Thunderbird Club

[ToddOfThunder]

I’m just gonna leave this here. Xmas is coming and I’m hoping Santa gets the hint.....

 

[JJR58]

Regarding the T Bird in a band thing, I have a little difficulty wrapping my brain around it. If I'm the bassist, I feel that I should be the one to choose the specific instrument for the job. I don't tell the BL what microphone or guitar to use.
My bandmates probably wouldn't care what bass I played, but playing a Bird has always helped in getting the image I want out there, if you see me and my band play - I don't want you to ever forget it, thus I'll never be "that guy" standing in the shadows by the drummer playing some FSO.

View attachment 3182378

There's a whole lotta awesome in this pic.

 

[Gaolee]

There's a whole lotta awesome in this pic.

I was thinking the same thing. I was also speculating on what was going on in the mind of the woman in the white dress. And, because I'm unreconstructed CroMagnon, probably way, way off the mark. It doesn't matter. That's what playing a 'Bird is all about.

 

[JIO]

I'm not expert, but I love my MIM Dimension. I get a wider range of sounds from it than I do from my P, TB, Mustang, EP Viola, or my Ibanez fretless. It's not as versatile as my Spector, but it was also a fraction of the cost. If I'm going some place and need to play a wide variety of genres, I always bring my Dimension. I also love the look of it, although others hate it. To each their own.

Oh, I agree - my point had to do with their marketing strategy. I'm sure it's a really nice bass and in it's similarity to an L-2000 it's understandable it would be a very versatile instrument.

 

[JIO]

How about a little bling to start the week...
View attachment 3182433
This guy makes some really cool stuff if you're into flash.

So am I seeing a wood body with a thin brushed aluminum face? That is a cool concept.

 

[JIO]

Fender, two pickups? Must be a jazz. Treat it like a jazz. Sounds like crap, I don't like it. Sounds like the complaints GP has about `birds...

The age old GP complaints:
Fender doesn't innovate, it never does anything but jazz and precision.
Fender did something that isn't a jazz or precision, I'm not buying that.

I think Fender is still experimenting on how to colour outside the box. Their '85 Performer was innovative and only made one year. Their Jaguar bass (a retro inspired bass that never existed) was a success, and still produced in one form or another. (as a Fender or Squier) So I just saw the Dimension as an attempt at design innovation but it too was short lived. They are all good instruments with interesting designs but other than the Jag (which is a dyed in the wool Fender design) their forays into 'change' usually don't stick because they don't look (enough) like a Fender to the buying public who gravitates to that brand.

 

[PillO]

I think Fender is still experimenting on how to colour outside the box. Their '85 Performer was innovative and only made one year. Their Jaguar bass (a retro inspired bass that never existed) was a success, and still produced in one form or another. (as a Fender or Squier) So I just saw the Dimension as an attempt at design innovation but it too was short lived. They are all good instruments with interesting designs but other than the Jag (which is a dyed in the wool Fender design) their forays into 'change' usually don't stick because they don't look (enough) like a Fender to the buying public who gravitates to that brand.

I guess I wasn't clear. It is the cognitive dissonance in the GP. Any time something new is produced, it is dismissed for not being a jazz or precision. Simultaneously, there is complaining that there is nothing new.

 

[Kriegs]

View attachment 3182528 I’m just gonna leave this here. Xmas is coming and I’m hoping Santa gets the hint.....

I tried that last year and .... nothing. Lazy Santa

(Disclaimer! My wife is a huge supporter of my music and the associated G.A.S Last Christmas there were no bass-specific requests, so she wasn't even on the hook for any! )

This year I took things into my own hands and, although it won't be a Christmas gift (but hopefully in time for my birthday in March), I'll have a brand new custom Cataldo Bird

Pictures when the new Bird arrives

 

[Gaolee]

I guess I wasn't clear. It is the cognitive dissonance in the GP. Any time something new is produced, it is dismissed for not being a jazz or precision. Simultaneously, there is complaining that there is nothing new.

The same kind of thing popped up in discussions about the 2013 and 2014 version of Gibson's EB. When it first came out, the GP was dismissive, hated the way it looked, complained about quality, and complained about everything else. When it was discontinued, the attitude shifted a bit. When the new version came out, the GP lamented that it was different from the first go-around which got elevated to iconic status, more or less. Go figure.

 

[Band Mom]

Oh, I agree - my point had to do with their marketing strategy. I'm sure it's a really nice bass and in it's similarity to an L-2000 it's understandable it would be a very versatile instrument.

My first post in this thread, but I've lurked for some time.

I was coming here just to ask a similar question. I currently have a really nice custom USA L2K that I practice/record with, but wanted to gig with something else, hence my new interest in an Epi TB. I was curious about the similarities to the L2K, as I really like the tone, but would rather not bring a $2K instrument with me to some of the venues we play.

I could always consider going with a Tribby L2K, but I don't like the nut width (my custom is 1.5") and its tendency towards boat anchor-ness. I'm fairly certain Epi TBs might share similar weight issues, but I guess it's a matter of how that weight is distributed.

So, any thoughts? Or more precisely, which of the various Epi TBs would you recommend? Doesn't need to be the most expensive, just something that will do a reasonable job of occupying a similar sonic space as the L2K.

