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Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro - What case do you use?

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


Understand, if the case is long enough but doesn't fit internally due to an inch or two of styrofoam at one end or another, it can be easily modified.

Pull the offending piece of foam, trim off the needed clearance from the back. Try not to cut the fur fabric that is glued on. Place back in case and trial the fit. If you get it the first time, great. Glue the piece back into the case.

This WILL NOT work unless the case manufacturer used the foam to allow the case to be configured for multiple shapes and sizes.

Check new cases, you might get a deal on one.

Do NOT, WEDGE a guitar or bass into a case. Doing that almost guarantees to transmit any shock to your instrument through the neck, you understand that is bad, correct?
 
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.

View attachment 2913124

View attachment 2913805

View attachment 2913806

TD
Hey my friend! I just picked up one of these for myself yesterday, sorry to reply to a 3 year old comment but I love the mods you did to yours with the bridge covers. Can you tell me which ones you got if you see this?
 

Looks pretty good but I'm sure the Vintage TB won't fit.
I took a measurement of my Epi TB ClassicIV and it's 129-130 cm long on the longest "edge". I believe(from the pics) the Vintage TB is 3-4 cm longer so the only case I was able to find is the "Rockcase RC 10626B".
Going to order an ebony Vintage TB + case right now.

Cheers
 
Don't plan to take my VP on the road, but you all know that the headstock issues with these basses is with THE CASE and not the basic design of the instrument. Got an Anvil for my '66 NR that I toured with...slept good at night. The 60's cases were a headstock fracture waiting to happen! Why can't Epi or ANYBODY make a PROPER case to protect our beloved 'Birds? Can't justify the cost of a 'road case' just to keep my VP around the house.
 
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Got a Gator reverse T-Bird case for my 65' Embassy Deluxe. Fits perfect after modifications to accomidate the upper horn. My VP isn't EVEN CLOSE to fitting in it! Come on....for gosh sakes, case manufacturers, make it EASY for us to give you our money! Tony
 
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Bought the TB Pro with thoughts of stripping off that dreadful tone sucking poly encapsulating the mahogany 9 ply neck thru. WRONG!!!! Ain't NO WAY you are going to strip that finish off! It is 'China Polyester' and any consumer available stripper WILL NOT TOUCH IT! A pro strip shop REFUSED to touch it. So much for my thoughts of replicating my '64 T-Bird IV! Sanding it off is the only option. The heat gun was fruitless also. The bass will KILL without that nasty crap smothering the tone. End of rant. This is a case thread....sorry.
 
Will research the Yorkville case. Thanks for your reply. Can you come up with a miracle solution for getting that gosh awful polyester finish off without having to wear a respirator and a hazmat suit? You will be my hero! Call me a 'hard core old school finish guy' to be sure! Nitrocellulose, baby!
 
I still use the Epiphone Thunderbird case, which was the one recommended by Sweetwater. It fits, but the tuners press pretty hard against the side of the case. I would be really concerned about taking it outside of the house.
 
Hello! 1st post!
I got the same problem, new bass and no case that fit the extra lenght. I don t love hard cases, i dont have enought space at home and i m not confortabile moving around with them. I found a suitable gigbag, with the same method of the Epi hard case, if you insert the bass from headstock, you can use Rockbag RB20624B Plus.
A Little stretchd in the tip, but not top Dangerous for tour caseless bass.