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Opinoins on Epiphone Thunderbird?
- Thread starter Jared92
- Start date
i just bought a goth t-bird today. it seems to default to a growly punk or metal tone, but i played some blues on it and it works great for that too (after rolling off some treble). if you slap, then it's good for that too (i can't slap but i was messing around and discovered that slap worked well on it). the mid pickup isn't great, but the bridge pickup is nice. i will admit there's a huge neck dive, but for some reason it doesn't bother me much except for the strain that it puts on my shoulder. it has a VERY high output, and the tone control gives medium flexibility, but changing the capacitor to a higher value will fix that. it was of one the best-sounding ones that i played out of all the basses under $500 in the store, but the ones that sounded better costed a lot more and didn't really sound like they costed more. looks amazing (even better in person), plays pretty well, set up well out of the box. the goth t-bird is mahogany and the regular is alder. the alder one sounded different (a little better imo) but was balanced worse. i wouldn't suggest ordering one without trying it out first, because the neck dive could really be a problem. but it sounds really good for the money.
Hi.
To OP, I think that the Epi T-bird is THE bass for rock both look- and tonewise. There's a several issues with the QC, but as always, the low price forgives a lot.
I'd personally still buy an used one, one that You can try before making the desicion. Chances are that an used bass that sells for 300$ new, won't cost too much used and as an additional bonus, should have the issues sorted out and in better playing condition than a brand new one.
If the Epi is not a must, the vintage Japanese Grecos', Orvilles' and such are said to be much better. I have no idea as those brands aren't common here in the northern Europe.
I still think that the Epi T-Bird is a good value bass and quite versatile too if You just spend a little time with the controls.
I did it like this, not the only way, but it's roughly in the same position now as in my Gibson Firebird. With a 3" strap it doesn't bother me at all.
First I drilled a pilot hole through the neck plate with a core diameter bit and then enlargened the hole in the neck plate with an OD sized bit.
Do install strap-locks when You're at it, saves a lot of grief later on.
Just my 0.02
Sam
To OP, I think that the Epi T-bird is THE bass for rock both look- and tonewise. There's a several issues with the QC, but as always, the low price forgives a lot.
I'd personally still buy an used one, one that You can try before making the desicion. Chances are that an used bass that sells for 300$ new, won't cost too much used and as an additional bonus, should have the issues sorted out and in better playing condition than a brand new one.
If the Epi is not a must, the vintage Japanese Grecos', Orvilles' and such are said to be much better. I have no idea as those brands aren't common here in the northern Europe.
I still think that the Epi T-Bird is a good value bass and quite versatile too if You just spend a little time with the controls.
I own a Epiphone Thunderbird with a bad neck dive. How do you move the strap button fix it?
I did it like this, not the only way, but it's roughly in the same position now as in my Gibson Firebird. With a 3" strap it doesn't bother me at all.
First I drilled a pilot hole through the neck plate with a core diameter bit and then enlargened the hole in the neck plate with an OD sized bit.
Do install strap-locks when You're at it, saves a lot of grief later on.
Just my 0.02
Sam
you guys are wrong. it is NOT a heavy bass. it's very, very light. now my jazz bass, that things ****ing heavy. thunderbirds have comfortable bodies.
i do find the neck to be clunky. on the other hand, a jazz neck is way too thin for me.
i do find the neck to be clunky. on the other hand, a jazz neck is way too thin for me.
after a while you'll get used to the diving neck, but i guess is a bad "feature" if you do vocals too.
