The classic pro is made in Indonesia and the Elitist was made in Japan in the Orville factory if I'm right. What the differences may be I don't know as the Classic is almost identical to the Gibson other than a slight body shape difference and the Gibson has a nitro finish and nicer tuners
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- club thunderbird
The lower register is as they say, the "cash register" for bass!
Jazz players possibly, & those who hang the bass higher up. Im the opposite: bass swung low & i really just play like Nikki Sixx or Paul Simonon
no need for high register. Could be, but not necessary for me. This bird is the polar opposite of the goth hence why im building it that way. Also wanted a bird like Sixx's spectors (w/a b c rich reverse headstock like his old warlocks). I dont need the high register, i dont believe in high register on a thunderbird (for my own personal needs that is
). Im still designing a bit but once i get everything shaped out & cut ill determine if i need to cut the top portion of said bird or not.
The Elitist model was listed as having a neck-thru but I believe it was actually set neck. My friend had one and it looked like it had a set neck, not neck thru. There were discussions at a now defunct bass forum where several members owned them and determined that they were not neck-thru.
The Elitist is a fantastic bass and has the same type of TB-Plus pickups as found in the Les Paul Standard basses which have more clarity and are more aggressive than regular TB Plus IMO. I have these pickups in two basses and love them.
The Elitist also has the larger old style headstock with the larger tuners. It is styled after the original TBirds like the 60's or 70's. I would buy an Elitist if the opportunity presented itself.
I have played two of the Classic Pro's and liked them both. They look, sound, and play like a Tbird. Epiphone really did a great job with this model.
If you want an old school classic looking Bird I would get the Elitist. If you were looking for an affordable take on the Gibson Bird that is as close to the real thing as you can get for a fraction of the price, then the Classic is a great deal.
Sort of a new bass day. WARNING - Non Thunderbird content.
So, the long story is that at the beginning of November, I picked up a Gibson Midtown. I have been wanting that late 60s sound and a semi-hollow body with flats gives me that, and the Gibson Midtown sounds fantastic. I haven't wanted black, white or grey, but seeing this one, with the prismatic finish was great. I took it in for a set up and they found that it couldn't be done; the neck couldn't be adjusted. So, to their credit, Long & McQuade returned the bass and found me another. I picked it up today. It is fully set up with new cobalt flats installed. It sounds great.
The picture does not do justice to the prismatic finish, but gives some hint of the rainbow sparkle.
So, the long story is that at the beginning of November, I picked up a Gibson Midtown. I have been wanting that late 60s sound and a semi-hollow body with flats gives me that, and the Gibson Midtown sounds fantastic. I haven't wanted black, white or grey, but seeing this one, with the prismatic finish was great. I took it in for a set up and they found that it couldn't be done; the neck couldn't be adjusted. So, to their credit, Long & McQuade returned the bass and found me another. I picked it up today. It is fully set up with new cobalt flats installed. It sounds great.
The picture does not do justice to the prismatic finish, but gives some hint of the rainbow sparkle.
I really like the look of that bass and the finish!! Would love to have one.
Lovely, many of us love Gibson basses and often discuss models other than TBirds. Check out the tone Nick Seymour gets from his Midtown in the recent Crowded House concert at the Sydney Opera House. People I know who where there reckon the mix was fantastic.
I agree on the TB Plus pickups in the guitar pickup style casings. I have them in my Les Paul Double Cut and my ES 335 Bass- the perfect pickups for my taste.
But it's a neckthru, at least from this picture
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
You can check Ishibashi web, the sell an elitist right now, originally, I'm spying on these but now I don't know
They are supposed to be very nice instruments but I've never actually seen one, if the price is right I'd just get it, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush as they say
The sound is epic. Perhaps in part because it has a T-Bird Mini and a T Bird Plus pickup. (Making it a marginally `bird related bass).
I joined back in early 2013 at #306. Looks like the club is growing at a little under 100 members a year so we should catch up to you in the next two or three years.
Look at the close up pictures of the body on this old Reverb listing. There are none of the tell-tale signs of a neck thru. The neck heel looks like it is neck thru but like I said before, other owners have stated that it is not a neck-thru.
Epiphone Elitist Thunderbird bass
Also look at this for sale posting of the same bass on Talkbass. The owner states "set neck".
SOLD - Epiphone Elite Thunderbird Bass
Even if it is not a neck thru it is still a great bass that can usually be purchased for a reasonable price.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,964
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
In the top link there is an out-of-focus pic showing the rear neck joint. Hard to tell but it could be a very seamless set-neck as stated. (never seen one but anything's possible) In general the Elites look more like the Greco's which look more like the original '63-'65 T-birds with a few differences. Around $900 seems like a going rate and if you want a more 'vintage' authentic looking bird, that would be my choice. Parts can be upgraded on most current T-birds but the hs size/proportion & vintage reverse-style Klusons are the thing that makes this Epi more like the originals.
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I knew that was coming as soon as @Kat teed it up!
I've heard that Musicman, Ibanez and Yamaha basses are actually slower burning and give off a nicer holiday glow.drool
I can see why you held off with the other colors and went for this finish. It really compliments the retro body style (and "sparkly" without being garish).
And those are neck and bridge pups in the truest sense. I don't recall seeing too many guitars, where the two pickups are that far apart.
Yes, this look and sound is quite something. The look got me to break rule 1 of my three rules:
1. not black,
2. not white,
3. not grey.
Didn't want a cream coloured Italia but it was the only colour available between production runs. They found it in a shop in Leeds (UK). Now I'd be quite relaxed about an arctic white Bird.
Jazz players possibly, & those who hang the bass higher up. Im the opposite: bass swung low & i really just play like Nikki Sixx or Paul Simonon
Could be, but not necessary for me. This bird is the polar opposite of the goth hence why im building it that way. Also wanted a bird like Sixx's spectors (w/a b c rich reverse headstock like his old warlocks). I dont need the high register, i dont believe in high register on a thunderbird (for my own personal needs that is
Quoting myself cause it's time to bombard you all with my progress
I'm really in love with this headstock: The Classic 80's B.C. Rich with Treble Side tuning keys only (something i actually find appealing on an off shaped bass - fancied it when LTD/esp phoenix's were around) + good thing - No neck dive at all at least that's what i believe
we'll see. Repositioned the bridge lower than it was previously & voila, the first frets are closer to me, & also joins middle of 15th fret (not bad considering i had it start at the beforehand). Keeping the bridge pickup located where it's traced, the neck pickup will move down a slight bit to be more in that P-bass sweet spot. & C'mon, this bass looks good! My dad gave me the suggestion of when i finish, i should send a picture of it to Mr. Sixx himself - who knows maybe he'd like it enough for me to build one for him
I'll dream to that!
As for upper register, i actually have no problem. Since the join is at the 15th fret, i can still access the 5 higher frets after on the treble side easy (rarely play covers that need the low strings to be played in that register).
