Thunderbird Club

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

I was under the impression that the manufacturers still held the hammer, in regard to authorized dealers, and that they could hold them to msrp. I'm often wrong.

I'm not 100% sure either. Just what I thought

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^ As of today 7/10/2017 my Sweetwater Rep called and let me know that it will be September before they ship the new Thunderbird.
^
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DISLIKE

 

[PillO]

Yes. And Sweetwater rarely does deep discounts like the other ecommerce sites that I mentioned above. So, I was wondering if this is a concious effort by Epiphone/Gibson to avoid price wars on the new Bird?

They could easily avoid it by just telling retailers they have to sell it for "x", no?

Don't think they can tell them what they can sell it for, just give them an MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price)

In Canada it is illegal to influence upward or discourage price reductions to the customer either through agreements or threats or any other influence. However, everything else is up for negotiation and contractual agreement.

So, it is legal to have an MSRP, only allow advertising MSRP, require the carrying of a full line, etc. Not legal to restrict the price charged to the end consumer. But, your contractual relationship can help you find cooperative retailers.

Retailers generally are not interested in losing money. Good retailers understand that there are customers that are too expensive to service and have policies and procedures in place to try to avoid and/or fire those customers. To that end, few retailers are interested in competing solely on price. This is why Sweetwater has those people that phone you - their job is customer retention. Likewise, they advertise their inspection of the instrument before sending it out to you as value added that will influence you to buy from them regardless of price. How about free shipping; ever noticed that free shipping only kicks in at a price slightly more than the cheap item you were going to buy? You either have to pay a profit margin on shipping or buy more to make sufficient profitable purchases to qualify. It is a means of discriminating against the 'deadbeats' that cherry-pick prices (i.e. firing those unprofitable customers).

 

[RedVee]

Are the Embassy's considered TTDs (Thunderbird Type Designs) here?

 

[PillO]

Are the Embassy's considered TTDs (Thunderbird Type Designs) here?

They have been discussed here. I think it is up to the Queen to decide if they qualify for garnering a club number.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Are the Embassy's considered TTDs (Thunderbird Type Designs) here?

Well it is an OTF (Other Than Fender) so it is definitely in the plus column around here.

 

[bazzanderson]

I'm part of this club and have a 2010 Gibson Tbird (which I absolutely love). Had to have some nut & fret work and replace the Gibson Thunderbuckers (went through TWO sets that hummed) and have an EMG DC bridge and CS neck in now (no preamp) and love the tone I'm getting. I recently picked up a older ESP Phoenix LTD 204 (neck through version, 1st versions were bolt-on I believe) and I have to say I'm really impressed with this "cheaper" tbird copy. Like....really impressed. Pics coming. Just played my 1st gig with it and it's a keeper for sure.

 

[RedVee]

They have been discussed here. I think it is up to the Queen to decide if they qualify for garnering a club number.

Well it is an OTF (Other Than Fender) so it is definitely in the plus column around here.

Yeah, I heard about the old ones from here, and that they used T'Bird pickups.

I have a T'Bird and a number, just asking as I am just curious.

Mahogany and Thunderbird pickups are an attractive combination, could make an interesting 'other'.

 

[Off-Beat]

I'm part of this club and have a 2010 Gibson Tbird (which I absolutely love). Had to have some nut & fret work and replace the Gibson Thunderbuckers (went through TWO sets that hummed) and have an EMG DC bridge and CS neck in now (no preamp) and love the tone I'm getting. I recently picked up a older ESP Phoenix LTD 204 (neck through version, 1st versions were bolt-on I believe) and I have to say I'm really impressed with this "cheaper" tbird copy. Like....really impressed. Pics coming. Just played my 1st gig with it and it's a keeper for sure.

Guitarist has the 6 string phoenix neckthrough. His fav guitar out of some Epis, Fenders and other LTDs. He's still GASsing for a real Firebird though.

 

[Gaolee]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^ As of today 7/10/2017 my Sweetwater Rep called and let me know that it will be September before they ship the new Thunderbird.
^
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That's lousy news.

 

[Gaolee]

Gives us all the chance to put a few more dollars away towards the prize - I'm okay with that.



