Specifically, the bolt-on ones that came in Alpine White. I have a Lakland 44-02 and a Fender CIJ P-bass and this caught my eye. Looks beautiful, but how do they sound/play? I've never tried a 'bird before so I have no idea what to expect.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 opinions?
- Thread starter superkicky
- Start date
Sound - unfocused and muddy. Perfect for that classic rock bass sound and not much else.
Feel - poor fret access and neck dive.
Feel - poor fret access and neck dive.
Positives:
-growly, surprisingly versatile tone. cuts through without having to sacrifice low-end.
-nice big humbuckers and raised center section allow you to rest your thumb wherever you want easily.
-great neck profile, not sure what to compare it to but it's very fast while still being substantial. i don't remember the regular IV model (I own a goth) very well but I think it's a gloss finish on the back of the neck. the fingerboards are always very nice pieces of rosewood--usually the dark fender-style rosewood with a few nice brown streaks in it for character. the fingerboard is radiused, but it's flatter than a fender.
-tuners are great and every one i've ever played (including my own) has super-low action. mine was a GC floor model, but if you ordered one it would probably come out of the box in tune.
-built like a tank. i play mine daily and the only wear on it is on the headstock.
NEGATIVES:
-mine weighs almost 14 pounds and neckdives like hell. you will have to invest in a good strap and straplocks and possibly find a way to relocate the strap button to the neck plate. if you have ANY hint of back problems i would not recommend this bass, it's probably heavier than an all-purpleheart slab-body t-40.
-the gibson 3-point bridge is one of the worst inventions of all time. be careful when removing strings because the saddles often fall out. there are little numbers (1,2,3,4) on the saddles that tell you where to put them if they fall out but god forbid you ever lose one. also, in order to adjust intonation you either have to sneak a really tiny jeweler's screwdriver in the space between the bridge pickup and the strings...or just remove the strings.
do the positives outweigh the negatives? for me, hell yeah! i wouldn't buy one without going to guitar center (or wherever) and trying it out, though. i'm nice about my gear and always let other bassists borrow it on jam sessions, but many decline to because it's so heavy.
-growly, surprisingly versatile tone. cuts through without having to sacrifice low-end.
-nice big humbuckers and raised center section allow you to rest your thumb wherever you want easily.
-great neck profile, not sure what to compare it to but it's very fast while still being substantial. i don't remember the regular IV model (I own a goth) very well but I think it's a gloss finish on the back of the neck. the fingerboards are always very nice pieces of rosewood--usually the dark fender-style rosewood with a few nice brown streaks in it for character. the fingerboard is radiused, but it's flatter than a fender.
-tuners are great and every one i've ever played (including my own) has super-low action. mine was a GC floor model, but if you ordered one it would probably come out of the box in tune.
-built like a tank. i play mine daily and the only wear on it is on the headstock.
NEGATIVES:
-mine weighs almost 14 pounds and neckdives like hell. you will have to invest in a good strap and straplocks and possibly find a way to relocate the strap button to the neck plate. if you have ANY hint of back problems i would not recommend this bass, it's probably heavier than an all-purpleheart slab-body t-40.
-the gibson 3-point bridge is one of the worst inventions of all time. be careful when removing strings because the saddles often fall out. there are little numbers (1,2,3,4) on the saddles that tell you where to put them if they fall out but god forbid you ever lose one. also, in order to adjust intonation you either have to sneak a really tiny jeweler's screwdriver in the space between the bridge pickup and the strings...or just remove the strings.
do the positives outweigh the negatives? for me, hell yeah! i wouldn't buy one without going to guitar center (or wherever) and trying it out, though. i'm nice about my gear and always let other bassists borrow it on jam sessions, but many decline to because it's so heavy.
