Thunderbird Club

[wolfkeller]

So, who says which is better... Thunderbuckers or Lulls? Are they drop in for Gibson? Better when compared to a 60s pickup

 

[RikiP]

I've got a little question for you TBirds owner.
I'm still looking for my next purchase, I try and experiment everything possible to avoid some mistakes I made in my younger life (buying instruments that don't really fits my playing).
The TB is in a good place to be my next one, i've tried some that really convince me, but never with "my setup" (amps, pedals etc..). I'm convinced on the tone and the playability I had in a clean tone, but I use an Orange OB1. For people who doesn't know it, it's an amp with a blend control and a Fuzz, to keep low end and add fuzz.

The Tbirds I tried were all (all... let's be honest... Only 2) very "growl machine" with a good low end, but this point made me ask a question. Does the Thunderbird take well fuzz pedal (in my case, Orange Fuzz with a blend)?
I had a Rickenbacker 4003, a JB, and they take well my tone, but they all had less bottom end than the TB I tried.
Do you have some examples maybe, of Fuzz Thunderbird? Or in your experience, do you think they can handle well fuzz? i'm not speaking about overdrive, or "grit", but a Fuzz you could have with a Big Muff Pi for example.

Thanks buddies !

Hey, welcome to the club.
Here is a video of 77's Thunderbird with Orange AD200 MK3 head.

I want an Orange amp for my Thunderbird sooo bad. The tone is a killer, sounds beautiful, but AD200 head is clearly out of my budget...
First i thought i will buy an OB1 or a Terror Bass, but then i saw their 4 Stroke Bass amp and it has so many option messing with EQ, looks very versatile. I don't know what to do yet. I have some month to think 'til i have the money.

 

[JJR58]

If you do that, the scotch will be more effective. It's a double bonus!

It's a mistake to wander onto Evan's website if you don't want a certain amount of GAS. He has a Cataldo, too.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Easy on the Scotch now.

 

[JJR58]

Unless the new Probucker 760's amaze, yes?

Enquiring minds want to know.

Edit: wasn't meaning to be snarky in any way.

 

[JIO]

Here is a video of 77's Thunderbird with Orange AD200 MK3 head.

Sounds like a T-bird should - these T-birds ('76-'79) had sidewinder pu's, similar to the EB-O "mud-buckers". A/B-ing will differentiate them from the 60's T-bird pu's, but their positioning is what delivers that classic T-bird sound.

 

[Haji]

Hey, welcome to the club.
Here is a video of 77's Thunderbird with Orange AD200 MK3 head.

I want an Orange amp for my Thunderbird sooo bad. The tone is a killer, sounds beautiful, but AD200 head is clearly out of my budget...
First i thought i will buy an OB1 or a Terror Bass, but then i saw their 4 Stroke Bass amp and it has so many option messing with EQ, looks very versatile. I don't know what to do yet. I have some month to think 'til i have the money.

I love love LOVE the 4 Stroke. That beast sounds fantastic. Music Central in Hopkinsville has one into a couple Ornge cabs. It's glorious.

 

[hairypete1138]

How did you get that bridge on there and still be able to play it that way, I cant see a shim under it. I have a new bridge for mine but I think the only thing keeping me from installing it is a shim.

Both basses have their original bridges on them. The Epi comes with the standard Gibson 3-point bridge, and the Tokai has a P-Bass type bridge with an integral back-plate. I've been thinking about looking at a Hipshot bridge for the Epi, but to be honest I've had no issues with the 3-pointer after 11 months yet, so it's not a major priority.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Both basses have their original bridges on them. The Epi comes with the standard Gibson 3-point bridge, and the Tokai has a P-Bass type bridge with an integral back-plate. I've been thinking about looking at a Hipshot bridge for the Epi, but to be honest I've had no issues with the 3-pointer after 11 months yet, so it's not a major priority.

The 3 point seems fine except it doesnt accept the thick 115 guage string very well. Thanks.

 

[Count Bassie]

The 3 point seems fine except it doesnt accept the thick 115 guage string very well. Thanks.

Retail file....

When I got my Bird it had a 115 gauge set on it.

 

[EdO.]

Retail file....

When I got my Bird it had a 115 gauge set on it.

Did you mean rat tail file?

 

[rodv66]

Both basses have their original bridges on them. The Epi comes with the standard Gibson 3-point bridge, and the Tokai has a P-Bass type bridge with an integral back-plate. I've been thinking about looking at a Hipshot bridge for the Epi, but to be honest I've had no issues with the 3-pointer after 11 months yet, so it's not a major priority.

