Redesign, etc. may have impacted prices. Inflation probably had a bigger effect. Fancier paint adds cost. They may have gone for more margin as well. But look around - most things have gone up noticeably in price the past few years.
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NBD: Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro
- Thread starter Rob Wagner
- Start date
Off topic , but I quote you all the time with my buddies that play bass. I always call them my bass brethren. Love your YT content.Congratulations! The best Thunderbird built since the 60s! I love them so much I bought four
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
The Vintage Pro was made in Indonesia and I much prefer it to the made in China '64 for a number of reasons. The MIC '64 has a thicker body and a slight neck angle not present on the VP, overall the Vintage Pro is a more accurate representation of a 60's Thunderbird. Because of the thicker neck through section and body wings the '64 is heavier and feels less svelte than the VP. I also find the fretwork better on the VP than the '64. Things I like about the '64, nice faux MOP inlay and the colors available are great! I bought a Ember Red one and probably will buy a purple one.
Having said all that the '64 is a very good Thunderbird and I would take it over a USA Gibson but I would take a Vintage Pro over either.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I concur! Epiphone hands down has been building the best Thunderbirds since the introduction of the Classic Pro and Vintage Pro Thunderbirds.
I need to get a detuner. I don’t need it often, but it would make life a little easier.
Or just tune to D standard and be done!I need to get a detuner. I don’t need it often, but it would make life a little easier.
Bang for the buck is hard to beat on the Epiphone Thunderbird VP and newer Epiphone 60’s Tbird reissues.
I have both and bought each one new (an Ebony one back in 2018 and a purple flake one in 2024). There are differences but it’s minor stuff that’s hardly noticable unless you hold them side by side. Of the two, I ever so slightly prefer the look and feel of the first run VP over the current 1960’s reissue offering. I actually like the sound of the newer one slightly better. It has a hair deeper voicing for a slightly richer fuller tone, but again it’s hardly noticable unless you play the two back to back.
If I had $800 burning a hole in my pocket my first purchase choice would be a used VP, second would be a new 60’s reissue and third would be a used and now discontinued Epiphone CP. All three are fantastic choices and can cover any genre you can name.
I have both and bought each one new (an Ebony one back in 2018 and a purple flake one in 2024). There are differences but it’s minor stuff that’s hardly noticable unless you hold them side by side. Of the two, I ever so slightly prefer the look and feel of the first run VP over the current 1960’s reissue offering. I actually like the sound of the newer one slightly better. It has a hair deeper voicing for a slightly richer fuller tone, but again it’s hardly noticable unless you play the two back to back.
If I had $800 burning a hole in my pocket my first purchase choice would be a used VP, second would be a new 60’s reissue and third would be a used and now discontinued Epiphone CP. All three are fantastic choices and can cover any genre you can name.
I haven't played a "64" Epiphone Thunderbird; I need to find one and try it. Between the other two, it's all about tone to me. I don't always want a lot of upper mids and highs, but when I do, I can't get them out of the Classic Pro. OTOH, I could never get enough low end out of the Vintage Pro.[1] OTGH, if you want the Angry Piano sound, the VP will do it easily, especially with strings like the Rotosound 66s, but to an extent, even with Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. I like the feel of the VP neck finish a bit better, but most days I prefer the tone from the CP. That difference in feel is probably just the type of finish (the VP is a burst with translucent neck while the CP is painted white.[2] The tonal differences are primarily the pickups.[3]
Back to the OP - the VP is one of the best Thunderbirds in a long time. It was a good deal at list price new; any of them much below the Epi 64 price today are very good to great deals. Enjoy!
[1] The consensus seems to be this is at least somewhat fixed in the Epi 64 model.
[2] Advice of the Rolling Stones notwithstanding.
[3] Thunderbucker 66s in the VP added some low end.
Not sure what happened. I intended to post this in the Club thread. Anyway, I posted it there too a few minutes ago.
The bassist is Jorgen Carlsson. He was the bassist for Government Mule from ‘08 to ‘23. The drummer is Erik Eldenius. He currently tours with Billy Idol. The guitarist is Cary Park, a SoCal legend who played with Bruce Hornsby, among others. Eldenius lives up at Pine Mountain Club and got them together to do a little show tonight in our clubhouse. A real treat to hear world class touring and studio pros play in a small room. The place was packed.
I bought my t bird in December and relegated my Rick 4003 to back up
these things sound sooooo good. and the one I had balanced perfectly fine
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
They do balance. But please don't tell anybody. That would blow our cover.
