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Thunderbird Club

#94,221
godofthunder59 said:
Because Gibson is deaf to it's bass buying customer base. They have alienated me to the point I won't buy their new products. Give me my vintage birds or a Epiphone Vintage Pro. I'll be writing more about the VP, the longer I own them the more I like 'em.
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I have had variations of this conversation several times recently...

My biases - I have 1 Gibson, 1 Yamaha, 4 Epiphones.

The differences between a Gibson and an Epiphone are there, but they are subtle - things like finish. Functionally, they are very similar. Gibsons are a bit nicer, things like a nicer finish, but are about twice (or more) the price. Both sound great to my ears. I perform with the same level of proficiency no matter what I use. So, is the small change in a few things that do not change my abilities make any difference to a hack like me? Apparently not.

And the corollary is that this is the same for 7enders; perhaps more so. A CNC machine doesn't know/care where it is. Write the machining code once and execute many places. And being made in California, the USA made ones can't have a nitro finish...
 
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#94,223
yobtaf said:
so im not really digging the epiphone thunderbird sound. its kinda boucy boing boing, weird sounding. Pickup height? I lowered a bit but not sure.
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What sound do you want from it? As I recall, it is a bolt-on Epi. I have one and like how it sounds with nickel rounds after they break in. DR Black Beauties sound good on it too. To me that is. Strings and pickup height adjustments are the first and cheapest experiments. I still want to put a Dimarzio One right up by the neck on mine, but that project is buried behind about a dozen others right now.
 
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#94,231
godofthunder59 said:
I'll leave this here just to mess with everyone's head.View attachment 3157419
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Darn it GOT....look what you made me do......:cool:
thumbnail_file-26.jpg
 
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#94,236
godofthunder59 said:
I'll leave this here just to mess with everyone's head.View attachment 3157419
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Man, that bass just defeats the whole purpose of a Telebass.
They are what they are because of those super attacky, articulate single coils or, for the really brave at heart- the SethLoverbucker. IMO they are the Fender Bass for the Gibson Bass aficionado.
OK then....... here's a new pic of my Telebasses.
Note the TBird content and the glancing blow of the VBass (in Santa apparel which you can't see) plus my little practice amp.

PS I have a couple of other single coil, small headstock P Basses but they aren't technically Telebasses because it says Precision Bass on the headstock and Leo's word is gospel.

42374686_1868943643143501_7452589430537191424_n.jpg
 
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#94,239
GonePlaid said:
Well, at least it has a bridge cover:smug:
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Chucky Stiletti said:
yeah backwards....
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Chucky Stiletti said:
easily remedied..
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Not sure how factual it is, but I was told by an old Tele player that back in the day they used to glue foam under the narrow end of the bridge cover. So if the cover had the narrow end pointing towards the neck the strings were being muted. To play without muting the bridge cover would be flipped with the wide end facing the neck. Again, not sure how factual that is but it's what I've been told by an old timer that played back in the 50's and 60's and passed away in the 70's.
 
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#94,240
PillO said:
... The differences between a Gibson and an Epiphone are there, but they are subtle ... Both sound great to my ears. ...
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I had a 2017 Epiphone Thunderbird IV and now have a 2006 Gibson Thunderbird. The Gibson is slightly lighter and better balanced and the pickups produce more volume. The fit, finish and looks are the same. The playability and feel of the instruments are the same. Same thin neck. Same tone and sound to my ears. Same crappy 3-point bridge. The Epiphone has a bolt-on neck compared to the Gibson through-neck. I prefer bolt-on so it can be adjusted should it ever need it. The Gibson (used) cost 3 times the Epiphone (new). Which is better? IDK, depends. If you're on a budget, the Epiphone will absolutely get the job done well!

BTW, I was going to put this very cool metal pickguard on my Gibson. It came off the Epiphone and the holes don't line up with the Gibson. I was set on filling the existing holes in the Gibson and drilling new ones, but I decided this was a bad plan and went ahead and ordered a pick guard that will fit the existing holes. The Epiphone pickguard is available if someone wants a deal.
metal TBird PG.jpg
 
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