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Gibsons!
- Thread starter IndieAir
- Start date
Do you have a chance to test each of the said basses? That would be your best bet.....trust your ears.
That said.....I am partial to the short scale SG RI's.
Rightly named.......Fiya!........and.......Pepto
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That said.....I am partial to the short scale SG RI's.
Rightly named.......Fiya!........and.......Pepto
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed][Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
They're very different, and yet share some things like pickups, (sortof). The biggest difference is size and scale. TBirds are BIG basses, and they sound huge. You really need to play each one and decide for yourself which is a better fit for you. (then, pick the Thunderbird)
I cannot answer this question as I am extremely TBIRD-BIASED -- 
even though my SG/EB frankenbass, is no where near a real Gibson, it still looks the same, and is U-G-L-Y as sin compared to one of my TBIRDS IMO, and I don't think I could ever get re-used to a short scale for what I have to play..
Rickenboogie is right in his post, if those 2 are the only choices, THERE IS ONLY ONE CHOICE.
HOWEVER, if you find the SG much better suited to your playing, then "beauty is only in the eye of the beholder", as I would also own one, and play it religiously, regardless of the look.
even though my SG/EB frankenbass, is no where near a real Gibson, it still looks the same, and is U-G-L-Y as sin compared to one of my TBIRDS IMO, and I don't think I could ever get re-used to a short scale for what I have to play..
Rickenboogie is right in his post, if those 2 are the only choices, THERE IS ONLY ONE CHOICE.
HOWEVER, if you find the SG much better suited to your playing, then "beauty is only in the eye of the beholder", as I would also own one, and play it religiously, regardless of the look.
I personally love Gibson's basses. The Thunderbird is the only "Gibson" (Epiphone, actually) that I own. It's got that huge, ballsy, growly old school rock tone, but it weighs eight tons and neckdives.
The SG bass has a much deeper low end. To quote someone on here a while back, it "sits at the bottom of a mix like a 50-pound catfish." The new short scales are quite good, but if you have a bit of money, try looking for a long-scale EB3 from the early to mid 1970s. My bass teacher has three EB3-Ls and they're some of the best-sounding basses I've ever heard.
If you want a really cool Gibson, go hunt down a 70s Ripper. They run for about $1000 (or a little less depending on condition). They're HUGE-bodied, all-maple, 34.5" scale, and with roundwounds you can get a great bright, snarly punk tone (think Krist Novoselic) out of them.
As for necks: The T-bird neck is similar to a Jazz neck, but with a flatter fingerboard and less taper. The SG bass neck is very thin, almost in Rick 4001 territory. The Ripper has a fatter and slightly rounder neck than the Thunderbird, IIRC.
Tbird: two medium-large humbuckers in mid and bridge positions. V/V/T controls.
SG: one enormous humbucker in extreme neck position and one tiny humbucker close to the bridge. EB3s have 4 knobs (VVTT) and usually a varitone as well. The reissues have VVT controls and no varitone.
Ripper: Two small humbuckers (?) in neck/middle and bridge position. With varitone.
www.gibsonbass.com has sound samples of all of these basses. The playing, honestly, is not very good, and the audio portrayal of the Thunderbird is less than flattering, but the Ripper and (vintage) EB3 samples are relatively accurate.
The SG bass has a much deeper low end. To quote someone on here a while back, it "sits at the bottom of a mix like a 50-pound catfish." The new short scales are quite good, but if you have a bit of money, try looking for a long-scale EB3 from the early to mid 1970s. My bass teacher has three EB3-Ls and they're some of the best-sounding basses I've ever heard.
If you want a really cool Gibson, go hunt down a 70s Ripper. They run for about $1000 (or a little less depending on condition). They're HUGE-bodied, all-maple, 34.5" scale, and with roundwounds you can get a great bright, snarly punk tone (think Krist Novoselic) out of them.
As for necks: The T-bird neck is similar to a Jazz neck, but with a flatter fingerboard and less taper. The SG bass neck is very thin, almost in Rick 4001 territory. The Ripper has a fatter and slightly rounder neck than the Thunderbird, IIRC.
Tbird: two medium-large humbuckers in mid and bridge positions. V/V/T controls.
SG: one enormous humbucker in extreme neck position and one tiny humbucker close to the bridge. EB3s have 4 knobs (VVTT) and usually a varitone as well. The reissues have VVT controls and no varitone.
Ripper: Two small humbuckers (?) in neck/middle and bridge position. With varitone.
www.gibsonbass.com has sound samples of all of these basses. The playing, honestly, is not very good, and the audio portrayal of the Thunderbird is less than flattering, but the Ripper and (vintage) EB3 samples are relatively accurate.
