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Thunderbird Club

The talk of heavy Epi Pro’s picqued my interest, so I just tried weighing my ‘Birds.
Problem our bathroom scale is not digital and just has lines at each kg mark. Best endeavours and all that? It should be ok in relation to each other even if the specific weight quoted is incorrect.

Epi Goth 4kgs on the noggin. (8.82lb)
2011 Gibson 3.8kgs approx. (8.38lb)
(Maybe 3.6-3.8 is Fair ; 7.94-8.38 lbs)

The Gibson does feel lighter while still with heft.

Have asked my nephew to weigh his Epi Pro & Liberty ‘Birds. The Liberty I tip to move the needle the most.
 
Mark, wonderful tone from the Lollars - and great playing on the track :thumbsup:

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.

Nothing awkward! It's all good :)
 
The talk of heavy Epi Pro’s picqued my interest, so I just tried weighing my ‘Birds.
Problem our bathroom scale is not digital and just has lines at each kg mark. Best endeavours and all that? It should be ok in relation to each other even if the specific weight quoted is incorrect.

Epi Goth 4kgs on the noggin. (8.82lb)
2011 Gibson 3.8kgs approx. (8.38lb)
(Maybe 3.6-3.8 is Fair ; 7.94-8.38 lbs)

The Gibson does feel lighter while still with heft.

Have asked my nephew to weigh his Epi Pro & Liberty ‘Birds. The Liberty I tip to move the needle the most.
I don't know where people got the misconception that Thunderbird's are heavy. That one pisses me off the most, muddiness? That could just be from the person doesn't know how to EQ an amp. Neck dive? Strap placement, thin strap, some actually do to some extent. But heavy?! Never held one that was over (roughly) 9 lbs
 
Couldn’t take the gaps around the pickups, so went ahead and got rings. I kinda like it...
32D84868-7DE6-4A5F-A4C4-990834395395.jpeg

Wow, that’s a terrible picture!
 
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

Mike Mills is REM's secret sauce. His vocal harmonies are a key element to their unique sound and overall vibe. Also... I would be the first in line to buy it, if Peter Buck and Mike Campbell were to do an album together!:cool:
 
Mike Mills is REM's secret sauce. His vocal harmonies are a key element to their unique sound and overall vibe. Also... I would be the first in line to buy it, if Peter Buck and Mike Campbell were to do an album together!:cool:

That would be pretty cool!

Sounds like a challenge!:D

Haha!
Wait...
 
I don't know where people got the misconception that Thunderbird's are heavy. That one pisses me off the most, muddiness? That could just be from the person doesn't know how to EQ an amp. Neck dive? Strap placement, thin strap, some actually do to some extent. But heavy?! Never held one that was over (roughly) 9 lbs
The design of the 'bird certainly lends itself to neck-divability. That cricket bat of a headstock is practically reason enough all on it's own! The front strap button being up by the 17th fret surely doesn't lessen that effect. I know mine dives like a socially unacceptable innuendo I can't print in a public forum... but I don't care. Nor do I understand why so many people do. Ya just learn how to deal with it. So it's a little "tilty". Big friggin' deal! It ain't like there's a concrete block tied to the headstock! SG's are consistently and universally known to be neck-heavy... but ya don't see or hear people b!tchin' about it all the time. So, what is it about Thunderbirds, that makes people feel this "need" to trash talk it, and try to keep others from trying it out for themselves? Did the most popular kid in the world proclaim that T-birds were uncool, thus provoking blind hatred throughout the entire lemming community or something? As for muddiness... that's obviously nothing more that uneducated B.S. from people who haven't heard for themselves. I have the cheapest version of T-bird pups available, in the cheapest version of T-bird available... and though I'll hastily admit they don't sound like ThunderBuckers or Lulls... The sound is clear, complex, and robust, with character and definition. The only way I can make it sound "muddy", is if I solo the neck pup & roll the tone off. Ironically... that's what I do when I'm shootin' for a P-bass tone. Does that mean that all P-basses are muddy?
 
