Thunderbird Club

[AllieCat]

It would be fun to get a beater Goth, alter the routs, pop them in, wire directly to the jack ala Nikki Sixx, and crank.

I might end up using them for a project, but I was buying up parts for an unrelated project and came across a set, and knowing they're not super common and definitely not something we'll see another run of, I couldn't help myself.

I have a sort of pseudo LP six string that I was thinking about trying them in too.

If you keep telling us this, you are going to cost us all money. Please stop.

Honestly I suspect we may be one of those so-called "high consumption groups," within a week of joining the club I had a third Thunderbird in the mail.

 

[MCF]

Seems strange that Epiphone would have the wrong info about how many pieces they put into their own product, but it's not outside of the realm of possibility that engineering was screaming at marketing about it for years

Maybe it was deliberate though, Gibson not wanting their internal competitor to look too much like they were selling an equal product.

Well…….last I looked the website doesn’t even acknowledge the existence of the E1. But they are offered in multiple places at $449.00. A great gateway drug.

 

[MCF]

I might end up using them for a project, but I was buying up parts for an unrelated project and came across a set, and knowing they're not super common and definitely not something we'll see another run of, I couldn't help myself.

I have a sort of pseudo LP six string that I was thinking about trying them in too.


Honestly I suspect we may be one of those so-called "high consumption groups," within a week of joining the club I had a third Thunderbird in the mail.

 

[AllieCat]

Well…….last I looked the website doesn’t even acknowledge the existence of the E1. But they are offered in multiple places at $449.00. I great gateway drug.

If they brought back some of the limited editions, I might buy an E1. They seem to be at a point where they want to distance themselves from the proper entry level though. Epiphone appears to be trying to position itself as a sort of premium import brand or something.

 

[Count Bassie]

Played the AlphaBASS head tonight through a Hartke 410 XL, the 400w series. The CP sounded really good through it, but I know there's a lot to get to know and get used to. I think a different cab might be interesting.
Anyway I'm calling the AlphaBASS a level of success.

 

[MCF]

If they brought back some of the limited editions, I might buy an E1. They seem to be at a point where they want to distance themselves from the proper entry level though. Epiphone appears to be trying to position itself as a sort of premium import brand or something.

It would be a shame if they outright abandoned the entry level market.

None of us want to hear this, but the honest truth is that times have changed. Synths are becoming increasingly common. There are “bands” touring without bassists. After the Covid guitar bubble burst, manufacturers really started tightening their belts. Even Fender has pretty much abandoned the Jaguar and other bass models except for the P and J. The Mustangs are still somewhat popular, but for how much longer? They’ve been back for about ten or so years. I think the short scale rebirth has probably run its course. Frankly, we are fortunate that Gibson and Epi even throw us a few bones.

Manufacture will follow the money. Gibson doesn’t even make a neck through Reverse anymore. The Rex Brown and Simmons are set necks, marketed to old guys like me who know who those guys are. I’m sort of amazed, and thankful, that after four years, they still make the NRs. I think most of us expected them to be long gone by now. The money just isn’t there for the major companies to make a lot of basses.

Sure, there are young players wanting to play bass. But it is nowhere near as common as it was when I started playing in 1970. Most of my friends wanted to be Hendrix, Clapton, or Richards. Fortunately, there were some of us who wanted to be McCartney, Bruce, JPJ, or Geezer. Or Squire. So manufacturers made basses. And a lot of them.

The way I look at is that the best thing I can do is keep up with Indie artists, go to shows, buy their music and try to help them stay around.

 

[AllieCat]

It would be a shame if they outright abandoned the entry level market.

None of us want to hear this, but the honest truth is that times have changed. Synths are becoming increasingly common. There are “bands” touring without bassists. After the Covid guitar bubble burst, manufacturers really started tightening their belts. Even Fender has pretty much abandoned the Jaguar and other bass models except for the P and J. The Mustangs are still somewhat popular, but for how much longer? They’ve been back for about ten or so years. I think the short scale rebirth has probably run its course. Frankly, we are fortunate that Gibson and Epi even throw us a few bones.

Manufacture will follow the money. Gibson doesn’t even make a neck through Reverse anymore. The Rex Brown and Simmons are set necks, marketed to old guys like me who know who those guys are. I’m sort of amazed, and thankful, that after four years, they still make the NRs. I think most of us expected them to be long gone by now. The money just isn’t there for the major companies to make a lot of basses.

Sure, there are young players wanting to play bass. But it is nowhere near as common as it was when I started playing in 1970. Most of my friends wanted to be Hendrix, Clapton, or Richards. Fortunately, there were some of us who wanted to be McCartney, Bruce, JPJ, or Geezer. Or Squire. So manufacturers made basses. And a lot of them.