I have a hipshot bridge and think it is an improvement. Of course, it was because the bushings that held the 3 point bridge in place kept popping out and had to be glued back in.

 

[DoctorNop]

Hey, welcome to the club.
Here is a video of 77's Thunderbird with Orange AD200 MK3 head.

I want an Orange amp for my Thunderbird sooo bad. The tone is a killer, sounds beautiful, but AD200 head is clearly out of my budget...
First i thought i will buy an OB1 or a Terror Bass, but then i saw their 4 Stroke Bass amp and it has so many option messing with EQ, looks very versatile. I don't know what to do yet. I have some month to think 'til i have the money.

The OB1 is a beast yes, but I miss some of the mids EQ (and the mid on this amp acts a bit like a tone control on the Fuzz part).
Never tried the 4 stroke but seems cool too !

 

[hairypete1138]

I have a hipshot bridge and think it is an improvement. Of course, it was because the bushings that held the 3 point bridge in place kept popping out and had to be glued back in.

I'd say that would be a good reason to replace it! The only issue I've had with the Epi was a small crack that appeared at the top of the neck after about a month of ownership. After a period of being rather worried I took it to a very good repairer here in Coventry, and he confirmed that in his view it was a crack in the finish, not the wood. I took him at his word and after ten months more heavy use it hasn't changed at all. Not great on a bass of this quality, but hey - at least the head is still attached!

 

[Haji]

Finish cracks are common, especially when an instrument travels long distances. It's not a factor of quality so much as environment.

 

[Gaolee]

Taps "off" I assume?

Yep. I rarely go single coil with it. It can cop a P sound pretty well with the bridge pickup rolled off and the neck pickup as a humbucker. I will also occasionally use the bridge pickup tapped and turned down to get a slightly counterbalanced sound. I don't like the nasal, whiny J sound at all, which means I never use taps on both coils.

 

[hairypete1138]

Finish cracks are common, especially when an instrument travels long distances. It's not a factor of quality so much as environment.

Very true. The thing that annoyed me about this one was the fact that there was no sign of the crack when I tried and bought the bass in the shop, but it appeared after a month of use. I guess it's just the change from being in a box in a cold store room to bring in and out of a case in the warm.

 

[Haji]

That's all it takes. Even finished wood still moves. It's a testament to how good finish technology is that this only happens infrequently compared to the number of instruments made now.

 

[veebass]

Thanks. Reliable sellers? I'm thinking of getting a set for my Schecter Ultra. Still not crazy about the EMG's.

Yes, I put them in my 08 Gibson. I like them.
Seller was good, despite postage problems and one pickup being DOA. Seller rectified everything.

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Retail file....

When I got my Bird it had a 115 gauge set on it.

I really had to squeeze the GHS Boomer string in place and once it was in it did not look comfortable, since the Epiphone brand is produced in like 100 different countries I wonder if there is a discrepancy in the tooling. Mine was made in China but it is actually a real good quality build witch is why I traded for it.

 

[TBird1958]

Hi, I'm looking to join the club as a new member.
Here are a couple of pics of my birds - a black Tokai TB48 that I've had for 6 years and that is heavier than the moon, and my main baby, an Epiphone Classic Pro in SB.
Looking forward to more followers of the TBird cause.
Cheers
Pete
View attachment 1118154 View attachment 1118155 View attachment 1118156
.

A warm welcome to hairypete , you're #640 on our hit parade Sir. Lovely Thunderbirds, we don't get to see all that my Tokai's.
I understand Coventry is quite temperate this time of year, perhaps a lap or two around the block is a grass skirt will do for your initiation
Please share your pics, insight, video and good humor with Sir.

