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Thunderbird Club Pt.IV

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#281
You might look for an Epiphone body on Ebay as well, likely cheaper if you are looking for a body to start a project bass.
 
#283
The "Standard" Epi is a bolt on neck bass, with various body woods being used - it's completely different from a Gibson. I made a "Fenderbird" from one, it was a fun first project bass.
 
#290
I have been wanting to test drive a T Bird Pro IV since they came out but none in the local music stores until now. Spent an hour with one yesterday, I was a bit disappointed. I just like my Epi bird. 4 standard more. Not saying anything bad and aestheticlly it was a beautiful bird. It did need a set up but wasn't too bad. I liked the neck thru and the tuners better . The bridge was ok but I like more heft. Where it failed for me was the electronics. I think it was probably my expectations more than anything else. I just like the sound of my passive bird better. I expected more of a Gibson Hi Fi sound , like my Tobias. Growler, just wasn't there.it did have a very articulate low end, that I could appreciate but really not enough to pull the trigger. This one was a cosmetic 2 nd and is selling for 295.00 so a very good price but not enough of a good difference for me. There was a very tiny clear coat run and the cavity control cover was scratched but still for that price a very nice bass. In the end I can see why people would love this bass but, I have enough basses in the collection, that will cover just about everything I need, and this one fell a little short for me ,probably due to my higher expectations. Maybe I'll wait for the classic offering.
 
#291
wolfmancharlie said:
I have been wanting to test drive a T Bird Pro IV since they came out but none in the local music stores until now. Spent an hour with one yesterday, I was a bit disappointed. I just like my Epi bird. 4 standard more. Not saying anything bad and aestheticlly it was a beautiful bird. It did need a set up but wasn't too bad. I liked the neck thru and the tuners better . The bridge was ok but I like more heft. Where it failed for me was the electronics. I think it was probably my expectations more than anything else. I just like the sound of my passive bird better. I expected more of a Gibson Hi Fi sound , like my Tobias. Growler, just wasn't there.it did have a very articulate low end, that I could appreciate but really not enough to pull the trigger. This one was a cosmetic 2 nd and is selling for 295.00 so a very good price but not enough of a good difference for me. There was a very tiny clear coat run and the cavity control cover was scratched but still for that price a very nice bass. In the end I can see why people would love this bass but, I have enough basses in the collection, that will cover just about everything I need, and this one fell a little short for me ,probably due to my higher expectations. Maybe I'll wait for the classic offering.
Click to expand...

the active on the tbird pro is not so good. and i was not a a big fan of the control pots in the bass, thy were a bit crappy..
i made my passive, it sounds more vintage that way with more gibson balls.
:bassist::bassist::bassist:
 
#292
Hi fellowTBers, does any body know anything about the Westfield Thunderbirds? I have just purchased one via ebay.uk and I'm happy with it, not only for the price that I paid but in general.

However, I can't find much information on it. Does anyone know where they are made? What type of wood is used in the construction?

It has a bolt on neck and a slab body. Possibly two slabs joined together with a central glue seam running around the body edges. The control cavity hints at this. It's a heavy bass. Fret edges are a bit sharp but no worse that other cheap basses.

The pickups look a bit like EMG HZ but don't have the pin connectors and I'm not sure if they're humbuckers or not.

There are some pictures in my earlier posting.

Cheers.
 
#293
Well my 3rd Pro IV finally showed up! I have to say I am very disappointed in Epiphone. As you know I have a Epi non-reverse that I joined with, very solid built bass. I use to also have a goth bird and a regular epi IV. Both very good bass's, I sold them only because I fell into hard times.
The pro IV seems solid but the attention to detail on all three of the ones I got are piss-poor. The 1st one was nicked and scratched up, the bridge was broke where the E string goes. New outta the box. The 2nd was destroyed by fedex so I guess it don't count. This last one is in better shape then the 1st, it only has a couple dings on it. The truss rod cover is a joke though! Its bowed and is only a 16th of an inch away from the strings. The pots are not in the place or order of where they should be. The top two on this bass are left to right, volume, high. Bottom two, left to right are low, blend. The jack was also messed up, had a loose wire. And the set up was a joke! Not a very funny one either. It says "100% inspected and set up in the USA" That might be true but I wonder who is doing it.
Any way I'm done ranting. Here are some pics.
 

