Thunderbird Club

[kat888]

I am concerned after the Chris Catero videos that they have increased the weight on the Vintage over the Classic.
I think not - why would they? But I will check that out as well.

With that huge paddle of a headstock, a little more weight in the arse may not be a bad thing. Just saying.

 

[kat888]

The day just wouldn't be complete with out a shot being fired into the crowd from somewhere in Florida

Think @Dadagoboi is trying to hit Guam.

 

[Off-Beat]

I'm no expert... but I'd say that, among the possible reasons for the price differential would be the fact that the Thunderbird is neck-thru as opposed to set neck. The fact that the new 'bird is going to be a vintage spec reissue (no matter how large or small of a departure that is from the standard issue... ya just know it's gonna have an affect on the price tag). Finally... the Embassy is a cool enough bass or whatever... but the Thunderbird is a legend, and commands a higher tag. As for the pickups... I honestly don't care where they're made, so long as they've got "the sound". If they nailed down a way to give us a good vintage repro... they can build it in Timbuktu as far as I'm concerned. The question is... how good can a mass-produced, budget priced pickup sound? I guess we'll get to find out here in the next few months! I'm looking forward to everybody's reviews

The price differential between the TBird and the Embassy is understandable, but the Classic and the Vintage? If the machines are cast by Epiphone they're not worth the 200€ more.

Also about the pick up debate: The only thing I'd swap the Gibson ones for judging by yt reviews are Carlo's friend's: Link Removed. I'm pretty confident if I buy a Vintage thunderbuckers will find their way there.
Lulls and Lollars seem nice, but the thunderbuckers seem to be the real thing.

btw was quite busy transforming an empty white room in our new rehearsal space. It's smaller than the last once, but ours.

 

[ubernator]

Hey, if you are near Southern New Jersey, here is a pretty good deal:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

drool... Who bought it? I'm not a burst fan, but I like late 90s stuff and that one looks clean for a fair price. I wish I had money when GC was blowing out walnut and black 2014 t birds for $799, so I would call it a fair price, but not an outright steal. IIRC a bird was about a grand back then, 1997.

But what is the best bass for metal? Maybe this one
View attachment 2635655

Custom made of graphite for Jerry Only to take a beating. Just an output jack, no controls. At the end of the set he took it off and hucked it at the wall. His tech said he did that all the time, things were practically indestructible. My day of working for the Jerry/marky/dez misfits punk tribute band, 2002 25th anniversary tour. Memories.

These are so revered simply because they’re delicious. YMMV. Have you had any from the likes of Other Half, Tree House, Trillium, or The Alchemist?

By the way, we’re on page 2112. Rock and roll.

I note we are on Geddy's page.

I saw Rush perform 2112 back when it was new at The Paramount (3000 seats) Theater in downtown Seattle - I was a quite the fan of them back then, they did not disappoint!

ARRRGH I missed page 2112!!!!!!!! And what was I doing? Playing system of a down songs on the classic pro. Drummer is going to be using a click now, so we were establishing the tempos for the 19 songs in the next show's headline set. 18+ in long beach CA next sat 9/9 $10 also with tool and GnR tributes. Anyone in the area want to come out?

It is the time to share these again...

 

[Larry V]

That's the only way to enjoy the actual taste of coffee. Milk or cream and/or sweeteners are for people that don't like the taste of coffee.

I take mine, "None more black."

I mean... correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most T-birds come in around 9 pounds or so?

My 2013 Gibson Thunderbird is less than 8 lbs.

 

[hillerup]

Dunno if this has already been posted, it's the full Embassy preview.

As nice as it may be, fortunately that bodyshape don't appeal to me...

 

[Dadagoboi]

The price differential between the TBird and the Embassy is understandable, but the Classic and the Vintage? If the machines are cast by Epiphone they're not worth the 200€ more.

Also about the pick up debate: The only thing I'd swap the Gibson ones for judging by yt reviews are Carlo's friend's: Link Removed. I'm pretty confident if I buy a Vintage thunderbuckers will find their way there.
Lulls and Lollars seem nice, but the thunderbuckers seem to be the real thing.

btw was quite busy transforming an empty white room in our new rehearsal space. It's smaller than the last once, but ours.

Fairly confident the Epi CV pickups will be acceptable to at least 99% of the purchasers. Steve at ThunderBucker Ranch has just stocked up on magnets for the other <1%.

I also told him there might be some interest in his pickup and bridge covers for those wanting to complete the vintage look...if they ever get here.

 

[hillerup]

I used to like IPA's...before it became a race to see who could get the most pine-needles-brewed-in-cough-syrup flavor. Most I've tried lately just haven't been good because brewers are obsessed with smashing more hops than will fit in one beer in the recipe and are trying to go further down that hole than everyone else, and to the detriment of the style. At least I've reaquainted myself with stouts and ales because of it.

