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epiphone thunderbird is it worth it?
- Thread starter fionn_mccarthy
- Start date
based on a friend's one that i've played - yes, if you don't mind a bit of weight and some neck dive. but the tone and build quality were excellent, very punchy humbecker sound. i would say try a few before you buy as i'm not convinced on Epiphone's QC.
also they look cooler than thou.
also they look cooler than thou.
I have one, it's a great bass, really nice growly sound, and feels really solid and well-made. It's got its faults though, the three-point bridge is terrible (I don't know why Gibson/Epiphone insists on using these bridges), they rob your sustain and causes bridge noise and a lot of headaches. Also, the neck dives something awful, which can affect your speed (having to hold up the neck), and it's not the most comfortable body design ever made. But, once you get used to the design, get yourself a sturdy suede strap, and invest in a nicer bridge, it's one hell of a bass. You'd definitely be getting more bang for your buck as opposed to the Gibson models.
It's worth it. I've owned the "Goth" model for about 3 or 4 years, and it has never failed me. Their built as solid as rock, and have monster tone and bottom end, but you can turn the tone up and dial in to the high-end too. My Thunderbird is the most versatile bass I own, despite being one of the cheapest. I wouldnt even trade it for half of the Gibson Thunderbirds I've played, let alone any other bass in it's price range. They can be a little heavy, but your shoulder will get used to it(I even use a relatively thin strap on it now), and even though the neck dive is a little extreme, you can fix it by a simple moving of the strap pin to the neck plate; simple and effective.
Go for it man, you wont regret it.
Go for it man, you wont regret it.
PROS:
-with the right strings, sounds unbelievably good through even the crappiest of amps. the stock strings are rotosound rounds, which are okay, but i would upgrade. really big punchy sound, cuts through well without turning up the treble too much. best tone of any bass under around $500 i've ever played, and i even prefer it to a lot of basses over $1000--we're talking warwicks, 70s fender precisions, rickenbackers, etc.
-records great
-looks awesome
-neck is like a fender jazz but a little wider and a little flatter, i personally love it but that's a matter of preference
-pickups and even the end of the fingerboard (i play there occasionally) make a good thumbrest. gibson actually claims the pickups to be indestructible, and i believe them.
-built stronger than most tanks. i mean you could drop this thing off an airline hangar with no case and it'd come out alive
-resilient finish, will always be in nice condition (i've tossed mine around for about six months and have no dings on the body yet, a couple of white streaks on the headstock from accidentally hitting it against the wall)
-stays in tune forever, doesn't get knocked out of tune in the case
CONS:
-heavy as hell. bathroom scale measurements suggest a weight of about 12-14 pounds. the goth version is a little lighter than the IV, IIRC.
-get a padded strap and some good straplocks because this baby is a neck diver. i haven't performed any of the modifications people discussed here, but i'm sure they'd help.
-the 3-point bridge sucks, and i could probably improve the tone greatly with the hipshot bridge, but it sounds so great already that i don't want to mess with it.
-stock strings appear to be heavy-gauge (maybe medium?), which i like but they might not be best for a beginner.
-EDIT: you might also have trouble finding a gig bag that'll fit it, but there are many that do, you just have to search a little.
in short, i would 100% recommend buying it for the sound and looks, but you can't overlook the problems with it. i personally can deal with them all because i'm a pretty tall guy and my fretting hand is also my dominant hand so i have an easier time supporting the neck while playing, but i've had other bass players (many of whom are MUCH better than i am) ask to borrow mine, then give it right back as soon as they pick it up because they can't play it (due to the weight and neck dive). i would try before buying.
-with the right strings, sounds unbelievably good through even the crappiest of amps. the stock strings are rotosound rounds, which are okay, but i would upgrade. really big punchy sound, cuts through well without turning up the treble too much. best tone of any bass under around $500 i've ever played, and i even prefer it to a lot of basses over $1000--we're talking warwicks, 70s fender precisions, rickenbackers, etc.
-records great
-looks awesome
-neck is like a fender jazz but a little wider and a little flatter, i personally love it but that's a matter of preference
-pickups and even the end of the fingerboard (i play there occasionally) make a good thumbrest. gibson actually claims the pickups to be indestructible, and i believe them.
-built stronger than most tanks. i mean you could drop this thing off an airline hangar with no case and it'd come out alive
-resilient finish, will always be in nice condition (i've tossed mine around for about six months and have no dings on the body yet, a couple of white streaks on the headstock from accidentally hitting it against the wall)
-stays in tune forever, doesn't get knocked out of tune in the case
CONS:
-heavy as hell. bathroom scale measurements suggest a weight of about 12-14 pounds. the goth version is a little lighter than the IV, IIRC.
-get a padded strap and some good straplocks because this baby is a neck diver. i haven't performed any of the modifications people discussed here, but i'm sure they'd help.
-the 3-point bridge sucks, and i could probably improve the tone greatly with the hipshot bridge, but it sounds so great already that i don't want to mess with it.
-stock strings appear to be heavy-gauge (maybe medium?), which i like but they might not be best for a beginner.
