Cool to see someone else using Webstrings - I haven't tried the rounds, but I swear by their flats!
btw, not a thunderbird owner, but I am GAS'ing for an Epi Classic IV right now, if that counts. Why do I have to be so poor?
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Cool to see someone else using Webstrings - I haven't tried the rounds, but I swear by their flats!
btw, not a thunderbird owner, but I am GAS'ing for an Epi Classic IV right now, if that counts. Why do I have to be so poor?
+1
I couldn't hear it very well to begin with due to the camera-mic's distortion ... Then the tone just jumps out at about the 2:10 mark just after the flashy overhand manoeuvres.
I love white instruments 'cause they look good whatever colour lights or clothes you wear, but I can't help think that the backup purple Tbird next to the drumkit would've tied in better with the vox's and guitarist's outfits.
Hey, Tbird1958, your drummer wasn't dragging!
Sweet!
& Thanks !
The NR build has been on my mind for along time. Can't wait till it's done.
Could 't gave even been started without the helpful tips from Carlo and Scott.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,901
- 142,278
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Proud owner of 1.5 Tunderbirds...
My new Epi classic pro
Nice bass! I had a chance to play one of these white Epi Classic Pro's today at GC, and really liked it. The poly finish, hardware, and the fingerboard (frets, markers, and rosewood) were of the typical QC found on the standard Epi IV - but the shape of the bass and the feel of the neck was spot on with a Gibson. The bass I played felt heavier than my Gibsons, and a bit chunkier on the neck up in the 9+ fret range- but it still played very nicely. I know these are supposed to have USA Gibson TB+ pups, but to my ears the pups sounded darker, cleaner, and more like the standard Epi IV. Not necessarily a bad thing. Playing through a little Ampeg combo, I really liked the tone of the neck pickup, especially with the tone rolled off. Serious thump!
I had the same experience with one the other day at GC. I thought it was pretty good for the price, but for me, I would rather have the Gibson.
On a side note, I got to play a 76' bicentennial the other day. I was really impressed on how close it felt to my 2012 Gibson T-bird. I mean they really aren't far off. The guy who owns it actually has two of them. He says he prefers mine over his. Says it is more consistent, not sure what he meant by that....
But that 76 sure was cool, but I'll keep rocking my 2012.
I recently purchased and redid a Blackbird, it was missing the opti-grab. Well I took it my local Gibson dealer and I thought I was going to be able to get one but almost 4 months later they still haven't sent one. So back to square one, if anyone here has one that they are willing to sell or could tell me where to get one it would be much appreciated. Thank You....
Change the strings and maybe adjust the pickup height. Problem solved. The tone will be a little different, mostly due to the poly finish and pickups being closer to the bridge, but should be in the same ballpark as the Gibson.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,901
- 142,278
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
I had the same experience with one the other day at GC. I thought it was pretty good for the price, but for me, I would rather have the Gibson.
On a side note, I got to play a 76' bicentennial the other day. I was really impressed on how close it felt to my 2012 Gibson T-bird. I mean they really aren't far off. The guy who owns it actually has two of them. He says he prefers mine over his. Says it is more consistent, not sure what he meant by that....
But that 76 sure was cool, but I'll keep rocking my 2012.
In feel the two are very similar in my expierience as well ( I have 3 '76s an '89 and an '09) The newer ones really have a great playing neck which is one big reason I love playing Thunderbirds - they just fit my hands perfectly. Gibson's QC in the '70s was at times spotty especially with the pickups, the ones used one the '76s are not like any other Thunderbird, nor are those years even wired the same as either earlier or later versions. My 3 '76s all sound different, I attribute that almost entirely to the the pickups, which, when checked on the meter at Mike Lull's have varied in output from 7k all the way up to 13k.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,060
- 38,446
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I was working at the House Of Guitars in Rochester NY at the time when the '76 Birds came out many of the early ones had weak microphonic pickups. I bought one of the first tobacco Sunburst that came in. The bridge pickup squealed like a stuck pig. It took two years to get replacement pickups from Gibson. Over the years I have had many Bicent Birds from '76-'79. The '79 I had was the most powerful best sounding of the lot. Today I have a black '77 with SD custom shop Thunderbird pickups under '76 covers.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,901
- 142,278
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
My Green '76 had a pup like that too Scott, real low output - After I found a relacement I had Mike trade it out, 2k on the meter! The replacement is the one that reads at 13k, they really were all over the place!
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,060
- 38,446
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
2k LOL man that's low! Gibson no doubt knew they had a problem, it took time to fix. By the end of the run I think they had it.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,060
- 38,446
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
This was to have been my Bday present got bunged up in shipping 
Waterstone is anxious to make it right they are shipping me a black V8 Thunderbird in exchange. I have always wanted a 8 string but couldn't justify the cost. The V8 is significantly more money than the reliced Mod Tbird. I'm pretty excited For me one really cool thing about the Waterstone reverse set up is that the bass has better upper register access than a Gibson or Epi. The bridge is moved forward so therefore the neck pocket is also. May be a tad neck heavy but that's no biggie for me
For me one really cool thing about the Waterstone reverse set up is that the bass has better upper register access than a Gibson or Epi. The bridge is moved forward so therefore the neck pocket is also. May be a tad neck heavy but that's no biggie for me 
I'll be interested in hearing your opinion of the Waterstone 8 Scott. I've Been wanting to buy one of their basses for a while so your thoughts could sway me one way or the other.
I agree and disagree....
The fit and finish is actually better than current MIA's, in my opinion.
And as far as the pickups, They sound just like what they are supposed to be, IMO. American Gibson T Bird Humbuckers.
For the money, it is hard to "justify" an iffy USA bird (Quality Control) vs. this, almost, carbon copy at 1/3 the price, and Perfect fit and finish.
I was very pleasantly surprised by the Epiphone Pro IV in Alpine White.
A definite keeper...And by the way I DO OWN MIA T birds.
Happy 4th to ALL.
In feel the two are very similar in my expierience as well ( I have 3 '76s an '89 and an '09) The newer ones really have a great playing neck which is one big reason I love playing Thunderbirds - they just fit my hands perfectly. Gibson's QC in the '70s was at times spotty especially with the pickups, the ones used one the '76s are not like any other Thunderbird, nor are those years even wired the same as either earlier or later versions. My 3 '76s all sound different, I attribute that almost entirely to the the pickups, which, when checked on the meter at Mike Lull's have varied in output from 7k all the way up to 13k.
Glad to hear someone else think the same. I almost thought I was crazy on how close I thought they were to each other.
That is crazy about the p/u differences. My friend says his p/u's are really weak and "microphonic" sounding. Mine seem to be in the middle. His Fender Reggie Hamilton is hotter than my T-bird, but my Fender AM Deluxe is weaker. (Although, I don't have a bass that is as hot as that Reggie).
As far as the neck, that's what keeps me rockin' my T-bird. I haven't liked a neck that much in my 21 yrs of playing. There is just something about it that feels right on.
The only neck that I have liked as much as my TBirds was on my Peavey B-Quad 4. That felt amazing too but the fingerboard on that showed all the flaws in my playing style
My Fender Jazz Special has a great feeling neck as well, but that bass is just an overall great player.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,060
- 38,446
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
The '76 Thunderbird in the woodworking department really nailed it, for me they dropped the ball in pickups and using the three point bridge. Which Gibson continues to do to this day imho.
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