Gibson ruined my day!

[theNecatoR]

Yesterday I made a trip to one of my favourite music stores, MusicStore (not really ingenious with names) in Cologne just because I had nothing to do.
I tried everything I liked that was in my budget. Everything on a Orange AD200B Mk3 with an OBC410, flat clean and then with tons of gain. I have an OBC410 and a TB500 and I am planning on getting an AD200B.
One of the best sounding Basses (to my ears and style and in my budget) were the Fender Roger Waters Precision Bass, the Fender Modern Player Jaguar Bass.
Then I tried the Epiphone Thunderbird Classic Pro IV, because it has always attracted me. I found it good, but not "I want it now" good. But out of fun I then tried a 2014 Gibson Thunderbird Bass in Vintage Sunburst (Priced 1799€) to see if it was any different from the Epiphone, which I doubted.
I made a huge mistake. It sounded like glory. And then I slapped it, because everybody knows you do not slap a T-Bird (And that I am not a good slapper). It was the best slap sound I heard that day, almost as if I could do it well! This Bass was the morning napalm to my Lt-Colonel Kilgore.
The problem is, I do not need another Bass, but I became completely obsessed with that sound. I am saving to buy an AD200B like I said (which I also do not need, but want). So I tried the non-reverse version (1000€ cheaper!) but it was nowhere near. What the funk is wrong?
Should I forget it? Should I get it instead of the Orange? What would J.E. do?
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[Bigmuffdiver]

I never compared the two basses next to each other. I should try it out in a store.
Its normal the tone differs, but I didn't expect to be SO different as you say

 

[theNecatoR]

I could not explain it either, maybe the stars aligned and the Epi and non-reverse were duds and they got a prime TB. On a relevant note, the Deluxe Jaguar in the store was also a dud, it sounded miles behind mine, and the reverse Jag had a bad toggle switch.
Nonetheless, the sound coming from the TB was even better than a Ric and few other Fenders, which played and sounded good.
I did not tried the Sandbergs, I wish I had, their QC is top of the heap.

 

[SonnyBassPlayer]

I often go mad about some basses, I'd buy tons if I was rich as hell.
I learned some kind of "tip": wait some weeks. If you really like the bass, that feeling won't go away. It may get weaker as you don't see one, but stay there. In that case, unless your self control is very strong, you'll end up buying it anyway
If in one or two weeks the thing goes away, that was just a crush, and your wallet will thank you

IMHO of course

I am currently on a crush with the Vintage Sunbrurst Gibson EB. And I haven't tried it out yet. I'm too scared that if I find one of that color by person, I'll end up bringing it at home.
The reson why I'm scared is that, just like you, I do not need it, but want it. Sad money ruled world ):

 

[12stringbassist]

If you wait some weeks, the bass may go away.
If you think it's a keeper, go for it.
If you miss it, you'll always kick yourself.
Worse still you may buy one later and it not be as good.

I agree on the sunburst EB too. I have a strong desire to pick one of those up at a store near me.
It bears too strong a resemblance to THIS for comfort..

 

[Kmonk]

I have always found Gibson basses and guitars sound better than Epiphone (or as I like to call them Epiphony). Gibsons are made with better materials and the workmanship is better.

 

[godofthunder59]

First thing I thought of when I saw Gibsons burst SG bass.

If you wait some weeks, the bass may go away.
If you think it's a keeper, go for it.
If you miss it, you'll always kick yourself.
Worse still you may buy one later and it not be as good.

I agree on the sunburst EB too. I have a strong desire to pick one of those up at a store near me.
It bears too strong a resemblance to THIS for comfort..

 

[theNecatoR]

I actually like Epis, my first bass was an Epiphone and it was good (and cheap as hell), so I was biased to like it and think of the Gibson as an overpriced sibling. I was dead wrong. What is more baffling is that even the Gibson non-reverse sounded inferior, are they not supposed to sound pretty much the same being the same brand, design (almost) and having the same Pickups?

 

[TBird1958]

The Non Reverse is a set neck bass, the standard Gibson and the Epiphone Classic Pro are both neck thru
multi ply laminated construction....I really like the neck on Gibsons better but the the Epi is certainly very good as well, that's just a personal preference as my hands are bit small.
Be warned, Thunderbirds can become an obsession - They're lovely Sirens that call my name, it's very difficult to resist their charms!

Love the Jim Lea pic too, nice! He never gets enough love here on Talkbass

 

[chungweishan]

I recently went to music store to check out basses and amps. I tried $200 - $2000 basses just to hear the differences. The biggest thing I noticed: terrible strings. I played a Music Man, and it sounded surprisingly very muffled (old dead strings). An Ibanez half that price sounded super bright (brand new strings) but its setup left the strings almost flat against the fretboard so it was mostly unplayable unless I really enjoyed tapping. Some random used bass sounded a lot better than the previous two, although I wasn't crazy about the look nor the lack of versatility.

My point is sometimes it's as simple as changing the strings to regain that true quality sound. Apparently the music store I went to doesn't give a crap.