My '77 fretless Ripper.
Only bass I have bought new. Replaced a stolen EB3. Bessie still gets played dang near everyday .
Use it for jazz gigs. Right now has a set of Blue Steel flats. I'm going back to half-rounds methinks. Too thumpy.
Going through GK 1001/210 combo
Only bass I have bought new. Replaced a stolen EB3. Bessie still gets played dang near everyday .
Use it for jazz gigs. Right now has a set of Blue Steel flats. I'm going back to half-rounds methinks. Too thumpy.
Going through GK 1001/210 combo
haha if your EPI weighs 8 tons, then my TBX weighs 10 tons. ( no neckdive from the extra 5 or so lbs of body wood )
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,901
- 142,283
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
I don't think you can go wrong with any Gibson bass....They all have a voice that's unique (think non-Fender) that in the right hands will give forth great tone.
haha if your EPI weighs 8 tons, then my TBX weighs 10 tons. ( no neckdive from the extra 5 or so lbs of body wood )
can you actually go weigh yours? i'm curious because on the old bathroom scale measurements on my thunderbird range from 12 to 14 pounds. I'd be surprised if someone could make a bass much heavier than that (except maybe for john turner's doubleneck, or any doubleneck for that matter)
I think it depends on what other basses you own and the type of music you play.
if you play Death Metal or do any drop tuning - Tbird only
If you play jazz or funk / slap - neither
If you already have another full scale bass & play classic rock, dub or blues then either will work
if you play Death Metal or do any drop tuning - Tbird only
If you play jazz or funk / slap - neither
If you already have another full scale bass & play classic rock, dub or blues then either will work
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,901
- 142,283
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
You need to find a (insert some other brand name here) thread to post in...........Obviously you know nothing about Gibson.
One of the best reggae bassists I ever saw was an old Rasta guy named Garry Lowe who played in the band Big Sugar........ he played a Tbird most of the time.
I did years ago, when someone wanted to jam on it, and said how heavy it was.. on the digital scale it is 15.78lbs. quartersawn maple center, poplar wings, rosewood fretboard, kahler 2440 bridge. perhaps NOT not the heaviest thing made for single necks, but a lot more than many.
(certainly not a guitar you would want to flip around your shoulders, or wear with no straplocks on a 2"strap )
P.L.E.A.S.E.
If you got neckdive, you aren't wearing it right, like the kiddies showing their underwear not wearing their pants right.
Calling a Gibson SG/TBIRD, a one trick pony is just ridiculous. the body shape does not play the guitar, the USER does, and if the user cannot utilize tonality out of ANY guitar, they seem to blame it on he guitar, or the amp.
Sorry, but the neck dive doesn't exist on my 2001 Gibson T-Bird. It did on my 76, until I relocated the strap button (to where they put it on the modern ones). The 76 also had a larger headstock and big old tuners.
BTW my Thunderbird weighs less than every Fender I've ever owned.
Anyhow, to the original question. I've never been a fan of the SG body shape. I've always loved the shape of the Thunderbirds. I really think it comes down to the styles of music you play. The modern SG's have the same pickups as the T-Birds do (just under different covers) but I think the scale length and some other differences between the construction/scale length/pickup placement would make them sound different. If you can try them both before you buy, then that is the best way to decide. Good luck in your quest!
BTW my Thunderbird weighs less than every Fender I've ever owned.
Anyhow, to the original question. I've never been a fan of the SG body shape. I've always loved the shape of the Thunderbirds. I really think it comes down to the styles of music you play. The modern SG's have the same pickups as the T-Birds do (just under different covers) but I think the scale length and some other differences between the construction/scale length/pickup placement would make them sound different. If you can try them both before you buy, then that is the best way to decide. Good luck in your quest!
I think I've owned evry type of Gibson bass made except an EB1. Not a Fender tone but thats OK if your not looking for Fender tone. Gibsons seem to have a much darker tone. Pre 71 EBs have that humbucker right on the neck(mudbucker). IMHO Gibsons are an aquired taste, all that mahogony. I've learned to love them(growing up outside of Kalamazoo I've seen my share). Wish I would have hung on to my old EB2D and a great playing EB3 that I owned. My 64, 75 and 86 T Birds never felt comfortable to play, just never seemed to fit me right, and that all maple RD Artist with the flying shrimp headstock, while being one of the brighter sounding Gibsons I've owned was a shoulder killer playing 5 nights a week.
Here are a couple of the Gibson basses I've owed in the last 3 years. 73 EBO and 86 T bird
Here are a couple of the Gibson basses I've owed in the last 3 years. 73 EBO and 86 T bird