TBird1958 #1
GodofThunder59 #2
Funkster#3
Gibenbackerbass #4
Sidd Laroy #5
Jazzbo58 #6
Nocturnal #7
Showdown #8
The Mojo Hobo #9
Doctorpunch #10
Stiles72 #11
Brenner182 #12
Baird6869 #13
Poorbassist15 #14
PWV #15
Mr Typhus #16
Tracii #17
Aditya #18
amimbari #19
knifedge #20
Nitrofix #21
Atoz #22
bassphreak #23
Seydlitz #24
bassclef112 #25
bassplayer8953 #26
D.M.N. #27
Edhunter #28
kruno maestro #29
Tombowlus #30
Kalik #31
winterburn69 #32
Walter Vega 33
Carlos 840 #34
Shadowtippy #35
Saltymonkey #36
lel95 #37
gaffster787 #38
mc2ny #39
Low Sound Love #40
BrianKrashpad #41
Deep Six #42
BenEd #43
Bassmachine2112 #44
ponkoponk #45
Heatheroo #46
darkside 88 #47
GCool#48
TedhHernstorm #49
Darbo #50
uncletupelo #51
Vaider #52
Rip Topaz #53
bmb73 #54
Badfish #55
Afireinside #56
Redstrand #57
reptyls #58
dabido #59
96tbird #60
whilke #61
JIO #63
thebrain #64
Rob Martinez #65
bazzandeson #66
PhR #67
Dr.Eagle #68
lowend1 #69 Mopar or no car!
Basvarken #70
s mcsleazy #71
Burruss #72
Matty H #73
moonshinegtrs #74
bass lord mutha #75
jumbodbassman #76
davidprice #77
A-Step-Towards #78
birdman14 #79
Quadzilla #80
jbalou02 #81
johnk 10 #82
electrocoyote #83
ih8law #84
muzukman7 #85
3rdcurve #86
rdwil191 #87
BluesBear #88
JAF #89
Swin #90
TBirdie #91
bassplayerbob #92
trevorguns #93
Clammy #94
jammi_fool #95
Molochnik #96
Rocker47 #97
Shark1 #98
BlueTalon #99
Fab Superlative #100
Doragon #5150
ThumpsAlot #102
Doelle #103
AllyDetours #104
Southway #105
mav #106
tw63 #107
Casperrobo #108
Killa #109
roffe #110
SOB H.R.MC #111
icks #112
thepunisher #113
PatQ #114
Venom of God #115
Jirishman #116
Midas #117
GibsonBassCAZ #118
snowblinder #119
Tilli #120
3l3phantstomp #121
Thrust Meatnozl #122
gaudenti #123
Birdbrain #124
CBTB #125
greghol #126
DV6 #127
marlond #128
DWest1981 #129
Shinji #130
jaibeau #131
Warrioralex #132
jonesn4bass #133
Rono7003 #134
hillerup #135
Dadagoboi #136
MRDOOM #137
secretsound5 #138
trevorguns #139
J Sinister #140
Capitian Bob #141
gui****ed #142
Fullback32 #143
Johnny78 #144
jelenko #145
Jools4001 #146
Porkbun #147
Lucas G #148
NOT #149
JtheB #150
Andii Syckz #151
sj bass #152
FrankenIbanez70 #153
Nosgoth #154
Artyom76 #155
D Bopp #156
CDRhom #157
Mark4 #158
thepest #159
TheCush #160
Pure eVal #161
iamthebassman #162
juankidiaz #163
Wilbur88 #164
WillMuderface #165
Evsm73 #166
JB66#167
brettsto #168
TheProphet #169
mikeowen17 #170
Pharaohamps #171
dial666 #172
faivy #173
HAVOK #174
Astroburn #175
aLLard #176
MissionTbird #177
Thebassman2011 #178
DaM13N # 179
LanOsb133 #180
Lowner #181
Frankiebass59 #182
Justice #183
tiger rich #184
spunkadizzle #185
quadrogong #186
Wolf C Red #187
gui****ed #188
ledzep5296 #189
aussiebasshero #190
trackskinz#191
guns N rosesguy #192
Jamyi #193
Thunderbird90 #194
Cobra314 #195
Ric5 #196
ApocalypseDream #197
Gougedeye #198
okc-zee #199
NOLA Bass #200
AdamR #201
bassmaniac72 #202
pudge #203
BWileyTally #204
poomwah #205
chibfarm2001 #206
thisSNsucks #207
mr.mow #208
4005 #209
seansv #210
BassDoc51 #211
ben0099 #212
Trooper1911 #213
mordor #214
brotondo #215
HIaWATTha #216
Zerstorte Zelle #217
MrNecroVol #218
Freddy-G #219
Regininblood #220
ejaggers #221
gregoire1 #222
thundereagle #223
Geezer79 #224
cubanbass #225
Silverwolf1 #226
Mikaelbass #227
