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Thunderbird Club

#70,601
yusak said:
Hey guys. Nice club you have here.

Several weeks ago I became very interested in Thunderbird. So much that I am ready to sell my Fender JB, ahaha. I live in Russia, so there are a lot of copies from Japan, Korea and China and relatively rare true Gibson.
Could you tell me are Greco and Epiphone are good enough? Do their sound and convenience of playing have resemblance to Gibson? Maybe better (bass god, forgive me) ? What models should I pay attention to? Any other brand suggestion?
Click to expand...

TBird1958 said:
Welcome here!

Greco makes great Thunderbirds, the single pickup models have a wonderful growly, angry tone and are nicely made. Orville by Gibson are a bit nicer in some ways and the neck is basically much like a vintage Gibson, very nice if you can find one. Epiphone has many models out there, a standard bolt on neck one with several color and pickup choices, a neck thru version that has a pre amp, the "Classic" which is very close to contemporary Gibsons in many ways and the recently released "Vintage Pro" which nicely takes on the features of '60s vintage Gibson and a bit of modern design. All are great interesting choices!
Click to expand...

I recently acquired an Orville by Gibson Thunderbird. These are Japanese made with Gibson parts. There are also Orville Thunderbirds with Japanese parts (I think these have serial numbers begining with a J).

It's absolutely stock, apart from replacing the existing pickups with a Thunderbucker Ranch 66S in the neck position, turning it into a Thunderbird II. It feels so different from my Epiphone Bird -- more compact (even though both are 34" and the overall length is 2cm more than the Epi), lighter, the wings are tapered, not chunky and the neck is great.

They pop up on eBay and Reverb.

Orville by Gibson Thunderbird Ⅳ Vintage Sunburst made in Japan | eBay (the finish on that one looks well dodgy and may be trying to hide substantial damage)

Orville by Gibson TB Thunder Bird VS | TC GAKKI
 
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#70,605
A big thank you to Brian (bylar13) for the Epiphone Thunderbird case! Brian generously sent me this for shipping alone.
20180308_113600.jpg
These rectangular ones fit much better than the newer tapered ones.
 
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#70,606
Gaolee said:
That's a somewhat more exalted list than mine would be. My list is longer, and I have kept more of them. I'm just finished with lunch at my desk, so goofing off for a minute is OK.

1978 Vantage
1967(?) Danelectro/Coral Wasp
1968(?) Gibson EB-2dc
2006 Epiphone Thunderbird IV
2010 Fender RW Precision
1998 Rickenbacker 4003
196(?) Segova Vulcan
2004 Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV (now fretless)
2006 Rickenbacker 4003
1991 Gibson Thunderbird
2013 Gibson EB
2001 Gibson Thunderbird
2015 Gibson Thunderbird
2008 Epiphone Thunderbird IV
2017 Brad Lowe/parts Fenderbird
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Years? What are these years? If nothing else, the Jazz gave me a ticket to slag Js on this forum. Every cloud has a silver lining, eh?

???? Hofner Beatle
???? Ric 4001 copy
???? Gibson Ripper
???? Fender Jazz fretless sunburst/tort (horror!)
???? Ric 4001
201? Italia Maranello Z
2011 Epiphone TBird PRO IV (for sale atm)
2017 Cataldo NR41
1990 オービル ギブソン Thunderbird
 
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#70,607
No way I’d remember all my basses that have come and gone...been a couple
60’s Fender MusicMaster
70’s GibsonG3
70’s Gibson Ripper
Kramer fretless
G&L L1000
78 P bass
Yamaha BB1200(?)
Fernandes lawsuit P
Ric 4001 (x2)
68 Gibson EB2
‘76 Gibson Grabber
Ampeg shortscale
Fernandes fretless
Fernandes 6 string bass
*both were given to me on some big tour
Fender CS ‘55 P
‘06 AM STD P bass
Epi JC
First Act CS Delia (free endorsement)
Bluesman Vintage J
Fender CS J
Lakland J
Lakland hollowbody
Lakland 55...something
Dingwall Super J
‘76 Fender P
Drake Custom
Gretsch SpectraSonic
‘81 Gibson G3
Gamma P
Warmoth frankenthing
‘14 Gibson Thunderbird
‘18 Epi Embassy Pro
‘02 Gibson Thunderbird
Cataldo NR41
Dano longhorn
Montoya pawn shop bass

Those are some I remember
 
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#70,608
I have a problem with letting stuff go.....


(Unknown) Jay Turser (Unknown) Blue
2006 7ender Jazz Highway One Burst
2008 Gibson Thunderbird IV White
2006 Gibson Thunderbird Studio V Black
2015 EBMM StingRay Neck Thru Black
2013 Gibson Thunderbird IV Black
1962 7ender Precision Black
(Unknown) Epiphone Goth Bird (broken, want to get it together... someday)
(Unknown) Epiphone EB-3 White
 
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#70,609
Dr_Feelgoood212 said:
I have a problem with letting stuff go.....


(Unknown) Jay Turser (Unknown) Blue
2006 7ender Jazz Highway One Burst
2008 Gibson Thunderbird IV White
2006 Gibson Thunderbird Studio V Black
2015 EBMM StingRay Neck Thru Black
2013 Gibson Thunderbird IV Black
1962 7ender Precision Black
(Unknown) Epiphone Goth Bird (broken, want to get it together... someday)
(Unknown) Epiphone EB-3 White
Click to expand...

Is that all of your basses Vince? Nothing missing.
 
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#70,610
kat888 said:
Years? What are these years? If nothing else, the Jazz gave me a ticket to slag Js on this forum. Every cloud has a silver lining, eh?

???? Hofner Beatle
???? Ric 4001 copy
???? Gibson Ripper
???? Fender Jazz fretless sunburst/tort (horror!)
???? Ric 4001
201? Italia Maranello Z
2011 Epiphone TBird PRO IV (for sale atm)
2017 Cataldo NR41
1990 オービル ギブソン Thunderbird
Click to expand...
Hearing a J gives you the right to slag on 'em. Having owned one just proves your mind is hopelessly open and that you have to learn by doing. Then don't do it again. Especially the salami part. At least it was fretless. That counts for something.

My 2013 EB had especially unfortunate salami. That got changed shortly after I got it.
 
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#70,612
godofthunder59 said:
A big thank you to Brian (bylar13) for the Epiphone Thunderbird case! Brian generously sent me this for shipping alone. View attachment 2943163 These rectangular ones fit much better than the newer tapered ones.
Click to expand...
The rectangular Epi cases are nicer than Gibson cases, in my opinion. They hold the bass in place in the case better.
 
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#70,613
Dr_Feelgoood212 said:
For now ya... I almost forgot to include the Goth Bird... edited it in a timely manor.
But who knows what tomorrow has in store.
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No slack for you. Nothing but the truth, the whole truth, and no forgetting. You aren't old enough for anybody to believe you about the forgetting part.
 
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#70,615
Gaolee said:
No slack for you. Nothing but the truth, the whole truth, and no forgetting. You aren't old enough for anybody to believe you about the forgetting part.
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Well a parts bass that was given to me, that currently resides in 2 separate closets, is easy enough to forget to write down. Some people may not even consider parts as a bass on their list. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
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