modifier

Nov 2, 2008
556
4
Bakersfield
#1
Ive got a chance to purchase a goth one for 250$ with a hard case, ive always been an fan of the Thunderbird shape:bassist:, but ive never known what kind of tone comes out of these things, so any input in regards to the Epi Thunderbird will help me make a decision on this-thanks for the input in advanced
 
#2
Dont know if it has the same tone but i used to have an epiphone explorer and i think it had similar pickups and it had a brass nut. It produced a very good dark sounding mellow tone. It also recorded really well too. Just make sure the neck is good, since it is a neck through body bass and you cant shim the neck or swap necks if anything is messed up (nevermind, looks like the t-bird is a bolt on). Forgot to mention, at least on the explorer, neck dive, seriously unbalanced, remedied by a strap that was a bit rough and would grip my shoulder.
 
#3
Nigel Rahmshard said:
Dont know if it has the same tone but i used to have an epiphone explorer and i think it had similar pickups and it had a brass nut. It produced a very good dark sounding mellow tone. It also recorded really well too. Just make sure the neck is good, since it is a neck through body bass and you cant shim the neck or swap necks if anything is messed up.
Click to expand...

I haven't tried it, but im definitely going to try it first, really I thought all Epi Birds were bolt on, but ill check it though ???
 
#8
ga_edwards said:
I believe the Epi is a bolt-on. I've just this minute seen another thread where someone has replaced the neck with a fender P type because of this.

Hipshot make a 3 point replacement and superior bridge of the stock one causes problems:
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=264
It says it's for Gibson, but I can't see why it shouldn't fit the Epi.
Click to expand...

The Hipshot should fit the Epi, it comes with 2 different types of studs to fit either one. I have a TBird project I'm working on and I had a heck of time finding a replacement 3 point bridge since the one I got with it is missing the saddles. I ended up buying one for a Gibson which is pretty much the same thing, just seems to be a bit higher quality. I haven't had a TBird before though so I didn't want to drop $100 before I see if I even like it or not!
 
#9
Ive never owned a T bird either, so im going to wait and see of I like the 3 point bridge or not, ive arranged to try it out tomorrow with the seller, hes also throwing a Behringer BX1200 Ultrabass along for just the 250$ so the deal just got a lil sweeter, ill get back to you guys after I try it, but im really hoping I like the tone as much as I love the look.
 
#10
People bitch about the 3 pt bridge so much. Its not as bad as they say. Same with the neck dive. Not as bad as you would believe from just reading threads. When I had an Epi I moved the strap button to the heel, where it is stock on my Gibson. The bridge allows for a lot more set up options and adjustability. I don't see why people hate on it so much. To each their own i guess.

The Gibson is lighter among other things (a million differences between the two) and the neck-through really helps the neck dive issues.

Many people say the design of the Thunderbird is what gives it neck dive. This isn't really true, because the Gibson barely dives at all. That is a Thunderbird. All other Thunderbirds are copies, and surprise (!) when you take a shape on the verge of diving (reverse body with no upper horn) and give it a pocket, a bolt in neck, a heel plate, and make the body out of cheaper lighter wood, its going to be neck-heavy. WHO would have thought that?


Even though Epis have worse neck-dive, I have never found it to be a big problem at all. Strap choice is pretty key to making it better or worse, too. So take it to the store and try everything.


Also the tone is the best part about Thunderbirds. It's very unique, and even the Epi Birds have a close tone to the Gibson. Enough so that it is obviously not a Fender sound.

Goth and Blackbird versions of the Thunderbird are made with 1 piece mahogany bodies (Gibson is a mahogany/walnut 9 ply body/neck with mahogany wings), whereas regular Epiphone Thunderbirds are alder bodies. This means they are a BIT more balanced, but more importantly, they have a tone that is closER to the Gibson.

So, that's cool.


Then the price... $250 with a case is great! (assuming the instrument isn't damaged in any way).
 
#11
Some of the Epi's are Mahogany, like the goth and silverburst (i own one) so it's possible to get. I totally agree with the location of the strap button, moved mine to the neck pocket on the body and it does not dive.
 
#13
Just wanted to get back at you guys, I got an amazing snag with this bass, more pics will come this Friday when I get some time off summer school, but what an amazing instrument, one thing that surprised me was how darned sexy this thing is in person, the finish is perfect no flaws scratches whatsoever, and the back of the neck has a satin black finish (I was expecting unpainted maple) which both feels and looks amazing, the playability (just a tad too much relief for my likings at the moment but easy fix once I get some time to set up) and fretwork couldn't be any better, really surprised since you hear all these bad things about Epiphones and Gibson's QC, I rather like the look of the 3 point bridge and its pretty solid since I thought it was going to be a flimsy piece of scrap metal holding the strings, so for the moment ill be keeping the 3 point bridge, but I haven't gotten to the best part yet, the TONE!!! this bass has such an attitude, its like one of em tough girls that don't take sh*t from no one, seriously a jazz bass sounds REALLY tame compared to the growl this bass spits out, I was never a huge Epiphone/Gibson fan, but this bass has made me a convert, what a quality bass at such an amazing price :bassist:(Craigslist is awesome:D)
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cheers fellow bass addicts :)
 

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