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New Bass Day! Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbird

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by bassgtarman, Jun 4, 2020.

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  1. Jun 4, 2020 #1
    bassgtarman

    bassgtarman

    Feb 7, 2014
    Colorado
    I owned an ‘86 Gibson Custom Shop Thunderbird a long time ago, but sold it to buy my ‘77 Jazz. I always kind of wanted another one someday, but couldn’t really justify the price. Recently, I’d been eyeing the Epiphone Vintage Pro model and really like the way they look. I read up on them and watched some reviews. I just retired last week, so I decided to pull the trigger and get myself a gift. It just arrived from Sweetwater this morning. Man! I am really impressed! It was a demo model with a tiny little ding on the back of the treble horn (barely noticeable and nothing I wouldn’t do on my own in a week or two anyway!). It sounds great and is more comfortable than I remember my old one being. I doubt that it will become my main bass (this makes number 15 in the arsenal), but I’m really looking forward to trying it out at band practice this weekend. It sounds like a beast through my Ampeg rig.

    When I was in high school in ‘82, I had a chance to buy a ‘64 Thunderbird IV. I had just bought a Rickenbacker a couple of months earlier, and thought my parents would be upset if I spent another $400. D’oh!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Here are pics of the ‘86 and the new one.
     

    Attached Files:

    herndonbassist, wintremute, paco facile and 22 others like this.
  2. Jun 4, 2020 #2
    godofthunder59

    godofthunder59 Life is short, buy the bass.

    Feb 19, 2006
    Rochester NY USA
    Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
    Welcome to the club! Best Thunderbird built since the 60's, in some ways better. I have been a Thunderbird guy since '76 ! I have seven 60's nonreverse, a '77 , 2001, 2013 plus over a dozen custom builds etc I love the Vintage Pro Thunderbird so much bought three. 20191005_170512.jpg
     
    byoung93888, paco facile, maxschrek and 11 others like this.
  3. Jun 4, 2020 #3
    bassgtarman

    bassgtarman

    Feb 7, 2014
    Colorado
    When I was researching to decide whether to buy one, I looked at a lot of your posts! I originally wanted a white one, but Sweetwater had this one as a demo and I thought "Well, that's how a Thunderbird OUGHT to look" (visions of The Ox dancing in my head!), so, there you go!
     
    PillO, TBird1958 and godofthunder59 like this.
  4. Jun 4, 2020 #4
    godofthunder59

    godofthunder59 Life is short, buy the bass.

    Feb 19, 2006
    Rochester NY USA
    Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
    I do have a tobacco sunburst VP 20180919_200932.jpg
     
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  5. Jun 4, 2020 #5
    bassgtarman

    bassgtarman

    Feb 7, 2014
    Colorado
    PillO and jeff7bass like this.
  6. Jun 4, 2020 #6
    bassgtarman

    bassgtarman

    Feb 7, 2014
    Colorado
    Where'd you get the tug bar?
     
    PillO and godofthunder59 like this.
  7. Jun 4, 2020 #7
    jeff7bass

    jeff7bass Inactive

    Apr 9, 2009
    Nice bass with great pickups. I have them on my Embassy Pro. Kinda wish I spent a few extra bucks for your bass!
     
    PillO and bassgtarman like this.
  8. Jun 4, 2020 #8
    godofthunder59

    godofthunder59 Life is short, buy the bass.

    Feb 19, 2006
    Rochester NY USA
    Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
    I make them.
     
    byoung93888, petrus61, PillO and 1 other person like this.
  9. Jun 4, 2020 #9
    bassgtarman

    bassgtarman

    Feb 7, 2014
    Colorado
    Oh nice!
     
    PillO likes this.
  10. Jun 4, 2020 #10
    bassgtarman

    bassgtarman

    Feb 7, 2014
    Colorado
    I'd love to come up with some covers and a rest. I'm a sucker for vintage-y looking basses.
     
    bassliner50 and PillO like this.
  11. Jun 4, 2020 #11
    godofthunder59

    godofthunder59 Life is short, buy the bass.

    Feb 19, 2006
    Rochester NY USA
    Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
    Make those as well.
     
    byoung93888, petrus61, PillO and 1 other person like this.
  12. Jun 4, 2020 #12
    Super Bass

    Super Bass

    Feb 4, 2017
    Alberta, Canada
    Nice bass!
     
    PillO likes this.
  13. Jun 4, 2020 #13
    40Hz

    40Hz Supporting Member

    May 24, 2006
    home
    Congratulations on your new bass. :)

    Few basses lay down as large a sonic or visual footprint as a TBird. Play it well. :thumbsup:
     
  14. Jun 4, 2020 #14
    jeff7bass

    jeff7bass Inactive

    Apr 9, 2009
    Who here has compared the new Vintage Probucker pickups to the Gibson T-Bird ceramic PU's?
     
  15. Jun 4, 2020 #15
    BB Brian

    BB Brian

    Apr 15, 2020
    West Texas
    Congrats! I have looked at those a lot. I've never played a T-bird though, so I would hesitate to buy one until I could get my hands on one to see if I like the feel and sound.
     
  16. Jun 4, 2020 #16
    bassgtarman

    bassgtarman

    Feb 7, 2014
    Colorado
    DO you by chance sell them?
     
  17. Jun 4, 2020 #17
    Killing Floor

    Killing Floor Supporting Member

    Feb 7, 2020
    Austin, TX
    Whoa, congrats. That looks like it’s about to get angry. Have fun with it.
     
  18. Jun 4, 2020 #18
    Guild B301

    Guild B301

    Feb 9, 2020
    Austin, Texas
    This will upset many of you, but I bought an Epiphone PRO. I have a lot of old vintage Gibson Thunderbirds & I actually prefer the 70’s ones with the 3 point bridges.
    I haven’t joined the Thunderbird club - cause they’d hate that!
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2020
    godofthunder59 likes this.
  19. Jun 5, 2020 #19
    klejst

    klejst Guest

    Oct 5, 2010
    Very cool and nice classic Peavey setup too.
     
  20. Jun 5, 2020 #20
    S.F.Sorrow

    S.F.Sorrow

    Dec 6, 2014
    Congrats! These are SERIOUSLY great basses! The pickups are INSANE! I actually like them far better than the current Gibson T-birds.

    Personally I think these basses are in the "too good to be true" category and may suffer the same fate as the pre-2018 Chinese Squier CVs once Gibson realise their "mistake". I mean, I honestly can't understand why anyone would spend a fortune on a new Gibson T-bird instead of these Epis. Not that the Gibsons aren't good instrument. These are just way cooler IMO.
     
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