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Thunderbird Club

#21,661
I first tool up bass right after high school, in 86, IIRC. While I think the overall quality of instruments in those days MAY be better (Japanese basses were relatively inexpensive and comparable to high dollar production basses now in my estimation) but I am consistently impressed with how much bass one can buy these days for a hundred dollars.
 
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#21,662
... two Epi Birds

IMG_0339.JPG
 
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#21,664
PillO said:
Somehow, I ended up with 2 of 3 basses being Epiphone/Gibson. Not done on purpose, it just ended up that way. Leads me to believe that since I tend to be very rational in my selection criteria, Gibson/Epiphone must offer a better price performance ratio than Fender/Squire.
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I keep seeing a BUNCH of Epi Birds popping up on the local Craigslist for $150 - 225 range. One guy there now selling two, a black one for $200 and a white one asking $250 for, and two other classic bursts $200 each. Already owning two myself and knowing what i know about them I'm telling you, bang-for-the-buck wise these are the best value going. Still don't understand why they resell so cheap.

FWIW I do also have a Squier '51 P RI I gave $230 for (2015 NOS) that I really like (sounds great and plays quite well actually), however it's not nearly the quality of build the Epi T-Birds are.
 
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#21,665
kat888 said:
Out in gen pop there's a thread by a lass asking what her first bass should be... it's aching for a few stones thown in the pool of P & J consensus.
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Are you inciting us to leak out into the general population? Ah, OK. I can't help it. It's gonna happen...

I take no responsibility for the results.
 
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#21,671
Christine said:
Don't know if this gives me GAS or indigestion but I'm liking it

2001 Gibson Blackbird Nikki Sixx Signature Model Thunderbird Bass Guitar | eBay
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Ya know, I get the whole relic look "used and abused" thing, especially on a rocker bass like the Nikki. Im even cool with the repaired headstock, kinda tells a story about the bass. But how any supposedly hard bangin player of this rode-hard-and-put-away-wet mule can let a bridge decay into that level of dysfunction is beyond me.
All that said, I like it and would consider a sub $500USD price well worth it.
 
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#21,672
GBassNorth said:
Ya know, I get the whole relic look "used and abused" thing, especially on a rocker bass like the Nikki. Im even cool with the repaired headstock, kinda tells a story about the bass. But how any supposedly hard bangin player of this rode-hard-and-put-away-wet mule can let a bridge decay into that level of dysfunction is beyond me.
All that said, I like it and would consider a sub $500USD price well worth it.
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That bridge is a mess and that white paint around the edges but in the UK that is a cheap bird. Trouble with it for me is I couldn't be living with it with those faults but I'm unsure whether or not a refin is the right course of action with it
 
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#21,678
PillO said:
One of the joys of starting out when you are a bit... let's say older... is that you know yourself better and are better at analyzing your needs. And perhaps more importantly, are much less susceptible to the whims of fashion. So personally, as I was looking for my starter set up, amongst my criteria was buying things that I would not end up "growing out of" while staying at the lower end of prices. That effectively ruled out all Fender/Squire products. As I have started collecting some more stuff, I can't see buying Fender/Squire as it always seems to be expensive for what you get. But, I suppose that is the nature of fashion; convincing people that the 'intangibles' are worth the price.

Somehow, I ended up with 2 of 3 basses being Epiphone/Gibson. Not done on purpose, it just ended up that way. Leads me to believe that since I tend to be very rational in my selection criteria, Gibson/Epiphone must offer a better price performance ratio than Fender/Squire.
Click to expand...

Not forgetting the design element as well...

Basically ALL Fender/Squier models more or less look like each other - Gibson/Epiphones do not...
 
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#21,680
Haji said:
I first tool up bass right after high school, in 86, IIRC. While I think the overall quality of instruments in those days MAY be better (Japanese basses were relatively inexpensive and comparable to high dollar production basses now in my estimation) but I am consistently impressed with how much bass one can buy these days for a hundred dollars.
Click to expand...

Yeah - Especially Epiphone basses are amazingly cheap for the quality - All my 'birds and EB-3 are really nice and well made instruments.
 
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