• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

NBD Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro

#121
Just ordered my Alpine white vintage last Saturday. They are saying Thursday it will be in at Sam Ash. I wish they could have ordered me the hardshell with it but the sales guy said that they don't make a hardshell for it . Then why does Chris catero say on the epiphone endorsed video say you can get it in a hardshell case too?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Korladis
#122
megatapper said:
Just ordered my Alpine white vintage last Saturday. They are saying Thursday it will be in at Sam Ash. I wish they could have ordered me the hardshell with it but the sales guy said that they don't make a hardshell for it . Then why does Chris catero say on the epiphone endorsed video say you can get it in a hardshell case too?
Click to expand...
I decided not to get a case but I'm pretty sure Sweetwater offered one with my VP purchase for an additional $150.
 
#123
#124
  • Like
Reactions: megatapper
#125
@Stebe bassist Try their customer service: Epiphone Support
They were excellent at correcting a problem I had with a new Embassy arriving with issues and can probably point you at a dealer selling cases on your side of the pond.

UPDATE ON A WHITE ONE:
Got a white one from a known internet dealer(NOT SWEETWATER) so it came in without the 55 point check, intonation not set, truss rod way off. As an added bonus, it appears to have a grounding issue. About a decade ago a used bass came here and later developed a very slight static click that would happen when I walked, almost like the internals were acting like a capacitor and building up small voltage to "jump the gap(spark/static noise)" inside the bass. Opened it up, resoldered everything, and put a small screw into the internal shielding(copper foil in that one) with a wire tied on it and soldered to ground on the other end. Fixed the problem. This particular white Epi seems to have a not-great ground connection somewhere. Pics of the insides and update on the cure when done.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal and Stebe bassist
#127
DLEE said:
When someone gets some flats on theirs let us know how that G fits and what brand you're using. I've got used to flats for the last few years and those roundwounds are pretty twanky. LOL!
Click to expand...
I think some folks in the Thunderbird club have flats on theirs....
Thunderbird Club
You should jump over there and ask, and if you're not a member you should join, tons of Thunderbird knowledge in that club. :thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: RedVee and dukeorock
#128
Love my white Vintage Pro Thunderbird so much I just picked this up at the House of Guitars!
20180317_122016.jpg
20180317_122002.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal, GBassNorth, lamf and 11 others
#129
CONGRATS SCOTT!!!
I'm sure Scott has had this happen.

The strangest thing about opening one of these NEW T-Birds is remembering one of the old 60's versions that had checking all over, dulled nickel, road wear, and "just make it useful again" repairs(i.e. stove bolts with T-nuts holding the rear string tree on b/c the original screws bent and flew off one night!). Pics of who I am talking about, over a decade of use...my thumb wore that through-the-finish mark above the E string. After the "thru-body-bolts" repair to the string tree, THIS one sounded better that the other 2(another 64 and a 76).
63BirdMandevilleHoriz.jpg


63TB MandevilleBackHoriz.jpg


After remembering the "old friend", your bass, from the past(long gone).....it is still hard to believe that BRAND NEW ONES are here now.
SO thankful for a second chance, at this price, and brand new.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal, megatapper, godofthunder59 and 2 others
#130
DLEE said:
When someone gets some flats on theirs let us know how that G fits and what brand you're using. I've got used to flats for the last few years and those roundwounds are pretty twanky. LOL!
Click to expand...
Labella makes some really great flatwound strings that are really light guage . .39 to .95s . I have a set on my bolt on epi t bird pro classic. They are amazingly warm . One would never think that they are as thin as they are .
There is a guy on you tube who demos these strings on a wineglow 64 reissue Rickenbacker bass. And he really showcases these strings . He is in a Beatles tribute band . I can't remember the name of the strings xl 760s maybe ? It's been a long time since I bought these strings ,because once broken in they are perfect in perpetuity.
 
#131
Johnny Crab said:
CONGRATS SCOTT!!!
I'm sure Scott has had this happen.

The strangest thing about opening one of these NEW T-Birds is remembering one of the old 60's versions that had checking all over, dulled nickel, road wear, and "just make it useful again" repairs(i.e. stove bolts with T-nuts holding the rear string tree on b/c the original screws bent and flew off one night!). Pics of who I am talking about, over a decade of use...my thumb wore that through-the-finish mark above the E string. After the "thru-body-bolts" repair to the string tree, THIS one sounded better that the other 2(another 64 and a 76).
View attachment 2955553

View attachment 2955558

After remembering the "old friend", your bass, from the past(long gone).....it is still hard to believe that BRAND NEW ONES are here now.
SO thankful for a second chance, at this price, and brand new.
Click to expand...
Yeah I can't get over how much I love my new vintage pro. It's the best bass I've owned . And I've owned a lot of basses. Ric's Warwick's, fenders, musicmans , blah blah blah. Been jamming all weekend on mine . Just put a set of piano rotos on mine and it sounds like chris squires bass on america. And roundabout with both pickups on full, and like long distance runaround with the neck pickup. Love the throaty midrange . I'm gonna get at least one more of these. Definitely the black one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal, godofthunder59, Johnny Crab and 2 others
#134
megatapper said:
Think I'm gonna start saving for the lollars. Sad that they cost as much as lulls. Anyone put thunder buckers in theirs? I heard that they are 160.00 a peice.
Click to expand...

I want to say they’re $175 each, but there’s a price break if you buy two...that’s how I remember it, anyway :)
 
#136
megatapper said:
I heard the lollars are the best of both worlds /63 crunch and high end and 66 warmth . If the lollars really are the shiz I'd get them .I'm willing. Gulp hmm new VP or lollars hmmmm? Arrrrgh I'm so conflicted!
Click to expand...

What bass are you considering pickups for? When I bought my Cataldo NR41, Carlo kindly sent me both a TB ‘66 and ‘63 to try. Talk about being conflicted! Both pickups were just fantastic, but on that bass, I went with the ‘66 and have no regrets. It will stay in that bass. I put a set of Lollars in my ‘02 Gibson and yes, they’re kind of a middle ground between the TB ‘63 and ‘66. I’m over the moon with them. All that to say, you can’t go wrong either way
 
  • Like
Reactions: megatapper, RedVee, GBassNorth and 1 other person
#138
dukeorock said:
What bass are you considering pickups for? When I bought my Cataldo NR41, Carlo kindly sent me both a TB ‘66 and ‘63 to try. Talk about being conflicted! Both pickups were just fantastic, but on that bass, I went with the ‘66 and have no regrets. It will stay in that bass. I put a set of Lollars in my ‘02 Gibson and yes, they’re kind of a middle ground between the TB ‘63 and ‘66. I’m over the moon with them. All that to say, you can’t go wrong either way
Click to expand...
Gonna put em in my epi thru pro. The tone and playability is already there . Just needs more ooomph grunt fullness and a little crunch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dukeorock
#139
Have my first gig tonite with the Alpine White tonight. The band has been loving it at rehearsal. Man these pickups are hot! I really have to back off the gain on my amp. I really like the sensitivity of the tone and volume pots.I'm able to dial up a load of different tones with this thing. I wonder why we didn't get the front pickup mounting plate like the bass in the promo video has? Cost cutting?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back