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Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro - What case do you use?

jacoby75

jacoby75

Supporting Member
Mar 11, 2010
5,661
10,716
Coldwater, MI
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Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
#1
Hey guys,

I don't have a guitar store near me, so I was hoping for some feedback. For those of you who have an Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro, which case are you using for it? I have read that the recommended Epiphone case (model 940-ETBCS) fits very snugly and the top of the headstock touches the top of the case. Seems to me like that would be a bad idea. If you dropped it it would be more likely to crack a headstock or neck, I'd think. I have a coffin case that I thought it would fit in, but it does not. Not even close. The body shape causes it to stop before making it all of the way to the bottom of the case.

Thanks
 
#2
I have the Epi 940-ETBCS case for my TBVP. Yeah it's a bit snug but I don't think any damage would happen to the headstock if the case was dropped. If it were to break, the force would have to come from the top portion of the case that's in actual contact with the headstock.

TD
 
#3
Thornton Davis said:
I have the Epi 940-ETBCS case for my TBVP. Yeah it's a bit snug but I don't think any damage would happen to the headstock if the case was dropped. If it were to break, the force would have to come from the top portion of the case that's in actual contact with the headstock.

TD
Click to expand...
Thank you for the feedback. That's kind of what I was thinking. I know it would be rare, but if tumbled down the stairs or something, or some dumb-dumb dropped it to where it would land on the headstock end of the case, I'd be a bit concerned. But I'm not sure how to find any other options without actually taking my bass to a store to try it in some cases.
 
#5
Well I'd hate to see any bass get damaged but the upside of this is that a replacement TBVP isn't going to set you back a whole lot should yours get damaged to the point of not being repairable.

I think you'll find the Epi 940-ETBCS case to be more than adequate although as you can see in the 2nd pic it's tight.

Here's some pics of mine.

Case2.JPG


DSC01441.JPG


DSC01444.JPG


TD
 
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#13
Interesting. I'll have to look that case up. I've never seen it before. I have a feeling if I walked into church with that case, though, people would need to pray for me, LOL. But the fit looks perfect. Thanks for the pic. I'm not finding that case anywhere, though.
 
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#16
jacoby75 said:
Interesting. I'll have to look that case up. I've never seen it before. I have a feeling if I walked into church with that case, though, people would need to pray for me, LOL. But the fit looks perfect. Thanks for the pic. I'm not finding that case anywhere, though.
Click to expand...
I've had it for a number of years and unfortunately I think it's been dropped from the line. Maybe check Ebay?
 
#17
Hallo, i got a TBird Vintage Pro AW with the Epiphone 940-ETBCS hard case (angled) and it doesnt fit.
I actually ordered the rectangular case, like almost all the online stores have in the pictures, and i got the trapezoidal, which is smaller. So i went to a shop and i show the problem and they also where surprised of the issue. The headstock lay on the plastic border, not even in the internal padding, otherwise I would have pushed a bit and make it fit like in your pictures above. We also tried the bass in many other cases and bag. Nothing. Help!
 

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#18
forest89 said:
Hallo, i got a TBird Vintage Pro AW with the Epiphone 940-ETBCS hard case (angled) and it doesnt fit.
I actually ordered the rectangular case, like almost all the online stores have in the pictures, and i got the trapezoidal, which is smaller. So i went to a shop and i show the problem and they also where surprised of the issue. The headstock lay on the plastic border, not even in the internal padding, otherwise I would have pushed a bit and make it fit like in your pictures above. We also tried the bass in many other cases and bag. Nothing. Help!
Click to expand...

You're correct that the Epi 940-ETBCS case is a very tight fit but in order to fit your VPTB into it, you have to place the headstock into the case first and then lay the body into the case. It's reverse of how you would normally put the bass into a case. That's how I found the best way to put my VPTB into my 940-ETBCS.

TD
 
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#20
kildon2002 said:
Some options, but noting I can readily find. The stock Epiphone case is just a bit too small even with modification. Anyone had luck with any custom cases or anything else off the shelf?
Click to expand...
Have you attempted to modify the Epi case? If so, how so? That's what I still have mine in. Granted, I haven't taken it out of the house yet because I haven't had anywhere to play it. But I very much like dislike the Epi case. As noted above, you have to kind of tilt the headstock in first to get it to fit. I'm worried that the case pushing on the tuners is going to destabilize the tuners or headstock over time. And then once you get it in, the bottom latch by the lower bout of the body won't close because the body of the case juts out past the lid. It's a mess. I'm really disappointed that this is Epi's answer.
 

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