Huh. I'll be seeing mine tomorrow. I'll check and see if I can tell any difference.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
Yeah if it's in good shape you might as well leave it alone. They seem like pretty well built basses, especially for the price they went for when they were new. Only really questionable thing I've noticed is whatever plastic the nut is made of.
I'd be interested in hearing a comparison of the standard Epi P/U vs the LP style ones.
Rumor has it they chew frets worse than Willy.
My 2018 Epi E1 (base model) has La Bella black tapes. My 2010 CS LE has SIT Power Steels. Both are low focused and hard to tell the difference. If they both had the same strings, my guess is the CS LE would be more low focused than the E1.
To my ears, my White and Silverburst ones are a little ballsier in the bottom with stainless rounds than the ones with the standard Epi pickups. My TV Silver one with DA Tapes and tone rolled back can sound very Hoffneresque. I use it as my Beatle bass.
There's a Silver Burst on FB Marketplace. $380, but it's fretless.
@Miles_ONeal and all other VP curious bird brains out there:
Here's the 2024 Eppi Purple Sparkle '64 vs 2017 Eppi VP shoot out…
……………………………..'64 …………………………………………………………..VP
Weight…………………… 9#……………………………………………………………8.5#
Tuners……………..No name, small back plate, large clovers………Wilkinson, large back plate, oval clovers
Nut …………………..1-1/2" white……………………………………………………1-1/2" white
Side dots……………Large white…………………………………………………… Small white
Hardware…………..Same on both Tbirds………………………………………Same on both Tbirds
Neck rake…………. 3/8" from body to top of fret board at heel………..1/4" from body to top of fret board
Bridge………………3/8" gap from bottom of bridge to body…………….1/4" gap between bridge and body
Pickup height…. 3/32" Neck, 4/32" bridge gap to strings……………2/32" neck, 3/32" bridge gap to strings
Body thickness…..1-3/8" to 1-3/16" wing taper……………………………1-1/4" to 1-3/16" wing taper
…………………………1-9/16" thick neck block……………………………..…. 1-9/16" thick neck block
Action………….. …..5/64" at 12th fret on open E…………………………….5/64" at 12th fret on open E
Pickguard…………..White black white 3 ply…………………………………….White black white 3 ply
Design flaws……. Edge of pickguard higher than center block……..None
Three song in mix sound test with each bass set at 9,5,5 (neck, bridge, tone) played finger style only, directly over neck pickup.
The songs are attached for your enjoyment, but unfortunately no way to record the basses just yet*
……………………………………64………………………………………………………………………..VP
On Fire……………Perfect match for the song……………………Good but a bit too bright on the high notes
The Breeze……..Would have liked a tighter E string…………A string sounded thin compared to E string
Patterns…………..needs more definition on E string………….Perfect match for the song
……………………….Tone setting at 8 was perfect match
Bottom line:
Both basses are outstanding sounding gems, and they both play equally well. For some reason I can play with a bit more ease on the 64, possibly lower string tension. Otherwise, physically they are very similar basses.
The tuners on the VP look higher grade but both models work just fine. The weight is a tad higher on the 64 but that may not hold true for all examples. The neck on the 64 has more rake but it's not noticable when playing. The steeper rake does require a higher bridge setting, but again it's not noticable when playing. The pickguard on the VP sits flush or slightly lower than the center block as it should. The 64 pickguard should be a one or two layer guard, in its current 3 layer set up the long edge of the guard that runs along the side of the center block is actually higher than the center block. Aesthetically an issue for me, but could be a real no go for individuals that do windmills or slapping or other highly energetic playing. On the three sound tests the 64 sounded best on each one (although I did have to dial in more treble on the 64 on the last song to get it to sound better than the VP).
If both were the same price I'd buy the 64. If I already had a VP I might consider buying the 64 as an upgrade if I had $800 burning an hole in my pocket, and selling the VP or setting the VP up for different tunings or string selections. But both are great basses, you can't go wrong with either one.
*I have purchased some of the hardware and software necessary for recording my basses, so hopefully in the next couple of months I can provide sound tracks vs just descriptions.
