I'm thinking about investing in a Gibson Thunderbird. I've played Epi Thunderbirds for two decades, but I'm thinking of biting the bullet for the real thing. I'm just wondering if anyone has any input on this. My Epi's generally cost less than $500 and Gibsons are at least $1500 used.
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Gibson Thunderbird - worth the price?
- Thread starter Kapettit67
- Start date
Depends. If you want authentic, go Gibson. If you just want the Thunderbird vibe, go Epiphone.
I'm still waiting for someone to convince me why this isn't as good as anything Gibson's making right now.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I've owned just about every Gibson or Epiphone Thunderbird ever made. While I don't hold the bolt on neck Epi Thunderbird in very high regard I do have a exceptionally high regard for The Epiphone Classic Pro and Vintage Pro Thunderbirds. In particular the Vintage Pro now called the 60s Thunderbird is absolutely stellar. I have dozens of Thunderbirds both Gibson and Epi. My Gibsons range from the 60s, 70s, 90s and 2000s. I have three Vintage Pro Thunderbirds that are equal to if not better than most of the Gibsons.
I'm not saying don't buy Gibson, hell I bought two of the 2021 Nonreverse, both have finish issues btw (my three Vintage Pros are perfect). Between the Vintage Pro and the '21Gibson Nonreverse I like the Epiphone VP better. The choice is yours of course but a higher price doesn't necessarily reflect higher quality.
I'm not saying don't buy Gibson, hell I bought two of the 2021 Nonreverse, both have finish issues btw (my three Vintage Pros are perfect). Between the Vintage Pro and the '21Gibson Nonreverse I like the Epiphone VP better. The choice is yours of course but a higher price doesn't necessarily reflect higher quality.
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godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
It is and better imho! Love them so much I bought three! You have fine tasteI'm still waiting for someone to convince me why this isn't as good as anything Gibson's making right now.
I love mine. It's a 2015 Gibson model. Was it expensive? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely!
Well.... I can't comment on current T-birds, Gibson or Epi, but my #1 for the last 43 years has been a '77. I paid ~$500 including case. Now (at least to me), it's price-less.
I much prefer the Epi Thunderbird. I like the 60's look with the chrome hardware and two piece bridge.
D
The Epi "Vintage/60s" Thunderbirds with the chrome cover pickups are FAR superior to the current regular Gibson Thunderbirds IMO. Current Gibsons T-birds are a muddy sounding mess IMO (and the same goes for Epi versions that used the TB+ humbuckers). Just my personal opinion of course.
The current non-reverse Gibsons are cool though (if a bit overpriced).
If we're talking about VINTAGE T-birds it's a different story of course. You'll have to do a bit of research about the "best" versions and keep mind that "best" will always be a matter of personal taste.
The current non-reverse Gibsons are cool though (if a bit overpriced).
If we're talking about VINTAGE T-birds it's a different story of course. You'll have to do a bit of research about the "best" versions and keep mind that "best" will always be a matter of personal taste.
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Interesting to read a lot of members prasing the Epi's as good or even better than The Gibson's! Never owned an Epi bass but I have a lower end acoustic model and it plays+sounds really well for the price with the factory setup. They must have pretty good quality control in whatever Asian factory they're made in.
D
Epis are generally good instruments for the money but the "Vintage Pro" T-bird was something really out of the ordinary. They were exceptionally good instruments for the price and better than any T-bird Gibson has made for DECADES in my opinion. This model has now changed it's name from "Vintage Pro" to "60s". I have no idea if the quality is still the same as I've never played any of the "60s".
EDIT: Corrected my post to "Vintage Pro". I got two models mixed up and originally wrote "Classic Pro". The Classics were also outstanding Epis with the same high build quality as the Vintage Pro but the Classics had the less desirable Gibson USA humbuckers with a far muddier tone. The Vintage Pro with the chrome cover pickups (now the "60s") is the one to get IMO.
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Here we go again.....muddy sounding, crap bridge, overpriced, terrible finish, neckdiving, only suitable for metal....blah blah blah. All I can say is that my 2013 must have been a factory second because it plays like a jazz and sounds like a dream. Lovely weight, gorgeous neck, monster pickups, ace finish and a yummy smell to die for still. Paid a grand for it new and had an epi EBO chucked in for free. Bargain if you ask me. For what you get, second hand is still relatively cheap in my opinion.
I have no knowledge of the Vintage pro but hope it plays and sounds as good as it looks.
However the modern birds are versatile and monstrous sounding things which deserve much more recognition than they get.
I have no knowledge of the Vintage pro but hope it plays and sounds as good as it looks.
However the modern birds are versatile and monstrous sounding things which deserve much more recognition than they get.
I had a 2010 epiphone pro 4 (active), the neck was amazing as was the entire build quality! My main reason for selling it was its length & weight. You couldnt close the back doors of the car with the bass case laying across the back seat! I sold off all my longscales over the past 9 years and have happily gone to high end shortscales! I will be the 1st guy in line if eppiphone or gibson ever do another run of shortscale thunderbirds!
love my epiphone. i've had the classic pro and vintage pro. both necks were great and the fretwork is the best i've had on an import (czech spectors excluded)
I've only played one briefly, as well as a Reverend Thunder Gun which is based on a Thunderbird.
IMO, they are great if you a pick player....but as a strictly finger style player, i couldn't get them to "cut" or "sit" right in the mix. It may have just as much to do with "set necks", which don't have as much of the the upper mid snap of a bolt on.
IMO, they are great if you a pick player....but as a strictly finger style player, i couldn't get them to "cut" or "sit" right in the mix. It may have just as much to do with "set necks", which don't have as much of the the upper mid snap of a bolt on.
If you can handle the ergonomics of a thunderbird it's definitely worth it in many ways.
Personally the ergonomics have never quite worked for me, but I still keep a few around. The Vintage Pro is the best bang for the bucks, IME.
As for Gibson, as Godofthunder said, his 3 NR's all had finish issues, mine aswell. IMO thats not acceptable on a 2000$ instrument, but to each his own.
Personally the ergonomics have never quite worked for me, but I still keep a few around. The Vintage Pro is the best bang for the bucks, IME.
As for Gibson, as Godofthunder said, his 3 NR's all had finish issues, mine aswell. IMO thats not acceptable on a 2000$ instrument, but to each his own.
Beware of possible neck dive. And if you're one of those people with arms on the "shorter" side, it can be an uncomfortable bass to play.
I was lucky with a windfall a couple of years back, so pushed boat out on Gibson Thunderbird. Although at the time it was as much a folly as a serious purchase, it has actually become a regularly gigged bass. I love the neck (it doesn't dive), the tones are a lot of fun and it just looks dead cool. Was it as good value as an Epiphone? Probably not, although I've not played an Epi Tbird, but it certainly has proved to be worth it to me.
