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Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro vs Classic Pro

#42
jacoby75 said:
It would be much appreciated if someone who actually has both an Epiphone Classic T-Bird and a Vintage Pro, or a standard Gibson t-Bird and a Vintage Pro, could post a video or soundclip with recordings of the two for the sake of comparison. Even if all other things aren't equal (strings, amp, recording technique, etc.). I'm about to have the money to actually buy one when a bass I'm selling ends on Ebay, and I'm still agonizing over which one to try. I'm leaning towards a classic at this point, only because it's a little cheaper (and more readily available used), and I think the darker tone might suit me better in church, if I ever actually play it there, than the more open tone of the Vintage. But I do love the look of the Vintage so much better, and the whole point is I wanted that 60's tone of The Who and other classic rock bands, which the Vintage supposed more accurately approximates.
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Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on it to me! The #760 pickups will get closer to the ‘60’s Who thing for sure. I should be getting my Cataldo in a couple days. Going to try both the Thunderbucker Ranch ‘63 and ‘66 style pickups.

Personally, I’d go with the VP. The CP is nice, but I know I’d wind up swapping out the pickups
 
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#43
dukeorock said:
Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on it to me! The #760 pickups will get closer to the ‘60’s Who thing for sure. I should be getting my Cataldo in a couple days. Going to try both the Thunderbucker Ranch ‘63 and ‘66 style pickups.

Personally, I’d go with the VP. The CP is nice, but I know I’d wind up swapping out the pickups
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LOL. I think I just keep asking the same question over and over but in different ways, expecting a different answer. The problem is I'm afraid to pick the "wrong" one because I so rarely have the money to buy a bass, I want to get something I'm going to be happy with, because I'll likely never be able to get both. Anytime I buy a bass, I have to sell one to get the funds to, and I don't have anything else I'd want to part with.

But after listening to the same videos and sound clips over and over . . . and over . . . for the past few weeks, I think I'm actually going to start with the VP. I do think it will get me closer to that 60's sound in my head, which is the whole reason I want one. I realize like 30min ago I just said I was going to get a Classic. Ask me again in another 30min and my opinion might change. But as of THIS moment, I think the VP will get me where I'm looking to go. Plus, that VP in sunburst just looks like complete badassery to me. Change the truss cover to a Gibson, and nobody would know the difference. On the other hand, I couldn't play a forged Gibson in church. It would probably burst into flames for lying about its true identity. Probably a good sermon topic in there somewhere.
 
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#44
jacoby75 said:
But after listening to the same videos and sound clips over and over . . . and over . . . for the past few weeks, I think I'm actually going to start with the VP. I do think it will get me closer to that 60's sound in my head, which is the whole reason I want one. I realize like 30min ago I just said I was going to get a Classic. Ask me again in another 30min and my opinion might change. But as of THIS moment, I think the VP will get me where I'm looking to go. Plus, that VP in sunburst just looks like complete badassery to me. Change the truss cover to a Gibson, and nobody would know the difference. On the other hand, I couldn't play a forged Gibson in church. It would probably burst into flames for lying about its true identity. Probably a good sermon topic in there somewhere.
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Haha! Sounds like it :)

While I do think a lot of the Epi ‘Birds are a somewhat lesser version of a Gibson, the Vintage Pro is totally valid in its own right and very different from any Gibson currently being made. No reason to feel bad about that logo!

This could relate to whether you’d find it right for playing a church service...
I have a 2002 and a 2014 Gibson T Bird, because the inherent tone can be a bit aggressive for some of my gigs. So my solution was to put less aggressive strings on one of em. I’m using Black Beauty’s on my 2014, which are a nice middle ground between flats and rounds, but I got a set of Cobalt flats, and Chromes to try as well. Just to tame the ‘angry piano’ for some of my gigs :)
 
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#45
dukeorock said:
This could relate to whether you’d find it right for playing a church service...
I have a 2002 and a 2014 Gibson T Bird, because the inherent tone can be a bit aggressive for some of my gigs. So my solution was to put less aggressive strings on one of em. I’m using Black Beauty’s on my 2014, which are a nice middle ground between flats and rounds, but I got a set of Cobalt flats, and Chromes to try as well. Just to tame the ‘angry piano’ for some of my gigs :)
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Don't get me started. That's another thread. Flatwounds on a Thunderbird. I've never liked flats with the exception of the McCartney ones I put on my Hofner Ignition Bass, since I was going for a very specific vibe there and it works. But in general I haven't liked them. I tried the Jamerson set on my P and it wasn't for me. But the more I'm reading about getting the classic rock vibe, a big part of it is the flats, since roundwounds weren't even invented until the late 60's or something. Which ones to try is the next question. From what I'm reading, I'm thinking either Chromes or TI's. I don't like the "dead thump", "all low end" (all subjective terms) of the flats I've tried in the past. I like some low and mid presence with little bite. But I'm curious what flats would sound like on the birdy.
 
