see, this is where people get misled…
683J means 68 + 3 zeros OR
68000pFd (J denotes 10 x 10^-12) which equals 68nFd or .068uFd
the confusion stems from different conventions (older, newer, domestic, european etc.) for numbering capacitor values…
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- club thunderbird
683J means 68 + 3 zeros OR
68000pFd (J denotes 10 x 10^-12) which equals 68nFd or .068uFd
the confusion stems from different conventions (older, newer, domestic, european etc.) for numbering capacitor values…
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,970
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
500k pots - 2A683J marked on the brown cap.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,970
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,237
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,970
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,237
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,970
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I just got on the VP bus and need some info. Like, what was the 1st year it was introduced? Is there a serial # record? Where were they made (I'm assuming mine is MIK as it has Korean pots) and have they been made in the same country for all the years leading to 2023? I recall reading here that tuners have changed - what tuners and what years did that happen? Any other info would help if you know of it. I checked Wiki and it needs updating because the VP isn't mentioned. Thanks ahead of time -
After playing it since it arrived yesterday - I'm kinda' smitten by this bass. I'm going to take it to TSC's rehearsal on Thursday night to confirm what I'm already hearing at home - that it's an exceptional bass both in sound and feel of that neck. It really is very much like my '64 II - a neck that I know "like the back of my hand" - a neck I've played since 1974. So now experiencing this - those of you owning one of these; the neck feels like a '63-'65 Thunderbird bass, and totally stock - it sounds really, really good. (and is way cheaper than a vintage T-bird!)
With this bass, Epiphone did what Fender did with their Road Worn series years ago; they produced a really exceptional bass for under $1k. Fenders RW series P's & J's sold like hotcakes. (not certain if the are still being made) I played a J in a music store and it played/sounded great! Aside from being "road worn", it was light and similar to the VP - a legit RI of an early '60s Jazz. It was on sale (just under a grand) and I was tempted but I already have a few awesome J's. The VP for the price I got it for is a steal. I don't need another bass, but I'm tempted to keep this one 'as is'... that's how good it is.
After playing it since it arrived yesterday - I'm kinda' smitten by this bass. I'm going to take it to TSC's rehearsal on Thursday night to confirm what I'm already hearing at home - that it's an exceptional bass both in sound and feel of that neck. It really is very much like my '64 II - a neck that I know "like the back of my hand" - a neck I've played since 1974. So now experiencing this - those of you owning one of these; the neck feels like a '63-'65 Thunderbird bass, and totally stock - it sounds really, really good. (and is way cheaper than a vintage T-bird!)
With this bass, Epiphone did what Fender did with their Road Worn series years ago; they produced a really exceptional bass for under $1k. Fenders RW series P's & J's sold like hotcakes. (not certain if the are still being made) I played a J in a music store and it played/sounded great! Aside from being "road worn", it was light and similar to the VP - a legit RI of an early '60s Jazz. It was on sale (just under a grand) and I was tempted but I already have a few awesome J's. The VP for the price I got it for is a steal. I don't need another bass, but I'm tempted to keep this one 'as is'... that's how good it is.
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- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,970
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Wait!, i know him.
He looks familiar...
The less then handful i've tried.....
I thought they are stellar.
They honestly kill a CP imo, and ymmv.
But if Scotts little birdie is right about some new colors coming for them.
I'll sell both my CP's for one.
Mine is a 2017 which I think is from the first run. I thought it was made in Indonesia but I could be wrong. It also has the big vintage style Wilkinson tuners.
A pic of the wiring for your reference.
I have both, a CP and two VP. In a direct comparison, they are sounding different. The CP is darker, more like thunder and very powerful. The VP is clearer and has also that thunder base but also offers some piano like highs in the tone. This makes the VP more universal than the CP. Both basses are distinctive real thunderbirds and really great. However, I never would give away either one. The choice between them just depends, what your bass in a particular song should sound like.
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This showed up in my YT feed last night.
The white 2017 VP I bought a few months ago is just such a good instrument I can’t believe I got it for just over $400. I bought a brand new black one and it’s not quite the same but still a fantastic instrument for sub $700. I’m modding the black one but leaving the white one alone.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,970
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Thanks for that Tooned - I do like the larger Wilkinson tuners better than the smaller ones on mine - closer to the original Klusons. And your serial # starts with 170... and mine starts with 180... wonder how the #'s correlate with years. It looks like your pots are stamped Korea also...
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,970
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I'm not 100% sure the first year of production, I know they were in production by 2017, maybe as early as 2016? Don't remember seeing a 2015.....
Afaik, all the VPs have been made in Indonesia, as well as the Classic Pros, and most of the Pro 4/5 basses (my Pro 5 is a first-year 2009 made in China, the later years were Indonesia).
The tuners have changed, maybe 2018-ish? from a large mount-plate to a smaller mount-plate (maybe other differences?), but I think both versions were Wilkerson.
Of course, as with most things Gibson/Epiphone variations probably exist.......
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,589
- 221,970
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Sounds rockin'! If I played that song mine would definitely sound like that. (it has the smaller Wilkinson tuners, so most likely a similar year to my '21) Neither of my bands play anything quite that aggressive, but TSC's does play a few songs that the VP would sound great on.
Like this one, played on my Gojia Fenderbird -
I found this at: Epiphone Serial Number Lookup - Authority Guitar
"11 Digit Serial Numbers
11 digit serial combinations originate from the factories DeaWon/Unsung/Qingdao in China or Unsung-Korea or Samick-Indonesia. Both Electric and Acoustic Instruments were produced here.
This ‘generally’ is the pattern: year/year/month/month/factory id x2/production number x5)
As the complexity of the serial format changes throughout the destinations, its best to use our serial number decoder, as you stand a good chance of receiving a date also (month & year)."
11 digit serial combinations originate from the factories DeaWon/Unsung/Qingdao in China or Unsung-Korea or Samick-Indonesia. Both Electric and Acoustic Instruments were produced here.
This ‘generally’ is the pattern: year/year/month/month/factory id x2/production number x5)
As the complexity of the serial format changes throughout the destinations, its best to use our serial number decoder, as you stand a good chance of receiving a date also (month & year)."
