• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#306,443
Gaolee said:
I like my Gibsons. I didn't like the VP I had. It's amazing how similar they sound in those guys' hands.
Click to expand...
We did a listening session for the DJB recording project last night. All of the bass tracks were recorded with my VP/Cobalt flats. I keep reading posts where people say the 760s are a bit shy in the low end. Low end is not lacking at all.
Maybe it's my fingers :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, RedVee, Nocturnal and 8 others
#306,444
Engle said:
We did a listening session for the DJB recording project last night. All of the bass tracks were recorded with my VP/Cobalt flats. I keep reading posts where people say the 760s are a bit shy in the low end. Low end is not lacking at all.
Maybe it's my fingers :D
Click to expand...
Tone is in the fingers, they say! Can I have a couple of your digits? They work better than mine! I don't have any issues, and I love big bass. I think all those other factors we mentioned really add up. Especially non-home or small room settings. Then there is amp and cabs. I've always found getting more bass is not near as much of a problem as eliminating boomy, undefined or hallow sounding bass, so fixing shy bass syndrome has never been a problem for me in my years of playing anything. And...the Sonic Stomp seems to add or enhance the depth of lows and/or make them seem more defined.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Count Bassie, RedVee and 6 others
#306,445
Oh, FedMess was back again today.... Apparently he really is pleased with this idea of delivery.
1732205403173.png
 
  • Like
  • Wow
  • Haha
Reactions: MCF, Count Bassie, RedVee and 6 others
#306,446
Engle said:
We did a listening session for the DJB recording project last night. All of the bass tracks were recorded with my VP/Cobalt flats. I keep reading posts where people say the 760s are a bit shy in the low end. Low end is not lacking at all.
Maybe it's my fingers :D
Click to expand...
I’d pretty much agree, the 760ProBuckers are not bottom end shy in and of themselves.

I have two VP’s plus a NR bass I built using 760ProBuckers in vintage positions with individual vol/tone stacks. My observation (vs my Gibson Anniversary Tbird with stock TB+ pickups and my Eppi CP with stock Gibby TB+ pickups closer to vintage locations) is that the VP isn’t truly shy in the bottom end, it has plenty of balls. It’s more a case of the TB+ pickups being more excessive on the bottom end.

I find the VP tone knob to be fully useable throughout its entire range, whereas I usually can’t use the bottom quarter of the TB+ tone knobs without being overly thick. In essence, the VP gets me in P bass territory on the bottom end and Stingray territory on the top end. To my ears, the TB+ pickups are more a case of jazz territory on the bottom end and P bass territory on the top end.

FWIW - I do find the new 2024 VP (or what ever they are calling it these days) to be slightly darker than the first year run VP. Could be string selections, could be wood variations, could be pot or cap specs or tolerances, heck, could even be my imagination.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Count Bassie, Instagator and 5 others
#306,447
dagrev said:
I love having aspects of late 60s early 70s, but some of the modern touches don't seem to fit. But is it cool.
Click to expand...

I think Ford (not a fan but not surprised) was genius in going "retro" with their styling when none of the big three (Dodge introduced the cool now gone Viper) really had a clear vision on how to move ahead with styling by reintroducing the facelifted TBird (surprise!) in the the early nineties (?) .....although not many sold, convinced that paved the way for the modern muscle car styling......I mean, 80's Ford Fox bodies and the stuff from GM was pretty hideous.....of course ymmv.....that said.....Thunderbird Thursday!!!!!
IMG_1487.jpeg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Count Bassie, RedVee, Nocturnal and 8 others
#306,450
dagrev said:
I love having aspects of late 60s early 70s, but some of the modern touches don't seem to fit. But is it cool.
Click to expand...

So are these all visual sketches? I like certain ideas of these retro versions but the current corvette more modern design is pretty cool as-is.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Miles_ONeal, Gaolee and 2 others
#306,451
GBassNorth said:
I’d pretty much agree, the 760ProBuckers are not bottom end shy in and of themselves.

