Here's mine... A 2004 or 2005 I think! Have tarted her up as a Gibson but she is an Epiphone at heart
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The Epiphone Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter JaySeeDoubleYou
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I don't remember if I mentioned this or not... but I swapped on the tuners on mine for Hipshot Ultralites. They were direct drop in. No modifications whatsoever... and man do they make a difference. The bass not only tunes up better, but they also improved the sustain. Add those along with the SuperTone bridge and you've got a winning combination.
How much does it help with the neckdive issue? I would expect some help as you lighten the head and weight the body. I just wish that hardware wasn't so expensive.
The Silversun Pickups were on Conan tonight. Nikki Monanger was playing one of her TBirds (I think that's all she plays). Here's a photo, but I don't know if this is the Bird she was playing on Conan.
Looks like I'll be joining this club very soon.. I just purchased an Epiphone Goth T-bird! It's still on it's way to me, but I can put a pic from the seller as proof. 
My intention is to play it a while and then start upgrading it piece by piece... Hipshot bridge, maybe some new pickups and finally... a conversion into a "Statusbird" w. a Status Graphite J-bass neck (+ new tuners if the old ones won't fit). We'll see how fast I will get there, but it will happen eventually.
My intention is to play it a while and then start upgrading it piece by piece... Hipshot bridge, maybe some new pickups and finally... a conversion into a "Statusbird" w. a Status Graphite J-bass neck (+ new tuners if the old ones won't fit). We'll see how fast I will get there, but it will happen eventually.
They are lighter than the stock tuners, but not extremely so. Relocating the strap button to the neck pocket (covered earlier in this thread) is the best way to reduce neck dive.
I got my ruler out and did some measurements of the Epiphone pickups...
The Gibson TB+ pickups are 1/8" taller than the Epiphone pickups so to put them in you would have to carefully grind out 1/16" on the top and bottom of the pickup cavity.
Why thank you , thank you very much.
Man I forgot all about this thread.
I will post a review and pics when I can.
just let me say I love the bass. I even do not experience the neck dive spoken of by others.
I ended up $500 under budget for X-Mass presents so now I'm looking to spend the money before I do something silly like save it.
I went down to GG earlier today and tried out an Epi TB Goth IV. I was blown away: for $300 it has great sound, good tone variance for a passive bass, beautiful looks, acceptable weight (which really surprised me) and the neck was quite comfortable to play.
On-line I found that Epi has a TB model called the Nikki Sixx for $100 more. Apparently, the Sixx has better pups and pinstriping on the fretboard. But, from the photos it looks like the control it has is a pup selector switch. I don't see a volume knob anywheres. Is that right?
Does anyone think the Sixx is worth the extra $100?
BTW, I am aware of the active Pro IV for $500, but that's over the $400 budget I'm setting here.
I went down to GG earlier today and tried out an Epi TB Goth IV. I was blown away: for $300 it has great sound, good tone variance for a passive bass, beautiful looks, acceptable weight (which really surprised me) and the neck was quite comfortable to play.
On-line I found that Epi has a TB model called the Nikki Sixx for $100 more. Apparently, the Sixx has better pups and pinstriping on the fretboard. But, from the photos it looks like the control it has is a pup selector switch. I don't see a volume knob anywheres. Is that right?
Does anyone think the Sixx is worth the extra $100?
BTW, I am aware of the active Pro IV for $500, but that's over the $400 budget I'm setting here.
I ended up $500 under budget for X-Mass presents so now I'm looking to spend the money before I do something silly like save it.
I went down to GG earlier today and tried out an Epi TB Goth IV. I was blown away: for $300 it has great sound, good tone variance for a passive bass, beautiful looks, acceptable weight (which really surprised me) and the neck was quite comfortable to play.
On-line I found that Epi has a TB model called the Nikki Sixx for $100 more. Apparently, the Sixx has better pups and pinstriping on the fretboard. But, from the photos it looks like the control it has is a pup selector switch. I don't see a volume knob anywheres. Is that right?
Does anyone think the Sixx is worth the extra $100?
