Thunderbird Club

[JJR58]

Please stop posting. I’m in Doha and have a 16 hour flight that leaves in 2 hours. I don’t want to be 10 pages behind when I arrive at SFO.

Mmmmmmmmm, No.
But safe travels.

 

[kbakerde]

Hey all, I am new here. I don't currently have a Thunderbird, but I have been starting to have that wild hair that I'd like to get one. Specifically I'd love to find a white T-Bird. Seems they are around, but fairly rare from the early 00's from Gibson, but then we also have the Classic and Vintage T-Bird Pro's from Epiphone.

I have not found a Gibson for sale at the moment, but there are both Classic and Vintage T-Birds for sale on Reverb. The Classic is going for around $650, where the Vintage would run about $1000 (unless I work them down on the price). If I decide to wait for a Gibson, I have no idea how long I'd have to wait and it would no doubt be more expensive. Would a used Gibson of the mid 2000's (or maybe even 90's) be better than the Epi's?

Is the Vintage Pro worth $300-$400 more than the Classic? Both should have essentially the same pickups, so we are talking Chrome vs Black and Split bridge vs 3-point.

This is the go-to resource for T-Birds, and I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thank you.

 

[Engle]

I can take a hint, and THIS guitar has been giving me clear hints over the last couple of years.
View attachment 5320064
- I replaced the selector switch a couple of times because for whatever reason it just kept shorting out.
- I kept on enlarging the rout for the springs of the whammy bar, but they keep on snagging against the wood, making it impossible to keep in tune.
- I replaced the pots because they went bad on me.

AAAAAANNND...
Today, the neck just twisted itself into oblivion.

Okay, stop it, I get it already, this guitar doesn't want to be a guitar anymore.

I've had a few Instruments like that. They are a learning experience

 

[dagrev]

Hey all, I am new here. I don't currently have a Thunderbird, but I have been starting to have that wild hair that I'd like to get one. Specifically I'd love to find a white T-Bird. Seems they are around, but fairly rare from the early 00's from Gibson, but then we also have the Classic and Vintage T-Bird Pro's from Epiphone.

I have not found a Gibson for sale at the moment, but there are both Classic and Vintage T-Birds for sale on Reverb. The Classic is going for around $650, where the Vintage would run about $1000 (unless I work them down on the price). If I decide to wait for a Gibson, I have no idea how long I'd have to wait and it would no doubt be more expensive. Would a used Gibson of the mid 2000's (or maybe even 90's) be better than the Epi's?

Is the Vintage Pro worth $300-$400 more than the Classic? Both should have essentially the same pickups, so we are talking Chrome vs Black and Split bridge vs 3-point.

This is the go-to resource for T-Birds, and I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thank you.

I'm working and leaving for meeting in a few minutes so this will be brief.
The Epi Vintage Pro/60s are very well made and sound as close as you can get to a real 60s Thunderbird without paying a fair amount more--and the modern Gibsons do not sound like vintage Thunderbirds. This isn't to say they sound bad. The Epi VPs can be a bit shy on the lows--but amps have knobs. Other Epis and Gibsons with black pickups are more "modern sounding." Whatever that really is, but they don't sound like the old Gibsons or Epi VPs. It's preference. For one thing, the Epi VPs have the pickups in nearly the correct locations, i.e. the vintage Gibsons.

If you can play both that would be ideal. The other is it just depends on if you have a particular Thunderbird sound in your head you want to shoot for. Having had a '64 Thunderbird for decades, I prefer they type of Thunderbird sound, so the Epi VP gets me pretty close at a fraction of the cost. They are the next best thing from Gibson/Epi if that's what you shoot for. But you my love the more modern sound of Gibson and some Epis.

Others will definitely come along and provide some great observations as well.

 

[Ringhammer]

Specifically I'd love to find a white T-Bird. Seems they are around, but fairly rare from the early 00's from Gibson

I got lucky and found a white ‘03 Gibson ‘bird, but had to pay a premium ($2200 or so). I do not prefer the black plastic pickups, so all of my Gibson ‘birds have had the stock TB+ pickups swapped out for vintage styled pickups from aftermarket pickups makers (Lollar, Novak, Gibson reissue, Thunderbucker, Gemini). You can find plenty of Gibson ‘birds from the nineties and newer from $1500 and up, but virtually all will be tobacco burst, and the occasional ebony (black). I have only seen 2 white, I bought 1, and the other is on reverb right now.