I just got one and I have to agree more with Envika than gm jack. The neck dive thing is way overblown. I use a leather strap that is 3.5 to 4.0 inches wide and have no problem with it. I paid under 20.00 for the strap. I do play it across my belly and not low. I also tend to rest my wrist on the body some. I also don't have any problems with the fret access. They are right there under the strings. 8^) It has a fairly narrow neck and I like that because I have short fingers. It is heavy. I think that is why it sounds like it does. I do not have particularily long arms and can reach the first fret without any problems. I have had one problem. I lost the nut and washer that holds the jack in place and am waiting for Gibson/Epiphone to get it to me. They said 7-10 business days and I ordered it a week ago Monday so I expect it here any time.
I agree with most all of the reviews, but would like to add one that was not mentioned. With the odd shape and size, it was nearly impossible to find a hard case for mine without spending some really big bucks. It's been 8-9 years ago when I got mine, a burst reverse, so maybe the case issue is a little better now. I ended up making a case out of 3/4 plywood. Ordered hinges and latches from Yamaha, tolexed it and put padding etc. inside. Works good, but if I would do it again, I would use maybe 1/4. That 3/4 case is stout (heavy) but does the job. 
*I have had one for a few weeks now and am still adapting to it. I find it is more comfortable slug low with my wrist resting slightly on the upper waist of the body playing with a pick. I tried several different heights and settled with it there. The strap button had already been moved to the neck heel which takes care of most of the neck dive.
*I am primarily a "Fender" style bassist so the body shape has been something to get used to but I really like its sound and feel in the capacity I am using it. I recently started playing in a hard rock/punk three piece band with a guitarist with a Marshall full stack. I tried several of my "Fender" style basses including two different Jazzes and a P. The guitarist insisted that I play with a pick which I didn't have a problem with. All the basses I tried worked fine but were lacking something. I took a chance on the T-Bird and it has been the change I was looking for. It is definitely a form-over-function kind of bass but since I was just hammering out eighth notes with a pick I figured this would be a good chance to work on my stage presence and showmanship. One thing the T-Bird has in boat loads is attitude. It is loud, rude, beefy and quite frankly makes you look cool when you are wearing it.
*To sum it all up: As far as the T-Bird goes, sometimes its not about how you feel, its how you look.
*I am primarily a "Fender" style bassist so the body shape has been something to get used to but I really like its sound and feel in the capacity I am using it. I recently started playing in a hard rock/punk three piece band with a guitarist with a Marshall full stack. I tried several of my "Fender" style basses including two different Jazzes and a P. The guitarist insisted that I play with a pick which I didn't have a problem with. All the basses I tried worked fine but were lacking something. I took a chance on the T-Bird and it has been the change I was looking for. It is definitely a form-over-function kind of bass but since I was just hammering out eighth notes with a pick I figured this would be a good chance to work on my stage presence and showmanship. One thing the T-Bird has in boat loads is attitude. It is loud, rude, beefy and quite frankly makes you look cool when you are wearing it.
*To sum it all up: As far as the T-Bird goes, sometimes its not about how you feel, its how you look.
poor fret access? if you mean your only playing from the 15th fret up? perhaps you are use to a HUGE cutaway for ease of access to the 15th fret and up?
these are basses remember....A 5 string Tbird ( or any bass for that matter ) removes that problem for those who feel the need to play a lot in the upper range.
point #2, I assume if you own one you never moved the strap button to the back to say it neckdives all to hell?
point#3, They do weigh about 10lbs, but hardly heavy compared to many other guitars
let me voice my opinion on mine:
I have 3. The EPiphone's pickups stock do suck, and I will agree with you on that point, "muddy and unfocused"???...naw.... I like to call it "growly and chaotic", If that sound is not for you, then you change them out, and you got a hell of a unit now for under 500 still.
the 3 point bridge scheme is ********, but they also make direct fit replacement bridges that eliminate all the hassle of saddles and intonation adjustments, and it sits flat on the wood for much better sustain.
my other birds are the finest players I ever had. The electronics/pickup spacing/wood combo in those are perfect for playing anything I need to play from quiet jazz style P/J bass sound to heavy touch of twangy distortion for playing rock/metal, without touching a tone knob on the amp.
I even have a Tbird that has EMG's in it.
As far as a "one trick pony"? --HARDLY
would I buy another "used" Epi?... yes as that would allow me the extra money to add the bridge and pickups.