BruceBass3901 #228
Chris V #229
Mikaelbass #230
JayBassD #231
JMPeat #232
Phildogger #233
beebassdude #234
MrGotBass #235
2nd Wind #236
butter_fingers #237
Chumbly #238
roycroft 88 #239
finlover #240
recycled rocker #241
wolfmancharlie #242
balton4 #243
GregBummer #244
penguineman #245
TheOnlyJuan #246
nubs #247
Gringo Starr #248
PhR #249
georgestrings #250
cajunbass1985 #251
Wagz #252
armedmonkey #253
RedNeckBBQ #254
faviobarrio #255
PhantomApex #256
cmassa #257
vbass_2000 #258
MrMcHaggis #259
Linchpin72 #260
whitee96 #261
edpal #262
Ibanez Bassist #263
21petro #264
CiceroProfundo #265
Willncarolina #266
theweirdoid #267
Gaolee #268
TheLarch #269
Castagnier #270
diskovolos #271
fordkisskrazy #272
woodski #273
chipter #274
Unclejackrock #275
Bass173 #276
tbird99 #277
tore00 #278
lepreconbass13 #279
Junk420 #280
Tx Basser #281
epirokker #282
sugarsand #283
thebbconspiracy #284
Dionioann #285
LumberjackTBird #286
MikeyB5 #287
Thunders #288
anonparrot #289
darren1970 #290
Egbert89 #291
seBASStien #292
Figas #293
Vikerlane #294
ps10black #295
eldo #296
GGirl #297
FenderLove #298
quite_angry #299
hover #300
bdkthunder #301
MoSlevin #302
Gbass75 #303
rocknroll mouse #304
hillerup #305
GBassNorth #306
KPJ #307
fjadams #308
Nino D #309
Ecko #310
Peepaleep #311
DethByDoom #312
wvbass #313
rockscott #314
CDHawkins #315
scourge #316
Astreaux #317
pedrodelawasp #318
66Atlas #319
YOU LAND #320
Hilton Marsh #321
lfbassguy #322
Wolfpack #323
jayceofbass #324
ZombieSpacebat #325
Rotwang#326
mrb327#327
NWOBHM Kid # 328
Puisher 911 #329
Gunner 77 # 330
shadven #331
Guiness20 #332
dukey donkey #333
Bassco #334
chnapz #335
marq1965 #336
1stnamebassist #337
Electric Wizard #338
Ces art #339
liquorsbass #340
MarkusBass #341
BigH #342
Tonyxtiger #343
jnumme #344
BklynKen #345 - First Gibson lefty!
HofnerVox #346
blackest frank #347
prafeston #348
snaverb #349
DrPFunk #350
Moonshine #351
mournblade #352
CreepyJack #353
Bluzman90 #354
N10 #355
WaboRat72 #356
undead menace #357
BlacknWhite #358
Snakeman1066 #359
brokencode #360
The Seabass16 #361
Thunderdrool #362
rick4001s #363
echoSE7EN #364
solderjunkie #365
DougieB #366
untamedhellion #367
TabaccoRipper #368
LAST C #369
Basssssist #370
Arial Bender #371
ptleftybass #372
JackThe Ripper #373
Sigmundklaus #374
RadioRob #375
Liam McMonigle #376 Prince Liam
Karlos69 #377
JonDark #378
bassgod0dmw #379
TomStuart #380
Electric Delta #381
Mastermold #382
scars #383
monkeybass68 #384
exiii #385
HengistPod #386
jason the fox #387
Tamoume #388
jakelly #389
MicG #390
rogerinoly #391
mcarp555 #392
BlkHeli #393
mattj1stc #394
Roadstar #395
Satyrnine #396
Spiffmeister #397
Tim68 #398
tomshepp #399
THE DANiMAL #400
Andy Sivyer #401
Ender_rpm #402
Count Vitriol #403
bassistjoe93 #404
Project7Bass #405
Furious_Man77 #406
j.kernodle #407
Glass Onion #408
EpiRipper #409
msact #410
BirdThunder #411
pfox14 #412
jdb72 #413
SlingBass4 #444
GemJam #414
Faky77 #415
Purplefowler #416
starmann #417
mr pablo #418
GabeXLeouz #419
Rutger56 #420
bass geetarist #421
Bassic Playing #422
dorknowitski #423
jastacey #424
Terracite #425
MoparMonster #426
HypersoulRocks #427
germanson13 #428
Larry V #429
REMBO #430
WalMark #431
BassPlummet #432
Fletz #433
HockeyDawg #434
lowendblues #435