Gibson Thunderbird IV 2007 - Antique White | Reverb

Also, sometime in the mid 2000’s I think they changed the Gibson fretboard from ebony to rosewood. I have also noted some minor differences from ‘90’s Gibson ‘birds and 2000 and up Gibson ‘birds.

I have a white Eppi VP, and it is one of my favorites, a great neck through bass at a great price, still 100% stock, I love how it sounds with the string I put on it. (I got really lucky with mine, GC underpriced it at $350). I’d guess you could talk the seller down to $600-$700, as white ones are more rare.

 

[Engle]

Hey all, I am new here. I don't currently have a Thunderbird, but I have been starting to have that wild hair that I'd like to get one. Specifically I'd love to find a white T-Bird. Seems they are around, but fairly rare from the early 00's from Gibson, but then we also have the Classic and Vintage T-Bird Pro's from Epiphone.

I have not found a Gibson for sale at the moment, but there are both Classic and Vintage T-Birds for sale on Reverb. The Classic is going for around $650, where the Vintage would run about $1000 (unless I work them down on the price). If I decide to wait for a Gibson, I have no idea how long I'd have to wait and it would no doubt be more expensive. Would a used Gibson of the mid 2000's (or maybe even 90's) be better than the Epi's?

Is the Vintage Pro worth $300-$400 more than the Classic? Both should have essentially the same pickups, so we are talking Chrome vs Black and Split bridge vs 3-point.

This is the go-to resource for T-Birds, and I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thank you.

Pickups are different as someone else mentioned. The other difference between the VP and CP is the peghead. The VP has larger tuners and a huge headstock.

 

[MCF]

Speaking of white Thunderbirds, happy white bird Wednesday!

 

[Engle]

Hoping someone knows - are the Non-Reverse Thunderbird bodies the same size/dimensions as the Non-Reverse Firebirds? The normal (reverse) Thunderbirds/Firebirds are exactly the same dims, I would anticipate that the Non-Reverses would follow the same logic but we are dealing with Gibson designs here (as well as their nomenclature)!

I think they are, but I’ve never had the two side by side.
I did a tracing of a 60’s NR bass at the last GTG. It’s rough, but msg if you want a copy.

 

[JJR58]

I think they are, but I’ve never had the two side by side.
I did a tracing of a 60’s NR bass at the last GTG. It’s rough, but msg if you want a copy.

I watched you do that tracing.
Knowing you, i'm sure you were meticulous as you could be to get it close enough.

 

[Engle]

I watched you do that tracing.
Knowing you, i'm sure you were meticulous as you could be to get it close enough.

I built my Ash/Maple Reverse by tracing a Gibson in a store in the 80’s. I got the body outline pretty close. Still need to thin the back of that neck.

 

[Thumper]

It's pass for me. I'm not nuts about the wider nut or the laurel fretboard. I do like the Babicz bridge though

Good news for me! I think I'll wait for someone to decide they can't get along with the "wide" neck and trade for my mint, light VP (of course, I know the Rex is more $).

 

[kbakerde]

I'm working and leaving for meeting in a few minutes so this will be brief.
The Epi Vintage Pro/60s are very well made and sound as close as you can get to a real 60s Thunderbird without paying a fair amount more--and the modern Gibsons do not sound like vintage Thunderbirds. This isn't to say they sound bad. The Epi VPs can be a bit shy on the lows--but amps have knobs. Other Epis and Gibsons with black pickups are more "modern sounding." Whatever that really is, but they don't sound like the old Gibsons or Epi VPs. It's preference. For one thing, the Epi VPs have the pickups in nearly the correct locations, i.e. the vintage Gibsons.

If you can play both that would be ideal. The other is it just depends on if you have a particular Thunderbird sound in your head you want to shoot for. Having had a '64 Thunderbird for decades, I prefer they type of Thunderbird sound, so the Epi VP gets me pretty close at a fraction of the cost. They are the next best thing from Gibson/Epi if that's what you shoot for. But you my love the more modern sound of Gibson and some Epis.

Others will definitely come along and provide some great observations as well.

Played a couple of the new TBird 60s at my GC. The Ebony was nice, but the whole G string was deadened which was wierd. The Tobacco Burst played and sounded really nice.

