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Thunderbird Club

#312,842
AllieCat said:
Gibson and Epi should call it something like a "meandering spec" and sell it as a feature.

Fwiw my Gibson NR is desceptively light.
Click to expand...
FWIW, the current bolt-on IV’s, now called the E1 for whatever reason, reverted back to the wide nut necks a few years ago. I have several bolt-on Epis. But only one of them has a 1.5 nutted neck; the ‘14 TV Silver Limited Edition Custom Shop. And a very nice neck it is.
 
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#312,843
MCF said:
FWIW, the current bolt-on IV’s, now called the E1 for whatever reason, reverted back to the wide nut necks a few years ago. I have several bolt-on Epis. But only one of them has a 1.5 nutted neck; the ‘14 TV Silver Limited Edition Custom Shop. And a very nice neck it is.
Click to expand...
My 2018 “E1.”

IMG_1458.jpeg
 
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#312,844
Alright Thundernerds, you win. Got an Epiphone '60s Thunderbird last week and loooooove it. I'd been eyeing them for a while but had never had a chance to play one. I saw a used one (that looks practically unused) hanging in a local shop, tried it, and immediately bought it. I'm surprised at how light and balanced it is. And, of course, it sounds like rock n roll. :cool:
 
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#312,846
I heard back from Epi/Gibson about the possibility of getting some 760s.

Some of the reply is worth passing on given the number of pickups being sold as Epi. The bold is my emphasis.

The VP pickups are definitely some of the best modern Thunderbird pickups out there—Epiphone nailed the vintage tone with them. I totally get why you’d want a set for your ’66 Non-Reverse.
As for buying them separately, Epiphone doesn’t sell their pickups as standalone parts, which is frustrating for those of us who know how good they are. You’re right to be skeptical about those “Epi Thunderbird” pickups from China—more often than not, they’re knockoffs or just generic humbuckers that won’t get you the same tone.

I'm glad I bought a damaged Epi so I know what I'm getting.
 
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#312,848
HP Hovercraft said:
Alright Thundernerds, you win. Got an Epiphone '60s Thunderbird last week and loooooove it. I'd been eyeing them for a while but had never had a chance to play one. I saw a used one (that looks practically unused) hanging in a local shop, tried it, and immediately bought it. I'm surprised at how light and balanced it is. And, of course, it sounds like rock n roll. :cool:
Click to expand...
Pic please!
 
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#312,849
HP Hovercraft said:
Alright Thundernerds, you win. Got an Epiphone '60s Thunderbird last week and loooooove it. I'd been eyeing them for a while but had never had a chance to play one. I saw a used one (that looks practically unused) hanging in a local shop, tried it, and immediately bought it. I'm surprised at how light and balanced it is. And, of course, it sounds like rock n roll. :cool:
Click to expand...
Congrats! Dirty secret: They can sound like all kinds of things. Rock, country, blues, church music...they can do it all. But let's keep the myth going they are just one trick ponies. I have a VP with flats, one SS, a '06 Gibson with Nylons, the rest with rounds. Either SITs or one with Rotos.
 
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#312,850
MCF said:
Pic please!
Click to expand...
Gimme a minute
dagrev said:
Congrats! Dirty secret: They can sound like all kinds of things. Rock, country, blues, church music...they can do it all. But let's keep the myth going they are just one trick ponies. I have a VP with flats, one SS, a '06 Gibson with Nylons, the rest with rounds. Either SITs or one with Rotos.
Click to expand...
After playing/buying this one I feel like everything I've ever heard about Thunderbirds is wrong haha
 
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#312,852
dagrev said:
I heard back from Epi/Gibson about the possibility of getting some 760s.

Some of the reply is worth passing on given the number of pickups being sold as Epi. The bold is my emphasis.

The VP pickups are definitely some of the best modern Thunderbird pickups out there—Epiphone nailed the vintage tone with them. I totally get why you’d want a set for your ’66 Non-Reverse.
As for buying them separately, Epiphone doesn’t sell their pickups as standalone parts, which is frustrating for those of us who know how good they are. You’re right to be skeptical about those “Epi Thunderbird” pickups from China—more often than not, they’re knockoffs or just generic humbuckers that won’t get you the same tone.

I'm glad I bought a damaged Epi so I know what I'm getting.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I've added this to the top of the TBird pickup wiki.
 