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#296
fordkisskrazy said:
Well my 3rd Pro IV finally showed up! I have to say I am very disappointed in Epiphone. As you know I have a Epi non-reverse that I joined with, very solid built bass. I use to also have a goth bird and a regular epi IV. Both very good bass's, I sold them only because I fell into hard times.
The pro IV seems solid but the attention to detail on all three of the ones I got are piss-poor. The 1st one was nicked and scratched up, the bridge was broke where the E string goes. New outta the box. The 2nd was destroyed by fedex so I guess it don't count. This last one is in better shape then the 1st, it only has a couple dings on it. The truss rod cover is a joke though! Its bowed and is only a 16th of an inch away from the strings. The pots are not in the place or order of where they should be. The top two on this bass are left to right, volume, high. Bottom two, left to right are low, blend. The jack was also messed up, had a loose wire. And the set up was a joke! Not a very funny one either. It says "100% inspected and set up in the USA" That might be true but I wonder who is doing it.
Any way I'm done ranting. Here are some pics.
Click to expand...

i bought this same Pro IV not long ago and though i will not rave about epiphone or the quality of them mine is not as poor as yours is reported, i dont play it allot i have others in my stable that are "go to's" far before this one, but reguardless i like it, the natural wood and finish are cool and i just plan on keeping it well.........just because. sorry to hear you were sent a less then suitable one, thats one of those risky measures we take when buyin Epiphones sight unseen. :mad:
 
#299
fordkisskrazy said:
Well my 3rd Pro IV finally showed up! I have to say I am very disappointed in Epiphone. As you know I have a Epi non-reverse that I joined with, very solid built bass. I use to also have a goth bird and a regular epi IV. Both very good bass's, I sold them only because I fell into hard times.
The pro IV seems solid but the attention to detail on all three of the ones I got are piss-poor. The 1st one was nicked and scratched up, the bridge was broke where the E string goes. New outta the box. The 2nd was destroyed by fedex so I guess it don't count. This last one is in better shape then the 1st, it only has a couple dings on it. The truss rod cover is a joke though! Its bowed and is only a 16th of an inch away from the strings. The pots are not in the place or order of where they should be. The top two on this bass are left to right, volume, high. Bottom two, left to right are low, blend. The jack was also messed up, had a loose wire. And the set up was a joke! Not a very funny one either. It says "100% inspected and set up in the USA" That might be true but I wonder who is doing it.
Any way I'm done ranting. Here are some pics.
Click to expand...

This is why I generally don't buy instruments I have never touched. But, on Tuesday, I'm expecting a long package with a used 'Bird. We shall see. I expect to do some adjusting, since it's coming from upstate New York across the entire continent to Seattle. There will be a few changes in temperature and humidity along the way, most likely. Given a week for the wood to settle down, it should be OK to set up and intonate again. It's used, so who knows, really. I'm excited about it even so. A 'Bird is just one of those things. It fits or it doesn't, and this one already has the strap buttons moved to where they need to be and where I would have put them. Holes are unpatched. I don't mind. It's a balance thing, not an aesthetic thing up close. People in the front row can't see screw holes anyway.
 
#300
Gaolee said:
This is why I generally don't buy instruments I have never touched.
Click to expand...

I agree but couldn't find one any where in or around town. so ordered it. After the 1st one I talked to two different guys at two different gc's and they said they were having the same problems so I figured I'd just take my chance's. I'm gonna give it a couple weeks and see how I feel. If I don't like it I'm gonna return it and wait for the classic pro IV to get in stock and give it a try. I miss my other birds. I need one! They'er like a drug to me, even if all I can afford is a Epi.
4005, thanks! I think she's beautiful!
 
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