Thunderbird Club

[godofthunder59]

I have to disagree. The edges around the body of Epi's, are a lot more rounded than Gibson's. The cutout is deeper on the Epi's. Also the heel contour is different IIRC. Some people may not notice these details, but they are there.

The cutaway isn't actually deeper, the neck is moved forward slightly. Compare bridge positions between the Classic Pro and Vintage Pro.

 

[Larry V]

How's that going for them?
I know. That is my point.
I reckon they should put a Gibson TRC on the higher end Epis (ie aren't made in the US) and charge a bit more for them, as Fender does with it's Asian and Mexican built stuff. These are priced between the Squiers and the US Fenders. All I am suggesting is that Gibson Brands (the parent company) could do the same.

They do, however, seem to avoid anything that makes any sense.

IMHumbleO, I don't think that would make any sense at all. I know when I'm looking at a Gibson that it was made here in the good ol' USA, not China, Korea or Indonesia. If Gibson went the route you're suggesting, it would further diminish Gibson and knock the shine their products still carry to many Gibson owners.

 

[PillO]

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

That was very cool to see a rock star acting like a regular person.

What is even cooler is that despite recognizing him, you let him be a regular guy. If he knew, he would appreciate it.

Although there are many "stars" that can't stand not being the centre of attention, there are just as many or more that, when not doing their job or appearing 'in character', just want to be regular people.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

The cutaway isn't actually deeper, the neck is moved forward slightly. Compare bridge positions between the Classic Pro and Vintage Pro.

I always thought it was deeper on Epi's than Gibson's, but it appears you are correct. The bridge position being different, just adds to another detail that can be spotted.

 

[PillO]

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

When you consider inflation, that $5000 would have been about $600 mid 60s. So, cost has not changed substantially...

 

[Larry V]

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

Well played, sir! I too would have left him alone to enjoy his day... now if we were at a local watering hole or music venue...

I like winter

Same here... until the Holidays are over, then it's a long slog till April.

 

[Larry V]

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.

Agreed.

 

[Larry V]

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.

Are we talking real pear trees or the decorative pears?

My decorative pears still have shriveled brown leaves on them and even through the -20F days of January, those trees still had what looked like healthy green leaves. It's quite remarkable and a bit confusing how long those leaves hold on into winter. Springtime budding will push the old leaves off and the cycle continues.

 

[Rob Martinez]

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.

Oh, believe me, I am very thankful Epiphone is doing it at $599!! Like you, I would not nor could I get a Gibson version at that price point. So, good point. Probably not to Gibson's financial advantage to do so.

 

[Larry V]

That was very cool to see a rock star acting like a regular person.

What is even cooler is that despite recognizing him, you let him be a regular guy. If he knew, he would appreciate it.

Although there are many "stars" that can't stand not being the centre of attention, there are just as many or more that, when not doing their job or appearing 'in character', just want to be regular people.

When I lived in Oakland County here in Michigan and especially in the "Lakes Area", running into celebs and sports stars was so very common.

From seeing Red Wings/Tigers players filling up their Porsches and Escalades at the gas station to running into Barry Sanders at the Home Depot or Tommy Hearns at a sports club... it's always been a cool thing to have happen.

The Barry sighting was cool... it was really late, close to closing and we were like the only two in there shopping. I saw him and he looked up and I gave him a smile and an "I know who you are look and a nod", he smiled and nodded and we kept being just two shoppers at Home Depot.

 

[godofthunder59]

I always thought it was deeper on Epi's than Gibson's, but it appears you are correct. The bridge position being different, just adds to another detail that can be spotted.

Hmmmmmmm doing some measuring . The bridge pickups are in different positions measured from the last fret. The G string saddles measures approximately the same from the first fret.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Hmmmmmmm doing some measuring . The bridge pickups are in different positions measured from the last fret. The G string saddles measures approximately the same from the first fret.

Weird. This is comparing the Classic Pro to the Vintage Pro?

 

[Gaolee]

I have to disagree. The edges around the body of Epi's, are a lot more rounded than Gibson's. The cutout is deeper on the Epi's. Also the heel contour is different IIRC. Some people may not notice these details, but they are there.

Yes. Everyone in here would likely pick one out from another, but most people wouldn't know. Then again, most people don't realize what a bass is at all, so there's some level of relativity going on.

 

[godofthunder59]

Weird. This is comparing the Classic Pro to the Vintage Pro?

Yes.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Yes. Everyone in here would likely pick one out from another, but most people wouldn't know. Then again, most people don't realize what a bass is at all, so there's some level of relativity going on.

This is very true.

 

[Gaolee]

For what its worth, I was playing the 2001 last night. It does have tapered wings. There's not a huge taper, but it's there, so whatever I said before about tapers not being there was wrong.

 

[Haji]

Is there a particular strap lock that works best with a TBird? The Jim Dunlop Original StrapLoks for my guitars won't work. These have screws that are both too short and too small in diameter for the holes in the TB. And the TB screws are too big for the holes in the lock bases. I'm not about to rig the bass to use smaller screws.
Thanks!

I've always just filled the holes with wood filler, let it dry, sink in the replacement screws. Never a problem.

 

[dukeorock]

Gave my Sunn Coliseum one more try with a rock band last night. Used my ‘14 Gibson w/ stock pickups and BassBurner roundwounds and the 1822. Totally different experience and I really liked it. Still gets pretty distorted at 8 ohms, but this time it was a very nice sounding distortion. My Cataldo sounds real pretty through it as well

 

[Haji]

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???

Basses have never been a priority to Gibson. They typically make about a thousand TBirds in a normal production year. That number is a drop in the bucket compared to the number of Les Pauls. They are basically an afterthought.

 

[JIO]

Should only test one thing at a time...played with Derek Hoke tonight. Brought the Sunn Coliseum 300 and the ‘02 Gibson w/ Cobalt flats. At 8 ohms, the Sunn was barely hanging in there on the loud tunes. Gotta say I also prefer roundwounds with that amp, though I got a lot of compliments on the sound. A buddy shot a minute or so of one of the quieter tunes...can’t tell what I think...just wished I had rounds with that amp!

I ride my T-bird like you do - north of the belly bevel over the top horn. Less stretch to 1st position.