New Bass Day! Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbird

[bassgtarman]

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.

 

[godofthunder59]

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.

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.

 

[bassgtarman]

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.View attachment 3854839

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!

 

[godofthunder59]

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!

I do have a tobacco sunburst VP

 

[bassgtarman]

I do have a tobacco sunburst VP View attachment 3854871

I knew that you did!

 

[bassgtarman]

I do have a tobacco sunburst VP View attachment 3854871

Where'd you get the tug bar?

 

[jeff7bass]

Nice bass with great pickups. I have them on my Embassy Pro. Kinda wish I spent a few extra bucks for your bass!

 

[godofthunder59]

Where'd you get the tug bar?

I make them.

 

[bassgtarman]

I make them.

Oh nice!

 

[bassgtarman]

I make them.

I'd love to come up with some covers and a rest. I'm a sucker for vintage-y looking basses.

 

[godofthunder59]

I'd love to come up with some covers and a rest. I'm a sucker for vintage-y looking basses.

Make those as well.

 

[Super Bass]

Nice bass!

 

[40Hz]

Congratulations on your new bass.

Few basses lay down as large a sonic or visual footprint as a TBird. Play it well.

 

[jeff7bass]

Who here has compared the new Vintage Probucker pickups to the Gibson T-Bird ceramic PU's?

 

[BB Brian]

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.

 

[bassgtarman]

Make those as well.

DO you by chance sell them?

 

[Killing Floor]

Whoa, congrats. That looks like it’s about to get angry. Have fun with it.

 

[Guild B301]

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!

 

[klejst]

Very cool and nice classic Peavey setup too.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

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.