#46
jacoby75 said:
Don't get me started. That's another thread. Flatwounds on a Thunderbird. I've never liked flats with the exception of the McCartney ones I put on my Hofner Ignition Bass, since I was going for a very specific vibe there and it works. But in general I haven't liked them. I tried the Jamerson set on my P and it wasn't for me. But the more I'm reading about getting the classic rock vibe, a big part of it is the flats, since roundwounds weren't even invented until the late 60's or something. Which ones to try is the next question. From what I'm reading, I'm thinking either Chromes or TI's. I don't like the "dead thump", "all low end" (all subjective terms) of the flats I've tried in the past. I like some low and mid presence with little bite. But I'm curious what flats would sound like on the birdy.
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TI’s sound awesome, but I find em too floppy. I could be full of it, but it seems to me some of my basses like flats and some don’t. I recommended Black Beauty’s because they kind of split the difference. Could be a good stepping stone toward flat world :)
 
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#47
I'm a DR endorsing artist for good reason. They're consistently the best strings I've found. They've got a little something for every occasion. My Lull P5 is incredibly picky about strings. I tried several, several sets before landing on the DR MM Fat Beams, which I now use exclusively on all of my basses (realizing they're discontinued). But the T-bird is a different animal entirely. After I get it I'll look forward to countless hours of research about what the best strings are for it. But I'm sure the Black Beauties wouldn't be a bad place to start. Thanks for the tip.
 
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#48
jacoby75 said:
I'm a DR endorsing artist for good reason. They're consistently the best strings I've found. They've got a little something for every occasion. My Lull P5 is incredibly picky about strings. I tried several, several sets before landing on the DR MM Fat Beams, which I now use exclusively on all of my basses (realizing they're discontinued). But the T-bird is a different animal entirely. After I get it I'll look forward to countless hours of research about what the best strings are for it. But I'm sure the Black Beauties wouldn't be a bad place to start. Thanks for the tip.
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Maybe the DR Legends would suit you
 
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#51
jacoby75 said:
Is the consensus that flatwounds on a thunderbird are a good way to go? I’m guessing that’s what was done prior to the invention of round wounds since the TBird came first.
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No, since you're a DR endorser try Stainless rounds and play with a pick, BIG ANGRY PIANO.
 
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#53
TBird1958 said:
No, since you're a DR endorser try Stainless rounds and play with a pick, BIG ANGRY PIANO.
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Lol. I’m not really a pick player, but I understand that to be obligatory when you own a thunderbird, so I’ll do my best. It will happen. Big, angry, hairy piano.
 
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#54
jacoby75 said:
Lol. I’m not really a pick player, but I understand that to be obligatory when you own a thunderbird, so I’ll do my best. It will happen. Big, angry, hairy piano.
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I have a new Vintage Pro and even with the stock strings it really has a great tone. I've been using it at rehearsal as we work up a new drummer and I'm very impressed, a pick constitutes an ignition switch.
 
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#55
I could also add that a large portion of evidence in the decision-making process between the Classic and Vintage Pro came from Youtube. There are two videos of the Vintage Pro being played, and several videos of the Classic Pro. While the sample size is small, both of the videos of the Vintage Pro sound really good, from a tone perspective. On the other hand, out of the several videos of the Classic Pro, I heard an occasional one that sounded pretty good, but many in which it did not sound good. I realize it's subjective and depends on skill level, technique, recording method of those doing the demonstrations but it played a part in the decision.
 
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#56
Took a trip to Sweetwater in Indiana (after a kid’s birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese’s, my worst nightmare. It’s like Wal-Mart with video games.) I got to try a VP in store. Wow. I’m very impressed. I ordered the color that I wanted and will have it in a few days. Great sounding bass. More fun to play than basses in the store that cost 2-3 times as much. Great tone and feel, and minimal if any neck dive. I didn’t try it out that long and look that closely as the family was waiting. And I didn’t feel like I needed to. I loved it at first touch. It’s light, easy to play, and looks great. Definitely cures my classic rock bass itch. I can see many, many hours of Who covers in my future. Only problem is I’ll have to actually learn some Who songs first. I will say the one thing that will take some getting used to is playing seated with the weird body shape. And my weird body shape. But that’s the nature of the beast.
 
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#58
jacoby75 said:
Can’t speak to the Classic Pro, as they didn’t have one. But I can’t wait to get my VP. For the price, and getting a little discount, I could never justify buying a Gibson, having played this bass. Very well done.
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That's because you haven't owned any of these...you sort of get spoiled.:)
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Seriously, IMO the VP is the best thing that's come from Gibson/Epi since at least the Grabber if not the original 60s TBirds...I would have been first in line.
 
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#60
jacoby75 said:
I have a feeling I may have opened Pandora’s box. Once I actually have it in my hands my first may not be my last.
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Give some pics and your thoughts about it on the Club thread.
 
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