Is a 2010 Thunderbird epiphone worth a look?

[Miles_ONeal]

Point is, they still make the basic bolt-on in limited quantities with the older spec 1.73 nut. That poster said they were out of production. New ones pop up at the major vendors this time every year around the holidays. It has been like that for the last three or four years. Epi doesn’t list them on the website. But one can get a new one if they want one. The “E1” in the Sweetwater ad was made in May of ‘24 at the Qindao, China factory.

Ah. Gotcha. I do wonder if it’s really 1.73”. Both Epi and retailers have been sloppy sbout specs over the years, though I trust Sweetwater more than most. Still, they’re at the mercy of Epi…

 

[Mike N]

- if you are a long time Fender player who's looking at a T-Bird simply as a "Back up"? Gotta tell ya; there's a real good chance that you'll be disappointed. There's a good reason that lots of T-Bird players play them slung low, with the headstock pointed up high. That's the way that a T-Bird's pretty much got to be played - unless you like lots of neck dive - and stretching waay out there for those top frets. Which you will have to deal with, if you try to play a T-Bird like you play your Fender. And, yes; that's a lesson I had to learn the hard way...

This has been my experience. My Basses thru the years have been primarily Fender or similarly shaped..... I bought an Epiphone T Bird from the TB classifieds because it was a good deal and I've always liked the way they looked.

Playing the Bird sitting down is one thing..... when I put a strap on it was another thing.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I was never comfortable playing a TBird.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I was never comfortable playing a TBird.

And it’s the most comfortable for me. Variety is good!

 

[Thumper]

They are very comfortable for me sitting down. Standing, they have to be set up right, but can also be comfortable.

 

[MasterBrianD]

Ah. Gotcha. I do wonder if it’s really 1.73”. Both Epi and retailers have been sloppy sbout specs over the years, though I trust Sweetwater more than most. Still, they’re at the mercy of Epi…

You're right about that, the newer bolt-on T-Birds made in China are actually 1.5" at the nut with a really skinny neck profile, I bought one new about two years ago. The older Korean bolt-on models were 1.73" at the nut and had a fairly chunky neck AFAIK. Epiphone and most retailers still have the nut width listed as 1.73" in the spec list however but this is incorrect.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

You're right about that, the newer bolt-on T-Birds made in China are actually 1.5" at the nut with a really skinny neck profile, I bought one new abouut two years ago. The older Korean bolt-on models were 1.73" at the nut and had a fairly chunky neck AFAIK. Epiphone and most retailers still have the nut width listed as 1.73" in the spec list however but this is incorrect.

My 2012 has the thinnest neck of my Epis and Grecos.

 

[MasterBrianD]

My 2012 has the thinnest neck of my Epis and Grecos.

Interesting so the neck profile must have changed a bit throughout the years on the bolt-ons, I just got a new '64 Epi Thunderbird that I'm keeping for Christmas and its defintitely a bit thicker front-to-back than the bolt-on I owned two years ago anyway (which I prefer), roll on the 25th! can't wait
Have you tried one of them yet?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Interesting so the neck profile must have changed a bit throughout the years on the bolt-ons, I just got a new '64 Epi Thunderbird that I'm keeping for Christmas and its defintitely a bit thicker front-to-back than the bolt-on I owned two years ago anyway (which I prefer), roll on the 25th! can't wait
Have you tried one of them yet?

No. I have a 2019 VP. It’s got a good neck but a bit fatter than I’d like.

 

[Gaolee]

I was never comfortable playing a TBird.

Some people are for the birds, some are not. Until you have been chosen by a Thunderbird, they are uncooperative. Once you have been chosen, the ergos make perfect sense and it's hard to be comfortable playing anything else. They do what they do, and they sure don't tell us until they are ready.

 

[Gaolee]

This has been my experience. My Basses thru the years have been primarily Fender or similarly shaped..... I bought an Epiphone T Bird from the TB classifieds because it was a good deal and I've always liked the way they looked.

Playing the Bird sitting down is one thing..... when I put a strap on it was another thing.

If the strap button isn't at the heel of the neck, then it's going to dive like the Titanic. Put the strap button where it belongs and use a reasonably wide strap and it's the one shape you can put just about anywhere and it stays there. That's been my experience with them. The other thing is that using a long strap works better. If the bass body is low and the neck is tilted up, a bit like a classical guitarist would hold a guitar, it works really well. That's not even close to the way almost any other bass guitar sits. It works really well for me at times, and when it doesn't, I just rotate the Thunderbird down and it stays horizontal without any effort on my part.

 

[Mike N]

If the strap button isn't at the heel of the neck, then it's going to dive like the Titanic. Put the strap button where it belongs and use a reasonably wide strap and it's the one shape you can put just about anywhere and it stays there. That's been my experience with them. The other thing is that using a long strap works better. If the bass body is low and the neck is tilted up, a bit like a classical guitarist would hold a guitar, it works really well. That's not even close to the way almost any other bass guitar sits. It works really well for me at times, and when it doesn't, I just rotate the Thunderbird down and it stays horizontal without any effort on my part.

I'll look at the strap button location next time I pull it out of the case.

I really like the feel and sound of that Bass, it's just the way it hung on me that threw me for a loop. Didn't feel like crazy neck dive....... rather it felt like it was so far away from me, like it had a 43" scale versus a 34" one.