The newer bolt on Epi IV's now have 1.5" nuts (at least the one that I played at GC recently) and the finish was done in a brighter hue more closely resembling the Gibson. I know I'm in the minority when I say I really like the Epi TB pickups, but for $299 I think it's a great deal on a solid bass.
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Thoughts on Gibson Thunderbird
- Thread starter c2aBassist
- Start date
Do the Epi pickups have the same dimensions so that you can swap in random other soapbars in TB format?
The Epi pups are a standard "soapbar" shape, and some folks here have swapped them out for Duncans. Regular Gibson TB+ shaped pickups wont fit in the route. However, the Mike Lull "T" pickups are shallow enough that I was able to install one in the bridge position of my Epi by just letting it rest on the surface over the existing route and screwing it into place.
love mine, superlight,
The Epi though, shouldn't have ever been made IMO, completely cheap imitation of the real thing.
The Epi though, shouldn't have ever been made IMO, completely cheap imitation of the real thing.
I think this thread completely sums it up - ain't nothing like a Gibson Thunderbird. People that try to compare thunderbirds to all kinds of the "other" bass characteristics and tone totally miss the point - it's a Thunderbird and there's nothing else like it on the open market. Classic look, great tone and comfortable to play.
Those that have them, play them.
Those that don't, don't know!
And the transformation and magic unfortunately doesn't happen until you actually own one
Those that have them, play them.
Those that don't, don't know!
And the transformation and magic unfortunately doesn't happen until you actually own one
I dont play metal, my genre is Aussie pub rock aka ACDC, The Angels, Status Quo. I love playing my t-birds and each one has a different feel and a different tone. So take everyone's advise and take a bunch of t-birds for a test run and find the one that is right for you. In the end it might be a Spector or a Dean that fits the bill better. Only you will know.
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I played one yesterday and it was okay. It was a 2011 model, with a smaller headstock than the "large" headstock you usually see. I wasn't a fan of the headstock really. I was really hoping that I was going to like it more than I did, maybe it was just that particular one.
It was hard to judge how well it sounded & played. The strings were on the older side and I was playing through a rig that I've never played through before. I thought it sounded a little undefined, perhaps muddy. But that very well could be due to the rig or strings.
It was hard to judge how well it sounded & played. The strings were on the older side and I was playing through a rig that I've never played through before. I thought it sounded a little undefined, perhaps muddy. But that very well could be due to the rig or strings.
Epiphone pro 4 for me as well.
Great bridge just a great underated bass
Set up from factory was rubbish but a brass nut is easy to work on.
Great bass for cutting through and has a great slap tone as well.
Great bridge just a great underated bass
Set up from factory was rubbish but a brass nut is easy to work on.
Great bass for cutting through and has a great slap tone as well.
Just recently picked up a Thunderbird after selling my Fender USA P. All I can say is, I am glad I did.
This plus neckdive and very few replacement pups if you want diff pup sound. Make it a odd bass. Diff a try before you buy bass. I've owned gibson tbird 1976, and epi tbird. Neither was capable of really satisfying long term due to the above 3 issues.
i played a real Gibson TBird for the first time a couple weeks ago. all in all it was better than i expected. neck was thin, sorta jazz bass-ish, and it played real well. lightweight too. didn't play with a strap so i don't know about the infamous neck dive. QC/fit & finish appeared to be pretty solid. soundwise it had its own thing going on. i was surprised at what a good bridge pickup sound it had. you could do a little of that jaco finger funk on it - unexpected! in general though, the tone was not really my thing. it was thick and thin in the wrong places. i did get a pretty usable tone by running both pickups and backing off the neck pickup a TINY bit. the volume knobs were extremely sensitive in the first 10% of their rotation, so the smallest adjustment made it sound really different.
I remember Pete Way using a Thunderbird with UFO years ago. The neck dive thing didn't seem to bother him. Excellent tone, too.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,206
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
not my first choice for a tech death band ... i would go for the modern ones that has lots of treble.
i own an epi t-bird ... i usually like wearing my basses low, but for the tbird, i have to wear it a little higher. yes, there is neck dive, the bass wants to sit horizontally for the most part. the tone of the epi is boomy, but it works for me, cause i dont play metal as much, and i could use more bass in my songs.
here's a bass play along of me with the tbird
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAb5eRYl1sw
i have heard comments that with the way i hold it, the bass doesn't seem like it had neck dive lol i guess i faked it real well ... you'd also notice the left arm stretch is longer than usual. you might wanna take that into consideration.
i own an epi t-bird ... i usually like wearing my basses low, but for the tbird, i have to wear it a little higher. yes, there is neck dive, the bass wants to sit horizontally for the most part. the tone of the epi is boomy, but it works for me, cause i dont play metal as much, and i could use more bass in my songs.
here's a bass play along of me with the tbird
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAb5eRYl1sw
i have heard comments that with the way i hold it, the bass doesn't seem like it had neck dive lol i guess i faked it real well ... you'd also notice the left arm stretch is longer than usual. you might wanna take that into consideration.
It only fits in my car with the top down (Ford Thunderbird) and won't even fit in the trunk haha.
I wanted to know how many people play it with the strap over the front. Just saw a few pics on this page where the strap is not in the front. I can't see how you can play it like this. It pulls forward a lot. It is quite confortable with the strap holding the front though.
I wanted to know how many people play it with the strap over the front. Just saw a few pics on this page where the strap is not in the front. I can't see how you can play it like this. It pulls forward a lot. It is quite confortable with the strap holding the front though.
