Thunderbird Club Pt.IV

[21petro]

I dont know if this classifies as a thunderbird; but the thunderbird shape was used during the design phase.

Its a Custom Build with a neck through all maple body, spalted maple top and ebony fretboard. I'm getting it professionally lacquered soon for a mirror finish.

 

[Nocturnal]

Cool build!! What kind of pickups did you use?

 

[snowblinder]

Hey sorry, this may not be the best place to ask this, but figured would get some feedback from some Thunderbird enthusiasts. I'm planning to pick up bass (been playing guitar for several years) and was planning on an Epi Thunderbird Pro IV, but I have several people trying to talk me out of it saying it can't play slap bass and doesn't fit sonically with my musical tastes (which were bass is concerned is mostly stoner rock like Kyuss and funk music a la Bootsy). Also they are saying even on the Pro IV that has the strap button on back the neck dive is horrendous. Are these people being honest or just hating on Epi or TBirds? I know a little about bass - from what translates from guitar, but if the TBird can't play slap bass, what exactly about the TBird makes it a bad fit for slap bass?

I personally can't offer any input regarding whether a Thunderbird is good for playing slap or not, but.....anyone who says a Thunderbird is a poor choice for so-called stoner rock should have his/her head examined.

 

[PhantomApex]

The Thunderbird is amazing for punk and alternative, wouldn't be so certain on using it for slap though...

 

[ThaCoast]

Hey sorry, this may not be the best place to ask this, but figured would get some feedback from some Thunderbird enthusiasts. I'm planning to pick up bass (been playing guitar for several years) and was planning on an Epi Thunderbird Pro IV, but I have several people trying to talk me out of it saying it can't play slap bass and doesn't fit sonically with my musical tastes (which where bass is concerned is mostly stoner rock like Kyuss and funk music a la Bootsy). Also they are saying even on the Pro IV that has the strap button on back the neck dive is horrendous. Are these people being honest or just hating on Epi or TBirds? I know a little about bass - from what translates from guitar, but if the TBird can't play slap bass, what exactly about the TBird makes it a bad fit for slap bass?

Well the pro offers wide tonal range since they are active pickups. Personally, i don't like active electronics but i like how the bass feels and plays. You might be able to pull off the slapping technique on the pro compared to the epi IV thunderbird. But IF you are going to do something like bootsy, i wouldn't get the pro. If i were you, i'd go for a jazz bass or precision. But that's my opinion. Thunderbird is good for some styles of playing; fingers, pick. But not really slap.

Good luck, hope that all the feedback you are getting here is making your decision easier

 

[cmassa]

but if the TBird can't play slap bass, what exactly about the TBird makes it a bad fit for slap bass?

I would go to YouTube. There you will see many slappers. Notice where the neck meets the body on their basses in realtionship to where it hangs on them. Depending on your body, are you 5 foot 3? 6ft2? Short arms, long arms?

For me if I wear my Tbird to high my left hand has trouble reaching the nut. Not comfortable. As to whether HumBuckers work for slap vs. single coil or active vs. passive?
look at the videos on YouTube.

But when Gibson made the first Tbirds or Fender the Jazz/Pbass, they were not sitting around thinking, "Hey can we slap on this thing" Just the luck of the draw.

 

[Linchpin72]

I posted this pic in the GK thread earlier today.
Like I said over there, I've been lurking around here long enough. Time to post!
Next on the list is one of the new through-neck Epis in Alpine white. Is chrome hardware going to be an option? Let's hope so.

 

[whitee96]

I have an Epi Blackbird and my new Classic series Alphine White T-bird. Can I get a number, please?

 

[TBird1958]

Hey guys!

Here's an updated roster.

A big Memorial Day Welcome to you all, we love your gig shots, band videos, Thunderbird pics and especially questions - With owners of the brands and vintages we have the ability to exchange a great deal of info here.

Welcome MrMcHaggis # 259, Linchpin72 #260 (Love the GK / T Bird!) and whitee96.


