Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

I know, I was being a joker! Kind of. I have spent a LOT of money on basses (Modulus, Rickenbacker, Gibson, etc.) so I understand getting what you pay for. For my part, at this point in my life, a low end Epi Thunderbird just makes more sense. Would I LOVE to have a 1964 Gibson Thunderbird IV?? YES!!! But at $8000 to $10000, I really can't justify it, as I know from experience, playing it in my music room through a small 25 watt amp, it would not sound all THAT different. But if I could afford it I would do it! Ten years ago I MAY have spent $4000 to $5000 on a Lull Bird. But not now. Hats off to those who can and do!

That's actually a very healthy outlook on this addiction we call bass playing.

In many instances the best bass is not the best value or the best choice, sometimes it is. As an Alembic player I can positively state that Alembic is a much better built bass than anything Gibson has ever put out, but I'll also be the first to say the Gibson is a better value and the Epiphone VP is an even better value.

When a $600 Eppi can compete with a $15,000 Alembic and stay within striking range on almost every aspect you know you've got a best value winner. I am every bit as proud to play my Eppi VP or FrankenGoth with my band buddies as I am my Alembic Dragon Wing. In my book, the VP took the drop dead gorgeous lines of the classic TBird, melded them with solid upscale construction materials and techniques, plastered them with tasteful quality hardware, blessed them with unearthly pickups and offered it all at a steal of a price point. The result may very well be the best value bass purchase on the market today - bar none. JMHO

Buy what you like, but always try to keep value in mind. Then when you get that special bass (regardless of what it is or what it cost) rock the bejabbers out of it and have the time of your life!

 

[dukeorock]

That would be interesting to find, but yeah, it's likely we just have slightly different taste in strings. I've likened my taste in strings to my preference in headphones: I need very crisp highs. I picture it like the sharp point of a needle, where with headphones that don't thrill me having that sharp point rounded or dulled. There's a certain sharp cutting I have come to like from certain strings. I'm thankful for all the sets I've tried, which have really helped me hone in my tastes.

That makes perfect sense to me

I can't even wrap my mind around that trip. Please be safe.

If you’ve been a touring musician long enough, it’s not so bad...
I remember once on a ShackShackers tour that ended in Orange County, CA. The band wanted to fly home, so I volunteered to drive the rig back. At the las minute, the singer decided to join me on the drive. We dropped the other guys off at the airport hotel at 2am and set off for Nashville. We had also driven 7 hours earlier that day to get to the last gig. I drove 1,000 miles non stop befor we got a hotel, then after a few hours we went the rest of the way, non stop. That was pretty brutal

 

[GBassNorth]

Hi, I was thinking of getting Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro, it doesn't seem to be on sale over here yet. The thing that was worrying me though is that the pickups look different on it.

https://andertons-productimages.img...ill&bg=FFFFFF&auto=format&ixlib=imgixjs-3.3.0

I was wondering if anyone has played one as if the pickups are as good as the older models?

Actually, they're not as good. They're a sh!tonne better!
This thread has some good info in it...
NBD Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro

 

[Larry V]

That makes perfect sense to me



If you’ve been a touring musician long enough, it’s not so bad...
I remember once on a ShackShackers tour that ended in Orange County, CA. The band wanted to fly home, so I volunteered to drive the rig back. At the las minute, the singer decided to join me on the drive. We dropped the other guys off at the airport hotel at 2am and set off for Nashville. We had also driven 7 hours earlier that day to get to the last gig. I drove 1,000 miles non stop befor we got a hotel, then after a few hours we went the rest of the way, non stop. That was pretty brutal

I'd sign up for that! I love road trips!

Summer of 2016, I took the family on a cross-country trip of 6,000 miles in just under 2 weeks. It was epic!

Michigan
to Sioux Falls
to Mt. Rushmore/Crazy Horse
to Great Salt Lake
to San Francisco
to Tucson
to Lincoln
and back home to Michigan

It was an amazing family road trip that was filled with interesting unscheduled stops along the way too. If something looked cool, we'd take a detour and check it out.

 

[JJR58]

I see a Ampeg for Sale in the Classifieds. Who would be selling that here? And what will they Buy?

 

[Larry V]

Layoffs hit Nashville...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[hairypete1138]

Thanks for the advice....looking on GAK will be able to order early April when I get my next student loan lol

Perfect timing then!

 

[bylar13]

Ok I bit the bullet and orderd these for the 7ender Blacktop pick up swap:

Thunderbird Bass Pickups with Rings - Nickel | eBay

I will report back. I know the Lolllar T-Bird pickups have "spoiled" me but we will see how these stack up.

Also the band I play in is having a "release" show tonight. Got some nice local press (they used a pic of us and there is a Thunderbird in it...) so there should be 7 people there (not counting band members and spouses, etc.) instead of 6......


The Key
2 hrs ·
Mt Vengeance is a band of Philly rock scene vets, and they celebrate their new album tonight at Ortlieb's -- details on this show and more in The Week Ahead.

The Week Ahead: Kelela, Matt Cappy, Combo Chimbita, Diet Cig and more - The Key
Even on a slow week, you’ve still got fourteen amazing concerts to choose from — that’s how you know you’re living in a great music city. From Kelela at the TLA…
THEKEY.XPN.ORG

 

[BklynKen]

There is no reason to change pick ups if you like them. If anything, it requires obtaining an additional bass to house the "new" pick ups for testing.....

Yeah, I was mostly speaking hypothetically.

 

[bylar13]

Yeah, I was mostly speaking hypothetically.

TB is binary, there is no hypothetical!!!! You are either selling something to buy something else or buying something to replace something else. There is no "try" only "do"...

