Thunderbird Club

[JJR58]

Ehem

I know, I never left.......

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Strange it should change hands so many times. The guy who sold that cool looking ‘Bird to @WillieB the other day...saw him asking about the Sandberg ‘Bird for sale. His question to the seller was “does this bass have a shorter reach than a Gibson?” I guess the reach was a bit much for that particular person

...

Funny you mention that. Today I was mostly playing my Thunderbirds, but I picked up my Ray for a bit, it felt like I was playing a guitar. More specifically a Les Paul, probably weigh about the same.... a metric sh!t tonne!
It felt so odd having the first fret so close, and I'm only 5'8"

 

[Inky13]

When I was a kid, we had barn cats. Mostly because there was a barn full of cows for a while, then just barns. A few of them were at least partly tame and liked to play. One brought me a live mouse to play with. I was kinda flattered that the cat thought I was acceptable enough to play with the mouse with her for a while. Poor mouse. Eventually the cat got bored and ate the mouse.

The moral of this story, if there is one at all, is that cats, like dogs, have teeth that get into things we really just don't want to know about. Same with claws. They call it cat scratch fever for a reason.

It's not just an old Ted Nugent song.

 

[bylar13]

Strange it should change hands so many times. The guy who sold that cool looking ‘Bird to @WillieB the other day...saw him asking about the Sandberg ‘Bird for sale. His question to the seller was “does this bass have a shorter reach than a Gibson?” I guess the reach was a bit much for that particular person



Ehem

I sold the 2006 because I got the 2014 Heritage Cherry and the neck on the 2014 was much better for me. The 06' was more P-bass like. It was wider across the fretboard and from front to back as well. The body was also thicker. I did not realize how much hand finishing goes into to the necks on Thunderbirds and that there could be that much variation between guitars.

 

[PillO]

It is such a great color and a good price. Good thing I have already spent the money I didn't have . . . on bass stuff I didn't need.

Another $100 and I will be very tempted.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

I sold the 2006 because I got the 2014 Heritage Cherry and the neck on the 2014 was much better for me. The 06' was more P-bass like. It was wider across the fretboard and from front to back as well. The body was also thicker. I did not realize how much hand finishing goes into to the necks on Thunderbirds and that there could be that much variation between guitars.

The neck on my white 2008 is 1-5/8" wide at the nut, and fairly chunky... it's the most comfortable neck I've felt.
The neck on my black 2013 is 1-1/2" wide at the nut, and skinny... it's not uncomfortable by any of my standards, just not as comfortable. When I got my 2013 and compared the necks, I was shocked that there was an 1/8" in variation!

 

[dukeorock]

The neck on my white 2008 is 1-5/8" wide at the nut, and fairly chunky... it's the most comfortable neck I've felt.
The neck on my black 2013 is 1-1/2" wide at the nut, and skinny... it's not uncomfortable by any of my standards, just not as comfortable. When I got my 2013 and compared the necks, I was shocked that there was an 1/8" in variation!

There’s certainly more than enough evidence about the seeming randomness between years on the same model. Strangely, my ‘02 and ‘14 played, felt and sounded extremely similar before I modded the ‘02. The ‘14 balances ever so slightly better. Funny how different the pickguard location is though. The ‘02 pg is more antique white/cream where the ‘14 is bright white. How the pg’s were mounted is the most random thing I’ve personally encountered

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

There’s certainly more than enough evidence about the seeming randomness between years on the same model. Strangely, my ‘02 and ‘14 played, felt and sounded extremely similar before I modded the ‘02. The ‘14 balances ever so slightly better. Funny how different the pickguard location is though. The ‘02 pg is more antique white/cream where the ‘14 is bright white. How the pg’s were mounted is the most random thing I’ve personally encountered

I was more surprised at the truss rod difference, and the bridge location difference.
But ya, the pg was pretty random.

My 2008 doesn't balance as well... for the obvious reason that the neck is bigger.

 

[Stevis]

The clip with the most views by far is a ‘review’ of the Epi Embassy Pro I briefly had awhile back. Ironic since I didn’t much care for that bass

Not sure if you've seen this review? I just came across it this evening on PremierGuitar. I thought that you might be interested to see their take compared to yours:

Embassy PRO bass review

Their's seems a lot more positive (almost syrupy). Although, I am not sure if I recall ever finding them to have much negative to write about any gear - guitars, amps or bass.

 

[Gaolee]

I was more surprised at the truss rod difference, and the bridge location difference.
But ya, the pg was pretty random.

My 2008 doesn't balance as well... for the obvious reason that the neck is bigger.

