Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

Being smarter than the market is all fine and good. But... If the market is dumb, you better be dumb to sell things. If the market is dumb and you are too smart, you go just as bust as if you are too dumb and the market is too smart.

The goofy thing is that there's no way to tell whether you are looking at an Epi or Gibson Thunderbird until you look at the truss rod cover. Unless you are inspecting for minor details and check to see what the finish is. A VP would badly fool a whole lot of people who don't know what they are looking at, for example. And, most people who aren't paying attention all the time would easily mistake a CP for a modern Gibson. Maybe Henry J. is trying to kill off Gibson, or maybe pump up Epiphone and then sell it.

My experience (capital markets) is that those who claim to be smarter than the market rarely are...

As for too smart or too dumb for the market, we always said "the market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent".

With little data, I would fully expect to see that Gibson does little market research and work on the pronouncements of top management as to what will or will not sell and at what prices. I base this on that robot tuner debacle (clearly never researched or tested that one; just presumed that they knew what was best) and the various stories of ignoring endorsing artist input.

I don't think that Epiphone is being dressed up to sell. It is actually a really good fit for Gibson. Philips on the other hand does look like it is being dressed up. Killing off unprofitable Rationalizing product lines, trying to get the place into an earnings growth position. And it appears to have taken a great deal of management attention in the last year.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

The devil is in the details.

Exactly!

 

[PillO]

I like winter

Another piece of the puzzle falls into place...

 

[JIO]

Steve Cropper - Duck Dunn

 

[PillO]

One of my favourite blues songs (regardless of who performs it).

 

[PillO]

This is why I can't have nice things. Get off my lawn!View attachment 2950579

Stop leaving your nice things out on the lawn in the snow...

 

[JIO]

One of my favourite blues songs (regardless of who performs it).

How about the artist that created it?

 

[Nocturnal]

I am a climate wimp for a reason. No way I'm going to live in Ohio again.

Same here. I lived around Canton/Akron region until I was 14. No desire to go back to those winters. I will deal with the heat and skip the freezing part.

 

[PillO]

How about the artist that created it?

So many interesting versions including bands you wouldn't expect - Kid Rock, AC/DC - along with everyone you would expect.

 

[hillerup]

Same here. Always thought of him as another version of Jack Bruce.

Yes... Cream and Mountain were not that far from each other musically and both Jack and Felix had a more or less similar distorted bass sound.

 

[lowend1]

Ok, I know this has been discussed but I am still confused. WHY is Epiphone bringing out tribute/reissues such as the Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro, but Gibson won't, and it was originally a Gibson bass???

How many do you think they would sell at the Gibson price point (probably $4k)? Speaking strictly for myself, I couldn't swim in that end of the pool. I'm glad they did it this way.

 

[GBassNorth]

The weather is one reason... I lived in Cincinnati for a couple years. I met some great people but wouldn't consider living there for a few major reasons.

Same here. Lived there for 32 years while working. Moved there from San Jose, CA. The year I retired I moved straight back to sunny Southern California, damn the taxes, real estate and gasoline costs - everything else out here is cheaper, healthier and generally just all around better for you here.

 

[GBassNorth]

I like winter

I liked winter when I was a kid growing up in the mountains above Boulder Colorado. I tolerated winter when I was an adult working in Cincinnati. I hate winter now that I'm a retired senior citizen. That's why I live somewhere that defines winter as somewhat overcast in the mid 60's and clearing by tomorrow.

I do get a laugh out of the locals all running around in their parkas when the temperature drops below 70F. I also find it amusing when the Pear trees around here in SoCal drop their leaves in mid December and by mid January are starting to bud and are in full bloom before the end of the month.

 

[veebass]

How many do you think they would sell at the Gibson price point (probably $4k)? Speaking strictly for myself, I couldn't couldn't swim in that end of the pool. I'm glad they did it this way.

So am I.

 

[hillerup]

Yeah man! Cool! He's gotta place just outside of Petoskey, out in the hills & sticks. Probly 10 years ago or so, we were at the Bayview Inn in Petoskey for their Mothers Day buffet (for the artist formerly known as my mother-in-law). Our table was right by the desert table. As I was eyeballin' some chocolate truffles, the end of an extremely long braid brushed in the path of eyes. I looked up & there was Mark friggin' Farner standin' not 3 feet away from me!!! I looked around the room… & I swear… I was the only one who knew who he was! Hundreds of people all around… and nobody reacting to him at all! I had just seen Grand Funk perform in Kalamazoo about 3 weeks prior. He's still got the chops… and he's still got the pipes… and he still runs all over the stage like a teenager… and he's standing 3 feet away from me dressed in a well cut suit with a western flare, surveying the same buffet as everyone else! It was so surreal! I musta had a look about me, cuz the ex asked me what was wrong. I told her… then she instantly told her mother (a recurring event in our marriage)… pretty soon, everyone at the table was trying to get me to go talk to him. While all this was going on… I had been watching him. He had walked back over to his wife & kids, who were most likely there for Mothers Day as well. With as much as I wanted to go meet him… it was their "Mothers Day" too… I knew I couldn't do it. Still cool though

Respect!

 

[hillerup]

How about the artist that created it?

How about this one then?



...and I know it's not the same song...

 

[bking0217]

Same here. I lived around Canton/Akron region until I was 14. No desire to go back to those winters. I will deal with the heat and skip the freezing part.

I understand that. I have just been in snow once in my life, and that was enough. I think I'll stay in Florida.

 

[PillO]

How about this one then?



...and I know it's not the same song...

After 45 seconds, I was waiting to hear him knock knock knocking on heaven's door.

 

[Larry V]

I think all should be thankful that Epiphone stepped up to the plate because if it was Gibson it would list for double the cost.

At twice the price, Gibson wouldn't be able to keep up with demand. I think it would be at least 3 times the price if it was Made in the USA and had a nitrocellulose finish. $1,800 would be my low end estimate and closer to $2,200 if we're talking full retail.

 

[godofthunder59]

I think all should be thankful that Epiphone stepped up to the plate because if it was Gibson it would list for double the cost.

Try five times the cost. I have had this discussion with Gibson. Ballpark 5k list on a 60's spec. Thunderbird.