The Epiphone Thunderbird Club

[Delta_Petra]

Hey everyone!
I know I have not been around this forum in MONTHS and have been behind on new members wanting to join to club. My jobs and other interests have taken me away from TalkBass so I think it is time to pass on the reins of number-giver-person-whatever. If you would like to take over assigning numbers, let me know.

Here is the last list I have of the group and their numbers from back in June 2011. If you want a number, let me (or possibly my replacement) know.

Hobobob74 #1
JaySeeDoubleYou #2
Shredsled87 #3
DaBassman #4
envika #5
Johnny Crab #6
ricdiculous5487 #7
Ramstien #8
Waspinators #9
SUNNyday r. #10
Major Havoc #11
dreadheadbass #12
TheDarkReaver #13
Coward Of Reali #14
Sharp Objects #15
erigod23 #16
Grimace #17
GerManson #18
cerealkilla1980 #19
Michelob_64 #20
poomwah #21
flakeh #22
kazuya #23
xwpx #24
Mofo-Kang #25
Kano2864212 #26
Delta_Petra #27
sup3r_k #28
chromium #29
EnderZ13 #30
amimbari #31
Johnnakis #32
gremlet #33
Dasgre0g #34
davevv #35
VinnieClem #36
Stompboxx #37
TBird1958 #38
-dotzy- #39
OldSchoolBass #40
TheBogart #41
bronzehydra #42
Griev #43
WickedPissah #44
OhioBassFanatic #45
sixgunner #46
stuonbass #47
olemah #48
ThumpsAlot #49
opiumwarsvictor #50
Bting #51
Pearldiver #52
peekypoo #53
RED5 #54
OhioBassFanatic #55
Rob DWL #56
godofthunder59 #57
elplatanazo87 #58
Birdbrain #59
Gougedeye #60
vicvarado #61
Zoidberg523 #62
gonzorob #63
BaldBass #64
Justice #65
johndiz0 #66
keigan #67
poomwah #68
jzhobo77 #69
Xavier Knox #70
euronymous #71
sneha1965 #72
Dozer74 #73
Bass-desires #74
FSSmikey #75
guardian1233 #76
xMaxBASSx #77
prekabreki #78
dog1 #79
MK84 #80
JoeyZ #81
Aenima #82
BrianKrashpad #83
Demonturtle #84
$Lindz$ #85
PatAteThePaste #86
Lemoore-on #87
HUnt49 #88
fuzzfill #89
infamusblkdeath #90
theavondon #91
DRafalske #92
derekale #93
aspygr #94
Stefan B #95
Demonturtle #96
Libertad #97
Buck'Turgidson #98
bui #99
cmlax21 #100
speedkills #101
MusicBokonon #102
Marshbass #103
GR1M #104
Tender Prey #105
Southway #106
Yomo #107
brokencode #108
bassplayer8953 #109
Kestrel #110
omikin #111
xgator4u #112
fordkisskrazy #113
portaflexer #114
bfresh #115
gamester4520503 #116
ShadowRichie #117
Eldo #118
Z –Bar #119
The_Ox #120
Bass Demon #121
Fathand #122
jeff62 #123
bassinzombie #124
poorbassist15 #125
janaya64 #126
ThreeBeanSalad #127
shackled #128
Micolao #129
safleming72 #130
Lazy James #131
uncletupelo #132
jordy on bass #133
bassmachine2112 #134
MRDOOM #135
billiam5billion #136
Rip Topaz #137
rockscott #138
SOCAL310 #139
BREWTAL #140
syndroam #141
PeaveyPippin #142
uncletupelo #143
seabassplaysdat #144
rdwil191 #145
shivester #146
mesza #147
GK guy 94 #148
supersonicmoose #149
96tbird #150
wolfinsheep #151
The-Priest #152
moonshinegtrs #153
Lawliet #154
SDMFJay #155
Drummer Girl #156
birdman14 #157
ThunderousFunk #158
JtheB #159
Prostheta #160
Dr. Eagle #161

 

[96tbird]

Since you bring this up, I never really got the point of numbers. Isn't it just good enough to have a specific thread for all things concerning xxx bass? Do we get a prize if we belong to xxx number of clubs?

Just asking because over at the Squier Vintage Modified club numbers haven't been given for a long time. We now call it an association and new people still post on it with their new basses and share info.