There's a Green '76 Bird right next to me, I'll be hitting the 'shed for an hour - to hell with the neighbors

The neighbors right next door, meaning about eight feet away across a narrow "side yard" have a son who is a drummer. I hear him all the time. He's actually pretty good, and we have had the occasional jam session together. So, no complaints from that side. It's the side the music room in the basement is on, so it worked out perfectly. I hope he stays a kid and keeps playing drums instead of growing up and turning into an adult who lives somewhere else. His parents probably have other ideas.

For what its worth, I did get paid, after a fashion, for the trip to Victoria to play the wedding. All expenses paid and a liter of Laphroig. I did a bit of a double take looking at the size of a liter bottle relative to a fifth. It's a lot of whiskey! Sleeping on the deck one night was fun, and now it's absolutely worth it. Of course I made the new husband drink some when he brought it over. I haven't converted him from his Precision to a 'Bird yet. Eventually...

 

[RikiP]

Man, i love the vintage 2 point bridge with the tailpiece, but...
the whole process to modding my Gibson would probably cost near to a new epiphone bass.

 

[Gaolee]

View attachment 1175135 Hi guys. Not wanting to derail, but thought I'd ask if anyone has had this happen. I spent several hours in the shed over the last several days. Split time between my Birds and my Precisions. Developed this bruise; doesn't necessarily hurt, but I tracked the cause down to the Ps. The only way to avoid it is to sling them low like Simonon. Not the best position for fretting. I feel like I'm eighteen again. Another reason why I 'm preferring my Birds more and more.

Yep, had those off and on. Chicks dig scars. I'm not so sure about bruises, but they never bothered me so I never worried about it. Then again, I'm a Cro-Magnon Appalachian, so take everything I say about bruises and scars with that in mind.

Now, hold my beer and watch this!

 

[Gaolee]

Of course the Fenders are to blame! Everyone knows they are ergonomically inferior to Gibson basses.
Seriously though, what you said, although bound body Rics will put a nice dent in your forearm.

Funny thing is that I never had that happen when I had a Ric. I see how it can happen, but it just didn't. My technique must be kinda peculiar.

 

[RikiP]

I'm part of this club and have a 2010 Gibson Tbird (which I absolutely love). Had to have some nut & fret work and replace the Gibson Thunderbuckers (went through TWO sets that hummed) and have an EMG DC bridge and CS neck in now (no preamp) and love the tone I'm getting. I recently picked up a older ESP Phoenix LTD 204 (neck through version, 1st versions were bolt-on I believe) and I have to say I'm really impressed with this "cheaper" tbird copy. Like....really impressed. Pics coming. Just played my 1st gig with it and it's a keeper for sure.

gibson thunderbucker? u mean the stock pickups?

 

[JJR58]

The neighbors right next door, meaning about eight feet away across a narrow "side yard" have a son who is a drummer. I hear him all the time. He's actually pretty good, and we have had the occasional jam session together. So, no complaints from that side. It's the side the music room in the basement is on, so it worked out perfectly. I hope he stays a kid and keeps playing drums instead of growing up and turning into an adult who lives somewhere else. His parents probably have other ideas.

For what its worth, I did get paid, after a fashion, for the trip to Victoria to play the wedding. All expenses paid and a liter of Laphroig. I did a bit of a double take looking at the size of a liter bottle relative to a fifth. It's a lot of whiskey! Sleeping on the deck one night was fun, and now it's absolutely worth it. Of course I made the new husband drink some when he brought it over. I haven't converted him from his Precision to a 'Bird yet. Eventually...

Oh, good ole Laphroig, you did get paid well.

 

[Off-Beat]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^ As of today 7/10/2017 my Sweetwater Rep called and let me know that it will be September before they ship the new Thunderbird.
^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Seems like it will a christmas gift for us Euros then.

 

[JJR58]

Well, it is a huge drag on the release of the new Epi, but, i do see the upside.
As @JIO put it, September will be here soon enough.
And, just maybe, they'll add a Heritage Cherry to the line up.
Ok, wishful thinking.
But regardless of color options, i do see 2 of them in my very near future.

 

[TBird1958]

a liter of Laphroig....

You can head on down to Des Moines with that anytime, my liver is all tingly.

 

[GBassNorth]

Because I have been out of town for a few days I will just leave this very late posting here. I am surprised no one else posted something like this,
View attachment 1175215

I was thinking more along these lines...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

How do I join the Thunderbird Club?