Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

They changed factories from Indonesia to China.

I thought that was it - it is what happened to the Epi Goth T-bird. It went through at least 3 changes due to using different factory/sources to cut costs.

 

[Ringhammer]

Black Friday

 

[MCF]

I had the battery replaced on my iPhone 6 a few years ago. I only got the 14 because I could expense it - had it for over a year now and I still hate the fact that they removed the home button.

I’ve had employer issued Android phones the last few years. Absolutely hate them. I’m all IOS for my personal stuff. It just works. Got six years out of the 8. No complaints. They finally stopped upgrades except for security patches last year. Not too shabby if you ask me.

 

[dagrev]

What's the reason for the neck angle change on the new Epiphone 64's?

No one, maybe even at Gib/Epi know for sure.

 

[dagrev]

If Epi just manufactured a neck through platform they could glue any body shape they wanted as the wings and actually have a better product with the different body styles we love. Shimming necks at weird angles seems like more work. What am I missing here? Obviously not hollow bodies…well maybe center block hollow bodies. Says the guy who can’t file a brass nut! Lol

There you go thinking again.....
That makes sense. Therefore will not happen.

 

[dagrev]

Hmmm, has anyone seen a picture of his better half? Are we dealing with one of his imaginary friends?
View attachment 5378570

That's really clever. I mean to be able to actually capture an imaginary friend in a pic like that is more than clever, it's amazing.

 

[MCF]

Nor does my set neck '64 Epi--where it could potentially make some sense.
The more I think about it, it seems what the new Epi does would maybe make for some extra work with a neck-through design. I don't have a clue how they mass produce them, so it may make no difference.

View attachment 5378444

I had to double check that they were still neck-through like the VP’s. Apparently they are. That angle is similar to the angles on my Custom Shop Epi IV’s, my Epi Goth and Epi Blackbird, and my set neck Gibson ‘21 NR. I need to check the ‘13 NR but can’t since it is at the other place. My Gibson Studio and ‘15 don’t have that. I need to check the Gibson short scale, but it too is at the other place.

 

[MCF]

Nice collection! I was talking specifically about the new epi's. I wonder if they all intentionally have that neck angle.

See my post.

 

[MCF]

That's really clever. I mean to be able to actually capture an imaginary friend in a pic like that is more than clever, it's amazing.

You know, I love Jeff. But still……

 

[dagrev]

I had to double check that they were still neck-through like the VP’s. Apparently they are. That angle is similar to the angles on my Custom Shop Epi IV’s, my Epi Goth and Epi Blackbird, and my set neck Gibson ‘21 NR. I need to check the ‘13 NR but can’t since it is at the other place. My Gibson Studio and ‘15 don’t have that. I need to check the Gibson short scale, but it too is at the other place.

I had not looked, but that was what I was wondering.

 

[MCF]

Given your job, can you access this this kind of international information, just in case Jeff is not as forthcoming as we might like? Also helps to keep our imaginations from running wild with pure speculation.

I can run him in California, but he hasn’t lived here in years.

 

[Engle]

I’ve had employer issued Android phones the last few years. Absolutely hate them. I’m all IOS for my personal stuff. It just works. Got six years out of the 8. No complaints. They finally stopped upgrades except for security patches last year. Not too shabby if you ask me.

The Apple stuff works, but they just keep changing for the sake of changing. I’ve had the 14 for a year and I still take unintended screen shots almost daily when I pick it up or take it out of my pocket

 

[Engle]

No one, maybe even at Gib/Epi know for sure.

It’s the Chinese factory. They build basses with more neck angle.
Check out how much higher the bridge is on my Goldtop Casady:

 

[dagrev]

I can run him in California, but he hasn’t lived here in years.

Heck, old dirt is still good dirt. We're not picky about such things.

 

[MCF]

Gibson being Gibson. If it ain't broke, fix it anyway. Unless it's a Les Paul. Except that they probably mess with those, too. They sure don't listen to what I would buy - a Gibson Thunderbird in an exotic color of some kind, preferably with a shallow neck angle, small headstock, chrome or nickel hardware, a Babicz bridge, and original pickup locations. I might be the only one, though. In the mean time, I'm going to be spending money to get the fretless Thunderbird refinished. In enough time, I might even ruin the magical 2001 by getting it refinished and the same with the 2015. If I ever start talking about doing that, somebody needs to come beat me over the head.

Who remembers auto tune? What a freaking disaster. It was the end of John Henry. I almost said thank God. But there were some Thunderbird positives during his reign. The ‘11 shorty, the ‘13 NR, and the ‘15 come to mind. But he limited production to the point that it was ridiculous. I won’t complain, because I have all three and each is worth 2x plus what I paid for them.

I really hoped Gibson would change after Henry’s departure. It has, to at least some degree, so far as Thunderbirds are concerned. But not enough. They pawned off a reissue of the ‘63/ ‘64 reverse to Epi. I love my Epi’s, but a reissue needs to come from Gibson. It is interesting that the description of the pickups now says that they are “Gibson 760 Probuckers.” WTH? What does that mean? Are they the same as the VP’s? I assume that they are. Why change the name in the description?

IMO Gibson/Epi make superior guitars and basses. They are better than my 7enders. But whoever runs production and sales needs to get a clue. Most of us want vintage specked Reverses and Non-Reverses with the correct vintage pickups, in the correct places and appropriately specked. It ain’t that hard.

 

[MCF]

She sure did. That's a lot of fun.

She is awesome!

 

[Gaolee]

View attachment 5378556 I think yer just 'trolling' us.

Shockingly enough, I'm not. I like lots of colors of 'Birds.

 

[MCF]

The Apple stuff works, but they just keep changing for the sake of changing. I’ve had the 14 for a year and I still take unintended screen shots almost daily when I pick it up or take it out of my pocket

I have no clue about that.

 

[MCF]

It’s the Chinese factory. They build basses with more neck angle.
Check out how much higher the bridge is on my Goldtop Casady:
View attachment 5378834 View attachment 5378835

Interesting that you have the front of the bridge pointing slightly downward instead of upward.

 

[MCF]

I thought that was it - it is what happened to the Epi With T-bird. It went through at least 3 changes due to using different factory/sources to cut costs.

I’ve got no beef with where they’re made. My MIC Epi’s are fine. So long as they maintain QC it’s good. Although for reasons we are not allowed to discuss, I’d rather they come from South Korea.