James P #436
gunkle #437
jd56hawk #438
blocka #439
Earapeach1965 #440
TwyreZ #441
Bullitt5135 #442
JimSalomao #443
jassthebass #445
Rooster009 #446
kodiakblair #447
bahia0019 #448
awilkie84 #449
marko57 #450
Darchyboy #451
SonnyBassPlayer #452
Tbone76 #453
KF2B #454
RandomBox#455
BadBassDrummer #456
Cliffclone #457
yahtzee1280 #458
OldPlucker #459
Haji #460
ugobo #461
mistergoats #462 Formerly Geoffypants!
rickwebb #463
dannoman #464
Diddi #465
Butchboy #466
basscow #467
Graykong #468
Gilsdorf #469
mattbass6945 #470
Josh Thatguy #667
jgould 1124 664
TNF #471
Reservoir Dog #472
Chauncy - #473
GIBrat51 #474
giocalypse #475
veebass #476
Bamabird #477
Sneezy #478
Galvez11 #479
mule47 #480
Rexalot #481
Rob L #482
Righteous Thunderer #483
stingray68 #484
gafbass02 #485
vdub76 #486
heatoise #487
Winfred #488
Mike A #489
depalm #490
hopsbb #491
ubnomnar #492
denki109 #493
Ronbeast #494
Klondike #495
SVTbird #496
Jay_Dub #497
imdkoz #498
mz888 #499
The Bear GT500
probassace2 #501
L.L. Elwood #502
JELLIS78 #503
mrnylon #504
ProperModulation #505
BassicDesire #506
Twangster 101 #507
Mark Cult #508
Nowyn #509
the_stoot64 #510
Bass master Burt man #511
Deaky #512
Bassmike62 #513
DocGeorge #514
Acoustic356 #515
aceytrixx #516
Greg Potts #517
friendlybass #518
kirillstokes #519
DinoRock #520
Leiria #521
Magi003 #522
Toddcaster64 #523
BigBadaBoom #524
Bace Waulkin #525
MIMJAZZ #526
Vara La Fey #527
Cole_The_Rumbler #528
Alaotto #529
Sahe_Bassist #530
z009 # 531
instagator #532
Mnoir #533
thorstiborsti #534
vegas532 #535
minirehak 212 #536
Off-Beat #537
phaze1todd #538
Matt O #539
Endo #540
R.Livingston #541
DonovanJM #542
AEAbass #543
BassmanMetzger56 #544
WSquires #545
Born To Hula #546.....Pics req'd
AkaGoal #547
AxxGrey #548
MCF #549
BassDaddy77 #550
Muchdoge #551
Count Bassie #552
George_Mirror #553
Sidewinder7 #554
Bucky4835 #555
el_cody_loco #556
MorguloN X Zed #557
drews.anderson #558
Medic579 #559
Mike.C. #560
MooThing #561
RustyNails #562
DesolationBlvd #563
Ajcsk8r #564
EdO #565
Brugizzle #566
Shaun_Allen_Bass #567
back5burner #568
Lo-Hz #569
backtobass #570
lancimouspitt 571
Xandrell #572
Thunderbirdfan #573
CharlyG #574
Milo's #575
drummer5359 #576
Tomand #577
Bear from Delaware #578
Springman #579
bassclef29 #580
Ryan Atchison #581
MrVanimal #583
Susqmike #584
crikker #585
Gabacho #586
tastelikedirt #587
Loretta #588
Az_Rocker76 #589
DerekW #590
Ross W. Lovell #591
DevinWard369 #592
KromaatiKlauun #593
Calderlund #594
Pelham Bleu #595
RedVee #596
tlintu #597
ColinLP #598
bluenose #599
howie289 #600
cuth #601
Spoono Ghiefardi #602
tomydacat #603
GTG 666 #604
bassburner #605
GrizzleTone #606
Mason Nagy #607
the breakman #608
shandou #609
Stevis #610
Sabee #611
georgiagoodie #612
Danilixo #613
Turlu #614
rumblejunkie #615
SakuBass #616
MonsterGirl #617
ubernator #618
bassJuju #619
RikiP #620
iain.ross #621
Drestakil #622
barclaybass #623
rodv66 #624
wolverine9002 #625
Rezdog #626
bylar13 #627
willsellout #628
alembicbones #629
7dollarbologna #630
metah_ch #631
Gluvhand #632
hazmat57 #633
TBird_MD #634
allotabass #635
suededoesit #636
ProgressiveDoom #637
LiquidMidnight #638
Mind Eroded #639
hairypete #640

Lemmy #666
Dr_Feelgoood212 #667
Pillo #668 - Near the beast
kat888 #888