TBird1958 #1
Godof Thunder59 #2
Funkster#3
Gibenbackerbass #4
Sidd Laroy #5
Jazzbo58 #6
Tender Prey #7
Showdown #8
The Mojo Hobo #9
Doctorpunch #10
Stiles72 #11
Brenner182 #12
Baird6869 #13
Poorbassist15 #14
PWV #15
Mr Typhus #16
Tracii #17
Aditya #18
amimbari #19
knifedge #20
Nitrofix #21
Atoz #22
bassphreak #23
Seydlitz #24
bassclef112 #25
bassplayer8953 #26
D.M.N. #27
Edhunter #28
kruno maestro #29
Tombowlus #30
Kalik #31
winterburn69 #32
Walter Vega 33
Carlos 840 #34
Shadowtippy #35
Saltymonkey #36
lel95 #37
gaffster787 #38
mc2ny #39
Low Sound Love #40
BrianKrashpad #41
Deep Six #42
BenEd #43
Bassmachine2112 #44
ponkoponk #45
Heatheroo #46
darkside 88 #47
GCool#48
TedhHernstorm #49
Darbo #50
uncletupelo #51
Vaider #52
Rip Topaz #53
bmb73 #54
Badfish #55
Afireinside #56
Redstrand #57
reptyls #58
dabido #59
96tbird #60
whilke #61
JIO #63
thebrain #64
Rob Martinez #65
bazzandeson #66
PhR #67
Dr.Eagle #68
lowend1 #69 Mopar or no car!
Basvarken #70
s mcsleazy #71
Burruss #72
Matty H #73
moonshinegtrs #74
bass lord mutha #75
jumbodbassman #76
davidprice #77
A-Step-Towards #78
birdman14 #79
Quadzilla #80
jbalou02 #81
johnk 10 #82
electrocoyote #83
ih8law #84
muzukman7 #85
3rdcurve #86
rdwil191 #87
BluesBear #88
JAF #89
Swin #90
TBirdie #91
bassplayerbob #92
trevorguns #93
Clammy #94
jammi_fool #95
Molochnik #96
Rocker47 #97
Shark1 #98
BlueTalon #99
Fab Superlative #100
Doragon #5150
ThumpsAlot #102
Doelle #103
AllyDetours #104
Southway #105
mav #106
tw63 #107
Casperrobo #108
Killa #109
roffe #110
SOB H.R.MC #111
icks #112
thepunisher #113
PatQ #114
Venom of God #115
Jirishman #116
Midas #117
GibsonBassCAZ #118
snowblinder #119
Tilli #120
3l3phantstomp #121
Thrust Meatnozl #122
gaudenti #123
Birdbrain #124
CBTB #125
greghol #126
DV6 #127
marlond #128
DWest1981 #129
Shinji #130
jaibeau #131
Warrioralex #132
jonesn4bass #133
Rono7003 #134
hillerup #135
Dadagoboi #136
MRDOOM #137
secretsound5 #138
trevorguns #139
J Sinister #140
Capitian Bob #141
guitarded #142
Fullback32 #143
Johnny78 #144
jelenko #145
Jools4001 #146
Porkbun #147
Lucas G #148
NOT #149
JtheB #150
Andii Syckz #151
sj bass #152
FrankenIbanez70 #153
Nosgoth #154
Artyom76 #155
D Bopp #156
CDRhom #157
Mark4 #158
thepest #159
TheCush #160
Pure eVal #161
iamthebassman #162
juankidiaz #163
Wilbur88 #164
WillMuderface #165
Evsm73 #166
JB66#167
brettsto #168
TheProphet #169
mikeowen17 #170
Pharaohamps #171
dial666 #172
faivy #173
HAVOK #174
Astroburn #175
aLLard #176
MissionTbird #177
Thebassman2011 #178
DaM13N # 179
LanOsb133 #180
Lowner #181
Frankiebass59 #182
Justice #183
tiger rich #184
spunkadizzle #185
quadrogong #186
Wolf C Red #187
guitarded #188
ledzep5296 #189
aussiebasshero #190
trackskinz#191
guns N rosesguy #192
Jamyi #193
Thunderbird90 #194
Cobra314 #195
Ric5 #196
ApocalypseDream #197
Gougedeye #198
okc-zee #199
NOLA Bass #200
AdamR #201
bassmaniac72 #202
pudge #203
BWileyTally #204
poomwah #205
chibfarm2001 #206
thisSNsucks #207
mr.mow #208
4005 #209
seansv #210
BassDoc51 #211
ben0099 #212
Trooper1911 #213
mordor #214
brotondo #215
HIaWATTha #216
Zerstorte Zelle #217
MrNecroVol #218
Freddy-G #219
Regininblood #220
ejaggers #221
gregoire1 #222
thundereagle #223
Geezer79 #224
cubanbass #225
Silverwolf1 #226
Mikaelbass #227
BruceBass3901 #228
Chris V #229
Mikaelbass #230
JayBassD #231
JMPeat #232
Phildogger #233
beebassdude #234
MrGotBass #235
2nd Wind #236
butter_fingers #237
Chumbly #238
roycroft 88 #239
finlover #240
recycled rocker #241
wolfmancharlie #242
balton4 #243
GregBummer #244
penguineman #245
TheOnlyJuan #246
nubs #247
Gringo Starr #248
PhR #249
georgestrings #250
cajunbass1985 #251
Wagz #252
armedmonkey #253
RedNeckBBQ #254
faviobarrio #255
PhantomApex #256
cmassa #257
vbass_2000 #258
MrMcHaggis #259
Linchpin72 #260
whitee96 #261
edpal #262
Ibanez Bassist #263


I can't quite tell what model GK head you have here, I'm a life-long GK player and have a new 700RBII coming from Sweetwater. It will replace my 1001RBII.

GK and Thunderbirds = 100% Awesome!

 

[edpal]

I haven't owned a 'Bird in almost 20 years. The neck dive rove me crazy. But I have more pacience with that kind of thing now and have a few tricks up ,my sleeve. The one coming is a 2011(used), natural finish, Pro 5 string.

Small personal? Tbird 1958 - how tall are you? The 'Bird looks real comfortable size on you in the "Hungery Like TH Wolf" vid.

