Greco 1977 Thunderbird vs Recent Gibson Thunderbird ?

[Skouidy]

Hey guys, my birthday is coming up soon, and I'd like to upgrade from my Epiphone Thunderbird, which bass would be better ? A post 2000s Gibson Thunderbird or a 1977 Greco Thunderbird ?

Thanks in advance

 

[ravelax]

They're different. The Greco has a slightly shorter scale length I think, the pickups are differently voiced and differently positioned (a modern Gibson has the neck pickup closer to the neck). Post in the Thunderbird club thread if you haven't already, they know their stuff!

 

[Rocket Queen]

Thread 'Thunderbird Club'

Feb 18, 2014

Take a walk on the Wildside! The Thunderbird Club welcomes you!

Well, we ran a bit over 1000 posts in pt.7, we'd better get it going here!

Welcome Walmark, #431 with a beautiful '66 Non Reverse II!

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• TBird1958
• club thunderbird
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• Forum: Basses [BG]

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[Skouidy]

Thank you for the advice !!!

 

[TheManFish]

Hey guys, my birthday is coming up soon, and I'd like to upgrade from my Eotice and difference in scale. piphone Thunderbird, which bass would be better ? A post 2000s Gibson Thunderbird or a 1977 Greco Thunderbird ?

Hey guys, my birthday is coming up soon, and I'd like to upgrade from my Epiphone Thunderbird, which bass would be better ? A post 2000s Gibson Thunderbird or a 1977 Greco Thunderbird ?

Thanks in advance

I A-B ed both an 80s Gibson and an 80s Greco side by side in Japan. I thought they were of equal quality. I didnt notice any scale difference. I preferred the Greco myhself. It felt and sounded punchier but that could also be the setup or the strings were more to my taste. Dont know about modern Gibbo TBirds.

Thanks in advance

 

[TheManFish]

I have a MIJ Epiphone with upgraded USA (silver) pickups. Exactly the same as a Greco. I'm thinking of selling or trading it so lmk. Its pretty cool and will go cheaper than the one on Reverb currently. Cheers

 

[Skouidy]

I have a MIJ Epiphone with upgraded USA (silver) pickups. Exactly the same as a Greco. I'm thinking of selling or trading it so lmk. Its pretty cool and will go cheaper than the one on Reverb currently. Cheers

Hey, thanks but I think that I'd rather buy a non-modified bass

 

[Gaolee]

It all depends on your preference on sound and feel. I have a 2001 Gibson that has some kind of pixie dust on it. It just sounds and feels a little different and better. I have not played a Greco, but they are highly regarded with the stock pickups. They are known for a snarling ferocity that you won't get with replacement pickups.

Another unique option is a 2015 Gibson. Those have Decola pickups with a coil tap that makes them easy to get different sounds out of. Gibson only made them for one year. They pop up on occasion, which is a little surprising. People who have them, including me, tend to keep them.

 

[DanAdams]

Late 70s Grecos are HOT.
I would get the Greco.

I hate those three post Gibson style bridges.
I just looked at a few Grecos out of curiosity, they seem have a three post bridge, but with a solid detached tailpiece. That seems better to me.

 

[ZachM]

Hey guys, my birthday is coming up soon, and I'd like to upgrade from my Epiphone Thunderbird, which bass would be better ? A post 2000s Gibson Thunderbird or a 1977 Greco Thunderbird ?

Thanks in advance

Greco all day for me! Early this year I picked up a killer late 80's Greco TB-75. I've played several other Greco TBs before and they were all very high quality - if I'd had the budget at the time I definitely would've purchased one long before now.

Which Epiphone model do you have currently? I think the their Thunderbird '64 model is quite a nice instrument, and personally I'd buy that over a Gibson unless it was a vintage Thunderbird from the 70's. If you have one of those already, I'd definitely prioritize a Greco.

One thing to note is that my Greco at least is a lot more mid-forward than the modern Gibson models, so if that's your tonal goal you might want to consider a Gibson. Anyway... Here's mine! I've got some EB Cobalt flats on this instrument to counteract the mids a bit and it is

 

[TheManFish]

I played a Greco single pickup TBird at Rivington vintage in NYC. the best Tbird Ive played. It had flats on it. Punch and thump.

 

[ZachM]

Here's a good video of how the Grecos generally sound, mine sounds particularly similar to the white one:

 

[TBird1958]

My Greco II

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I'm not a Thunderbird guy, but late 70s Grecos are HOT.
I would get the Greco.

I hate those three post Gibson style bridges.
I just looked at a few Grecos out of curiosity, they seem have a three post bridge, but with a solid detached tailpiece. That seems better to me.

Yes, they are three point and interchangeable with Epi/Gib three point bridges. I definitely prefer the Greco setup to the Epi/gib three point without the tailpiece.

I love all my birds but there's just something special about the Greco tone.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Greco....

 

[Iristone]

My ranking: post-2021 Non-Reverse ＞ 2015 Super-Bird ＞ Epiphone VP, 60 and 64 ＞ 70's Greco ＞ post-80's Reverse Bird

 

[GBassNorth]

Greco!
Nuff said.