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#312,853
dagrev said:
I heard back from Epi/Gibson about the possibility of getting some 760s.

Some of the reply is worth passing on given the number of pickups being sold as Epi. The bold is my emphasis.

The VP pickups are definitely some of the best modern Thunderbird pickups out there—Epiphone nailed the vintage tone with them. I totally get why you’d want a set for your ’66 Non-Reverse.
As for buying them separately, Epiphone doesn’t sell their pickups as standalone parts, which is frustrating for those of us who know how good they are. You’re right to be skeptical about those “Epi Thunderbird” pickups from China—more often than not, they’re knockoffs or just generic humbuckers that won’t get you the same tone.

I'm glad I bought a damaged Epi so I know what I'm getting.
Click to expand...
I’m glad to know they gave you the courtesy of the reply.
 
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#312,854
HP Hovercraft said:
Alright Thundernerds, you win. Got an Epiphone '60s Thunderbird last week and loooooove it. I'd been eyeing them for a while but had never had a chance to play one. I saw a used one (that looks practically unused) hanging in a local shop, tried it, and immediately bought it. I'm surprised at how light and balanced it is. And, of course, it sounds like rock n roll. :cool:
Click to expand...

HP Hovercraft said:
Gimme a minute

After playing/buying this one I feel like everything I've ever heard about Thunderbirds is wrong haha
Click to expand...

Looking forward to your pictures, do let me know if you'd like a club number, and of course please do be welcome here :)
 
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#312,857
GBassNorth said:
If I recorded and posted this correctly here’s a few minute recording made up of ten Tbirds back to back…
View attachment 7156188
It was a quick and dirty single take direct from the bass to an interface and into the iPad, no tone shaping other than the onboard controls on each bass, which were all set to neck volume of 9, bridge volume of 7 and tone setting of 5. Each bass was played finger style directly over the neck pickup. I tried to come up with a quick tune that would highlight each string and octaves as well. Please pardon the cruddy playing, it’s just here to give a good idea how each of the pickups in these basses compare.

Here’s the order they were recorded in:
1) (0:00 min) Eppi Purple Sparkle ‘64 - new 760ProBucker pickups, stock strings
2) (0:23 min) 2017 Eppi VP - old 760ProBucker pickups, Fender 7250 round nickels
3) (0:50 min) North ‘66 NR Tribute - old 760ProBuckers in vintage locations, Fender 7250 rounds, Wenge neck
4) (1:18 min) BaCH NR - ChinaBuckers, Fender 7250 rounds, ultra low action so there’s a bit more fret noise
5) (1:42 min) 2022 Gibby NR - stock pickups, Fender 7250 rounds
6) (2:05 min) North ThunderCaster - Fender wide range humbuckers in extreme positions (at the heel and at the bridge)
7) (2:30 min) Lull Tom Petersson Tbird - Lull pickups both at the heel and neck positions, Optima Gold round wound strings
8) (2:52 min) North BlingBird - ChinaBuckers in three positions, heel, mid and bridge, Optima Gold round wound strings
9) (3:16 min) Hot rodded Goth (cap job) - stock goth Eppi pups, EBCF strings
10) (3:40 min) FrankenGoth - Bart pups, Aggie preamp, coil switch set on single coil, treb flat, bass boosted, LaBella Black tapes
Click to expand...
I finally got around to listening with JBL Live Buds, 1 time ambient mode, 1 time noise canceling, once again ambient:
1. P sound, good for old school
2. Like
3. Like a lot
4. OK
5. Like a lot
6. Nope
7. Nope at first, moved to ok, then good
8. Ok, moved to good
9. Ok, moved to good
10. Ok

My ratings are Like a lot, like, good, ok, and Nope.

Surprised that the 2017 VP didn't score higher but it was in the top 3, but then I love mine which has stock strings, so probably the Fender strings impacted it, will try DRs when they die (Sunbeams or Pure Blues).

Also surprised I found the Eppi '64 only ok, given some here love it.

George tribute to 66 NR was a favorite, as was the Gibson NR '22. One had ProBuckers, one Gibson reissues.

Also good was the Blingbird and Goth.

I would also like to hear Greco, CP, '63-5 reverse and ceramic PUP to compare. I have a VP with cobalt flats, and like it a lot.
 
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