Thunderbird Club

[vdub75]

I Kind of ordered one like this from the maker in the uk. but with maple fretboard. this is gonna be one mean machine.

Alder Body
Maple Neck
Mojotone Thunderbird Pickup
Best of both worlds

 

[Rhdrmhdrvf]

Woah! So many replies!
Thank you guys!

Yeah, I think it is D standard, it was like that as it arrived. I for some reason, did not expect that but a standard.

I have never seen such a thick string hung on a bass. It was very satisfying to pull oil tanker vessels, straight out of the box. What a fun little instrument!

edit:
It is D standard. So if anyone else looking, Epiphone Thunderbird IV Goth (2016, China) factory tuning D, G, C, F.

 

[hillerup]

I have a small YT playlist with my favorite songs. I made it for a friend who had also never heard of them. If you want Ill link it when I get home

Yes please...

 

[hillerup]

I Kind of ordered one like this from the maker in the uk. but with maple fretboard. this is gonna be one mean machine.

Alder Body
Maple Neck
Mojotone Thunderbird Pickup
Best of both worlds

View attachment 1161151

You should have warned us before making a FSO post - Now it can't be unseen...

Looks nice BTW...

 

[BklynKen]

Thought this was interesting..

Link Removed

Derail alert...

Sorry if it's been mentioned, but anyone notice the NR Thunderbird in one of the videos? It's quick.

 

[kat888]

And people say you can't play country on a Bird

 

[PillO]

Cheers. I thought the Henry J./Gibson part might be relevant.

I thought it was a good read also. However, I'm not sure that the premise is correct.

*Disclaimer* I have no market research or special knowledge of the market for musical instruments. But I have done a lot of work in interpreting and understanding market dynamics backed by market research.

They are probably correct that there is a general slow down in the sales of musical instruments. But I don't think they really know what is causing it; they don't talk about any market research to quantify what is happening. It appears to be their own guesses/gut feeling.

As much as there may or may not be fewer kids buying guitars, kids tend to buy cheap used stuff. The market for expensive gear is middle aged people; people that have careers that support expensive hobbies. Those people also have to worry about making mortgage payments, sending their kids to university, and preparing for retirement. So as much as the economy recovered from some significant shocks between 2007-2012, a protracted period of economic uncertainty had a longer effect on their target consumer. Those people having very recently looked into the economic abyss likely want to have a bigger personal safety net; possibly not having had one prior to 2007.

Have a number of people made some big blunders? Absolutely - the Gibson auto-tuning was a dumb idea. But that gives me confidence in my thought that they probably do little or no market research to understand their target audience. So as much as the major names that everyone knows may be struggling, there may be many smaller manufacturers that are picking up that market share. @Dadagoboi perhaps you can shed a little light. Without getting into any specifics, what sort of growth/decline are you seeing in sales by dollars and units over the last decade?

Or put another way, are people that might have bought a Gibson TBird now buying a Cataldo?

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Woah! So many replies!
Thank you guys!

Yeah, I think it is D standard, it was like that as it arrived. I for some reason, did not expect that but a standard.

I have never seen such a thick string hung on a bass. It was very satisfying to pull oil tanker vessels, straight out of the box. What a fun little instrument!

edit:
It is D standard. So if anyone else looking, Epiphone Thunderbird IV Goth (2016, China) factory tuning D, G, C, F.

They probably detune it for shipping purposes. I doubt any instrument will arrive to your door perfectly in tune. Don't keep your mind closed to "factory tuning" tune it however you want or whatever the song calls. Don't think of it as a factory setting either, it's like the position of your seat or rear view mirror in your car, adjust it to your comfort

 

[TBird1958]

Lol I still don't have one

Sorry that I missed you!
Did you post us a picture of your Thunderbird, the past week has been over the top chatty here, so many pages that I don't know how far back the list is.
I'll get you set up today, just have some chores around my modest palace to accomplish while it's a bit cooler this morning.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

To bring up an old topic, a while back about Gibson using Ebony on fretboards in 2008 era. Well yesterday I read something that in 2009 Gibson was raided by the wildlife whatever organization, they found a large amount of illegally imported Madagascar Ebony. That answers that question and why I couldn't find anything about the use of Ebony on their spec sheets.

 

[Larry V]

the Gibson auto-tuning was a dumb idea.

Ever used it? My son absolutely loves it on his '61 re-issue SG. For years, he was constantly having to retune while running through song-lists that ranged from VH to Disturbed and 3DG; it was a hassle. Since getting the robot tuner added to his guitar, it's just a button push and a couple of strums and he's ready to go. So very convenient.

What I think was a dumb idea was selling them on every guitar from the factory as a standard feature and not an option.

 

[BklynKen]

Ever used it? My son absolutely loves it on his '61 re-issue SG. For years, he was constantly having to retune while running through song-lists that ranged from VH to Disturbed and 3DG; it was a hassle. Since getting the robot tuner added to his guitar, it's just a button push and a couple of strums and he's ready to go. So very convenient.

What I think was a dumb idea was selling them on every guitar from the factory as a standard feature and not an option.

Sort of like all the extra stuff on the 2015 Thunderbird?

 

[bass40hz]

Sort of like all the extra stuff on the 2015 Thunderbird?

Hey...I resemble that remark!
I love my '15 'bird!