Interesting. The Gibson 'Birds and the Epi fretless former Pro IV are all noodle necks as far as my hands go. I can play the A string with my thumb wrapped around the neck if a really strong wave of CroMagnon-ness washes through. I sure can't do that with the Fender P, the P-Bird, or the bolt-on Epi.

 

[dieselman]

And whenever I bring a newly finished cab inside the house, this is the very first thing that happens
View attachment 2919398

I'll take the Cab and the Cat! Nice color on the Cab though

 

[Gaolee]

And whenever I bring a newly finished cab inside the house, this is the very first thing that happens
View attachment 2919398

He's just got to see what's what. He must like you, even though you aren't so sure about him.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Interesting. The Gibson 'Birds and the Epi fretless former Pro IV are all noodle necks as far as my hands go. I can play the A string with my thumb wrapped around the neck if a really strong wave of CroMagnon-ness washes through. I sure can't do that with the Fender P, the P-Bird, or the bolt-on Epi.

It's not a huge neck by any stretch of the imagination. It's exactly in between a Precision (1-3/4) and a Jazz (1-1/2), but has a little thickness behind it.

 

[Gaolee]

It's not a huge neck by any stretch of the imagination. It's exactly in between a Precision (1-3/4) and a Jazz (1-1/2), but has a little thickness behind it.

So it's similar to a modern P (1-5/8) only with some girth. It sounds perfect. The CroMagnon hands would like it. Maybe I should measure mine. I just assume they are noodle necks, but that doesn't mean it's true. The only one that's truly an aircraft carrier deck is the Fender P. It's flattened out, too, so it's a little unpleasant until you adjust to it's width and flatness.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

So it's similar to a modern P (1-5/8) only with some girth. It sounds perfect. The CroMagnon hands would like it. Maybe I should measure mine. I just assume they are noodle necks, but that doesn't mean it's true. The only one that's truly an aircraft carrier deck is the Fender P. It's flattened out, too, so it's a little unpleasant until you adjust to it's width and flatness.

Ya I suppose so. I haven't played a modern P neck.

My Precision is about 1-3/4, but flat as a pancake, like you said. But my EBMM is probably @theFixer certifiable. It's just a hair wider than my Precision (still nominally 1-3/4), but is a log. It's oddly comfortable though, to the point where my Precision feels wider.

 

[dukeorock]

Not sure if you've seen this review? I just came across it this evening on PremierGuitar. I thought that you might be interested to see their take compared to yours:

Embassy PRO bass review

Their's seems a lot more positive (almost syrupy). Although, I am not sure if I recall ever finding them to have much negative to write about any gear - guitars, amps or bass.

Lots of folks absolutely love that bass, which is great! I didn’t send Zzounds $399 hoping it would suck! Mine had some really bad QC issues and the only other one I played was even worse. So that’s my experience. Nothing more or less.

Regarding the review you posted vs my personal review, I have a couple comments that I think have merit.

In their video clip the bass sounds terrible to me. It’s a better sounding bass than the clip they did shows.

Also, I just make clips for fun and to share with friends. I’m not getting paid to have an opinion. There are a few folks who bought the Embassy Pro because they liked my clip, which is fantastic as long as they’re willing to roll the dice on the potential QC issues.

I rewatched my clip the other day...I don’t think I dissed the bass that bad. It’s pretty good for the money with a couple caveats

 

[dukeorock]

He's just got to see what's what. He must like you, even though you aren't so sure about him.

We get along for the most part

 

[dukeorock]

AND...

Found this clip of REM’s very first tv appearance around 35 years ago. Saw them a bunch back then and they really were something special in the early days

 

[RedVee]

As opposed to the intentional cat bites!?

Untended, as in she didn’t seek medical attention. Not unintentional.

 

[Stevis]

Lots of folks absolutely love that bass, which is great! I didn’t send Zzounds $399 hoping it would suck! Mine had some really bad QC issues and the only other one I played was even worse. So that’s my experience. Nothing more or less.

Regarding the review you posted vs my personal review, I have a couple comments that I think have merit.

In their video clip the bass sounds terrible to me. It’s a better sounding bass than the clip they did shows.

Also, I just make clips for fun and to share with friends. I’m not getting paid to have an opinion. There are a few folks who bought the Embassy Pro because they liked my clip, which is fantastic as long as they’re willing to roll the dice on the potential QC issues.

I rewatched my clip the other day...I don’t think I dissed the bass that bad. It’s pretty good for the money with a couple caveats

Sorry. I didn't mean to put you in an awkward spot by seeming to pit your take against the one referenced in my post. You didn't seem to make sport of criticizing that bass. You were basing your review on an instrument that you purchased. You also weren't sent a bass by Epiphone, who knew it was going to be reviewed for a music publication. I am always cynical about that arrangement.