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Thunderbird Club

#82,121
Count Bassie said:
It's time to 'fess up: I no longer own a Thunderbird (waits for hubbub to settle). The Epi Blackbird I had was never, in my mind, the real deal, and after mods done it became less than itself... more a garage-bat. Granted, it was a sweet playing, cool garage-bat, but after being a player, with some small cred to my "career" and some colorful history, I decided I needed something I could actually feel good about presenting my bass-player-ness with. So I sold it and made a move.

I'd like to get me a real, honest bird, maybe a nice NR. But with my truck getting a new engine and teenagers with new budding life needs, I'm out of the NBD circle for a while. I'd also like to be able to hang with you guys, it's been almost a real-live sanctuary to be able to come to and hide out, when it gets weird out there.
So there it is. Things change, it's a big workd full of stuff and opportunities. Glad to know you guys, even when I'm scarce I still feel kinda connected here. Not to get sentimental, but hey. We're folks.

That's all.

There will be Birds...
Click to expand...
 
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#82,122
Dadagoboi said:
I've had two, a Series 2 thin and a Series 1. They're both gone. Compared to a run of the mill Chinese SX or Brice the finish was poor. I had to level the frets on both. The thin one looked cool but the trussrod was frozen. Probably straight enough for most players but I got rid of it when I could. That's just my experience, YMMV.

View attachment 3025056

Outside NRs are (modded) Bachs, inside are the first two I built.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Is that Cherry one for sale?;)
 
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#82,123
Larry V said:
Scott(@godofthunder59) said that his second(?) Vintage Pro's body was noticeably thicker and a bit of a hog on the scale. Not sure how that happens in an automated process of manufacture but it appears to be happening with Epi VP's.
Click to expand...
My second Vintage Pro was plus sized no question. Thicker by almost 1/8" on all dimensions. It played and sounded fine and was certainly a looker but it had lost the Thunderbirds thoroughbred feel.
 
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#82,125
heatheroo1 said:
sigh............so I'm too late to the party if a buy a new Vintage Pro? Story of my life......
Click to expand...
Hard to say. Go for a lighter one is my advice. I am going to take them on a one by one basis.
 
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#82,127
heatheroo1 said:
I hear you. I have managed to keep my head stock intact all these years but it does seem like tempting fate these days. A vintage T-Bird head stock vs. one of those built like a tank Teles? My T-bird is sitting over in the corner and I swear I just heard it wimper :)

I cant bring myself to like the look of the newer T-Birds with the small head stock/tuners. That is why the Epi PRO grabbed my attention. I guess when I have a couple extra $ I will have to take the leap and try one out
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I feel the same way about my EB-2. I got it used in 1983. It was intact then, and it's intact now. The wiring was scrambled, and it had a Model One instead of a mudbucker, but it sounds so good that I never worried about it. Plus, I never worried about it just because. Eight years ago or so, I finally figured out that schlepping it around in a gig bag, throwing it in the back of a van, and just generally treating it like a war club was probably a bad idea. It is semi-retired now. I may take it out to play tomorrow, because it hasn't been out for a while. I almost always play 'Birds these days, because they seem to be pretty durable, at least in my hands.
 
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#82,128
'74 Grabber in Ford Mustang blue, done for a Namm show, I liked this bass' tone quite a lot.

xYXvE2W.jpg
 
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#82,129
heatheroo1 said:
I pop in to view the posts regularly. Until this recent thread, it seemed the conversation was non-TBird related and I wasn't motivated enough to go back through it all to see what was actually being discussed. That being said: I am a lifelong T-Bird player, having bought a '77 new. Its still my daily player but is getting shaky. I had a thread in the setup forum regarding a broken truss rod. I ended up driving 800 miles round trip to have Dan Erlewine look at it. He repaired the truss rod but the neck wont straighten out/untwist. Currently I am just living with it. With the E and A bridge saddles at the very end of their adjustment, the intonation is pretty close. Even though I keep telling myself "if Dan says that is as good as it can get and just leave it alone"...I unstrung it yesterday and made a jig to backbow the neck. I left it like that for 1/2 the day and then tried to tighten the truss rod. No go....it will not move and I am definitely not going to force it. I restrung it and it was better initially but now it has mostly gone back to the bow that was there previously. Oh well......it is what it is. Me and that bass have been together through 40+ years of crappy bars to nice theaters. I am thinking about ordering an Epi Pro T-Bird (or whatever they are called....) to see how they sound with the idea of retiring the '77. I wish I knew of some place local I could try one.