 

[waynegrassfield]

could I have a number?

 

[bassmachine2112]

Hiho,just dropping in to say I,m loving my t-bird pro 4 now.
It now plays like a dream since the neck settled down.It seems to prefer 45-105 strings.
It could be that the thin neck only needs small adjustments for relief.It,s now stable as a rock and pretty flat almost like a Rick.I tried to set it up like a F but that didn,t work.
Could be the through body neck,upshot was I ended up setting it up like my Rick and job done.
Oh it,s a black one

 

[SepreH]

Hello guys!
Add me to the Epi Tbird club!!!
From Christmas (my self-gift) i am the proud owner of a Tbird Pro IV trans black!!!!

For all of you who is asking "...ae the indonesian and chinese ones different?" i answer YES!
They are REALLY different.
And now i explain:
mine one is Indonesian, serial number start with 09.
I compared mine with a Chinese one, and the differences are:

PICKGUARD:mine one got the Thunderbird logo in white/silver and it's kinda carved into the pickguard. If you run a finger on it you can feel the carving. Nice, really nice. The Chinese one's pickguard got the Thunderbird logo stamped on in white color, and it's ticker

NUT: mine is black-painted metal. Chinese is plastic

UNDER PICKGUARD: mine is routed exactly as the Gibson. Chinese not.

STRAP BUTTON: upper one on mine is on the side of the neck.Chinese got it on the "right position to annihilate neck dive"
Not so sorry, i made a new hole, and now it's perfect

You can say "...it's not important" but i prefer mine

Hey...i could be an Epi endorser
Now i own a Tbird Pro, an Eb-3 black and a wonderful Goth Xtreme bass. I love Epiphone!!
I own also a Gibson Thunderbird, but it's another story

Here's the pics of mine in it's case!!
Cya guys
E.

 

[ejaggers]

Since you bring this up, I never really got the point of numbers. Isn't it just good enough to have a specific thread for all things concerning xxx bass? Do we get a prize if we belong to xxx number of clubs?... .

Numbers are like real estate, and go up in value, especially the earlier, “vintage” numbers. When you sell your tbird, you can sell your number for ten times what you paid for it.

In Fact, Can I get a number in the Low Rent district???

My Epi TBird IV Mods:
- Chrome Tuners,
- Gibson Chrome TR cover,
- Chrome brushed PG and screws,
- Replaced black witch hat knobs with Chrome top hats

I’m thinking seriously about replacing the black 3-point with chrome, What do ya’ll think, because I could go either way on this mod. Also thinking about chrome strap locks, or tbird strap buttons.

**** Can Someone Tell Me How To Repair This Ding To The Body? ****

057912

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

**** Can Someone Tell Me How To Repair This Ding To The Body? ****

057912

With a "Made In USA" Gibson sticker?





Regards
Sam

 

[tabdog]

Oops

 

[EssJay]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I'm in love with it. The tone is amazing, the neck is comfortable and the body just feels right for me. I haven't had any of the problems with neck dive that a lot of people get though.

Next week I'm going to get a set of 115 gauge GHS Boomers and get it set up for C standard tuning, but I am also considering going for Rotosound Drop Zones for B tuning (I mostly play sludge/doom metal, so either tuning would work).

I would love to one day get a Gibson bird, but it is way out of my price range. But in the end I think a series of epi's will get the job done for me

 

[auraigroup]

I am looking to buy an odd looking Epi Thunderbird I saw in a pawn shop yesterday but wanted some comments/help first from you folk. Its a nice looking bird, tobacco burst-neck plate on back says nashville/tennesee but on headstock says made in korea. Weirdest thing though is it has a split P pickup for neck and jazz pickup for bridge rather than the 2 standard humbuckers I usually see on these birds. I surfed the net and can't find any mention of a P/J pickup configured epi bird. This does NOT look owner modified either the J pickup fits snugly in the wood body and the split P pickup fits nicely in the neck position. Has anyone seen one of these? any links to pics or info? thoughts? what would you say its worth? thanks!! tom

 

[Mark4]

I'm in love with it. The tone is amazing, the neck is comfortable and the body just feels right for me. I haven't had any of the problems with neck dive that a lot of people get though.

Next week I'm going to get a set of 115 gauge GHS Boomers and get it set up for C standard tuning, but I am also considering going for Rotosound Drop Zones for B tuning (I mostly play sludge/doom metal, so either tuning would work).