BTW, I am aware of the active Pro IV for $500, but that's over the $400 budget I'm setting here.
I've never had the chance to play the Epi Sixx model, but I thought it had a volume knob and a switch? A guy I know at a different forum own's one and said it is a more agressive sounding bass compared to the standard model and the neck is 1 1/2" wide at the nut, so it's more like a Gibson's neck. As for it being worth $100 more, I couldn't say. That would be your call.
BTW I've seen the new Pro IV's on ebay for $429 shipped, so thats not much over the budget.
If you bide your time & watch ebay, they can be had for less than that. I bought mine (IV) for 399 + shipping, total around 425, & an Epi Tbird case included!
I ended up $500 under budget for X-Mass presents so now I'm looking to spend the money before I do something silly like save it.
I went down to GG earlier today and tried out an Epi TB Goth IV. I was blown away: for $300 it has great sound, good tone variance for a passive bass, beautiful looks, acceptable weight (which really surprised me) and the neck was quite comfortable to play.
On-line I found that Epi has a TB model called the Nikki Sixx for $100 more. Apparently, the Sixx has better pups and pinstriping on the fretboard. But, from the photos it looks like the control it has is a pup selector switch. I don't see a volume knob anywheres. Is that right?
Does anyone think the Sixx is worth the extra $100?
BTW, I am aware of the active Pro IV for $500, but that's over the $400 budget I'm setting here.
The Epi Blackbird (Nikki Sixx) doesnt have pinstriping - but does have "Iron Cross" inlays on the neck. There are no knobs - just an on/off switch which activates both pickups. The pickups are branded as "deep six", but my bet is that they are just relabled standard Epi T-bird pups for marketing purposes.
To begin with I can compare it with the real deal, because I also own a 90's era Gibson Tbird. Playing and finish wise, the Epi holds its own ...and then some. I actually prefer the oiled finish (mine is the natural oil finish) to the high gloss on the Gibson. As Tbirds go, I would say the Epi is primo, looks and playing-wise.
THe electronics are ok...not great. Typical Asian-producted active electronices, IMO. Had a bit of a hum when I 1st got it. Through various minor modifications the hum is now minimized to the point where I'd say there is no more issue.
...So I'd summarize by saying I like it a lot. I bought it playing-and-sight-unseen so I was taking a chance. I was a bit disappointed with the electronics at 1st, but now that the hum is gone, and I have changed the factory strings to my regular brand (GHS Boomers) I'd say that I'm very happy with it.
Here is my Epiphone T -bird - It's got a Hipshot bridge, new knobs and I made a new pick guard and truss rod cover.
If you are still giving numbers I'd like one - Thanks
I have the 5 pro being delivered on the 29th. What did you do to fix the hum?
Mine is one of the earliest models (bought it used in Sept), so it had already been somewhere else, before me. Hopefully Epi has already remedied this issue, and it won't be a problem for you. I know several members here already sent theirs back to the place of purchase, or in for repair, so the builder should be aware...
Mine was worst around florescent lights, and became worse if hands were removed from the metal parts of the bass, indicating a grounding problem. I opened the rear access and removed the wiring to have a look. Caution: LOTS of wiring and "stuff" in there, a box of some sort, presumably with a circuit board...anyway, very tight fit with all the wiring and etc, rough to put everything back in cleanly. BTW, I found nothing to indicate a defect, or bad soldering job, at least to my amateur self. I then removed the bridge and checked the ground wire. I found it just laying there, not attached to anything, so I stripped the end and wrapped it around one of the bridge screws. That seemed to help. Also, changing the strings seemed to make a difference. Don't ask how, I just know when I changed from the stock strings, the noise was reduced to a point where it's no longer an issue. It will still produce some (a bit) of noise if the active treble control is boosted fully, but I don't use the bass set as such, so for me, it's not a concern.
IMO, any hum or buzzing on a new modern design instrument is too much. None of my other active basses...and I own several...has any issues with noise at all. If I had bought my bass direct from a dealer, it would have gone back, at least for a repair, if not replacement. Since I bought mine used, it was my baby. For any one who can use this info, I hope this helps.
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