• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#683
High performance vinyl... that performs well!
photo-10.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: Terracite, TBird1958 and Larry V
#688
So it looks like i won't just be able to re-glue my broken wing. I'm probably gonna have to cut parts of it, cut a new piece out of new wood, Glue it in between the original pieces. Clamp, wait for it to dry and then paint/clear coat the new piece. It'll be fun At least, what i can see out of the wood, if i'm not mistaken, it does look like mahogany. Since other sources have said it was layers of ply or some type of wood. Oh well, All this just because i wanted to fix a ground problem.
 
#690
ThaCoast said:
So it looks like i won't just be able to re-glue my broken wing. I'm probably gonna have to cut parts of it, cut a new piece out of new wood, Glue it in between the original pieces. Clamp, wait for it to dry and then paint/clear coat the new piece. It'll be fun At least, what i can see out of the wood, if i'm not mistaken, it does look like mahogany. Since other sources have said it was layers of ply or some type of wood. Oh well, All this just because i wanted to fix a ground problem.
Click to expand...
An Epi or Gibby T-bird that's NOT Mahogany???
Do they exist?
 
#692
saltymonkey said:
My new to me Bach TH-1 that Carlo so kindly offered to sell me. Great skinny fast playing neck. I love it. This is what Gibson's NR RI should have been. Has the original Artec pickup in a chrome cover but soon will have a new Lull in it's place.

45f5ca76-3f3a-458d-ba00-69528bb9965b_zps91f127b2.gif

3a66390f-4b41-4d1b-b4ce-66126cf0b550_zpsa82304df.gif
Click to expand...

I have the black Series 2 Bach. That neck is super skinny and a joy to play!!! I put a humbucker sized TBPlus (from an LP Standard bass) inside a 70's Gibson 3-screw cover. Sounds fantastic!!!
 
#693
Coming from a post I wrote, I thought it might be interesting to transcribe it here. Read with caution and an open mind.

Background:
A random sample of TWO 2014 Gibson Thunderbirds on TWO different locations were compared to TWO Epiphone Thunderbid Classic Pro IVs and ONE Gibson non-reverse Thunderbird. All played through two different rigs of Orange AD200B MK3 connected to an OBC410. All controls set to noon and then to optimally flat.
Quality issues made THREE of the FIVE randomly present Epiphones unfit for the test (loose potentiometers, neck issues). Nevertheless this mechanical quality issues among the tested Epiphones might be attributable to wear caused by irresponsible handling from store visitors and this three samples where not taken into account for the formulation of the a posteriori Hypothesis.
Different strings and different potentiometers are used on each brand.
The price ratio is ca. 3 to 1 between 2014 Gibsons and the Epiphones and ca. 2 to 1 between non-reverse Gibson and Epiphone.

Hypothesis (a posteriori):
2014 Thunderbird Gibsons consistently show superior sonic characteristics to Epiphone Thunderbird Classic Pro IVs and Gibson non-reverse Thunderbirds.

Conclusion:
The qualitative test showed a discernible sonic difference and a superior appeal of the 2014 Gibsons.
This differences could mainly be caused due to different potentiometer and strings used on each instrument pool.
Sonic differences between non-reverse Gibson Thunderbirds and Epiphone Thunderbird Classic Pro IVs are negligible.
Further testing is required.

Discussion:
Subject bias must be taken into account.
The sample lacked enough power to make a GENERAL claim, but the trend is not to be ignored and should be reviewed.
Test were not performed on equal conditions in both locations and some variables were not accounted for.
The subject was also the experimenter, so it's scientific validity is questionable at best.
A double blind study with at least 20 specimens of each pool and more testing subjects could be statistically beneficial.


More info: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/gibson-ruined-my-day.1072009/
 
  • Like
Reactions: BirdThunder
#694
Using scientific terminology doesn't make personal preferences any less subjective. Sonically superior? To you, apparently, but I don't hear it. Superior tuning machines and paint (nitro vs. poly), sure, but nothing objectively better about the tone of one over the other. That being said, I've never encountered a Gibson or an Epiphone with electronics problems or neck issues so I don't know what to make of those possible QC issues. Worst I've seen are bad in-store setups and occasional finish imperfections. YMMV, of course.

Either way, and play whatever you like. Cost being equal, I'd pick the Gibson, but not for the reasons you describe.

That being said, the Epi does have quantitatively better access to the upper frets. ;)
 
Last edited:
#695
Mark4 said:
Using scientific terminology doesn't make personal preferences any less subjective. Sonically superior? To you, apparently, but I don't hear it. Superior tuning machines and paint (nitro vs. poly), sure, but nothing objectively better about the tone of one over the other. That being said, I've never encountered a Gibson or an Epiphone with electronics problems or neck issues so I don't know what to make of those possible QC issues. Worst I've seen are bad in-store setups and occasional finish imperfections. YMMV, of course.