I would love to one day get a Gibson bird, but it is way out of my price range. But in the end I think a series of epi's will get the job done for me

Mine doesn't have neck dive issues either. It feels about as balanced as my other basses, and sounds surprisingly good. Although it may not be a Gibson, it's become my favorite.

 

[BassDoc51]

Put a band aid on it

**** Can Someone Tell Me How To Repair This Ding To The Body? ****

057912

 

[Nocturnal]

I am looking to buy an odd looking Epi Thunderbird I saw in a pawn shop yesterday but wanted some comments/help first from you folk. Its a nice looking bird, tobacco burst-neck plate on back says nashville/tennesee but on headstock says made in korea. Weirdest thing though is it has a split P pickup for neck and jazz pickup for bridge rather than the 2 standard humbuckers I usually see on these birds. I surfed the net and can't find any mention of a P/J pickup configured epi bird. This does NOT look owner modified either the J pickup fits snugly in the wood body and the split P pickup fits nicely in the neck position. Has anyone seen one of these? any links to pics or info? thoughts? what would you say its worth? thanks!! tom

Is this the type you are refering to? Scroll down to post #55

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/epiphone-thunderbird-club-388219/index3.html

Those were mine, which I sold several years ago. I have another 4 stringer now which I plan on refinishing. These are from the 90's back before Epi started making the typical reverse body Birds. These were made in Korea. How did you like playing it?

 

[auraigroup]

Yep..thanks-that's what mine looks like. Reverse body and split P and jazz pickups. Actually I like playing it and I like the tone over the standard humbuckers too. Picked it up in a pawnshop this past weekend. I have an old hi mass dimarzio brass bridge that looks like it fits (from the early 80s) and a P/J set of dimarzio pickups that I hope to install this week. I hoping that will pump up the sustain & the the tone. I'll post pics & let you know how it sounds when I finish the mods.

 

[Nocturnal]

I installed a Dimarzio P pickup in my current 4 stringer and it made a big difference. Its a great player!

 

[auraigroup]

did some research so learned that the original (ie non-reverse) body styling was in fact the original shape of the thunderbird but Gibson changed it due to poor sales and Fender complaining that the original t-bird was an enfringement on their own design.
For about 3-4 years in the mid 90's Epiphone went back to the 'non-reverse' or 'original' body style for the t-bird however instead of 2 humbuckers they went with the fender special pickup configuration namely P/J. interestling.....

 

[stiles72]

The original Thunderbird that ran from '63-'65 was actually the "regular" body shape, like modern T-birds.

 

[rshack]

did some research so learned that the original (ie non-reverse) body styling was in fact the original shape of the thunderbird but Gibson changed it due to poor sales and Fender complaining that the original t-bird was an enfringement on their own design.

I think you got it backwards. The current shape is the original shape. It's called the reverse because the lower bout is longer than the upper bout, which is the reverse of what's was more-or-less normal for solid body electric guitars and basses (mainly Fenders). It was the same basic design as Gibson's Firebird guitar, and both resulted from Gibson hiring Ray Dietrich. Dietrich was a famous American car designer from the era of expensive coachbuilt cars prior to WW2, when a rich customer would buy just a rolling chassis from Packard or Lincoln and then choose a coachbuilder to design and build a body for it.

After about three years, Gibson changed to the non-reverse shape (upper bout longer than lower bout, as was normal). This was in response to a lawsuit by Fender which claimed Gibson was stealing the design of their Jazzmaster. (This never made sense to me, as the non-reverse seems more similar to the Jazzmaster than the original reverse shape does, but what do I know?) After 3 or 4 years, Gibson quit making them altogether. When they brought the Thunderbord back several years later in '76, it was the original reverse shape.

 

[J Gold]

anyone notice the price drop on the Pro IV on sweetwater? it might be a sign that I need to pull the trigger..

 

[bassplayer8953]

anyone notice the price drop on the Pro IV on sweetwater? it might be a sign that I need to pull the trigger..

Gibson/Epiphone lowered the retail price on the Pro IV, and Sweetwater is adjusting accordingly. I'd be surprised if any of the majors don't follow suit.

I paid 400 for my Pro IV used. Included a hsc, so I still think I did ok. Bass is definitely worth the price.