Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

I should probably clarify. There have been times when I boost the top end, mostly to get the fingerboard clicky with the upright. Boosting high mids works as well as straight treble for that. The ToneHammer is parametric, which means I have to pick whether the mids are high or low or whatever direction the knob gets turned to when I boost or cut. The fDeck does a fine job of subfiltering, but I sometimes even have to cut the lows to deal with stage boom or room boom. I don't live in a world with very many good sound men, unfortunately. That means no FOH most of the time, so what I hear on stage is more or less what the audience hears. If it sucks, they know. So, I'm always curious to know what eq works in different situations. I hadn't thought of it as Elvis, but that's a good description.

 

[TwyreZ]

How do you like that Behringer amp?

Honestly for the price (250 € new, = 300$), I like it a lot. Besides it was supposed to be a "backup" amp, I finally only kept him ...

There is a wide range of sounds available, it's still a cheap amp with low-end components but who does the job!
Coupled with my Ampeg SVT410 HE, the Tbirds can give voice !

 

[TBird1958]

Anyone have an opinion whether the new Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro bass can compete tone wise with an Orville or Greco? How about build?

Rob, I have all three, the Greco is it's own thing being a Thunderbird II with a set neck and a very angry pickup, much more so than Epi even when you solo the neck pup, not even a contest to my ear, the Greco is fuller with more grit and low, lo mids and a general RAWR to it's tone. The neck on the Epi is closer to a Gibson than the Greco, overall the QC is similar, the Epi's hardware is better. Compared to the Orville, the Epi is tonewise quite a bit brighter and is more mid to hi mid forward, with a bit more growl, the Orville is for me, a much better player than the Epi, it's neck is virtually identical to a '76 Gibson which is one of my fave necks because it's slender, tapers nice, not thick front to back like the Epi. The Epi is a real pleasant surprise, tonally it's got that real Thunderbird growl, I dig it's huge headstock and tuners, the two point bridge is nice and out of the box it's a super playing and sounding bass. All three basses have their great points, they're each just a bit different from the other, enough so, that I'm really glad I have one each.

 

[dukeorock]

I am all about aggressive!

You’d like the M6 or M9...kinda like a high end version of a GK MB500 or 800. But they cost a lot more and weigh a LOT more

Same way she defends Hank.

Yeah :/

 

[dukeorock]

Another really fun gig tonight w/ Eskimo Brothers. Great crowd, sold a ton of cd’s, all the good stuff you want.

I never do this, as I’m primarily a pick player...normally just fingers for quieter tunes, but I played a bunch with fingers tonight. Whatever was going on in the room sound tonight just worked with a very aggressive, heavy handed ‘technique.’ Had such a nice ‘clack.’ I used to use the word ‘clack’ to describe what I don’t like about J’s, but T Bird ‘clack’ is a beautiful thing

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

I am all about aggressive!


"You're from Canada? Do you know so and so?"

Oh ya! So is my 15th cousin, 7 times removed, and So is his wife!

 

[Rob Martinez]

Rob, I have all three, the Greco is it's own thing being a Thunderbird II with a set neck and a very angry pickup, much more so than Epi even when you solo the neck pup, not even a contest to my ear, the Greco is fuller with more grit and low, lo mids and a general RAWR to it's tone. The neck on the Epi is closer to a Gibson than the Greco, overall the QC is similar, the Epi's hardware is better. Compared to the Orville, the Epi is tonewise quite a bit brighter and is more mid to hi mid forward, with a bit more growl, the Orville is for me, a much better player than the Epi, it's neck is virtually identical to a '76 Gibson which is one of my fave necks because it's slender, tapers nice, not thick front to back like the Epi. The Epi is a real pleasant surprise, tonally it's got that real Thunderbird growl, I dig it's huge headstock and tuners, the two point bridge is nice and out of the box it's a super playing and sounding bass. All three basses have their great points, they're each just a bit different from the other, enough so, that I'm really glad I have one each.

THANK you for this! I borrowed a friend's Greco T Bird years ago, and your assessment is spot on. I suspect these are like Rickenbackers in the sense that my Rick 4000 from 1974 has a PU that is much more like the Greco, snarly and gritty. My Epi Embassy Pro PU sounds warmer, more mids, but VERY amazing!! I ask since I am considering getting a Vintage Pro T Bird, and your input is most appreciated!

 

[JJR58]

Another really fun gig tonight w/ Eskimo Brothers. Great crowd, sold a ton of cd’s, all the good stuff you want.

I never do this, as I’m primarily a pick player...normally just fingers for quieter tunes, but I played a bunch with fingers tonight. Whatever was going on in the room sound tonight just worked with a very aggressive, heavy handed ‘technique.’ Had such a nice ‘clack.’ I used to use the word ‘clack’ to describe what I don’t like about J’s, but T Bird ‘clack’ is a beautiful thing

Clack beats quack.

