Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

Something interesting (to me, anyways ) I found while re-aligning knobs to their correct orientation on the Mark III head......

The left/lower knob in both pics is from my Mark IV, the other from the Mark III:
View attachment 4901394
View attachment 4901395

Mark IV:

View attachment 4901397

Mark III:

View attachment 4901396

Could be a problem. Please send both to me and I'll see if I can sort it out.

 

[dagrev]

The tuners as well are not original to a VP.
Also leads me to believe it's possibly a modded CP.
But i can't say for sure it's not a VP.

The pickup spacing is the tell tale.

That's what I was going on as well. But wasn't there a year or so when the pickups were close to being in the original locations?

 

[dagrev]

I'm originally from Millbury but used to play in Worcester (I mean Wormtown) quite a bit, that drummer looks familiar.

Drummers all look alike.....

 

[Nocturnal]

The tuners as well are not original to a VP.
Also leads me to believe it's possibly a modded CP.
But i can't say for sure it's not a VP.

The pickup spacing is the tell tale.

Headstock size as well.

 

[Stealth57]

That's what I was going on as well. But wasn't there a year or so when the pickups were close to being in the original locations?

2013 for the CP

 

[dagrev]

I just noticed that the pickup locations on the new Embassy seem different from the VP/60s. Never noticed that before, but would account for the Embassy I played being not as bright as the VPs. The locations on my '64 Embassy and Thunderbird look identical.

 

[TBird1958]

Funny you should say that, when I got my NR I took the factory strings off and tried a couple of different string types. So far, the factory rounds are my favorite rounds and cobalts are my favorite flat. Wish I knew what the factory used. My next string change will probably be D’Addario XL rounds. But so far my experience on the new NR is it needs brightish strings.

I still haven't changed the stock strings on my NR, I really should as I think the Ken Smith's would brighten it up

 

[PaleAngel_90]

Didn't knew that Gibson made strings. Do they do flatwounds? How good are Gibson strings?

 

[dagrev]

Didn't knew that Gibson made strings. Do they do flatwounds? How good are Gibson strings?

Yes on flatwounds. I've never used either as far as I know. I don't recall any rumors as to who even makes them for Gibson.

 

[JIO]

Didn't knew that Gibson made strings. Do they do flatwounds? How good are Gibson strings?

GHS is Gibson. They are in Battle Creek Michigan where Gibson started out. (Gibson is in Nashville now) And yes, they make very good strings. I've used their Precision Flats and Progressive Rounds - both excellent.

 

[JJR58]

That's what I was going on as well. But wasn't there a year or so when the pickups were close to being in the original locations?

Yes. 2013.
Give or take what ever Epiphone was doing at the time.

 

[dagrev]

GHS is Gibson. They are in Battle Creek Michigan where Gibson started out. (Gibson is in Nashville now) And yes, they make very good strings. I've used their Precision Flats and Progressive Rounds - both excellent.

Interesting. Does GHS make strings for Gibson or is there some actual business connection? Used to be Squire, I believe, and originally made strings for Leo early on. And yes, GHS makes great strings. Not "cool" strings these days, but still great strings. Like any string, they may not have what a person is looking for, but it's not because the strings are not good. I started using them decades ago and came back to them about 10 years ago for a few basses. The Precision Flats are great, and their Pressurewounds are on one bass that will never have anything else. Boomers do sound great on the NR.

 

[JIO]

Interesting. Does GHS make strings for Gibson or is there some actual business connection? Used to be Squire, I believe, and originally made strings for Leo early on. And yes, GHS makes great strings. Not "cool" strings these days, but still great strings. Like any string, they may not have what a person is looking for, but it's not because the strings are not good. I started using them decades ago and came back to them about 10 years ago for a few basses. The Precision Flats are great, and their Pressurewounds are on one bass that will never have anything else. Boomers do sound great on the NR.

I think their original proximity to Gibson in Battle Creek had more to do with their connection. I read about it somewhere years ago. I've been using D'Addario strings the last number of years, but still have basses strung with GHS strings. They are also very good about customer service. I had some sort of issue with one of their string-sets at one point and once contacting them - they sent a couple (free) strings within a couple days. The Precision flats are very stiff, but that's why I like them. I also use/like LaBella Deep Talkin' flats, but haven't tried their 'low tension' version yet. I tried the more expensive TI flats that many like but they didn't stay on my bass for too long. I tried Boomers but they didn't do it for me. Their Pressure-wounds I like.

My Supersonic has the same GHS Precision flats since I built it about 10yrs ago. They still sound great. One thing about a good 'flats' string-set - they last forever!

An older pic of my '64 II w/Progressive rounds - it has D'Addario NY/XL's now.

 

[Nocturnal]

GHS Balanced Nickles (4M-MB) are great strings as well. I have them on my StatusBird and really like them. They have green silks so they may not work for the purple-silks team

Please forgive the tort pickguard. That was replaced within 5 minutes of getting the bass home

 

[JIO]

GHS Balanced Nickles (4M-MB) are great strings as well. I have them on my StatusBird and really like them. They have green silks so they may not work for the purple-silks team

Please forgive the tort pickguard. That was replaced within 5 minutes of getting the bass home

Is that a more recent variety for GHS? I like the 'balanced' D'Addario's. Wasn't aware GHS also did a 'balanced' set.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Interesting. Does GHS make strings for Gibson or is there some actual business connection? Used to be Squire, I believe, and originally made strings for Leo early on. And yes, GHS makes great strings. Not "cool" strings these days, but still great strings. Like any string, they may not have what a person is looking for, but it's not because the strings are not good. I started using them decades ago and came back to them about 10 years ago for a few basses. The Precision Flats are great, and their Pressurewounds are on one bass that will never have anything else. Boomers do sound great on the NR.

GHS FAQ including a very brief history

 

[PhR75]

I just noticed that the pickup locations on the new Embassy seem different from the VP/60s. Never noticed that before, but would account for the Embassy I played being not as bright as the VPs. The locations on my '64 Embassy and Thunderbird look identical.

Since I have the fixation for pickup locations I must have brought that out here before. It was the first thing I noticed apart from the headstock and longer horn compared to the original when the model was released. Probably prevented me from getting one which is kinda stupid but what can you do.
I might be wrong but I'd guess the neck pickup is in the modern Gibson T-Bird location.

 

[JIO]

GHS FAQ including a very brief history

So GHS is not a Gibson subsidiary, thanks for clarifying that.

 

[PaleAngel_90]

Is there any difference between the current Epiphone Thunderbird case and this one, besides the shape? Which one is better? The other one is the older model, no?

 

[KaraQ]

Is there any difference between the current Epiphone Thunderbird case and this one, besides the shape? Which one is better? The other one is the older model, no?

View attachment 4902072

View attachment 4902073

The current not-rectangle case is a bit lighter, and will fit a Vintage Pro.

The older rectangle one isn't long enough on the inside for a VP, but will fit any other Epiphone Thunderbird