That might tip the scales into the Classic for me personally. I believe the Classic has Gibson TB+ pickups is that correct? I know they won't be exactly alike, but I did own a Gibson Les Paul from around 2005 with TB+ pickups and loved the way they sounded. So I think I'd prefer the TB+ to the more vintage sound personally.

 

[kbakerde]

I got lucky and found a white ‘03 Gibson ‘bird, but had to pay a premium ($2200 or so). I do not prefer the black plastic pickups, so all of my Gibson ‘birds have had the stock TB+ pickups swapped out for vintage styled pickups from aftermarket pickups makers (Lollar, Novak, Gibson reissue, Thunderbucker, Gemini). You can find plenty of Gibson ‘birds from the nineties and newer from $1500 and up, but virtually all will be tobacco burst, and the occasional ebony (black). I have only seen 2 white, I bought 1, and the other is on reverb right now.

Gibson Thunderbird IV 2007 - Antique White | Reverb

Also, sometime in the mid 2000’s I think they changed the Gibson fretboard from ebony to rosewood. I have also noted some minor differences from ‘90’s Gibson ‘birds and 2000 and up Gibson ‘birds.

I have a white Eppi VP, and it is one of my favorites, a great neck through bass at a great price, still 100% stock, I love how it sounds with the string I put on it. (I got really lucky with mine, GC underpriced it at $350). I’d guess you could talk the seller down to $600-$700, as white ones are more rare.

Saw that one, but man that is REALLY yellow.

 

[MCF]

Played a couple of the new TBird 60s at my GC. The Ebony was nice, but the whole G string was deadened which was wierd. The Tobacco Burst played and sounded really nice.

That might tip the scales into the Classic for me personally. I believe the Classic has Gibson TB+ pickups is that correct? I know they won't be exactly alike, but I did own a Gibson Les Paul from around 2005 with TB+ pickups and loved the way they sounded. So I think I'd prefer the TB+ to the more vintage sound personally.

Yes. The Classic Pros have the TB+ pickups.

 

[MCF]

It's pass for me. I'm not nuts about the wider nut or the laurel fretboard. I do like the Babicz bridge though

The FB is too light for my taste. I’d have to try one to see what the neck feels like. I generally don’t mind a wider neck. Both of my NR's have 1.6 nuts. The ‘13 feels slightly chunkier than the ‘21. And while they aren’t quite as nice as the ‘15 reverse’s neck, I find them comfortable. Including the Babicz and a case are nice bonuses, although at a price.

 

[Gaolee]

I can take a hint, and THIS guitar has been giving me clear hints over the last couple of years.
View attachment 5320064
- I replaced the selector switch a couple of times because for whatever reason it just kept shorting out.
- I kept on enlarging the rout for the springs of the whammy bar, but they keep on snagging against the wood, making it impossible to keep in tune.
- I replaced the pots because they went bad on me.

AAAAAANNND...
Today, the neck just twisted itself into oblivion.

Okay, stop it, I get it already, this guitar doesn't want to be a guitar anymore.

It wants to be a floor lamp.

 

[Gaolee]

Right? I was a history major. Now I’m a lawyer. My dad and brother were engineers; and my brother went back to school to become a prominent car designer. I hardly understand any of Chucky’s tech posts. But I am trying to learn. And yes, I am the black sheep in the family.

Somebody had to not do numbers.

 

[Gaolee]

They're interesting. They make these fasteners for boats, car tops, etc. I was initially attracted to them because they're so low-profile to the body. I have the Dunlops on my Carvin. They work fine, but I was never fond of them.

They are low profile, work really well, are easier than just about anything else to use, and let me wave the bass around with abandon without coming apart. Plus they come in either black or chrome. Probably gold, too, but I don't do gold so much.

 

[Gaolee]

View attachment 5320230

That looks like my idea of the perfect guitar amp. If it can stay clean at the higher wattage (for the same volume), and then get that wonderful 6V6 singing breakup at 3 watts, it really would be perfect. Too bad I suck so much at guitar. It sure wouldn't be much of a Thunderbird amp.

 

[JIO]

Meanwhile, i'm here with a couple of heavy ash bodied instruments (all builds; Pbass, currently working on a Stingray Bass, & A Triple Pickup Jazzmaster guitar). Maybe not 13lbs worth, for surely in 10-12lb range.

Is the Blue series or parallel wired?

I don't know - parallel I think