Either way, and play whatever you like. Cost being equal, I'd pick the Gibson, but not for the reasons you describe.

That being said, the Epi does have quantitatively better access to the upper frets. ;)
Click to expand...

If you read carefully, I never stated that it is objective, that's the first point in the discussion. A "taste" study is always limited by subject bias. I do hear the difference (I was not expecting to, I am no foe of the ones who that say that wood influence on E-Bass is "mumbo jumbo").
But if we could double blind it, we could at least get in a direction with that.
 
#696
awilkie84 said:
An Epi or Gibby T-bird that's NOT Mahogany???
Do they exist?
Click to expand...

A non mahogany epi: i'm pretty sure they exist. Maybe very few. Gibby tbirds all pretty much dead mahogany. They won't use anything else. I was just speaking for my Epiphone goth and the other goth t-bird users.

Larry V said:
Why not?
Click to expand...
Well, the piece didn't exactly break off like flush. So i can't just simply re-glue it with the body. But i'll see what my uncle suggests. So i'll give an update on my bird sunday night.
 
#697
The Epi/Gibson comparison is kind of a moot point in that it comes down to what a person can afford. Gibson would be unable to market the higher end TBird if there were no difference in components, fit and finish and tone. And of course the Epi can't be so bad as to turn off a customer to their entry level gear. It should leave a purchaser satisfied but aspiring to own the higher end Gibson at some point and I'm sure Gibson's marketing has that figured out.

I'm also sure that for most people, myself included, the Epi's are more than what's needed to scratch the hobbyist's itch of playing bass and more than enough to gig with in the hands of a gifted musician.

I'm guessing that owning the Gibson stuff is about the prestige for most people and "necessary" to very few. At least that's how it applies to me and my buddies that have "splurged" on expensive gear that they don't necessarily need.
 
Last edited:
#698
Larry V said:
The Epi/Gibson comparison is kind of a moot point in that it comes down to what a person can afford. Gibson would be unable to market the higher end TBird if there were no difference in components, fit and finish and tone. And of course the Epi can't be so bad as to turn off a customer to their entry level gear. It should leave a purchaser satisfied but aspiring to own the higher end Gibson at some point and I'm sure Gibson's marketing has that figured out.

I'm also sure that for most people, myself included, the Epi's are more than what's needed to scratch the hobbyist's itch of playing bass and more than enough to gig with in the hands of a gifted musician.

I'm guessing that owning the Gibson stuff is about the prestige for most people and "necessary" to very few. At least that's how it applies to me and my buddies that have "splurged" on expensive gear that they don't necessarily need.
Click to expand...

This makes a really good point, and what I try (and fail) to convey in my test.
 
#699
ThaCoast said:
Well, the piece didn't exactly break off like flush. So i can't just simply re-glue it with the body. But i'll see what my uncle suggests. So i'll give an update on my bird sunday night.
Click to expand...

I'd spend the $6(?) to get a bottle of thick CA(think slower drying super-glue) from a hobby store. Apply a generous amount to the break on one side only, allowing for the run out when you apply firm pressure and hold it for 2-3 minutes, longer if you can. Here's a link to what you should look for at the hobby store. Of course you could always order it online but then you're waiting for delivery and paying for shipping.

Invalid Link Removed <---I'd go with Thick, Slow Cure CA-

Good luck in whichever way you go about it, but I'd try this before trying anything else. Cheap and easy.
 
#700
Larry V said:
The Epi/Gibson comparison is kind of a moot point in that it comes down to what a person can afford. Gibson would be unable to market the higher end TBird if there were no difference in components, fit and finish and tone. And of course the Epi can't be so bad as to turn off a customer to their entry level gear. It should leave a purchaser satisfied but aspiring to own the higher end Gibson at some point and I'm sure Gibson's marketing has that figured out.

I'm also sure that for most people, myself included, the Epi's are more than what's needed to scratch the hobbyist's itch of playing bass and more than enough to gig with in the hands of a gifted musician.

I'm guessing that owning the Gibson stuff is about the prestige for most people and "necessary" to very few. At least that's how it applies to me and my buddies that have "splurged" on expensive gear that they don't necessarily need.
Click to expand...
I think I'd be more likely to go for the Gibson, if there were more colour choices. I'm not a sunburst fan. I've sold EVERY sunburst bass I've ever owned within a few months (including my last T-bird bolt-on).
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back