Thunderbird Club

[BassToGoGo]

An odd question...

Awhile back (2005-2006?) Gibson made a studio set neck 5 string Tbird, does anyone know if they used standaed TB Plus pickups in them? I'm working on a 5 string TB styled build and it seems to me that the TB Plus pickup's coils are too narrow for a five.

If by chance anyone owns one I would love to know the string spacing at the bridge and nut?

Thanks in advance!

 

[GBassNorth]

Hi guys, today I offer you an unedited comparison between the Fender Meteora Bass and the Epiphone Thunderbird Classic Pro. A modern sounding bass against a more vintage sounding bass both with humbucker pick up.

Great video, great playing!

My observations…

The CP had more thump on every setting and the Meteora had more zing on every setting. The CP sounded old school classic rock/Motown 1960’s style and the Meteora sounded more modern in a glam rock 1980’s style sort of way. Both sounds are very useable.

All the samples were done with a pick roughly over or slightly north of the bridge pickup so that playing style and location (along with the string selection) should have showcased the degree of bite, growl and grind each bass can produce. The Meteora in fact did easily produce that with the Fender strings. The CP never really got there, even with relatively bright (but possibly old?) EB Slinky’s. No idea where the tone knob was set on each bass, but the Fender does have the active option so I’d assume the tonal palette on it is much broader.

Finally, the CP is an interesting choice for the comparison. It is nearly identical to all the post 2000 Gibson Tbirds (except the 2015 and the new ProBucker equipped birds). Which is to say, it’s voiced a bit darker and has a more smooth creamy nature to it than the vintage Tbirds and the newer Epiphone VP Tbird. A very interesting test would be the Epiphone VP up against the Fender Meteora with identical brand and age strings. The VP has a more vintage Tbird sound (which folks outside of the Tbird clan might call more modern, like the Meteora) vs the CP which has a more modern Tbird sound (again, folks outside of the Tbird clan may call it more vintage).

Thanks for posting, it was a very informative and fun clip, short and to the point!

 

[dagrev]

Or leave it off like I did.
View attachment 4918608

Doesn't look to me to be a particularly ugly Thunderbird. Why the bag over it's head?

 

[JIO]

View attachment 4918509 View attachment 4918510

Not drilled 'n' screwed yet. But it's in the right place approximately, right?

 

[godofthunder59]

@godofthunder59, where do i find one of these basses?

Shot me a pm

 

[JIO]

 

[Gaolee]

Hi guys, today I offer you an unedited comparison between the Fender Meteora Bass and the Epiphone Thunderbird Classic Pro. A modern sounding bass against a more vintage sounding bass both with humbucker pick up.

I wonder how much of the sound difference is the strings. Fender strings can be bright like the Meteora sounds. Slinkies are a little tamer, like the Thunderbird sounds.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Musicians Friend has some open box deals. Mostly Fender, Ibanez, etc., but there’s a red Epi SG bass and a burgundy NR Thunderbird. Not huge deals, but noticeably cheaper than list.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I wonder how much of the sound difference is the strings. Fender strings can be bright like the Meteora sounds. Slinkies are a little tamer, like the Thunderbird sounds.

While the CP is definitely a darker sounding bird, with EBCFs on it, it can get more zing than I heard in the video and still bring the thunder and thump (it can nail the early Motown sound).

 

[BklynKen]

While the CP is definitely a darker sounding bird, with EBCFs on it, it can get more zing than I heard in the video and still bring the thunder and thump (it can nail the early Motown sound).

Yeah, my typical tone is way brighter than that CP. Same pickups.

 

[TBird1958]

I wonder how much of the sound difference is the strings. Fender strings can be bright like the Meteora sounds. Slinkies are a little tamer, like the Thunderbird sounds.

I was thinking that as well..........my Studio (same pickups as a CP) sounds fantastic with SIT Power Steels, a lot brighter than what he was getting.

 

[GBassNorth]

I wonder how much of the sound difference is the strings. Fender strings can be bright like the Meteora sounds. Slinkies are a little tamer, like the Thunderbird sounds.

…plus, all the Slinky’s I’ve tried went from new to broken in to dead in very short order. The ones in the clip sound broken in to me, which with regular daily playing can happen in as little as a day or two IME. I do like them fresh, but unfortunately they go quick. Good thing they’re dirt cheap.

 

[PhR75]

There's also the pickup location difference. I'm sure the Meteora has it's neck pickup closer to the bridge than the CP. Bolt on maple neck with a maple fingerboard too. That might make the Thunderbird sound darker than it is in comparison.

 

[PhR75]

Sorry for blowing my own (thread) trumpet but on this thread I compared the VP to a Frankenstein Telecaster with a reverse P and MM in about the same locations.
P-bass vs. T-Bird

 

[JIO]

There's also the pickup location difference. I'm sure the Meteora has it's neck pickup closer to the bridge than the CP. Bolt on maple neck with a maple fingerboard too. That might make the Thunderbird sound darker than it is in comparison.

Type of pu's and where they are located makes the initial difference sonically, followed by electronics, neck wood, strings, body wood and technique. The rest follows, including purple silks...

 

[KaraQ]

An odd question...

Awhile back (2005-2006?) Gibson made a studio set neck 5 string Tbird, does anyone know if they used standaed TB Plus pickups in them? I'm working on a 5 string TB styled build and it seems to me that the TB Plus pickup's coils are too narrow for a five.

If by chance anyone owns one I would love to know the string spacing at the bridge and nut?

Thanks in advance!

Not sure about the Studio 5-string, but the Epiphone Thunderbird Pro 5 had the same pickups as the 4-string Pro 4, afaik.
They seem to have worked around the narrow width of the pickup magnets by reducing the string spacing from T-bird normal at 17.5 mm, to 17 mm.

Judging only from pics, it looks like Gibson did something similar with the Studio 5, but I'm sure that someone who's had or does have one will chime in to verify

 

[Engle]

Just got it from eBay (not original). I should at least drill the holes, attach it once and then take it off.

That way it will look even more like a 60’s bass

 

[GBassNorth]

Type of pu's and where they are located makes the initial difference sonically, followed by electronics, neck wood, strings, body wood and technique. The rest follows, including purple silks...

…the pick guard screws, don’t forget the pick guard screws!

 

[GBassNorth]

That way it will look even more like a 60’s bass

Just got it from eBay (not original). I should at least drill the holes, attach it once and then take it off.

Dont forget to snap the headstock off then glue it back on for the ultimate in authenticity.

 

[Engle]

…the pick guard screws, don’t forget the pick guard screws!

And the finish