Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

That one doesn’t appear to have a cushion in the lower right.

Very minimal, for sure.

 

[MCF]

The Gator website says 48" overall length (interior) for this model.
But strap button niche to where the headstock would meet the case on mine is 51".
My CP and VP fit even with straps still on.
Both have extra room for the horn to be bigger.

Thanks Miles. Good to know. It would appear to be an option for a VP/60’s/64, or whatever they call it next year, with a bit more robust exterior covering than the current Epi offering.

 

[MCF]

Yes it does, 90 minutes ( no break) = $1800.00. I'm not complaining!

And comped rooms. Pretty sweet.

 

[Stealth57]

The Gator website says 48" overall length (interior) for this model.
But strap button niche to where the headstock would meet the case on mine is 51".
My CP and VP fit even with straps still on.
Both have extra room for the horn to be bigger.

Mine is 49 7/8” on the outside.

 

[Tommygun_ted]

Well, pretty gutted. Looks like my purple thunderbird 64 has a twisted neck. This will be the second T bird 64 that I will be returning with neck issues. Took it in to get plek'd and the scans don't lie. It's a shame because this is such a cool bass, but I have no idea if this neck is going to get worse over time and for over a grand, it's unacceptable. The bottom of the image shows the neck scans at the 1st, 12th and 20th frets, and you can see the twist. The tech said there wouldn't be any frets left in the upper register if they ground down the frets to flatten it out, so the only option is to plane the fretboard and do a complete re fret, which would be more than half the cost of the bass.

 

[dagrev]

Well, looks like I’ll keep it! The temporarily donated D string from my Fender P-Bass plays in the TBird without any of that weird freaky-@ss resonating sound!!! So today the EBCFs will arrive at a nearby Amazon locker, and I’ll go fetch them to restring this lovely instrument. I’m so happy I can keep it!

And I’m so glad my P-Bass was willing to step up and donate a string to help the family’s newest member!

Can’t wait to get it restrung and see what those EBCFs feel and sound like.

Excellent!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Well, pretty gutted. Looks like my purple thunderbird 64 has a twisted neck. This will be the second T bird 64 that I will be returning with neck issues. Took it in to get plek'd and the scans don't lie. It's a shame because this is such a cool bass, but I have no idea if this neck is going to get worse over time and for over a grand, it's unacceptable. The bottom of the image shows the neck scans at the 1st, 12th and 20th frets, and you can see the twist. The tech said there wouldn't be any frets left in the upper register if they ground down the frets to flatten it out, so the only option is to plane the fretboard and do a complete re fret, which would be more than half the cost of the bass.

I feel like Epi really screwed up by moving production for these.

 

[dagrev]

I do have to say that I replaced the D string with my D string from my Pbass- a LaBella Flatwound. It feels and sounds lovely on the instrument.

I'm telling you, flats are a secret weapon on a Thunderbird. I have never used super dead flats, all the others can sound fantastic. Not for everybody I know or every application, but some people hear the term flat and think horrible tone and never use them live to know. Since you are a flat person, you know how fantastic they can sound in a live mix (and maybe not so much solo). And today they make dull flats to really bright flats (Cobalts being one).

Here is an example of flats on a Thunderbird.

 

[Count Bassie]

I would happily come see y'all play if you were anywhere nearby. RI is a bit far even for a Texan to drive for a single gig. I just need to come up with a good excuse...

I've been to Texas, and we went to dinner.
Thanks for the good buzz.
And thanks you guys for the generous response! Esp with that hollow sounding bass... Errrr...

 

[GBassNorth]

I feel like Epi really screwed up by moving production for these.

I’d second that. The China shop completely changed the neck geometry, not necessarily for the better. I like the new Eppi sound but the old VP feel.

 

[Tommygun_ted]

I feel like Epi really screwed up by moving production for these.

Yeah,

I’d second that. The China shop completely changed the neck geometry, not necessarily for the better. I like the new Eppi sound but the old VP feel.

Yeah, my old classic pro is still my all time favourite bass. The vintage and 64's just always felt cheaper to me, even though they were a fair bit pricier.

 

[AllieCat]

I finally found time to install the LaBella Low Tension Flats. LTF-4A .042, .056, .075, and .100.



I put them on my 2010 Epiphone IV LE.

Initial impressions are that they're a little brighter than the Roto 77's usually are. Probably will darken up a bit with age obviously but I'm guessing they'll end up brighter overall than a broken in set of 77's. I did find that I wanted to roll off my tone knob a bit, though. Way smoother than what I'm used to with Rotos. These things are silky smooth.