-EDIT: you might also have trouble finding a gig bag that'll fit it, but there are many that do, you just have to search a little.
in short, i would 100% recommend buying it for the sound and looks, but you can't overlook the problems with it. i personally can deal with them all because i'm a pretty tall guy and my fretting hand is also my dominant hand so i have an easier time supporting the neck while playing, but i've had other bass players (many of whom are MUCH better than i am) ask to borrow mine, then give it right back as soon as they pick it up because they can't play it (due to the weight and neck dive). i would try before buying.
i have that bass mann..
i got mine for £224 from imuso.co.uk next day delivery
its an awsome bass with a great sound
the only problem i'd say is that when u let got of the guitar it starts so slide down and uv got to quick grab it before the headstock bangs on the floor lol
so go for it
i got mine for £224 from imuso.co.uk next day delivery
its an awsome bass with a great sound
the only problem i'd say is that when u let got of the guitar it starts so slide down and uv got to quick grab it before the headstock bangs on the floor lol
so go for it
I bought mine as a "second" from Musiciansfriend. After moving the neck strap peg, it balances a wee bit better and is a great growly instrument. For $249, it's a great rock and roll instrument that I'm not afraid to take out and thrash around...it is solid and feels like a boat anchor around my neck (damn it's heavy) but it looks and sounds cool.
Eventually I'll replace the crummy bridge (hard to justify a $120 hipshot bridge on a $250 instrument at the moment) and upgrade the tuners...
Eventually I'll replace the crummy bridge (hard to justify a $120 hipshot bridge on a $250 instrument at the moment) and upgrade the tuners...
I almost bought the PJ 5 string and that bass was deffinetly worth the $. If you can they made a few in seafoam green , that would be a lot of fun to rock.
Hi.
Worth it compared to what?
It's well worth the money for me, and quite a few others as can be seen, but it also gets a lot of "hate" from the purists (=F-people)
I haven't had any versatility issues with the kind of music I play, I only learned here on TB that it can't be slapped? Wouldn't have done that if I'd known
.
It's a cheapo, yes, but a fine one at that IMHO. And it's not the regular P or J that every other Jack, Jill & Joe has and plays.
Regards
Sam
Worth it compared to what?
It's well worth the money for me, and quite a few others as can be seen, but it also gets a lot of "hate" from the purists (=F-people)
I haven't had any versatility issues with the kind of music I play, I only learned here on TB that it can't be slapped? Wouldn't have done that if I'd known
.It's a cheapo, yes, but a fine one at that IMHO. And it's not the regular P or J that every other Jack, Jill & Joe has and plays.
Regards
Sam
+1. Mine is not heavy by any means, it's about 9lbs. Perhaps if it did have more body weight it would counteract the neck dive.
I used to think my Thunderbird was heavy. But then, I got a Warwick.
The Thunderbird is really a pretty good bass. Not exactly a buffet of bass tone, but the few it does have are really good. It has a great boom to it and if that is what you want, this is a great choice.
Although it is pretty awkward to fit anywhere (stand, case, can't stand it on the floor, etc.) and the neck dive is pretty bad. I don't find it heavy, but I'm a tall guy.
Try it before you get it, but you should certainly look into it.
The Thunderbird is really a pretty good bass. Not exactly a buffet of bass tone, but the few it does have are really good. It has a great boom to it and if that is what you want, this is a great choice.
Although it is pretty awkward to fit anywhere (stand, case, can't stand it on the floor, etc.) and the neck dive is pretty bad. I don't find it heavy, but I'm a tall guy.
Try it before you get it, but you should certainly look into it.
the key here was "Is it worth it", and to many on this forum, they would say YES ...why? cause it is cheap.
cheap can be a disaster, or cheap can be golden.
I own one I bought used, and fortunately the QC on this one is excellent for what it is, and for what it costs brand new would I buy another one new for 300 if it felt, looked, and sounded like this one? YES.
p.s. as far as neckdive, put the strap button on the neckplate, all better.
from message #7: "heavy as hell. bathroom scale measurements suggest a weight of about 12-14 pounds"
haha you SURE your bathroom scale is correct????-- my Jackson T-bird neckthru weighs in at 14.83 LBS, yes thats right 15 LBS, and that EPIBIRD is WAY lighter
cheap can be a disaster, or cheap can be golden.
I own one I bought used, and fortunately the QC on this one is excellent for what it is, and for what it costs brand new would I buy another one new for 300 if it felt, looked, and sounded like this one? YES.
p.s. as far as neckdive, put the strap button on the neckplate, all better
.from message #7: "heavy as hell. bathroom scale measurements suggest a weight of about 12-14 pounds"
haha you SURE your bathroom scale is correct????-- my Jackson T-bird neckthru weighs in at 14.83 LBS, yes thats right 15 LBS, and that EPIBIRD is WAY lighter
hell with the difference in price between the 2 you could buy a wireless, and a decent amp.
only YOU can decide what YOU want to buy, GO PLAY THEM BOTH. If you like the way the EPI plays for the type of stuff you do, and don't NEED the gibson neckthru for the "I got a Gibson" purposes, why buy it?
Epi Tb was my first bass and i couldn't be happier. After playing 5 years i traded it for a Jazz bass... reason was that i don't like Humbuckers but this was a great bass for the money.
It should cost much more in my opinion, but 300bucks is just crazy for this bass.
I highly recommand it.
It should cost much more in my opinion, but 300bucks is just crazy for this bass.
I highly recommand it.
