Haji
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- Tags
- club thunderbird
a twelve string bass? Do tell! How do you play that beautiful bass?!?!
Really I want to know.
And where can I find your write up about it, I'd love to read it.
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
It's about time Larry!
The bass that "couldn't be built"
OH YES!!!!
Finally you joined our exclusive club!
That 12-string thread of yours was an amazing read - You really did prove a lot of naysayers wrong!
Nocturnal, I found your custom red bird's neck being set up!!!
Hey man, well I want it for everything, if I get it it may be my main bass... that's why im asking so much haha. My epi does sound very powerfull on my ampeg pf 350, but I would like to know if theres some difference on the tone or something that justify those 1483.98 $! my other options are a fender MIA an Ibanez 1800 (but Id still wanting a Gibson TB)
Hey man, I saw your bass and it is the same which I have, the classic pro white, a very nice instrument... so, you, as a owner of a Gibson T bird would be able to tell me the difference between those 2 basses? the epi classic pro and the Gibson ? I have a couple of options on my mind despite the Gibson but I would like to get things clear on this one first.
RexxRokket, Hillerup posted an awesome point to point write up so I'm just going to quote his write up.
For me, after I did my set up, it plays and sounds just like my Gibson and it is as our Queen has said, SEXY!
Having both, I would say they are VERY similar with only small differences between them...
Construction-wise the are almost identical 9-ply neckthrough, with the only visible difference being a slightly different neck angle and a deeper cut-away on the lower horn of the Classic Pro, with better access to the higher frets.
Finish-wise: The Gibson has nitro finish - The Classic Pro has poly finish.
Hardware difference are an absolute minimum: They both have the same pickups, very similar (if not identical) bridge, similar tuners (Grover on the Gibson and OEM on the Classic Pro), cheaper electronics on the Classic Pro (which can be upgraded cheaply).
Sound-wise, they are almost identically sounding...
So unless money is of no concern, I would say you're pretty good with a Classic Pro...
I like to think of my Classic Pro, as being a Gibson built in Indonesia...
What you don't get with the Epi is the Gibson brand name, a bass built in the U.S. (if that is of importance to you), nitro finish and a beautiful hardcase with a wonderful scent of vanilla...
...And speaking of hard cases, I think the Epi hard case is a really nice case as well, but has to be purchased separately adding to the costs of the Classic Pro...
For me, after I did my set up, it plays and sounds just like my Gibson and it is as our Queen has said, SEXY!
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
I think some of us answered your question already - The Epi Classic Pro IV and the Gibson Thunderbird IV (not the 2015) sound pretty similiar - if not identical... Whether you want to pay almost 3 times as much for the Gibson is pretty much up to you...
maybe... so, as a thunderbird owner, do you think that if I install some Aguilar pre amp on it, groover tuners and a hipshot bridge it would improve it sound a lot?.
Excellent video but I could not watch the guy sand or paint. I've done plenty of each however the end result is beautiful.
Thats what I wanted to know man, plain and simple, theres no major difference on the tone ? if not Ill may just buy some upgrades and a hardcase
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
Thats what I wanted to know man, plain and simple, theres no major difference on the tone ? if not Ill may just buy some upgrades and a hardcase
I see no point in adding a pre amp - unless you're after a specific sound, neither a Gibson or your Classic Pro doesn't already have.
The OEM tuners on my Epi works just as fine as the Grovers on my Gibson, and I see no benefit from upgrading - unless you either have tuning issues on your bird, or have some other preferences (chrome hardware or clover tuners). Soundwise it probably won't make a difference.
In regards to the bridge - I think this is all a matter of taste and preference - Some really like the Hipshot Supertone - others don't...
Personally I dislike the look of the Supertone and think the original bridge looks nicer - Also I have no problems adjusting the bridge and have plenty enough sustain from it, as it is. Whether a Supertone will improve your sound I really can't tell - but I'm sure other members might help you out there.
If I were you, I would save the money and enjoy the Classic Pro as it is, and only upgrade if something breaks - Or maybe even buy an additional Classic Pro!
A hardcase for your Classic Pro would probably be the best investment you could make out of all the ones you mentioned in your posts...
With mine, I installed the hip shot because I already had it, and its really a great bridge. Could I have lived with the 3 point? Probably, but why if I already had a spare hipshot.
not a huge difference in anything but convenience. Tone is about the same, strings had a way bigger effect on tone than anything else.
Like I said before, all mine really needed was to have the frets filed, haven't changed anything else but the strings and bridge. I don't see any reason to.
This bass is my go to for dragging around and just playing. Sounds great, looks great, not a huge investment if something happens to it. Its all win.
If you feel you need the gibson, then deep down you do, and you'll wind up with one sooner or later.
Hang on to the classic, for now and if/when you get the gibson.
You wont regret having both.
Haji
Supporting Member
I'll be adding a Babicz to my TBird IV simply because I hate the three point bridge and consider it a monumentally silly design. Lots of people with more experience than me have 'em and have been running them for years with no issues. I really like the more traditional style bridge on the Pro IV and wish they'd just use that on on all of 'em.
See my post about having a Tone Monster put in my Epi IV about 20 pages ago. There's very little room in the control cavity and it took some serious skills to make it all fit.
See my post about having a Tone Monster put in my Epi IV about 20 pages ago. There's very little room in the control cavity and it took some serious skills to make it all fit.
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
Trust me here.......
I've said this before, people will remember you playing a White Thunderbird, they are the SEX!
WAIT!!!
Did someone just say White Thunderbirds are sexy?!
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,234
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Great shot Michael!
The women like it because it has a beautiful shape, doesn't look like what the last bass player the just saw and already forgot about was playing
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
