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Thunderbird advice needed

casper_morgan

casper_morgan

Guest
Feb 20, 2013
237
46
Arlington, Tx
www.residingregret.com
#1
ok... here are my 2 options...

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Given pricing and specs... can anyone tell me in simple-ish terms what the differences are and if the price justifies one or the other. And yes i work at Guitar Center but I'm not in sales, i work in ops, so I don't know much about guitar hardware/electronics/pickups.

Are the pickups on one of these better than the other? What makes the difference between that 100$ ? Where does craftmanship really take president down the line of thunderbirds?
 
#2
there is a definite difference between the two, and I'm sure someone with a bit more knowledge on the subject will chime in soon, but here it goes:

pretty sure the classic has more laminates (7?), passive electronics and USA Gibson TB+ pickups

the pro has epiphone pickups and an active preamp of some type
 
#4
The Epi "PRO" series with the active EQ has had reports of fretwire issues(i.e. folks with rounds chewing them up fast IIRC). The PRO has a much better bridge(not the 3 point nightmare). On my PRO, I've not had that issue but did have the input jack "fall into" the body and had to do a bit of work to repair it(plastic-based jack housing I believe). I would LOVE the PRO and play it a lot more if it had BASS MID or BASS MID HIGH as its active controls.

Currently I've got a bolt-neck Epi, the Epi PRO V(5-string), a Rondo clone, and will get the white $499 model with the Gibson pickups. I SOLD my real white Gibson after comparing it in a performance situation to the Rondo($199) clone.
The $499 Epi Gibson pickups will get replaced with Greco chrome T-bird pickups and then the Gibson pickups will be sold as the Greco pickups sound A LOT LIKE the 63/64 Thunderbird pickups(used those for over a decade in the 70's~80's). Plus I'm afflicted with chromitis(the love of shiny pickups on T-Birds).

Which one?
If you can, go to your GC and play them both and ignore the crappy setup if that's what GC has but pay close attention to the feel of the neck. They should be very close but pick the one that fits your hand.
Active vs passive? Run them thru an amp. The only use I found for the active on the PRO V was to boost the B string(bass) a bit. The treble boost seemed to have a center frequency that was pretty much useless for anything but adding finger/fret noise. It would have been better served with a midrange frequency boost/cut.
 
#6
main differences are the Pro has active electronics, Maple/walnut neck, flush mount/fully adjustable bridge, fancy truss rod system(maybe, classic doesn't mention truss rod sys, so I would assume it to be traditional
the Classic appears to just be a Korean made Gibson copy, All mohagany/walnut(no cheap maple) but unlike the reg Epi Tbird, you got neck thru, and some "!!real Gibson Pups!!".

BUT, bottom line, you get what you pay for. the Pro is less expensive because it is probably "cheaper":hmm:

I'd get the Classic, not in white though
 
#7
I have the white classic 4 and love it. And it doesn't neck dive either. The bolt on Epi third I had was a terrible neck diver! As far as getting what you pay for, your getting a great bass for cheap money. Its made in Indonesia if that really matters. The fit and finish on mine is great, but I may update the bridge someday if it gives me issues. One of the better basses I have owned over the years.
 
#9
I have both. They are of similar build quality, and both are priced appropriately. The Pro has active electronics that "sound active," if you understand what I mean. I prefer the classic, but can't give you tangible reasons as to why. Both are great players.

Anybody that complains of neck dive doesn't understand the ergonomics of a Thunderbird. Or is just trying to cause trouble.
 
#10
wvbass said:
I have both. They are of similar build quality, and both are priced appropriately. The Pro has active electronics that "sound active," if you understand what I mean. I prefer the classic, but can't give you tangible reasons as to why. Both are great players.

Anybody that complains of neck dive doesn't understand the ergonomics of a Thunderbird. Or is just trying to cause trouble.
Click to expand...

they both say "pro", which one is the active again?
Also what is the real difference between active and passive pickups?
 
#11
Go with the Classic Pro it definately has the Thunderbird tone, U.S. Gibson pickups, 7ply mahogany neck and a slightly altered shape for better upper register access. The neck dive comment is pretty much spot on for the TB illiterati...... I think there's a running joke about every TBird thread having that comment in there.
Seriously that Classic is one of the best basses in the market at that price, go for it!
 
#12
TBird1958 said:
Go with the Classic Pro it definately has the Thunderbird tone, U.S. Gibson pickups, 7ply mahogany neck and a slightly altered shape for better upper register access. The neck dive comment is pretty much spot on for the TB illiterati...... I think there's a running joke about every TBird thread having that comment in there.
Seriously that Classic is one the best basses in the market at that price, go for it!
Click to expand...