 

[dukeorock]

Actually, they're not as good. They're a sh!tonne better!
This thread has some good info in it...
NBD Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro

Well, it is subjective. Some sure think so. They’re different and very good in their own right, but I can’t say ‘better,’ personally, just different

Ok I bit the bullet and orderd these for the 7ender Blacktop pick up swap:

Thunderbird Bass Pickups with Rings - Nickel | eBay

I will report back. I know the Lolllar T-Bird pickups have "spoiled" me but we will see how these stack up.

Also the band I play in is having a "release" show tonight. Got some nice local press (they used a pic of us and there is a Thunderbird in it...) so there should be 7 people there (not counting band members and spouses, etc.) instead of 6......


The Key
2 hrs ·
Mt Vengeance is a band of Philly rock scene vets, and they celebrate their new album tonight at Ortlieb's -- details on this show and more in The Week Ahead.

View attachment 2934190
The Week Ahead: Kelela, Matt Cappy, Combo Chimbita, Diet Cig and more - The Key
Even on a slow week, you’ve still got fourteen amazing concerts to choose from — that’s how you know you’re living in a great music city. From Kelela at the TLA…
THEKEY.XPN.ORG

That’s exciting...knock em dead!

 

[PillO]

I'm sorry. Now that I've effectively screwed up everyone's good time, can we please go back to the string discussion? Literally like 3 people responded to that.

Don't worry about it. Really sorry to hear about your grandfather, but I just didn't have any advice in that area. My grandmother had Alzheimer's.

Brain diseases are the most unkind. They rob you of the person or make the body a prison. They deprive you of an obvious end that can be grieved; you just lose a little bit at a time.

 

[PillO]

I'm toying with the idea of changing out the black hardware on one of the Thunderbirds to aged nickel. Might be more trouble than it's worth. The idea is to get nickel hardware from Hipshot and put it in aging solution. I could be into that look on the burst Thunderbird. I just don't like bright, shiny.

I have gone the exact opposite direction for exactly the same reason with my white `bird. It is white with black hardware and black strings. I'm thinking of planning on adding the black hipshot bridge in place of the three point. I keep contemplating black "racing stripes".

 

[PillO]

Some of you may remember that I'd received a Music Man StingRay for Christmas, and that I had some issues with it. Well... I'd sent it back, where (much like with car problems) it didn't exhibit the issues I'd experienced. It was set back up to within the shop's specifications, and shipped back to me. Upon re-arrival, I opened the case & found a bass with a back bow that caused every string to buzz like an electric razor on every fret. In my frustration and disappointment... I decided it was cursed, and sent it back to the store, uncertain of what was going to happen next. While in transit, something showed up on the store's website that filled a desire I'd carried with me for years. Back when I was playing guitar... I'd always loved a big orange Gretsch hollowbody electric, but the stars just never aligned.

View attachment 2933314 View attachment 2933315 View attachment 2933316 View attachment 2933317

The neck specs don't line up with what I always look for. I'd never touched a short scaled bass, don't like floating bridges, and to my knowledge, have never heard a Filter Tron pickup in my life... but I needed to do something to conclude this transaction, and a refund was not an option. Dollars and sense, plus my affinity for Gretsch, put this G6119BO "Broadkaster" as the best available option. I am giddy to be able to announce that I am beyond thrilled with this thang!!! It is absolutely SPECTACULAR!!! I could fill pages with commentary about the tones it produces! Absolutely incredible!!! I don't know if it's due to the shorter scale, or the way it hangs, or a combination of elements... but even with a less than tree trunk neck... I can (and have) played this thing for hours without the usual hand and wrist issues that make me stop after only 2 or 3 minutes. The action is effortless!!! @GBassNorth being a short scale guy... I must urge you to do yourself a big favor & check one of these out!

That is a beauty. I have a thing for hollow/semi-hollow bodies as evidenced by my love of my Gibson Midtown and Epiphone Jack Casady.

 

[godofthunder59]

Thanks to Dave (DChid ) for sending me this really cool early 90's Rotosound packaging! Things stay the same for years, then they change over night. I musta bought dozens if not hundreds of sets of strings packed like this. Makes me smile to see it

 

[BklynKen]

I have gone the exact opposite direction for exactly the same reason with my white `bird. It is white with black hardware and black strings. I'm thinking of planning on adding the black hipshot bridge in place of the three point. I keep contemplating black "racing stripes".

I love black hardware on white. If I decide to go this route, I'll have a black Hipshot bridge to sell.

 

[GBassNorth]

Well, it is subjective. Some sure think so. They’re different and very good in their own right, but I can’t say ‘better,’ personally, just different

Correct, better is always subjective. If I understood his question correctly it was - are the Eppi VP pups better than the standard Eppi pups - in which case I'd say yes IMO. Are they better than some Gibson pups I've tried, no IMO.

I like the sound of my 50th anniversary TBird better, but that may be due in large part to string selection. I've settled on the best string for the Gibby bass for me. I have yet to find the best string for the VP for me.

 

[Inky13]

Thanks to Dave (sorry forgot your tb handle) for sending me this really cool early 90's Rotosound packaging! Things stay the same for years, then they change over night. I musta bought dozens if not hundreds of sets of strings packed like this. Makes me smile to see it
View attachment 2934211

Jeez that is a blast from the past. How's the Bassman 10 working out? Is it 50 or 70 watts?

 

[kat888]

Hi, I was thinking of getting Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro, it doesn't seem to be on sale over here yet. The thing that was worrying me though is that the pickups look different on it.

https://andertons-productimages.img...ill&bg=FFFFFF&auto=format&ixlib=imgixjs-3.3.0

I was wondering if anyone has played one as if the pickups are as good as the older models?

What fettle bonny lad!?

 

[admh1972]

I am getting the Vintage Pro......in Ebony if I can find one