Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

I can't help but wonder what will Epiphone do about their shops in China, I've heard that they're shutting down all foreign businessess and companies. Will they move shop to India, Korea? Considering how the climate and mood is getting there...

I have a number of Korean basses and find them to be every bit as good or better than my basses made in China.

I remember my grandpa was the first person I knew to get one of those new color TVs. (Likely still paying for it when he died.) We all went over to see such a marvel. It was cool.

I think the first color TV I remember seeing was around 1962 at a neighbors house. Might have been an Admiral (we had a B&W General Electric). I would have been in kindergarten at the time and I think there were some Saturday morning cartoons on in color at the time. I also remember the picture quality was pretty horrible, something about aligning the three guns in the CRT that needed to be done every so often.

 

[JIO]

I have a number of Korean basses and find them to be every bit as good or better than my basses made in China.

Korea makes quality items and has for a while - much better than China. China can offer quality but the majority of it is cheap crap.

 

[Gaolee]

Can't help it if I'm unemployed. I'm not swimming in money, nor I come from a rich family. It's not like the job market is doing great here in Spain either.

That sucks. Most of us have been through it and can certainly sympathize a lot. Gone Plaid is retired, so he suffers from lack of funding pretty much all the time.

My joke is that my parents are nice people, but don't have near enough money. Next time, I'm going to choose my parents a little more carefully.

 

[Stealth57]

Korea makes quality items and has for a while - much better than China. China can offer quality but the majority of it is cheap crap.

My only Korean-made bass is the Dano short horn 1999 reissue. For what was supposed to be a reproduction of a low cost bass, there are absolutely no flaws anywhere to be found. Though, my 2018 IV that was made in China is a beautiful bass as well.

 

[Gaolee]

Korea makes quality items and has for a while - much better than China. China can offer quality but the majority of it is cheap crap.

I had an Ibanez ES335 clone made in China at one point. It was a really well made guitar. I gave it to my brother, who still has it. Boy was that dumb! I haven't found another guitar that was as easy to play as that one, although I didn't like the pickups that much and I have to say the SG I got recently rivals it in terms of playability. The SG sounds better.

 

[Gaolee]

Animal documentaries that hyper-focus on animals in their period of heat/breeding cycles? Those seem to be a majority for what I've seen.

Sex is important, so there you have it.

 

[Gaolee]

One thing which is my usual MO is to scour auction sites looking for guitars and basses. The other day, I found a silent witness to what happens when somebody with questionable woodworking skills decides to modify a Gibson Les Paul.
View attachment 4790699 View attachment 4790700 View attachment 4790701 View attachment 4790702 View attachment 4790703 View attachment 4790704 View attachment 4790705
The nutcase seller had the gall to classify this as "In good as new condition." and his asking price was 1255 euros.

They call it dope for a reason.

 

[PaleAngel_90]

Sex is important, so there you have it.

Yes, but not hyper-focus on it to the point that it looks more like a parody skit, than what it should be: a nature documentary.

 

[PaleAngel_90]

Is it really noticeable the sound quality of a set of 040-100 flatwound strings compared to a 045-105 or a 050-110? What do you guys think? I don't have much experience with strings, and what experience I have is with Roundwounds. Would appreciate advice on this.

 

[Blazer]

They call it dope for a reason.

On the same day, I came across the auction, I mailed the link and the pictures to Trogly's guitar show.

And sure enough...

 

[JIO]

My only Korean-made bass is the Dano short horn 1999 reissue. For what was supposed to be a reproduction of a low cost bass, there are absolutely no flaws anywhere to be found. Though, my 2018 IV that was made in China is a beautiful bass as well.

I had an Ibanez ES335 clone made in China at one point. It was a really well made guitar. I gave it to my brother, who still has it. Boy was that dumb! I haven't found another guitar that was as easy to play as that one, although I didn't like the pickups that much and I have to say the SG I got recently rivals it in terms of playability. The SG sounds better.

Like I said - they are capable of quality but flood the market with inferior low-cost products.

 

[KaraQ]

If they still have them in stock, buy one. It’s that simple.

Yes

How do stores like Thomann still offer IV's for sale then? Doesn't make sense if production was stopped in 2018, no?

Afaik, the only new Epiphone Thunderbirds still being made are the "Thunderbird 60s Bass", formerly known as the Vintage Pro, and only in Tobacco Sunburst & Black.


Anything else billed as new is NOS (new old stock, aka leftovers), or isn't new.

 

[dagrev]

There wasn't a lotta choices, but you watched 'cos it was there. I remember there being boxing(which I strongly dislike), coupla quiz shows, and ?.

Like most here, I remember three channels. It was a big deal here when we got a fourth (WDRB).

 

[dagrev]

I was watching an American who lives in Oz and does car videos that Geoff introduced me to. The one tonight was several car shows. Low and behold Geoff's ride shows up in one of them. He's been holding back. This was close to his location so I'm pretty sure it's his.

 

[Stealth57]

Like I said - they are capable of quality but flood the market with inferior low-cost products.

I have had 2 Glarry Burning Fires. Both, obviously, made in the same Chinese factory. The first was a great, low cost bass. The second was complete . Thus, proving your point.

 

[Stealth57]

Yes




Afaik, the only new Epiphone Thunderbirds still being made are the "Thunderbird 60s Bass", formerly known as the Vintage Pro, and only in Tobacco Sunburst & Black.


Anything else billed as new is NOS (new old stock, aka leftovers), or isn't new.

I really need a black 60s to “finish” my bird collection.

 

[dagrev]

One thing which is my usual MO is to scour auction sites looking for guitars and basses. The other day, I found a silent witness to what happens when somebody with questionable woodworking skills decides to modify a Gibson Les Paul.
View attachment 4790699 View attachment 4790700 View attachment 4790701 View attachment 4790702 View attachment 4790703 View attachment 4790704 View attachment 4790705
The nutcase seller had the gall to classify this as "In good as new condition." and his asking price was 1255 euros.

Perfect example of, "Just be cause you can, doesn't mean you should."

 

[dagrev]

I have a number of Korean basses and find them to be every bit as good or better than my basses made in China.

I have worked with a number of Koreas and they are hard workers with attention to detail. I've had a couple musical items made there and there was not a thing wrong with them. Great quality. And no massive human rights abuses as far as I know, unlike some places.....

 

[PaleAngel_90]

Yes




Afaik, the only new Epiphone Thunderbirds still being made are the "Thunderbird 60s Bass", formerly known as the Vintage Pro, and only in Tobacco Sunburst & Black.


Anything else billed as new is NOS (new old stock, aka leftovers), or isn't new.

Why would they stop making the IV's? It'd stand to reason that they wouldn't stop production for a product that sells well. I don't get it... Seems like self-sabotage to me.

 

[dagrev]

Is it really noticeable the sound quality of a set of 040-100 flatwound strings compared to a 045-105 or a 050-110? What do you guys think? I don't have much experience with strings, and what experience I have is with Roundwounds. Would appreciate advice on this.

I'm sure there can be since it does change the physics, but have never noticed it and would honestly doubt someone if they say they could tell the difference just by listening.