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Thunderbird Club

#307,881
Alex4bass said:
Thanks a lot for ur advices, will try to get a Classic in good shape.
Best community by far!
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Sounds good. Here’s a decent white one.
https://reverb.com/item/86178968-ep...BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADRxZYUh1LfWwmgugjD0ZrL23KQeQ

But be careful. There is a lot of mixing up of the names. GC messes up all the time.

And CME has this horribly modified VP it is calling a Classis Pro. Can you say abomination?

https://reverb.com/item/85840969-ep...KyO3O3oPhkmCkaK8o-CGXHdHZaPaYzaBoCIEAQAvD_BwE
 
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#307,882
GBassNorth said:
While surfing the web looking for CP basses I’m constantly amazed by the number of mis representations.

Here’s one on reverb
https://reverb.com/item/85840969-epiphone-thunderbird-classic-iv-pro-ebony-2022
Looks like a VP with after market pickups and an after market bridge.

https://reverb.com/item/82239611-epiphone-thunderbird-iv-classic-with-case
Wrong

Here’s the real deal…
https://reverb.com/item/86178968-epiphone-thunderbird-iv-classic-pro-4-string-bass
Fair price and in good shape (assuming the stress craze at the nut is just finish deep and not anything structural).
Click to expand...
Well, you beat me to it. Again. That modded VP is a joke. CME of all places should know better. That white CP looks pretty nice so long as that isn’t a real crack.
 
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#307,883
Miles_ONeal said:
That place is def a blast!
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Absolutely is!

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#307,885
Miles_ONeal said:
To clarify, the Epi Thunderbird Vintage Pro/60s/64 (VP) and Classic Pro (CP) both sound like Gibsons, it's just that the former sounds close to the original Gibsons Thunderbirds (think Angry Piano, etc.), while the latter sound like modern Thunderbirds (darker sound).

When identifying used Epiphone Thunderbirds (apart from the more limited Custom Shop birds, Nikkii birds, etc.), here are the criteria to look for:

ModelKnobsKnob patternJackBridgePickupsOther
Basic IV3in a rowfront by knobsthree pointlongish, black, 3 screwsbolt-on neck
PRO4diamondsidebig rectangleblack, 3 screwsunusual finish (oiled natural, brighter burst, transparent black)
VP/60s/643in a rowsideTune-o-matic with stop barnickel, 2 screwshuge headstock
CP3in a rowsidethree pointblack, 2 screws
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Add USA Gibson pickups under “other” for the CP.
 
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#307,888
Well, there is at least one more brand on a Tbird.
Legacy, which may or may not be an Epiphone sub brand.
In Australia at least sold cheap electric guitars and basses. Plus a rebranded Epiphone Valve Junior 5 watt guitar amp.

My Nephew had or has a Legacy “Classic Collection” Thunderbird. No belly cut type shaping, square edged like a Tbird IV. Pickups are Select “designed by EMG” and it has a built in tuning system. You pull up one of the speed knobs and pluck a string. One light says out of tune and two lights for in tune. (From memory).
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#307,889
This whole thing about looking at CPs and mislabeled Thunderbirds got me to look on Reverb at Gibson bass guitars of various kinds. Prices are absolutely insane. A 2013 EB goes for well over $1k these days. There's a 1968 EB-2, similar to mine except with the original pickups and wiring, that's pushing $7k. Mine sure isn't worth that since it doesn't have the original mudbucker, but it's still a little daunting.
 
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#307,890
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#307,892
RedVee said:
Well, there is at least one more brand on a Tbird.
Legacy, which may or may not be an Epiphone sub brand.
In Australia at least sold cheap electric guitars and basses. Plus a rebranded Epiphone Valve Junior 5 watt guitar amp.

My Nephew had or has a Legacy “Classic Collection” Thunderbird. No belly cut type shaping, square edged like a Tbird IV. Pickups are Select “designed by EMG” and it has a built in tuning system. You pull up one of the speed knobs and pluck a string. One light says out of tune and two lights for in tune. (From memory).
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I can hardly find mention of these via google, but I don't think it was Epiphone-related. Pretty cool, though!
 
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#307,896
RedVee said:
Well, there is at least one more brand on a Tbird.
Legacy, which may or may not be an Epiphone sub brand.
In Australia at least sold cheap electric guitars and basses. Plus a rebranded Epiphone Valve Junior 5 watt guitar amp.

My Nephew had or has a Legacy “Classic Collection” Thunderbird. No belly cut type shaping, square edged like a Tbird IV. Pickups are Select “designed by EMG” and it has a built in tuning system. You pull up one of the speed knobs and pluck a string. One light says out of tune and two lights for in tune. (From memory).
View attachment 7103029View attachment 7103030View attachment 7103031View attachment 7103032View attachment 7103033View attachment 7103034View attachment 7103035View attachment 7103036
View attachment 7103037
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