The way I look at is that the best thing I can do is keep up with Indie artists, go to shows, buy their music and try to help them stay around.

100% yeah

I thought I'd never have time to put together the money for my NR. Now I'm thinking I should save up for another before they're gone (I kinda want one of the ones from the mid teens with the volute though so we'll see)

I need to get my hands on one of the Vintera Bass VI's before they go away too...

WRT the entry level market, there's so much in that space, it's highly competitive and for $500 or less you can find some really amazingly playable guitars and basses. I can see why the likes of Epiphone and Squier would try and aim a little higher and position themselves as premium imports, but I don't think they and their parent companies can do enough volume to stay afloat without the entry level. Then again, who am I to say what their balance sheets actually look like?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

64

View attachment 7171980

5 ply?

 

[Bighouse]

So, these EBCF are interesting. They aren’t as buttery smooth on the fingers as the LaBella Flats, but they feel okay and are easy enough to play and finger. The sound is not quite what I expected. They almost sound like round wounds, absent the fingering artifacts. They’re punchy, and slightly bright and edgy, with a nice growl and plenty of rich tone/timbre. I’m no expert, but that’s my impression of them.

 

[Bighouse]

Anyone have the engineering shop drawings, or exploded drawing views of the tuners? I want to see how they’re assembled.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Well…….last I looked the website doesn’t even acknowledge the existence of the E1. But they are offered in multiple places at $449.00. A great gateway drug.

When I emailed them, support eventually told me the vendors must be selling old stock - because the E1 wasn’t anywhere on the web site.

 

[AllieCat]

When I emailed them, support eventually told me the vendors must be selling old stock - because the E1 wasn’t anywhere on the web site.

GC is letting people backorder them

 

[Stealth57]

5 ply?

Hard to tell as the grain blends across the plies. Even in person it’s hard to tell.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

So, these EBCF are interesting. They aren’t as buttery smooth on the fingers as the LaBella Flats, but they feel okay and are easy enough to play and finger. The sound is not quite what I expected. They almost sound like round wounds, absent the fingering artifacts. They’re punchy, and slightly bright and edgy, with a nice growl and plenty of rich tone/timbre. I’m no expert, but that’s my impression of them.

And they last pretty much forever!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

GC is letting people backorder them

Yeah, support made no sense that time. My whole question was why they weren’t on the web site. And they’d already gone on and off back order.

 

[RedVee]

No issues with my Chinese bolt ons.

I can’t say. My Chinese Goth bolt on is excellent, but it is a refurb. I have no idea what the original issue was.

 

[Stealth57]

5 ply?

Here is another 64 I found online. Looks like 5 to me.

 

[TBird1958]

Anyone have the engineering shop drawings, or exploded drawing views of the tuners? I want to see how they’re assembled.

You're looking for Vintage Pro tuners? I have the feeling they're from the redesigned Indonesian production, but maybe you could give us a picture of what yours has on it. My original Indonesian VP has very large Wilkinson branded tuners on it, my Chinese '64s have a slightly smaller size but better shaped clover with a much smaller backplate

 

[MCF]

100% yeah

I thought I'd never have time to put together the money for my NR. Now I'm thinking I should save up for another before they're gone (I kinda want one of the ones from the mid teens with the volute though so we'll see)

I need to get my hands on one of the Vintera Bass VI's before they go away too...

WRT the entry level market, there's so much in that space, it's highly competitive and for $500 or less you can find some really amazingly playable guitars and basses. I can see why the likes of Epiphone and Squier would try and aim a little higher and position themselves as premium imports, but I don't think they and their parent companies can do enough volume to stay afloat without the entry level. Then again, who am I to say what their balance sheets actually look like?

Guitars, basses, amps are small potatoes. World wide revenue for the entire industry was less than 800,000,000.00 last year. Apple alone grossed about 394,000,000,000.00. And that was a disappointment.

Sadly, I think you are right. Look at MusicMan as an example. Last year their Asian partner offered a limited run Joe Dart bass at $400.00. It was reportedly ok, even with crappy tuners that fell apart when you just looked at them. A signature bass endorsed by one of the most popular bassists in the world. They only managed to sell about 5,000 of them. Not a whole lot of profit for the trouble of making them once all was said and done.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

You're looking for Vintage Pro tuners? I have the feeling they're from the redesigned Indonesian production, but maybe you could give us a picture of what yours has on it. My original Indonesian VP has very large Wilkinson branded tuners on it, my Chinese '64s have a slightly smaller size but better shaped clover with a much smaller backplate

My VP has the same tuners.