Took a little bit of adjustment at the bridge but they intonated really nicely, all the way up and down the fretboard. My action may be sitting a touch lower, but you won't find me complaining about that.

Tension is definitely less than my older flats, I needed to add just a touch more relief to the neck to correct some buzz at the first fret. Nothing crazy, but this bass has been set up with those. Bends feel more like they would with rounds.

Lots of room for dynamics. Super mellow played with fingers, but you can really dig in with a pick still.

Probably a new favorite flatwound for me.

 

[dagrev]

It sounds amazing. I don’t have a true vintage Thunderbird to A/B it with. That'll have to wait until my next visit to San Ramon or the GTG. But with the Lo Riders Chris sent on it and through the SVT, it is a monster. Especially cranked. I got a bit worried last night while playing that I would wake up the semi hibernating bears. Or worse, set off the San Andreas fault. I’m looking forward to running it through my Mesa amps.

Mine is very well balanced tone-wise. Great lows, mids, and highs.

 

[dagrev]

I swear I didn’t cause it.

Taking your own advise and lawyering up?

 

[dagrev]

I finally found time to install the LaBella Low Tension Flats. LTF-4A .042, .056, .075, and .100.

View attachment 7171830

I put them on my 2010 Epiphone IV LE.

Initial impressions are that they're a little brighter than the Roto 77's usually are. Probably will darken up a bit with age obviously but I'm guessing they'll end up brighter overall than a broken in set of 77's. I did find that I wanted to roll off my tone knob a bit, though. Way smoother than what I'm used to with Rotos. These things are silky smooth.

Took a little bit of adjustment at the bridge but they intonated really nicely, all the way up and down the fretboard. My action may be sitting a touch lower, but you won't find me complaining about that.

Tension is definitely less than my older flats, I needed to add just a touch more relief to the neck to correct some buzz at the first fret. Nothing crazy, but this bass has been set up with those. Bends feel more like they would with rounds.

Lots of room for dynamics. Super mellow played with fingers, but you can really dig in with a pick still.

Probably a new favorite flatwound for me.

I have some on a '05 Pbass. Sounds and feels fantastic. They will mellow, but mine are still bright enough to be nice. I'm not sure there is a better feeling string.

 

[Engle]

The Hipshot specs for that bridge sure seem to match up with what I see on my VP. We'll know soon enough!

This is the one for sale, but it was the same when I test fitted mine:

 

[Engle]

4.1 shaker for our SoCal birders.

We had one of those again here last week.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Yeah,

Yeah, my old classic pro is still my all time favourite bass. The vintage and 64's just always felt cheaper to me, even though they were a fair bit pricier.

The CP was my fave for several years, then the Grecos claimed top slot. The CP beat the VP both in terms of tone (yay, low end!) and neck feel (finish type (paint vs clear), I assume) but Thunderbuckers brought the VP back into contention. That said, the VP bridge doesn't have enough travel to intonate EBCFs and the string spacing on the neck is slightly off. And, of course, the VP headstock has its own zip code. I believe it's almost the size of Rhode Island.

 

[dagrev]

Well, pretty gutted. Looks like my purple thunderbird 64 has a twisted neck. This will be the second T bird 64 that I will be returning with neck issues. Took it in to get plek'd and the scans don't lie. It's a shame because this is such a cool bass, but I have no idea if this neck is going to get worse over time and for over a grand, it's unacceptable. The bottom of the image shows the neck scans at the 1st, 12th and 20th frets, and you can see the twist. The tech said there wouldn't be any frets left in the upper register if they ground down the frets to flatten it out, so the only option is to plane the fretboard and do a complete re fret, which would be more than half the cost of the bass.

That sucks. It's good to know for any who have the latest version so they can keep an eye on them.

 

[Engle]

Well, pretty gutted. Looks like my purple thunderbird 64 has a twisted neck. This will be the second T bird 64 that I will be returning with neck issues. Took it in to get plek'd and the scans don't lie. It's a shame because this is such a cool bass, but I have no idea if this neck is going to get worse over time and for over a grand, it's unacceptable. The bottom of the image shows the neck scans at the 1st, 12th and 20th frets, and you can see the twist. The tech said there wouldn't be any frets left in the upper register if they ground down the frets to flatten it out, so the only option is to plane the fretboard and do a complete re fret, which would be more than half the cost of the bass.

That sucks. They must have had a batch of crappy or poorly dried wood.