Anyway.....thanks for listening.
Click to expand...

I meant to ask if you had reversed the saddles on the strings that aren't intonating, as I recall it may help.
 
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#82,130
heatheroo1 said:
sigh............so I'm too late to the party if a buy a new Vintage Pro? Story of my life......
Click to expand...
I wouldn't go that far with it. The vast majority of the reviews of the Vintage Pro, have been glowing! I've heard it referred to as the best value for the money in basses, many times. I've only heard a handful of negative remarks. It's also worth pointing out that godofthunder59 loves his first Vintage Pro so much, that he bought a second one. It was the second one that wasn't up to snuff. Obviously, it's best to try before you buy, but in a world where that's not always possible... Sweetwater is about as good as it gets. You can see photos of all the ones they have available (with weights listed), their Customer Service Reps can provide specs, details, and additional pics of each specific one, and (where applicable) offer discounts or match prices from other dealers. They're also good at simplifying and expediting returns & replacements. @GBassNorth & @veebass can tell you why you should consider a Vintage Pro. Also worth considering, is the Classic Pro. Neck-thru construction, Gibson USA pups, and a bargain price:thumbsup:

Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage PRO Bass - Alpine White

<edit>

Here's a nice deal! A mislabeled 2013 Epiphone Thunderbird Classic Pro in white, for 3 hunnerd & fiddy bux!

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
Last edited:
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#82,131
heatheroo1 said:
I pop in to view the posts regularly. Until this recent thread, it seemed the conversation was non-TBird related and I wasn't motivated enough to go back through it all to see what was actually being discussed. That being said: I am a lifelong T-Bird player, having bought a '77 new. Its still my daily player but is getting shaky. I had a thread in the setup forum regarding a broken truss rod. I ended up driving 800 miles round trip to have Dan Erlewine look at it. He repaired the truss rod but the neck wont straighten out/untwist. Currently I am just living with it. With the E and A bridge saddles at the very end of their adjustment, the intonation is pretty close. Even though I keep telling myself "if Dan says that is as good as it can get and just leave it alone"...I unstrung it yesterday and made a jig to backbow the neck. I left it like that for 1/2 the day and then tried to tighten the truss rod. No go....it will not move and I am definitely not going to force it. I restrung it and it was better initially but now it has mostly gone back to the bow that was there previously. Oh well......it is what it is. Me and that bass have been together through 40+ years of crappy bars to nice theaters. I am thinking about ordering an Epi Pro T-Bird (or whatever they are called....) to see how they sound with the idea of retiring the '77. I wish I knew of some place local I could try one.

Anyway.....thanks for listening.
Click to expand...
Are you saying the truss rod nut has seized or run out of adjustment?
 
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#82,132
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#82,133
godofthunder59 said:
The Grabber is my favorite of the series loud and raucous! Like a good rock bass should be
Click to expand...

I don't recall having ever played one before that, I like the "Fat Bottom Girls" as Uwe calls them!
 
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#82,134
theFixer said:
I wouldn't go that far with it. The vast majority of the reviews of the Vintage Pro, have been glowing! I've heard it referred to as the best value for the money in basses, many times. I've only heard a handful of negative remarks. It's also worth pointing out that godofthunder59 loves his first Vintage Pro so much, that he bought a second one. It was the second one that wasn't up to snuff. Obviously, it's best to try before you buy, but in a world where that's not always possible... Sweetwater is about as good as it gets. You can see photos of all the ones they have available (with weights listed), their Customer Service Reps can provide specs, details, and additional pics of each specific one, and (where applicable) offer discounts or match prices from other dealers. They're also good at simplifying and expediting returns & replacements. @GBassNorth & @veebass can tell you why you should consider a Vintage Pro. Also worth considering, is the Classic Pro. Neck-thru construction, Gibson USA pups, and a bargain price:thumbsup:

Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage PRO Bass - Alpine White

<edit>

Here's a nice deal! A mislabeled 2013 Epiphone Thunderbird Classic Pro in white, for 3 hunnerd & fiddy bux!

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

If i didn't already have the white one i have now, i'd jump on that 2013.
 
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