 

[PillO]

Ever used it? My son absolutely loves it on his '61 re-issue SG. For years, he was constantly having to retune while running through song-lists that ranged from VH to Disturbed and 3DG; it was a hassle. Since getting the robot tuner added to his guitar, it's just a button push and a couple of strums and he's ready to go. So very convenient.

What I think was a dumb idea was selling them on every guitar from the factory as a standard feature and not an option.

Yes, a dumb idea to install on everything. Dumb idea to develop; perhaps, I don't have any information on how much it cost to develop (I assume a lot) vs. how much a consumer will pay for it. Dumb idea to have/use; if it works for someone, good for them.

My point is that I don't think that they do good research to understand:
Who is the target consumer,
What does/does not appeal to the target,
What unfulfilled needs/wants does the target have,
How much disposable income does that target have,
What are they spending on now,
What needs to happen to re-organize those priorities?

 

[Larry V]

Yes, a dumb idea to install on everything. Dumb idea to develop; perhaps, I don't have any information on how much it cost to develop (I assume a lot) vs. how much a consumer will pay for it. Dumb idea to have/use; if it works for someone, good for them.

My point is that I don't think that they do good research to understand:
Who is the target consumer,
What does/does not appeal to the target,
What unfulfilled needs/wants does the target have,
How much disposable income does that target have,
What are they spending on now,
What needs to happen to re-organize those priorities?

It didn't cost Gibson anything to develop since it already existed.

Here's a bit of the history from Tronical the company that makes the robot tuner called the Invalid Link Removed

Invalid Link Removed

 

[EdO.]

I say I like metal, but I hate 90% of everything.

As I've observed before. And been chided for observing before. Kudos for your honesty.

The market for expensive gear is middle aged people; people that have careers that support expensive hobbies. Those people also have to worry about making mortgage payments, sending their kids to university, and preparing for retirement. So as much as the economy recovered from some significant shocks between 2007-2012, a protracted period of economic uncertainty had a longer effect on their target consumer.

Spot on. Pretty much the only two basses I still gas for that I don't own are 1) a new or near new 4004 Ric and 2) an early 80's Mockingbird. Both over $2000 each for one worth having. Yeah, I could easily afford to just go out and get both whenever being of the age/economic group @PillO described in her post. However IMO they aren't worth the cost to me, or perhaps I'm just too much of a cheap skate to spend that much on them when I'm just as happy and satisfied playing my $300 - 400 Epi's and Squier's. I have 8 basses now (3 Bird's, 2 Squier's, a Dano Longhorn, a Steinberger Spirit, and a pre EB Stingray {my only truly pricey instrument}). Really don't need anything else and am unwilling to spend the price of admission to get the other two, so I'll likely never own either. And I'm good with that.

 

[GBassNorth]

Woah! So many replies!
Thank you guys!

Yeah, I think it is D standard, it was like that as it arrived. I for some reason, did not expect that but a standard.

I have never seen such a thick string hung on a bass. It was very satisfying to pull oil tanker vessels, straight out of the box. What a fun little instrument!

edit:
It is D standard. So if anyone else looking, Epiphone Thunderbird IV Goth (2016, China) factory tuning D, G, C, F.

Learn something new every day here. I just assumed the as delivered factory standard tuning of a Goth was EADG. Had no idea they came from the factory in drop D tuning. What strings and diameters is the factory using on these?

 

[Dadagoboi]

I thought it was a good read also. However, I'm not sure that the premise is correct.

*Disclaimer* I have no market research or special knowledge of the market for musical instruments. But I have done a lot of work in interpreting and understanding market dynamics backed by market research.

They are probably correct that there is a general slow down in the sales of musical instruments. But I don't think they really know what is causing it; they don't talk about any market research to quantify what is happening. It appears to be their own guesses/gut feeling.

As much as there may or may not be fewer kids buying guitars, kids tend to buy cheap used stuff. The market for expensive gear is middle aged people; people that have careers that support expensive hobbies. Those people also have to worry about making mortgage payments, sending their kids to university, and preparing for retirement. So as much as the economy recovered from some significant shocks between 2007-2012, a protracted period of economic uncertainty had a longer effect on their target consumer. Those people having very recently looked into the economic abyss likely want to have a bigger personal safety net; possibly not having had one prior to 2007.

Have a number of people made some big blunders? Absolutely - the Gibson auto-tuning was a dumb idea. But that gives me confidence in my thought that they probably do little or no market research to understand their target audience. So as much as the major names that everyone knows may be struggling, there may be many smaller manufacturers that are picking up that market share. @Dadagoboi perhaps you can shed a little light. Without getting into any specifics, what sort of growth/decline are you seeing in sales by dollars and units over the last decade?

Or put another way, are people that might have bought a Gibson TBird now buying a Cataldo?

I thought the article was spot on. How many accordions are they selling these days? They used to sell a LOT. Trends change.

As far as Cataldos, production numbers not even worth mentioning. I'm one guy among a few others producing a few instruments a year.

 

[Gaolee]

At a glance, I thought that was Bill Cosby.

Edit: but I do have a cold.

That was the most stuffy professor looking photo I could find on short notice. I can imagine falling fast asleep any time that guy walks into a room, whoever he is.

 

[JJR58]

That was the most stuffy professor looking photo I could find on short notice. I can imagine falling fast asleep any time that guy walks into a room, whoever he is.

perfect none the less.