The Epiphone Thunderbird Club

[rdwil191]

This sounds somehow familiar...

"I don't always play with flats, but when I do I prefer Chromes. Stay thumpy my friends."

I've been reading about "chromes", too....mucho good reviews. I think I'll put a set on the goth & give them a whirl. Had a set of GHS brite flats (ground wound) lurking around & put them on a fretless...sound good, but not smooth enough. They catch the callouses on the fingies. Think I'll try the Roto 88's on that. Thanks for your help.

 

[96tbird]

Just picked it up last night. The seller and I met in a big box store parking lot as I live in the country, it was like a drug deal!! so he tells me he wanted an acoustic guitar for his birthday and his wife brought the T bird home and said "look honey, I got you a guitar." !! So he opens the original cardboard box and the foam wrapping material hasn't even been taken off the head... bound with an elastic band., not a fingerprint anywhere.

So we settle at $265.00 Canadian. NICE!!

Took a small black nylock nut and a washer (the rounded head of the nut, where the nylon lock sits fits into the countersunk screw relief on the neckplate perfectly) , removed the bottom left neck screw and that's my new strap button.

Had to drop the bridge like ten turns to get action right!!, no buzzing and only a couple turns left on the poles!

This is a realy nice guitar. I see why you all love 'em.

Gimme a number!!!

 

[rdwil191]

Put a set of ECB81 Chromes on my Goth, last night & played today....WOW! Exactly the sound I was looking for. Took some of the inherit t-bird "growl" away, the only drawback, but they really helped smooth out the sound. GREAT tone & much easier to dial in particular tones for different songs. So smooth! Great flats! Gonna get a set of ECB82 mediums for the other 'bird. Just prefer the fatter strings. Much thanks to those who recommended them!

 

[xninjagrrl]

What gauge strings do you guys use on your tbirds? I recently got my Goth from ebay and the black beauties that came on it are falling apart. I will post some pics in the near future so you guys can see how bad ass it looks.

 

[portaflexer]

I'm running Sadowsky SBN45's (45, 65, 85, 105) on mine & I love 'em.

 

[rdwil191]

What gauge strings do you guys use on your tbirds? I recently got my Goth from ebay and the black beauties that came on it are falling apart. I will post some pics in the near future so you guys can see how bad ass it looks.

Just put 45-100 on my Goth, see my previous post. Pretty sure they were the same gauge as what it came with. My other bird seems to have 50-105 on it, and I like the fatter strings . Suits my style better.

 

[WalterVega]

In 2008, I bought a new 2004 Epiphone Thunderbird Goth. While checking the web, I found it available in only one shop in whole Paris, France! Because I'm living in Tunisia, I gave the money to a friend of mine who was going to Paris. When he went to the shop, they answered him that they hadn't any Tbird Goth left in stock. It was heartbreaking. I told my friend that they were liars for listing it as "available" on their site. Then he went back to the shop, and told them that it was listed available on their site (he wasn't aware of that). The two sellers were quite embarrassed and thought it was probably a bug on their site, but then, one of them went in the storage room, and after 5 minutes, yelled "Hey! There is one left over there!". Si I've bought the only Epi Tbird Goth available in Paris : D (End of the story)
I just love everything about this bass, from the sound to its look. Fact: there is a neck dive problem, but for me that was part of the character of a Thunderbird. I say "was" because I've solved the problem, without drilling a single hole in my bass. I'll put some pictures later (Currently at work.. and "working" as you can see)
Oh, and I've even named it Alice Thunder, and I've covered the Celtic Cross (on the pickguard) with a Misfits Skull sticker.
And, contrary to general opinion, the Tbird IS a versatile bass. And people who can't get any versatility from a Tbird are just proving the statement of my signature : )

 

[96tbird]

So, I ordered some korean tuners for anther bass and looking at the elephant ear pegs, I wondered if they'd fit the tuners on the Tbird. Whaddya know, retro style. I am tempted to drill out the headstock and put the other machines on it, they are open frame (I love open frame) and have a old style fat shaft on them.... should I do IT??

