Thunderbird Club

[kat888]

Or you have a different kind of pickups. The usual 'Bird pickup responds well to this. Not all pickups do.

True. In Mark's case the pups are standard humbuckers, and I was referring to these specifically (as well as trying to induce him to turn his IV into a II).

I really fvcking hate the new IOS keyboard which has a 'delete last paragraph' key where half of the spacebar should be.

 

[Klondike]

I've seen excellent condition used Goffs go for as little as $150. Get one.

I got mine for $100

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

True. In Mark's case the pups are standard humbuckers, and I was referring to these specifically (as well as trying to induce him to turn his IV into a II).

I really fvcking hate the new IOS keyboard which has a 'delete last paragraph' key where half of the spacebar should be.

I guess I'm not updating my phone!
If you do that by accident, you should be able to give your phone a good shake or two then a box pops up allowing you to undo. If you already knew that, then... I don't know, I can't think of a closing part for that.

 

[dukeorock]

True. In Mark's case the pups are standard humbuckers, and I was referring to these specifically (as well as trying to induce him to turn his IV into a II).

I really fvcking hate the new IOS keyboard which has a 'delete last paragraph' key where half of the spacebar should be.

With the success Epi is having with the VP, a VPII seems like a great, even obvious move to me. There’s a Cataldo on Carlo’s site, one pickup, one knob. That’s my kind of bass!

 

[theFixer]

View attachment 2837182
The ‘Bird has landed

HOTDAMN!!! Congratulations!

(FWIW... my vote is to go chrome nickel! It would give it a heavy '70s vibe)

 

[PianoOfDoom]

Has anyone tried DI recording a TBird with a REDDI? I'm thinking of picking one up, but want to make sure it's a good combination. Thanks.

 

[Gaolee]

HOTDAMN!!! Congratulations!

(FWIW... my vote is to go chrome! It would give it a heavy '70s vibe)

Or 1960s. I like the covers, too. The '91 is the chrome 'Bird around here. The '01 and '15 are staying black. The P-Bird will be chrome, with at least a bridge cover. I haven't decided whether it gets a pickup cover or not.

 

[triviani]

The Epiphone to have right now is the Vintage Pro Thunderbird that everyone that's gotten their hands on is raving about. Sweetwater seems to be the place to order it from too since their inspection and setup seems to be a great selling point. There's been lots of posts about them in the last few days but this thread moves fast so I can't point to how far back you'll need to look.

If you want an honest assessment of the bass you're looking at, post up some pics of it with the price. Someone here will know if it's decent bass and price.

Thanks,
I’ve been reading the last 30 pages of the thread but sure it goes fast!

My options right now, on a limited budget and without trying the basses first:

-Epiphone Pro, active circuit. Good condition. About $250, from a guy.
-90s MIJ Epiphone, used condition. About $500, from a shop.
- Wait for the new Vintage Pro to arrive. $600 around here.

(Answer cannot be “all”, wife notices big boxes )

 

[theFixer]

I would give that the nickel treatment. Chrome is nice, nickel is nicer.

+1

 

[Gaolee]

These pickups look stock to me, but I’m still learning about T Birds. I’ve owned a lot of Gibson basses, but this is my first ‘Bird. Based on initial impressions, it won’t be my last

There's no reason to believe they aren't stock, is there? Stock pickups can be pretty good in my experience. There are different versions of stock, though. I wasn't immediately thrilled with '91 stock pickups. The ones in the '01 work well. The '15 are a different animal altogether. If you can get your hands on a '15, it's a 'Bird, but it can do different things in a subtle way. I like it best with the neck pickup as a humbucker, at about 9 and the bridge pickup tapped and dialed way back. Tone rolled off just a bit, but only to the point it takes the edge off a little.

 

[Gaolee]

Thanks,
I’ve been reading the last 30 pages of the thread but sure it goes fast!

My options right now, on a limited budget and without trying the basses first:

-Epiphone Pro, active circuit. Good condition. About $250, from a guy.
-90s MIJ Epiphone, used condition. About $500, from a shop.
- Wait for the new Vintage Pro to arrive. $600 around here.

(Answer cannot be “all”, wife notices big boxes )

View attachment 2837368 View attachment 2837369

I don't know anything about '90s Epiphones. If the pickups sound good, then that might be the way to go if you want it right away. I didn't like the preamp or pickups in my Pro IV at all. The bass is now passive, with replacement pickups. Kat did something similar because she had the same low opinion of the active stuff. The wood and hardware, aside from the electronics on those are as good as any. So there's an option - buy the Pro IV and play it stock. Budget for replacement pickups if you don't like the way it sounds. For $250, and maybe less if you can bargain with the guy, that might be the most economical way to get your hands on a 'Bird. A new VP seems like the best of all worlds, except you have to wait. If you can find the earlier model, namely a Classic Pro, you might be able to get it for a good price because it's discontinued. Finding a used one might be iffy, but then I haven't been looking so I don't know.

Those are my thoughts about it. Being a hopeless tinkerer who messes with everything eventually, I would probably go for the Pro IV and then replace the electronics. Not everyone thinks soldering on things is as much fun as I do.