The design of the 'bird certainly lends itself to neck-divability. That cricket bat of a headstock is practically reason enough all on it's own! The front strap button being up by the 17th fret surely doesn't lessen that effect. I know mine dives like a socially unacceptable innuendo I can't print in a public forum... but I don't care. Nor do I understand why so many people do. Ya just learn how to deal with it. So it's a little "tilty". Big friggin' deal! It ain't like there's a concrete block tied to the headstock! SG's are consistently and universally known to be neck-heavy... but ya don't see or hear people b!tchin' about it all the time. So, what is it about Thunderbirds, that makes people feel this "need" to trash talk it, and try to keep others from trying it out for themselves? Did the most popular kid in the world proclaim that T-birds were uncool, thus provoking blind hatred throughout the entire lemming community or something? As for muddiness... that's obviously nothing more that uneducated B.S. from people who haven't heard for themselves. I have the cheapest version of T-bird pups available, in the cheapest version of T-bird available... and though I'll hastily admit they don't sound like ThunderBuckers or Lulls... The sound is clear, complex, and robust, with character and definition. The only way I can make it sound "muddy", is if I solo the neck pup & roll the tone off. Ironically... that's what I do when I'm shootin' for a P-bass tone. Does that mean that all P-basses are muddy?

I was checking the wiring for a V only Precision, in case there were any gotchas (there aren't) but was amused at the response on another forum to a query about V only wiring -- 'you do realise the treble will be full on all the time ... gasp'.
 
I know, imagine it. The horror!

Suppose if people have their tone controls set to woolly all the time it would explain the lack of love for bass eq controls.
Though I haven't experimented with it on bass... I have experimented with bypassing the tone circuit on guitar. I have heard the difference, and I found it quite remarkable. I'm a believer that every single thing a signal passes though has some effect, great or small, on the original signal, and like to keep it as original and uncluttered as possible. We each have decisions to make (stompboxes, pre amps, EQs, etc.). I would certainly prefer a tone pot free signal... but enjoy having the ability to tweak my tone for mood or feel, or to more closely emulate the tone of someone I admire. I consciously choose to "soil" my signal with a tone pot to accommodate that (that's how I get my "Greg Ridley" on;)). I do understand why you do it though, and support it fully. I just hope you can find some way to live with the hardship of knowing that your highs will be on full, and there's nothing you can do about it. Should you decide to find a support group... I'm offering to go with you if you'd like. We can make it through this:crying:
 
Funny things happen. I’ve been watching and waiting for a Rumble 115 cab, to complete my little assemblage, to come up at a price and location suitable to me.
I’ve also been wondering about changing the pickup on my pretend P Bass.
Today I missed out on a Quarter Pounder P for $50.
Have another browse around tonight and it now seems I have a year old GK CX115 cab on hold, a suburb basically between where I grew up and my high school location. :) so looks like I’m going ‘home’ on Saturday morning. Bit stunned, but in a good way.
 
The design of the 'bird certainly lends itself to neck-divability. That cricket bat of a headstock is practically reason enough all on it's own! The front strap button being up by the 17th fret surely doesn't lessen that effect. I know mine dives like a socially unacceptable innuendo I can't print in a public forum... but I don't care. Nor do I understand why so many people do. Ya just learn how to deal with it. So it's a little "tilty". Big friggin' deal! It ain't like there's a concrete block tied to the headstock! SG's are consistently and universally known to be neck-heavy... but ya don't see or hear people b!tchin' about it all the time. So, what is it about Thunderbirds, that makes people feel this "need" to trash talk it, and try to keep others from trying it out for themselves? Did the most popular kid in the world proclaim that T-birds were uncool, thus provoking blind hatred throughout the entire lemming community or something? As for muddiness... that's obviously nothing more that uneducated B.S. from people who haven't heard for themselves. I have the cheapest version of T-bird pups available, in the cheapest version of T-bird available... and though I'll hastily admit they don't sound like ThunderBuckers or Lulls... The sound is clear, complex, and robust, with character and definition. The only way I can make it sound "muddy", is if I solo the neck pup & roll the tone off. Ironically... that's what I do when I'm shootin' for a P-bass tone. Does that mean that all P-basses are muddy?
YOU SAID IT!