If anything, figure out what strings were on the Thunderbird you tried. That might give you a good start on comparing that sound on other basses.

 

[veebass]

Similar story to how and why I bought my T Bird. I was at a shop that carries a very good selection of Gibsons because my son wanted a Les Paul. While he played his way through a heap of LPs (and found a Desert Burst Standard he liked), I picked up the 2009 T Bird below to fill in time. Instant love. Bought it new that day. I really had never thought about a T Bird and certainly wasn't looking for one.
I agree with the comments above about the differences between Gibson and Epi T Birds- the Epis I have played also don't have the lovely slender neck of the Gibsons.

 

[Haji]

The thing I find most surprising in the Epi and Gibson comparison is that the Epis are generally of a much better finish quality. That stems from prepping the body before finishing. I've seen Gibsons of every stripe, guitars and basses and with obscene price tags where the finish was absolute crap. The bodies haven't been properly sanded before the finish is applied, so the finish is was waves in it. That's pretty nasty on a thousand dollar + guitar hanging next to $300-$400 one that's of the same shape/model. By no means all of them, but enough that you really have to look. Make sure you can live with it before you plop down that hard earned money.

 

[Baird6869]

I tried a TBird a few years ago and was blown away by the tone. Bought it on the spot.

I gigged it for a year or so, but couldn't get used to the looooong reach to the first 2 frets. No neck dive issues, but the reach was killing me.

Also, they were around $1500 new 4-5 years ago... When did they start going for $1999?

 

[Haji]

I pretty much think of my TBird as a one trick pony...but its a unique trick that nothing else can do. That tone is it. Agreed on the reach; they're loooong basses. I think the prince increase is usually attributed to less available quality wood and higher costs, especially transportation costs in our continuing weak economy. And it could be a touch of Gibson figuring out that they can get that for them.

 

[theNecatoR]

The string argument is a good one, I have experienced something similar with my two jags. The newer sounded better because of the strings, after changing them, they sounded then very similar in quality, albeit each with its own flair (one is a P/J). The set up was good on all Thunderbirds and the three were all ok... well actually 4, the first Epi i tried had a loose pot, so I grabbed another one.
I actually like the thin uneven finish on the Gibsons, I don't care much about waves or small imperfections as long as they sound good. That said, i can understand that 1799€ feels like armed robbery for some if you don't offer pristine instruments.
Do you think a pair of lollars on the Epi could elevate it to the Gibsons status, sound wise?

 

[theNecatoR]

So, now I went today to I would say my favourite music store, Musik Produktiv, on Ibbenbüren to buy an OBC115. The store is obviously smaller than the monstruous one in Cologne. They had no box, and called orange to ask for delivery dates. So while I waited, I gave the Epiphone/Gibson shootout another round.

This time I took a VSB Epiphone and a Vintage Cherry 2014 Gibson Thunderbird. Again, I used an AD200B MK3 connected to an OBC410 flat EQ (both "noon" flat and "optimally" flat) to test them. The overall finish and feeling of the Gibson was better, but that of the Epiphone was really good, just the potentiometers seem to feel a bit looser on every Epi I come across. Mechanically it felt also superior, the tuning machines on the Epi were on the fragile side.
Sonically, this time the Epi held quite well against the Gibson (and way better than the Epi on the other store). But the Gibson sounded better anyway.
I think it is more defined, it has more punch and also more brightness. There is really something that makes it empirically better sounding. I don't think it is 1200€ better, but better anyway.
Analyzing the facts, it might have to do with the potentiometers, strings, woods and mechanical components IN THAT ORDER.
I assume that making an investment on parts could close the gap. Potentiometers, wiring cable, tuners and strings (and probably tuning machines), so it could be close to the 150€ probably 200€. That would bring the price to 600€/650€ which is still a third of a 2014 Gibson Thunderbird and the half of a non-2014 Thunderbird. So there's that.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I tried a TBird a few years ago and was blown away by the tone. Bought it on the spot.

I gigged it for a year or so, but couldn't get used to the looooong reach to the first 2 frets. No neck dive issues, but the reach was killing me.

Also, they were around $1500 new 4-5 years ago... When did they start going for $1999?

This year. They blew them out in December, all the old stock ones from 2013 or before at places like musicians friend. I paid $825 but sold it to a friend for $900 a week later as I was moving, wish I could have kept it. I really didn't think they sold that great at $1500 so I don't know who is going to jump on them at 2k.

 

[awilkie84]

I'm rather concerned as to why the Epi Classic-IV Pro didn't live up to your expectations. It's virtually the same bass as the Gibson. It even has Gibson electronics. I ordered the Epi, as the $1000 price difference (almost) isn't even close to justifying that G decal.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

The T-bird is a beautiful instrument. I almost bought one of the first ones that came out. But the point is, if you see it and you like it, get it.
You could go back tomorrow and they would have sold that one and the new one in stock is nothing like the one you should have bought yesterday.

 

[Bigtruck1369]

This Bass was the morning napalm to my Lt-Colonel Kilgore.

This is the best part of your post!