I have two VP’s plus a NR bass I built using 760ProBuckers in vintage positions with individual vol/tone stacks. My observation (vs my Gibson Anniversary Tbird with stock TB+ pickups and my Eppi CP with stock Gibby TB+ pickups closer to vintage locations) is that the VP isn’t truly shy in the bottom end, it has plenty of balls. It’s more a case of the TB+ pickups being more excessive on the bottom end.

I find the VP tone knob to be fully useable throughout its entire range, whereas I usually can’t use the bottom quarter of the TB+ tone knobs without being overly thick. In essence, the VP gets me in P bass territory on the bottom end and Stingray territory on the top end. To my ears, the TB+ pickups are more a case of jazz territory on the bottom end and P bass territory on the top end.

FWIW - I do find the new 2024 VP (or what ever they are calling it these days) to be slightly darker than the first year run VP. Could be string selections, could be wood variations, could be pot or cap specs or tolerances, heck, could even be my imagination.
Click to expand...
It could be Epi has changed suppliers for the pickups in the new "VP"s. Do they have Epiphone stamped/engraved on the bottom?
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Nocturnal, Miles_ONeal and 2 others
#306,452
MCF said:
A nice Pbass is a must for most players. I use mine for bBooker T stuff and Shadows stuff. And some Clash. Because I can. There’s nothing wrong though with playing Thunderbirds all the time instead.
Click to expand...
I have a 7ender P. I like it well enough, but don't play it much because the ergos are not my thing. So I built a P-Bird out of parts. It's a Precision in all ways except shape, which is pure Thunderbird. Funny thing is that I don't play it all that much, either, because it sounds thin to me relative to a Gibson Thunderbird.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, RedVee, Nocturnal and 3 others
#306,454
dagrev said:
Tone is in the fingers, they say! Can I have a couple of your digits? They work better than mine! I don't have any issues, and I love big bass. I think all those other factors we mentioned really add up. Especially non-home or small room settings. Then there is amp and cabs. I've always found getting more bass is not near as much of a problem as eliminating boomy, undefined or hallow sounding bass, so fixing shy bass syndrome has never been a problem for me in my years of playing anything. And...the Sonic Stomp seems to add or enhance the depth of lows and/or make them seem more defined.
Click to expand...
to quote Plaid...ZACTLY..
 
  • Like
Reactions: Count Bassie, dagrev, Miles_ONeal and 2 others
#306,455
JIO said:
First off, I agree 100% - how a bass sounds is in the players hands. In that regard...

As someone who owns a (Gibson) '64 II - I am impressed by how good the Epi VP T-bird IV sounds. Not going to compare the two, just acknowledging the way it sounds. I bought a NOS one for a very affordable cost to gild/refinish and sell. When I got it and played it - I was blown away by how it sounded, nearly enough to just keep it 'as is' and add it to my stable. Instead, I gilded it, had Pat Wilkins do his final-finish magic on it and offer it for sale as a great sounding bass with a unique Gildaxe finish. A win-win for whoever steps up to the plate.

View attachment 7082289
View attachment 7082290
View attachment 7082292
View attachment 7082293
Click to expand...
It is beautiful, no question. But I had a VP that was apparently a good one, and I just flat didn't like it much. I don't know why not. It's another reason I'm some kind of heretic around here. The other reason is that I just flat don't want a NR. Go figure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, JIO, dagrev and 2 others
#306,456
Gaolee said:
It is beautiful, no question. But I had a VP that was apparently a good one, and I just flat didn't like it much. I don't know why not. It's another reason I'm some kind of heretic around here. The other reason is that I just flat don't want a NR. Go figure.
Click to expand...
Ah, but the Willbird is a different beast ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, RedVee, dagrev and 2 others
#306,457
JIO said:
Other than the vocals - what two instruments DOMINATE this "groundbreaking?" Pop History song?

Click to expand...

I can remember seeing music videos in a bar, shortly before MTV. There was some really wild stuff. One that sticks in my mind included a couple of topless women having some kind of battle on a horizontal beam above a vat of whipped cream. I don't remember the music or the band, but my 19 year old self was pretty well imprinted by the visuals. I'm sure the video had absolutely nothing to do with the song.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Count Bassie, MCF, RedVee and 5 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back