Here's the 2024 Eppi Purple Sparkle '64 vs 2017 Eppi VP shoot out…
……………………………..'64 …………………………………………………………..VP
Weight…………………… 9#……………………………………………………………8.5#
Tuners……………..No name, small back plate, large clovers………Wilkinson, large back plate, oval clovers
Nut …………………..1-1/2" white……………………………………………………1-1/2" white
Side dots……………Large white…………………………………………………… Small white
Hardware…………..Same on both Tbirds………………………………………Same on both Tbirds
Neck rake…………. 3/8" from body to top of fret board at heel………..1/4" from body to top of fret board
Bridge………………3/8" gap from bottom of bridge to body…………….1/4" gap between bridge and body
Pickup height…. 3/32" Neck, 4/32" bridge gap to strings……………2/32" neck, 3/32" bridge gap to strings
Body thickness…..1-3/8" to 1-3/16" wing taper……………………………1-1/4" to 1-3/16" wing taper
…………………………1-9/16" thick neck block……………………………..…. 1-9/16" thick neck block
Action………….. …..5/64" at 12th fret on open E…………………………….5/64" at 12th fret on open E
Pickguard…………..White black white 3 ply…………………………………….White black white 3 ply
Design flaws……. Edge of pickguard higher than center block……..None
Three song in mix sound test with each bass set at 9,5,5 (neck, bridge, tone) played finger style only, directly over neck pickup.
The songs are attached for your enjoyment, but unfortunately no way to record the basses just yet*
……………………………………64………………………………………………………………………..VP
On Fire……………Perfect match for the song……………………Good but a bit too bright on the high notes
The Breeze……..Would have liked a tighter E string…………A string sounded thin compared to E string
Patterns…………..needs more definition on E string………….Perfect match for the song
……………………….Tone setting at 8 was perfect match
Bottom line:
Both basses are outstanding sounding gems, and they both play equally well. For some reason I can play with a bit more ease on the 64, possibly lower string tension. Otherwise, physically they are very similar basses.
The tuners on the VP look higher grade but both models work just fine. The weight is a tad higher on the 64 but that may not hold true for all examples. The neck on the 64 has more rake but it's not noticable when playing. The steeper rake does require a higher bridge setting, but again it's not noticable when playing. The pickguard on the VP sits flush or slightly lower than the center block as it should. The 64 pickguard should be a one or two layer guard, in its current 3 layer set up the long edge of the guard that runs along the side of the center block is actually higher than the center block. Aesthetically an issue for me, but could be a real no go for individuals that do windmills or slapping or other highly energetic playing. On the three sound tests the 64 sounded best on each one (although I did have to dial in more treble on the 64 on the last song to get it to sound better than the VP).
If both were the same price I'd buy the 64. If I already had a VP I might consider buying the 64 as an upgrade if I had $800 burning an hole in my pocket, and selling the VP or setting the VP up for different tunings or string selections. But both are great basses, you can't go wrong with either one.
*I have purchased some of the hardware and software necessary for recording my basses, so hopefully in the next couple of months I can provide sound tracks vs just descriptions.
Last edited:
I may have pounced on a minty Pelham Blue example that I came across on Reverb this afternoon...
The Gibson NR is a heck of a Thunderbird. I got mine when they first came out summer of '21 at $1799. Like everything,, they've really gone up. But they're worth it.
Yeah mine was about $2300 shipped...
Kinda wish I'd picked one up in '21 instead of waiting, but I'm glad I got it. I've never had a USA built guitar of any type before this one, and it's really the nicest instrument I own. Not sure I'll ever own another Gibson but this one's staying with me forever.
Congratulations! The Sparkling Pelham Blue on them is stunning.
Reminds me when I found mine. I was having lunch at Firestone Grill in SLO when I saw the listing. I pounced then and there. I was so excited. The couple hours I had left to work that PM was agonizing. Then I had a 2 1/2 hour drive home. It shipped first thing the next AM. I got it from a shop in New York that is affiliated somehow with Babicz. I could not have been happier when it arrived.
My Gibsons are my pride and joy. There is also an '05 Studio Thunderbird, a rare "11 Short Scale Thunderbird, a '13 Pelham Blue NR with a hint of sparkle (but not as stunning as the Epi), and a wonderful '15 Reverse. None of them are going anywhere. I'm about to get a '13 eb fiver which will be my first non-Thunderbird Gibson. The only other USA built bass I have is an '86 Peavy Foundation with a '93 neck. It's really nice.
Stunning. Love that clear pickguard.
I've always been curious, what's the benefit of a thumb rest below the strings?
The short scale sounds super interesting. I've never played a short scale, though the Gretsch G2220 at $300 has been tempting at times. Didn't even know Gibson had made T-birds in a short scale.
I've thought about getting in to a Grabber, probably would be a G-3 if I did go for it, but I've managed to restrain myself hahah
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,912
- 142,412
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
I don't have a group shot of my IV's, have to rectify that come Spring.
One IV Friday.
I wondered the same thing for quite a while, since it's called a "thumb rest." It's to anchor your fingers when you're plucking with your thumb.
Anchor your pinky and play with your thumb. Called a tug bar.