 

[theFixer]

Thanks,
I’ve been reading the last 30 pages of the thread but sure it goes fast!

My options right now, on a limited budget and without trying the basses first:

-Epiphone Pro, active circuit. Good condition. About $250, from a guy.
-90s MIJ Epiphone, used condition. About $500, from a shop.
- Wait for the new Vintage Pro to arrive. $600 around here.

(Answer cannot be “all”, wife notices big boxes )

View attachment 2837368 View attachment 2837369

Two fiddy for a neck-thru, is a steal... but it's almost a guarantee that you'll wanna rip out the electronics. IMHO... going straight for the VP sounds like the best thing to do in your scenario...

 

[kat888]

Thanks,
I’ve been reading the last 30 pages of the thread but sure it goes fast!

My options right now, on a limited budget and without trying the basses first:

-Epiphone Pro, active circuit. Good condition. About $250, from a guy.
-90s MIJ Epiphone, used condition. About $500, from a shop.
- Wait for the new Vintage Pro to arrive. $600 around here.

(Answer cannot be “all”, wife notices big boxes )

View attachment 2837368 View attachment 2837369

Seriously, if you want something that sounds like a Thunderbird from the off, avoid that active model. You will spend more than $250 getting it to sound anything like it should.

Go for the VP, make yourself happy.

 

[Gaolee]

Two fiddy for a neck-thru, is a steal... but it's almost a guarantee that you'll wanna rip out the electronics. IMHO... going straight for the VP sounds like the best thing to do in your scenario...

I dunno. $250 leaves $350 for pickups. A set of Thunderbuckers goes for $360 according to their website. Chinabuckers are a whole lot cheaper and are still a huge improvement over whatever those are in a Pro IV.

 

[Aberdumbie]

Saw Joe Bonamassa two days ago. His uber-talented bass player, Michael Rhodes rocked a Thunderbird for a good portion of the show. The Thunderbird is an aptly titled bass. Dang it sounded beautiful.

 

[kat888]

I guess I'm not updating my phone!
If you do that by accident, you should be able to give your phone a good shake or two then a box pops up allowing you to undo. If you already knew that, then... I don't know, I can't think of a closing part for that.

That IS the damned shake function, turned into a key and lying in wait, ready to annoy the fvck out of people who use either hand for the spacebar.

 

[dukeorock]

Has anyone tried DI recording a TBird with a REDDI? I'm thinking of picking one up, but want to make sure it's a good combination. Thanks.

I’ll be tracking mine through my Reiner 6SL7 pre in the next day or two...best I can offer :/

Thanks,
I’ve been reading the last 30 pages of the thread but sure it goes fast!

My options right now, on a limited budget and without trying the basses first:

-Epiphone Pro, active circuit. Good condition. About $250, from a guy.
-90s MIJ Epiphone, used condition. About $500, from a shop.
- Wait for the new Vintage Pro to arrive. $600 around here.

(Answer cannot be “all”, wife notices big boxes )

View attachment 2837368 View attachment 2837369

The MIJ looks pretty cool, but there are way more knowledgeable folks here than me, for sure. I think the Pro looks kinda neat, but I’d personally want to swap out all the electronics

There's no reason to believe they aren't stock, is there? Stock pickups can be pretty good in my experience. There are different versions of stock, though. I wasn't immediately thrilled with '91 stock pickups. The ones in the '01 work well. The '15 are a different animal altogether. If you can get your hands on a '15, it's a 'Bird, but it can do different things in a subtle way. I like it best with the neck pickup as a humbucker, at about 9 and the bridge pickup tapped and dialed way back. Tone rolled off just a bit, but only to the point it takes the edge off a little.

Thanks for the tips! I have no reason to believe the pickups aren’t stock

 

[kat888]

With the success Epi is having with the VP, a VPII seems like a great, even obvious move to me. There’s a Cataldo on Carlo’s site, one pickup, one knob. That’s my kind of bass!

The people who prefer IIs is a very small subset of Bird berserkers. There are possibly only two of us here. A lefthanded Epi is more likely than a II.

Carlo makes very nice basses. Get one, or two...

 

[theFixer]

I dunno. $250 leaves $350 for pickups. A set of Thunderbuckers goes for $360 according to their website. Chinabuckers are a whole lot cheaper and are still a huge improvement over whatever those are in a Pro IV.

Yeah... the dollars and "sense" are pretty close. I'm thinkin' it'll come down to triviani deciding whether he's up for a project or not, as well as balancing the "new vs. used" angle. The excitement and positive feedback regarding the VP, certainly biases my opinion

 

[RedVee]

Here is an interesting thought experiment:

Gibson has $500mm in debt coming due middle of next year. Epiphone by all accounts appears to be running well; producing instruments that are in high demand. It is possible that Epiphone is being dressed up to be sold to pay down that debt.

Not a prediction, just a thought experiment.

I’ve been thinking something similar. Perhaps Epiphone needs to be separated for a bankruptcy preparation, new GM vs old GM style. Or just for float and/or sale.