I am still trying to find one in sunburst. I am not to thrilled with the Alpine White. Sweetwater is supposed to email me when they land.
:hyper:l
 
#13
The Classic is more similar to the Gibson in terms of construction, electronics, and tone. It has standard Gibson Thunderbird pickups, and a 3-point bridge.

The (non-Classic) Pro has Epiphone pickups with preamp and a different bridge design. Unlike the Classic, it requires batteries and has a more "active" tone due in part to boost/cut controls.

Although I have the Classic rather than the (non-Classic) Pro, the differences seem more a matter of preference to me, rather than one being inherently superior to the other. If you love active tones, don't mind replacing batteries, and want a more adjustable bridge, then get the the (non-classic) Pro. If you're after the famous Thunderbird tone and control layout, however, get the Classic.
 
#15
wvbass said:
I have both. They are of similar build quality, and both are priced appropriately. The Pro has active electronics that "sound active," if you understand what I mean. I prefer the classic, but can't give you tangible reasons as to why. Both are great players.

Anybody that complains of neck dive doesn't understand the ergonomics of a Thunderbird. Or is just trying to cause trouble.
Click to expand...

More
I got the three:
Epiphone Thunderbird Standard (MIC one piece "Precision" nut maple bolt on neck with Epiphone TB soapbars)
Epiphone Thunderbird Classic (MII 7 laminate "Jazz bass" nut maple/walnut neckthru body with Gibson TB plus soapbars)
Epiphone Thunderbird Pro (MII 7 laminate "Jazz bass" nut maple/walnut neckthru body with ceramic magnets soapbars)

Standard and Classic are regularly tuned (with Hipshot Gb7 bass extender: D/E, A, D, G and three pivot bridge) to use them with my cover band and eventually at praise/worship

Pro is a fullstep downtuned (with Hipshot Gb7 bass extender: C/D, G, C, F and himass bridge) to use with thrash metal band.

I came close to buy the Gibson Thunderbird a few years ago, just couldn't justify, even if not necessarily expensive (around $. 1,000.00) the difference in price with the Epiphone Classic

They're the same bass and sound, just the craftsmanship cost
differs between the two

So: the Standard is more a cheap instrument

It doesn't mean toy: it just means that I prefer chunkier necks
and the attack of bolt on basses. But the neckdive is horrible: it has no upper horn while the pinstrap lays right where a horn should be. And even if I like the attack of a bolt on neck, Epi TB soapbars are too muddy to appreciate it

The Pro is a more modern take on the Thunderbird concept... the two band equalizer give a somewhat hi-fi snap to it and, tamin' some of trademark mahogany neckthru bass midrange, it allows some serious slappin', thanx to reliable himass bridge.

The Classic IS an import Gibson Thunderbird and its sound and features stay consistent with the "big brother"

I own Standard and Pro in Vintage Sunburst, Classic in Alpine White

I just exchanged Classic and Pro pickguards:
the Classic one comes three ply white/black/white only
the Pro one comes three ply black/white/black only

Bein' a nonsense to me a "blacky" one on the Vintage Sunburst
Pro and much more so a "whity" one on an already white bass,
I placed the "blacky" on the Alpine White Classic, the "whity" on the Vintage Sunburst Pro

Cheers,
Wallace
 
#16
cfsporn said:
I would go for the Pro as I am wary of any bass with a mahogany neck. :hiding:
Click to expand...

I have three Gibson Thunderbirds with mahogany necks. Two are '76 birds, 37 years old. One is an '11 short scale. Their necks are extremely stable. I haven't adjusted the necks on either of the '76s in more than 5 years. One of those I have changed strings on several times recently, including from EADG to BEAD and back, and didn't need to adjust the truss rod.

I wouldn't worry about mahogany necks.
 
#18
I would go for the classic, the finish looks cool on the pro, but i didnt much care for how it felt. If the classic plays anything like the goth, then it will be a great bass. Epiphone makes great bang for your buck in my opinion. And as for neck dive, this is my strap for the thunderbird I used to have. Fixed the neck dive problem completely, just make sure you wear something thick, it may cause tetnis
 

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#19
Showdown said:
I have three Gibson Thunderbirds with mahogany necks. Two are '76 birds, 37 years old. One is an '11 short scale. Their necks are extremely stable. I haven't adjusted the necks on either of the '76s in more than 5 years. One of those I have changed strings on several times recently, including from EADG to BEAD and back, and didn't need to adjust the truss rod.

I wouldn't worry about mahogany necks.
Click to expand...

Thanks for reassuring me! I always thought that since mahogany necks were so much more common for guitars than basses, that they weren't strong enough to handle the increased tension.
 

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