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NBD! Epiphone Thunderbird

thedudebrah

thedudebrah

Jan 9, 2012
657
61
Philly suburbs
www.avenuekings.bandcamp.com
#1
Cross this one off of my Gas list. Was out Xmas shopping with a friend and her boyfriend and she suggested we stop in a small music shop near my house since both her boyfriend and myself are musicians. Found this hanging on the wall and played around a little bit through a crappy 20 watt combo. Needs the string height adjusted, but the neck is straight and it plays great. A few small dings, but other wise it's in great shape! Got it for $250.

Only have one pic cause I wanna set this thing up and play.
36CD2387-AF10-4AA7-8240-C97206E23B44-6614-0000043CDFA29393.jpg
 
#4
Hi.

Gongrats on the NBD.

thedudebrah said:
Is it worth upgrading the pickups or anything, or should I just leave it as-is?
Click to expand...

Unless You're looking at Gibson PU's, or better yet Lulls, I wouldn't bother.

Everybody claims that the originals are lacking, but AFAIK there's just no substitutes that much better on the market.

I do have to admit that I do have a Model-One in mine next to the FB, but I also use the originals. And did for a long time before the mod.

Regards
Sam
 
#5
The stock Epi pups work well IMO. I did a bunch of upgrades on my Epi IV and went with a Lull in the bridge position (because I wanted something chrome) but left the stock neck pup under the handrest. I think it has a great deep tone, especially with the tone knob off. Combined with the bright Lull pickup, it makes a nice balance between thump and definition.

LULLPUPS035.jpg
 
#13
hdracer said:
You didn't get a smokin deal but with a hard case and the bass being in good shape you didn't get ripped ether.
Click to expand...

They're 299 brand new now that the classic IV pro is out. Which is vastly improved. The case is 100 new. Not a ripoff but… yeah. Enjoy man, but if you can return might wanna consider the new classic pro.

Neck dive… move strap pin to use one of the neck plate bolts.
 
#16
I stopped by my local Sam Ash and played the new Epi classic pro. It's a neck through made in Indonesia but has Gibson America wound pups. The sound was very good and I was amazed by its light weight. Fit and finish was OK. It was sorta like comparing Ikea furniture with Ethan Allen furniture. You can get comfortable on the stuff Ikea sells but you enjoy Ethan Allen quality more.

The set up was horrendous. I could have driven my truck under the strings above the 9th fret but the bridge appeared to be raised way up. The strings felt like crap but that is an easy fix. Priced at a bit lower than $600. without the case was a good price but I need another bass like I need another hole in my stupid head!! I've never played a Gibson made Thunderbird, I'm told they are "da bomb".

Sepp
 

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