Yeah,, PIA's are definitely not my "cup of tea" either... Seems to me they are getting more and more bitter as time goes by. Prefer weissbier and stouts much more...

 

[Skerrvydog]

To tone control or not tone control, that is the question
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous orange drops,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of capacitors,
And by opposing end them

You mean like this?

I would rather have bought that one I think than the one I bought! Didn't work out though by a matter of hours.
I like the idea though of independent tone controls for each pickup, and a 3-way toggle.
Anyone here modded their bird that way?

 

[Count Bassie]

Fairly confident the Epi CV pickups will be acceptable to at least 99% of the purchasers. Steve at ThunderBucker Ranch has just stocked up on magnets for the other <1%.

I also told him there might be some interest in his pickup and bridge covers for those wanting to complete the vintage look...if they ever get here.

View attachment 2655388

View attachment 2655389

I want a set of these in brass. Might have to make them I guess.

 

[kat888]

Thunderbuckers .... just been putting in some time on the Epi ThunderKat II (through the SansAmp/phones so as not to piss off the neighbours). It's becoming a real pleasure to play now. Don't know how people have so many basses. I feel bad when I'm playing one and not the other.

 

[hillerup]

Bagged tea is the equivalent of instant coffee, a poor alternative to the real thing. I drink mine the way the way it's done where it's grown, full leaf, full strength, and properly steeped at 208F. It doesn't include milk, sugar, lemon, or cookies. $65 a pound and worth it.

Brits know as much about proper tea drinking as they do dental hygiene.

 

[hillerup]

All this talk about tea-bagging makes me want to go and.... Ooops, wrong forum...

 

[Skerrvydog]

Upside to switching strings so much during trials is that you get really good and quick with setting intonation and the truss rod. Back on the Rotosounds.

I may be in that boat soon too. Slung up a new pair of my old standby DR Hi Beams last night and my conclusion was - they just sound like HiBeams, and i don't know I like it. Think I gotta try something else.

 

[kat888]

You mean like this?

View attachment 2655993


I would rather have bought that one I think than the one I bought! Didn't work out though by a matter of hours.
I like the idea though of independent tone controls for each pickup, and a 3-way toggle.
Anyone here modded their bird that way?

Nup. Tone controls work for some people. Not for me. My Epi started out with 4 knobs, 2 pickups and a preamp -- now it has 1 knob and 1 very snarly pickup. It's kinda the cacio e pepe of TBirds.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Fairly confident the Epi CV pickups will be acceptable to at least 99% of the purchasers. Steve at ThunderBucker Ranch has just stocked up on magnets for the other <1%.

I also told him there might be some interest in his pickup and bridge covers for those wanting to complete the vintage look...if they ever get here.

View attachment 2655388

View attachment 2655389

That's what the Epi Vintage Pro is missing! And now really peaked my interest in the Epi!

 

[Skerrvydog]

Practical question, as A Thunderbird will not politely lean up against a bass amp, what are the best small portable stands to use with one of these creatures. Whatcha got?

 

[kat888]

Practical question, as A Thunderbird will not politely lean up against a bass amp, what are the best small portable stands to use with one of these creatures. Whatcha got?

Hercules autogrip stand.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Thunderbuckers .... just been putting in some time on the Epi ThunderKat II (through the SansAmp/phones so as not to piss off the neighbours). It's becoming a real pleasure to play now. Don't know how people have so many basses. I feel bad when I'm playing one and not the other.

All my basses are setup differently, with the exception of my new acquisition, none of them have the same kind of strings, or pickups with the exception of my Studio V and Thunderbird IV, but being a 5 string makes up for that. I try to play them all equally.

Granted I don't have as many basses as others, I'd agree with you after a large number number of basses

 

[ThunderFox]

I'm no expert... but I'd say that, among the possible reasons for the price differential would be the fact that the Thunderbird is neck-thru as opposed to set neck. The fact that the new 'bird is going to be a vintage spec reissue (no matter how large or small of a departure that is from the standard issue... ya just know it's gonna have an affect on the price tag). Finally... the Embassy is a cool enough bass or whatever... but the Thunderbird is a legend, and commands a higher tag. As for the pickups... I honestly don't care where they're made, so long as they've got "the sound". If they nailed down a way to give us a good vintage repro... they can build it in Timbuktu as far as I'm concerned. The question is... how good can a mass-produced, budget priced pickup sound? I guess we'll get to find out here in the next few months! I'm looking forward to everybody's reviews

I agree with most of your points, my point about the pickup was that usually if things are made in Asia, they are usually cheaper, regardless of quality. And both basses are through neck. So the build when it comes to the neck and body would be the same. It seems to be just asthetics like the bridge, tuners and volume knobs that are different. That was where my confusion lies.