 

[Linchpin72]

I can't quite tell what model GK head you have here, I'm a life-long GK player and have a new 700RBII coming from Sweetwater. It will replace my 1001RBII.

GK and Thunderbirds = 100% Awesome!

I agree!
It's a 1001RBII head with a 410 Neo cab - love it!
Looking to add a 212 Neo cab soon, but I gotta get one of those Classic Epis first.

 

[birdman14]

I have an Epi Blackbird and my new Classic series Alphine White T-bird. Can I get a number, please?

Could you give us a review of the new Classic series T-bird? They seem like they have the possibility to be a great value, basically being a foreign made Gibson.

 

[Ibanez Bassist]

Heres a shot of mine...

 

[TBird1958]

I agree!
It's a 1001RBII head with a 410 Neo cab - love it!
Looking to add a 212 Neo cab soon, but I gotta get one of those Classic Epis first.

My 1001 has served me quite well for about 5yrs now but for what my band typically does it's actually too much amp, I never even get the input and woofer volume knobs to 12:00, thus it doesn't "open up" and really give that nice tone GK's are known for, so my line of thought is to use the slightly less powerful 700RBII and drive it harder, I'm sure it'll sound good, GK's never disappoint!

 

[TBird1958]

I haven't owned a 'Bird in almost 20 years. The neck dive rove me crazy. But I have more pacience with that kind of thing now and have a few tricks up ,my sleeve. The one coming is a 2011(used), natural finish, Pro 5 string.

Small personal? Tbird 1958 - how tall are you? The 'Bird looks real comfortable size on you in the "Hungery Like TH Wolf" vid.

We'll happily add you good sir! How would #262 work?

I always read good reviews of the Epi pro's and I think you'll enjoy your new one a lot, so congratulations and welcome.

In answer to your question I'm 6'0" tall in my bare feet, in the video I'm playing a Mike Lull T-4 (his first production 'Bird after 2 prototypes) it's a very comfy bass to play. It does look a little small on me but actually is the same size as my Gibsons (except for the headstock), for me the trick with 'Birds it to keep the strap a medium length and the bass on my right hip with my right hand in direct contact my the body - No balance or reach problems at all

Pardon the rockstar shot, but like this.....

With a '76 Gibson, which always looks and feels "big"

 

[TBird1958]

Heres a shot of mine...

I'm scanning the roster and not seeing you, shall I add you as #263? It's beautiful bass

 

[georgestrings]

My 1001 has served me quite well for about 5yrs now but for what my band typically does it's actually too much amp, I never even get the input and woofer volume knobs to 12:00, thus it doesn't "open up" and really give that nice tone GK's are known for, so my line of thought is to use the slightly less powerful 700RBII and drive it harder, I'm sure it'll sound good, GK's never disappoint!

I think you'll be pretty happy with it - I've owned a couple of 700rb-IIs, and still have one - and think they're better suited for stage work for *most* band situations than the 1001rb-II... I've compared both directly many times, and to me the 700 sounds much better - definitely warmer at most normal band volumes... I play in a loud 2 guitar band, and the 700 still has plenty left in the tank, even up against 2 Triple Rec halfstacks... My main gigging amp is a Mesa M-pulse 600, but I still enjoy playing thru my 700rb-II, as it's really that good...

Anyways, best of luck with your new amp - I'm interested in what you think about it after you've played it for a little while...


- georgestrings

 

[Ibanez Bassist]

I'm scanning the roster and not seeing you, shall I add you as #263? It's beautiful bass

Yes please do and Thank You.. I love playing this bass..

 

[TBird1958]

I think you'll be pretty happy with it - I've owned a couple of 700rb-IIs, and still have one - and think they're better suited for stage work for *most* band situations than the 1001rb-II... I've compared both directly many times, and to me the 700 sounds much better - definitely warmer at most normal band volumes... I play in a loud 2 guitar band, and the 700 still has plenty left in the tank, even up against 2 Triple Rec halfstacks... My main gigging amp is a Mesa M-pulse 600, but I still enjoy playing thru my 700rb-II, as it's really that good...

Anyways, best of luck with your new amp - I'm interested in what you think about it after you've played it for a little while...


- georgestrings

Thanks!

Our typical band situations are :
- Good FOH support large venue with everything mic'd (we use IEM's) and moderate stage volume, for me that means feeling the stage move a little and getting the bulk (like 90%) of what I hear as bass in my IEM.

- Smaller venue like a bar with vocals, keys and guitar in the PA, drummer and myself unmic'd, so the band sound checks and sets up to play only as loud as our drummer. My amp is then the only source of bass, and still I don't have to turn it up much (We are always careful to not play too loud, as it drives people away - they get uncomfortable, don't realize why and leave) to fill the room. The other thing about 1001's is that they seem to want LOTS of electricity, I've had mine refuse to start a few times because the venue had dodgy curcuits not rated at 20amps, the 700 shouldn't be quite as fussy about that.

 

[edpal]

TBird1958 - thanks for the info. I'm the same or 1" taller than you, so I'm hoping for a good fit. I think I will seriosly consider your chrome bridge cover and chrome [upper]pup cover. That is great look for any genre of music(looks count, right?) or color of instrument....chrome rules!