 

[portaflexer]

I think it looks cool. Definitely adds a vintage vibe.

 

[wolfinsheep]

Brought out the new 5 String T-bird last night for its first show, and I'm quite pleased. Found myself rocking out a bit harder knowing that I'm holding and playing the sexiest peice of bass I've ever touched. Clearly I'm very proud to finally own one. Tone was great, as far as I could tell, which is my biggest concern with a new bass - getting it to sound as good, or better than my previous. I believe I'm getting there.

Can I get one of those fancy numbers you cats all got?

 

[Stinsok]

I don't think I ever posted a completed pic, but I finally finished my t-bird project. Enjoy.

It was a 10 step process:
1. move strap button to neck pocket
2. replace all strap buttons with Schaller strap locks
3. swap stock pickguard for goth pickguard
4. install Hipshot SuperTone bridge
5. install Hipshot Ultralite tuners
6. swap Epi TRC for Gibson TRC
7. install Seymour Duncan SSB-4 pickups
8. install custom made pickup rings
9. swap Epi knobs for Gibson knobs
10. Rock out with c*ck out

Do you have any soundclips? I am interested in these pickups for my T-Bird.

 

[portaflexer]

Here are the clips (from another thread) that made me want to buy them.

Thunderbird Before Seymour Duncans/Tone Styler Both Pups Full (Link Removed)
Thunderbird After Seymour Duncans/Tone Styler Both Pups Full (Link Removed)

Thunderbird Before Seymour Duncans/Tone Styler Bridge Pups Full (Link Removed)
Thunderbird After Seymour Duncans/Tone Styler Bridge Pups Full (Link Removed)

Thunderbird Before Seymour Duncans/Tone Styler Neck Full (Link Removed)
Thunderbird After Seymour Duncans/Tone Styler Neck Pups Full (Link Removed)

Slap Bass w/ very little EQ, just slight smiley. I could never get the stock pickups to slap well... the G string came out to full sounding and rude.
Slap Bass EQ'd (Link Removed)

 

[The-Priest]

Just got her tonight I hope to join and get a number!
Link Removed

Link Removed

 

[mesza]

Yesterday I sold the red bird from my first pic cause it was not nearly as good as the older white one. Both are "Limited Editions"... but the differences are large!
Today I bought a Thunderbird Pro IV Trans Black, think it is a cool rocker, isn't it? Now I have two very different birds...and a vintage Preci... ;-)

 

[mesza]

This is the the new Thunderbabe

 

[Stinsok]

Here are the clips (from another thread) that made me want to buy them.

Thanks! That bass looks awesome!

 

[moonshinegtrs]

I have a Epi Elite T-Bird, a Epi silverburst T-Bird (Chrome hardware & Humbuckers), I am building a Fenderbird out of an Epi sunburst T-Bird & I just bought a natural oil finish Epi T-Bird Pro IV today (Loving the TB Pro, may be putting the silverburst up for sale)...

Can I get a number?

Moonshine

 

[dra6n]

Just got this bass. First bass after some years of not playing. This is a very sound guitar, though very heavy I love the build! Not too great for slap but the tone is beautiful! Much better than my old soundgear thats for sure!

Just recently put Black Beauties (black strings) on her.

 

[Stinsok]

Got my $140.00 BIN T-Bird after nearly 2 weeks of waiting. The action was high and the pickups were low. Worked on it till I got it where I like it. The strings that came on it were alright, but I chose to put a new set of DR Highbeams on it. It sounds ok, but to me it's a very thin line between mud and harsh. I am planning on doing a pickup swap soon. I know it doesn't exist yet (no pics and all.)

 

[Lawliet]

Hi everyone,

I'm in !
I kept the body and neck, improved the rest.

I had to cut some .060" pickguard blank to fit the PU rings with Gibson chrome humbuckers which sound excellent.
This one is way lighter than the RD artist I used to have.