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Thunderbird Club

#27,681
Hello fellow T-birders.

What opinions do you have on Epiphone Thunderbird Pro V fivestring? Seems and plays nicely enough, some setup issues.

I have an opportunity to grab one (new!) but don't really know if it's worth the trouble trudging it aroind the globe back home.

Mainly the active electronics are the issue here for me (and the hassle with the airlines).

Any experiences and thoughts?

-Sakari
 
#27,684
BassoSaku said:
Hello fellow T-birders.

What opinions do you have on Epiphone Thunderbird Pro V fivestring? Seems and plays nicely enough, some setup issues.

I have an opportunity to grab one (new!) but don't really know if it's worth the trouble trudging it aroind the globe back home.

Mainly the active electronics are the issue here for me (and the hassle with the airlines).

Any experiences and thoughts?

-Sakari
Click to expand...

Hmmmm.

I have one. I like it. I have had a series of challenges with it. First, I needed a 10 band EQ that would let me reproduce the B string well with a practice amp. Second, for an active bass, it isn't that hot. I have thought through replacement of the pickups, and preamp. I haven't done anything yet, but keep thinking about it with no plan to do something or do nothing.

The construction is excellent - neck through, brass nut, etc. It is heavy, but then you would expect a big chunk of mahogany to be heavy. I should probably move the front straplock to the heel of the neck.

Not sure that helps you. Opinion -> if I saw one for sale again, and I didn't already have one, I would buy it again.
 
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#27,686
PillO said:
I don't have any insight into Gibson's financial position (and I am not sure that anyone here does, as they are a private company and so do not publish their financials). But, manufacturing in the US is expensive, not because of the labour costs, but because of fixed production costs (regulations, taxes etc.). Having said that, I am not sure that Gibson can make a bass economically in the US for $899 delivered. And if they did, all their other US made basses would be devalued and they would have to start chopping prices.

I think that the availability of very good quality Epiphones at very good prices is the biggest hurdle that Gibson faces. Given that Gibson owns Epiphone, they are masters of their own demise.

There are two opportunities to fix Gibson's bass problem. First is straight pricing. The ratio of prices between Gibson and Epiphone is big, more than 2 times. It pushes many to Epiphone. A small reduction in Gibson price (10-25%) could change the ratio enough that many current Epiphone buyers would consider Gibson. The same could be achieved by raising Epiphone prices, although that would result in a decrease in sales that may not be offset by the increased profit from higher prices.

There is another approach that Gibson could take, but may not be as acceptable both within the company and amoungst consumers. Start making Gibson products off shore where fixed production costs are lower...
Click to expand...
Why is Epiphone any bigger problem for Gibson than Squier is for 7ender? By all accounts, a Squier is generally high quality and holds its own even with US made 7enders. So, who buys MIA 7enders, anyway, and why? I don't know. I buy Gibsons, but I buy them used, so that probably doesn't count.
 
#27,687
BassoSaku said:
Hello fellow T-birders.

What opinions do you have on Epiphone Thunderbird Pro V fivestring? Seems and plays nicely enough, some setup issues.

I have an opportunity to grab one (new!) but don't really know if it's worth the trouble trudging it aroind the globe back home.

Mainly the active electronics are the issue here for me (and the hassle with the airlines).

Any experiences and thoughts?

-Sakari
Click to expand...
If I had a use for a fiver, I would buy it, but then modify it. I have a four string that was active. It's now passive, and completely rewired. I didn't like the electronics much, but the bass itself is excellent, so long as you don't mind the world's thickest poly finish. Mine's burst. The oiled ones don't have that thick finish on them, so that's probably the way I would go if I got another one.
 
#27,688
Gibzn is making more instruments than their factory was designed to produce. They don't have to make a better instrument because they sell what they make as it is. They will always sell three times as many Epi's because they appeal to a much wider market. They're happy with things as they are, or they wouldn't still be doing ripply finishes with bubbles in 'em dating back to at least the 90's.
 