 

[TBird1958]

THANK you for this! I borrowed a friend's Greco T Bird years ago, and your assessment is spot on. I suspect these are like Rickenbackers in the sense that my Rick 4000 from 1974 has a PU that is much more like the Greco, snarly and gritty. My Epi Embassy Pro PU sounds warmer, more mids, but VERY amazing!! I ask since I am considering getting a Vintage Pro T Bird, and your input is most appreciated!

I think everybody here is that has one is really liking the Vintage Pro, I used mine at a show last week for the first time, we do 3 songs that are tuned to E flat and I used it there, pretty glorious tone on stage!

 

[Rob Martinez]

I think everybody here is that has one is really liking the Vintage Pro, I used mine at a show last week for the first time, we do 3 songs that are tuned to E flat and I used it there, pretty glorious tone on stage!

Cool!! Seems like a no brainer to get one of these at that price, I am just befuddled why Gibson does not do something like this, they can even use the 760 PUs and hardware Epi is using. Looks like this is the T Bird for me, unless someone has a 1964 Gibson T Bird they are willing to sell me for $599!!! Ha!

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Cool!! Seems like a no brainer to get one of these at that price, I am just befuddled why Gibson does not do something like this, they can even use the 760 PUs and hardware Epi is using. Looks like this is the T Bird for me, unless someone has a 1964 Gibson T Bird they are willing to sell me for $599!!! Ha!

Probably as a test run, see how popular the vintage style is, using their child company before changing the USA line.

 

[PillO]

"You're from Canada? Do you know so and so?"

Anytime I get that question, I claim to know them very well then proceed to fill them in on what has been happening. "Well, you know the legal troubles were really overblown in the press. He wasn't killing anyone, he was just smuggling drugs into the country. Probably would have left him alone had the second family not come forward and make all those false accusations..."

 

[PillO]

Clack beats quack.

I like a good quacky envelope filter...

 

[PillO]

Probably as a test run, see how popular the vintage style is, using their child company before changing the USA line.

Given how many feel about the leadership at Gibson, a more popular theory might be that they are test marketing to show what is possible before killing the line and buying all they can in the used market to be destroyed so that no one can have them.

 

[Tori2013]

My brother bought an Epi Vintage Pro in burst last Friday. He said it sounded amazing at the store but I guess the sheen wears out. He doesn't find it warm enough now compared to his other basses. I like it and I have a Sansamp to correct any freq range issues and so he is offering to sell it to me. My biggest hesitation is the lack of a gig bag or case that will fit it. Did a few searches here and it seems that Epi's own case isn't a fit since the VP's headstock is much longer than the previous Classic and Pro models. Any advice on options? I have until the end of his return window to figure this out. In the interim we do have the box it came in and that's how I'll transport to the gig today. Tacky but workable and definitely not long term.

 

[Nocturnal]

You’d like the M6 or M9...kinda like a high end version of a GK MB500 or 800. But they cost a lot more and weigh a LOT more

Yeah :/

Some people (maybe even you) said they liked the M6 better than the M9 for some reason. I just woke up and the coffee hasn't kicked in yet so can't remember why that was. Did you try both and notice any real difference besides power?

I like clips I have seen/heard of the Big Block 750. It seemed nice and growly to me. Have you had the chance to try one of those? Seems like I have been on more of an amp binge lately rather than basses.

 

[JJR58]

Some people (maybe even you) said they liked the M6 better than the M9 for some reason. I just woke up and the coffee hasn't kicked in yet so can't remember why that was. Did you try both and notice any real difference besides power?

I like clips I have seen/heard of the Big Block 750. It seemed nice and growly to me. Have you had the chance to try one of those? Seems like I have been on more of an amp binge lately rather than basses.

Just my opinion here. The Bigblock is a scaled down version of the Titan V12. I found it to be more growly, slightly more modern sounding then the M6. Both great amps, just different flavors of great Mesa tone.

 

[dukeorock]

Clack beats quack.

Our new hipster band name!

 

[theFixer]

My brother bought an Epi Vintage Pro in burst last Friday. He said it sounded amazing at the store but I guess the sheen wears out. He doesn't find it warm enough now compared to his other basses. I like it and I have a Sansamp to correct any freq range issues and so he is offering to sell it to me. My biggest hesitation is the lack of a gig bag or case that will fit it. Did a few searches here and it seems that Epi's own case isn't a fit since the VP's headstock is much longer than the previous Classic and Pro models. Any advice on options? I have until the end of his return window to figure this out. In the interim we do have the box it came in and that's how I'll transport to the gig today. Tacky but workable and definitely not long term.

Bags & cases are a frequent topic of conversation around here. Though I don't recall anyone mentioning a gig bag for the Vintage Pro... I do know that Epiphone is producing a new hard case for it. @kat888 will most likely be able to provide you with the specific model name when she checks in, if nobody else has by then

 

[JJR58]

Our new hipster band name!

I'm going to start asking for royalties on band names. Even though they weren't really my ideas to begin with.