• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

epiphone thunderbird hate?

#41
n_tbirdprointro2783.jpg


you can slap on them as much as any bass, but the neck tends to be narrow so there lies the slapping issue in my opinion.


You can play funk & slap on a LP why not a Tbird?

Still if your going to be doing a lot of funk or slap I would go the MM - Lakland route.
 
#42
i just got back from band practice here and it was me first practice with the T-Bird.

I frecking love this baby, i love the looks, the tone and the power it has. i play through a trace rlliot Gp7 300 watt head and normally a 2x10 and a 1x15 but i just brought the 15v today (car was full)

I honestly have never played a bass that just cuts the mustard with no nonsense involved. it just does the noise and shuts up when yo tell it.

it cuts through two loud and very distorted and rocking guitars leaps and bounds better than my Fenix Jazz or my OLP stingray thingy. was very surprized at teh amount of flak these instruments receive so im just biggin it up.

i put it this way, if you like em get one, if not dont. if you do like them you can always sort your tone out through the amp or one of those tap dancer pedal boards. but try one first, i bought mine blind cos i just wanted the thing. had heard them at gigs before and loved the tone.

that all said, loving it and all, i feel it is a bass for maybe one or two styles. its a monster for rockin, sling it low and hit it hard kinda stuff. but i think for slap and fancy stuff i dunno, could be done but i feel its not the area this bass is made for.

plus, to be honest, and this aint a fashion police comment or anything. if ya play slap, dont most bassists generally have there bass higher on there strap for easy movement and all that thumb bouncing picking tippidy tap tappin? a thunderbird at that height would, again not a fashion expert here, look pretty daft if not maybe even wrong?? it would be like buying a Ferrari Enos or something to tow a caravan. lol
 
#43
If you play rock music, just holding it on stage makes your ego go berzerk.

I have a Q on the neckdive fix, how do you fix the strap button on an epibird - it's got a metal plate, do you have to dig your way through it?
 
#44
Hi, PDB.

Yes, You drill through the plate if you can't find long/thin enough neck screw to mount the strap in one of the neck screws.

You'll need two drill bits, one slightly smaller than the core (id) diameter of the screw and other with slightly larger than the od of the screw. First drill with the smaller one, that'll be the pilot hole, through the plate, into the body as deep as necessary for the screw (You might want to find a bit longer screw for this application). Then You drill through the metal plate only with the larger drill.

Epistraplock.jpg


Do install strap-locks of Your choice while you're at it, those should come as standard in every instrument IMHO.

Regards
Sam
 
#46
In my opinion it is a decent instrument for the money. Not that I have played many other basses before as my Epi bird is my first and only bass but still. I like it and I would agree with the others, it is not a funky bass. I don't play that kind of music so its fine with me :).

Also, people who complain about neck dive need to just shut up and stop whining. It isn't a big deal. Yeah, it's there and if you think it's that bad, move the strap button.
 
#47
I'll have to send for my Epi T-Bird some time. It's stored (neck removed) with some paintings and things at some relatives' out west. I really had issues with the neck-dive on mine. I'll have to try that fix, with moving the strap post.

I like how light the thing felt, especially for its size! Really wish Epiphone had done a proper version of the non-reverse T-Bird (no mine's a reverse). I used to think the non-reverse were butt-ugly, but they've really grown on me over the years.

As for not being able to play slap on one, when I saw Mike Watt play with his band a few years ago. (sadly, I never got to see The Minutemen back-in-the-day) He was going on a beat-up, faded blue non-reverse T-Bird the whole night. He can slap & pop with the best of `em, and out-finger-play most out there as well.
 
#48
I'm 6'2, and I weigh 130 pounds. I play an Epi Thunderbird, and if I can hold up this bass with my skinny stick arms, then no one here should be complaining. I played it for over a year with not but a small nylon strap, and it never bothered me.

Now that I'm meeting with friends for 6 hour jam/practice sessions, it gets a little heavy around the shoulders. The fix? A wider strap. No problems, dive or weight.

I can get a nice growl out of mine. I keep everything wide open and change the EQ on the amp.

And I have no problem reaching the upper register. I've been playing the Who's The Real Me, and there isn't many times in that song you're not below the 15th fret. Did I mention I'm lefty, and I play it upside-down? I have no problems reaching the 20th fret, and my fingers aren't that long.

Funk? I don't know anything about that. Anything funkish I do is on the SX P-bass. The point is, you can do anything, on any bass. It's just not going to sound "traditional".

About quality, I have the Korean model. I don't know how the quality has changed since they moved production. Those pro models might be worth the wait. They look sexaay :cool:

Plus, (I'm inclined to say, even upside-down) you cannot not look cool wearing one. And no, I don't wear it down by my knees. :ninja:

l_3cb521943d82e6dd95486cc6bfd6726f.gif


l_9dc6a9bdb8dc40cb9cc1c50e2d004f12.gif


But whatever you choose, play it first if you can!
 
#49
amimbari said:
to me the Epi's ALL OF THEM not just the birds, are just a cheap knockoff of the real thing,
Click to expand...

Have you ever tried the Allen Woody Rumblekat? Not an imitation of any Gibson, and I would put it up against any Gibson (and I own three Gibson basses) for quality. The Jack Casady Sig is also a great bass. And they are coming out with Epi Thunderbird Pro basses that look as good as any Gibson Tbird. They also made an MIJ "Elitist" series a few years ago that rivaled Gibson in quality.

Give some of the high end Epis a try, I think you'll feel differently about them.
 
#51
my epi t-bird is fine for what it is..... a dark grinding rock bass! think of entwistle without the crazy crisp high end (silly i know but its true).

personally i have had NO problem with neck dive at all, the body shape naturally presses on the arm so it stays in place unless you do townshend style windmill antics.

yes the build quality is fitting of its price but what do you expect..... its hardly in the same league as my status B-2 BUT i would take it as backup.

the reach on the first few frets is an issue with the general shape of T-birds/explorers anyway so its to be expected that its a little farther away but you get used to it.

id say if the T-bird is what you like be it for the looks or the tone or both then grab it..... but dont expect it to fit in any old gig bag/case though
 
#52
Showdown said:
Have you ever tried the Allen Woody Rumblekat? Not an imitation of any Gibson, and I would put it up against any Gibson (and I own three Gibson basses) for quality. The Jack Casady Sig is also a great bass. And they are coming out with Epi Thunderbird Pro basses that look as good as any Gibson Tbird. They also made an MIJ "Elitist" series a few years ago that rivaled Gibson in quality.

Give some of the high end Epis a try, I think you'll feel differently about them.
Click to expand...
I'm actually waiting for the Pro's to come out, let the masses give their reviews, then maybe I'll buy another one. I already have a neckthru Tbird that says "PRO" on the headstock, as well as a LimitedEdition Tbird made by Dillion. Tokai/Greco...all excellent clones.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back