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#27,690
ubernator said:
I was gonna go all on mike watt mode few years ago with that SG, but it got stolen when still brand new, 2013. That sounded so good and was super easy to play. I kinda want a shorty again now! Can't afford a $500+ used bass right now. But I do kinda want a 32 or 30" scale jazz bass or PJ, sx with upgraded pickups would probably be good enough for me, but a beat up used Japanese fender medium scale jazz would be awesome.

Not sure how a short scale t bird would look, kinda kills the look if you scale down the body much I would think, since part of the bird appeal is the big body.
Click to expand...

good point - I agree, unless played by a very small player :) However having said that, I have a '65 (30" scale) Teisco Del Rey nearly as long as a T-bird (a bit longer than a J) so it could be done...
 
#27,691
wolfkeller said:
Thanks Larry! I'll be heading to Metzgers in Ann arbor for a great German dinner N Beer!
Click to expand...

Best to you Bryan!
I didn't realize you enjoyed German food (I love it so!), Cheers!
 
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#27,692
Gaolee said:
I haven't seen that kind of problem, but it's not like I have examined a whole lot of Gibsons over the years. I have a handful, and none have much in the way of finish or other problems.
Click to expand...

Around the headstock on my white Gibson TBird it is not a very smooth finish. It seems like they do as much as they have to to get by. That's about it. They don't worry about fine detail in small over seen locations
 
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#27,694
PillO said:
I don't have any insight into Gibson's financial position (and I am not sure that anyone here does, as they are a private company and so do not publish their financials). But, manufacturing in the US is expensive, not because of the labour costs, but because of fixed production costs (regulations, taxes etc.). Having said that, I am not sure that Gibson can make a bass economically in the US for $899 delivered. And if they did, all their other US made basses would be devalued and they would have to start chopping prices.

I think that the availability of very good quality Epiphones at very good prices is the biggest hurdle that Gibson faces. Given that Gibson owns Epiphone, they are masters of their own demise.

There are two opportunities to fix Gibson's bass problem. First is straight pricing. The ratio of prices between Gibson and Epiphone is big, more than 2 times. It pushes many to Epiphone. A small reduction in Gibson price (10-25%) could change the ratio enough that many current Epiphone buyers would consider Gibson. The same could be achieved by raising Epiphone prices, although that would result in a decrease in sales that may not be offset by the increased profit from higher prices.

There is another approach that Gibson could take, but may not be as acceptable both within the company and amoungst consumers. Start making Gibson products off shore where fixed production costs are lower...
Click to expand...

Were they losing money on the $799 (or 899 I forgot) SG basses? I figure they could do a passive bird with basic hardware and a set neck for about the same. That was 4 years ago. I'm sure it could be done. The lack of a gloss finish takes a good chunk of the cost out right there.

Klondike said:
I would take the other piece with. There is a fair chance of finding something that works, even if it isnt the exact thickness.
Click to expand...

Kat posted links. 29¢ each or 19¢ for 10 or more. $2 (plus shipping probably) and never have to worry about losing those again.

Now the question is which bass or guitar to put it on? I'm happy with my birds each having one lock on the back.
 
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#27,695
ubernator said:
Were they losing money on the $799 (or 899 I forgot) SG basses? I figure they could do a passive bird with basic hardware and a set neck for about the same. That was 4 years ago. I'm sure it could be done. The lack of a gloss finish takes a good chunk of the cost out right there
Click to expand...

They used to make set neck Thunderbirds. It was the studio model. They're heavy as hell. Solid piece of wood as thick if not thicker as the middle portion of a neck thru
 
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#27,697
wolfkeller said:
Well I AM German! A nice sampling of foods and lots of warsteiner!
Click to expand...

I'm JEALOUS! Traditional German food is hard to come by out here, I have to make it myself!
 
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#27,699
Dr_Feelgoood212 said:
Around the headstock on my white Gibson TBird it is not a very smooth finish. It seems like they do as much as they have to to get by. That's about it. They don't worry about fine detail in small over seen locations
Click to expand...
There's that. The 1991 and 2001 have much nicer finishes on the beveled part of the headstock than the 2015. It's made neatly and finished consistently, but they didn't fill the grain.
 

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