 

[redstrand]

Xmas was early for me, sideways tbird post. Letting it get to room temp after being in 45 degree weather all day. Looks and feels great so far. Rewiring it VVT with a series parallel switch this weekend(not much choice the tone pot is shot). Proper.

 

[MCF]

My first post in this thread, but I've lurked for some time.

I was coming here just to ask a similar question. I currently have a really nice custom USA L2K that I practice/record with, but wanted to gig with something else, hence my new interest in an Epi TB. I was curious about the similarities to the L2K, as I really like the tone, but would rather not bring a $2K instrument with me to some of the venues we play.

I could always consider going with a Tribby L2K, but I don't like the nut width (my custom is 1.5") and its tendency towards boat anchor-ness. I'm fairly certain Epi TBs might share similar weight issues, but I guess it's a matter of how that weight is distributed.

So, any thoughts? Or more precisely, which of the various Epi TBs would you recommend? Doesn't need to be the most expensive, just something that will do a reasonable job of occupying a similar sonic space as the L2K.

Others on here are a lot more knowledgeable than me. But I’ll give it a shot. I have a ‘15 with the tapped EBO Pickups. It produces a wide range of tones. Takes some fiddling with the switches and eq, but it can sound like a lot of different basses. Mine has a perfect 1.5 neck and the finish work is top notch.

 

[JJR58]

My first post in this thread, but I've lurked for some time.

I was coming here just to ask a similar question. I currently have a really nice custom USA L2K that I practice/record with, but wanted to gig with something else, hence my new interest in an Epi TB. I was curious about the similarities to the L2K, as I really like the tone, but would rather not bring a $2K instrument with me to some of the venues we play.

I could always consider going with a Tribby L2K, but I don't like the nut width (my custom is 1.5") and its tendency towards boat anchor-ness. I'm fairly certain Epi TBs might share similar weight issues, but I guess it's a matter of how that weight is distributed.

So, any thoughts? Or more precisely, which of the various Epi TBs would you recommend? Doesn't need to be the most expensive, just something that will do a reasonable job of occupying a similar sonic space as the L2K.

I am also not so qualified to say, other then, you have a lot of ThunderBird options out there.
Or, something like MCF's EBO.

And they actually balance quite well contrary to popular belief that they don't.

 

[MCF]

My first post in this thread, but I've lurked for some time.

I was coming here just to ask a similar question. I currently have a really nice custom USA L2K that I practice/record with, but wanted to gig with something else, hence my new interest in an Epi TB. I was curious about the similarities to the L2K, as I really like the tone, but would rather not bring a $2K instrument with me to some of the venues we play.

I could always consider going with a Tribby L2K, but I don't like the nut width (my custom is 1.5") and its tendency towards boat anchor-ness. I'm fairly certain Epi TBs might share similar weight issues, but I guess it's a matter of how that weight is distributed.

So, any thoughts? Or more precisely, which of the various Epi TBs would you recommend? Doesn't need to be the most expensive, just something that will do a reasonable job of occupying a similar sonic space as the L2K.

Sorry, just realized you were asking about Epi. Can’t hep you them, only one I had was a Goth which I passed along. You can usually find a Gibby ‘15 in the 1200 to 1500 range.

 

[Dadagoboi]

...which of the various Epi TBs would you recommend? Doesn't need to be the most expensive, just something that will do a reasonable job of occupying a similar sonic space as the L2K.

Buy a used Epi that feels right and get a pair of these installed:

Pickup - L-series - four string

I own three G&Ls: a 1000, 1500, and 2500. They don't sound like any Epi or Gibson TBird I own. @MCF's 2015 would probably come closest.

 

[Gaolee]

My first post in this thread, but I've lurked for some time.

I was coming here just to ask a similar question. I currently have a really nice custom USA L2K that I practice/record with, but wanted to gig with something else, hence my new interest in an Epi TB. I was curious about the similarities to the L2K, as I really like the tone, but would rather not bring a $2K instrument with me to some of the venues we play.

I could always consider going with a Tribby L2K, but I don't like the nut width (my custom is 1.5") and its tendency towards boat anchor-ness. I'm fairly certain Epi TBs might share similar weight issues, but I guess it's a matter of how that weight is distributed.

So, any thoughts? Or more precisely, which of the various Epi TBs would you recommend? Doesn't need to be the most expensive, just something that will do a reasonable job of occupying a similar sonic space as the L2K.

I have a bottom of the line Epi, partly because I love the big neck. It's an earlier one. More recent ones have a 1.5" neck like just about every other Thunderbird out there. It is a different animal from other Thunderbirds, but I like it for what it is, just as much as I like the Gibson Thunderbirds it shares the closet with. Epiphone Pro IV and Pro V are active. I have one and yanked the preamp, replaced the pickups, and made it fretless. I like everything about it now. With the giant frets and less than inspiring pickups and preamp, it wasn't so great. If you like really tall frets and don't mind sorting out what the electronics are good for, those are usually pretty inexpensive. Neither is particularly light, but neither is memorably heavy, either. If I were in the market I would be looking for an Epiphone Classic Pro or Vintage Pro. There are heavy and light examples of both, so you have to try them, but the general consensus is that both are excellent.

If I knew more about what sonic space an L2K occupies, it would be more helpful to you, but I don't. It's a humbucker equipped bass, so my expectation is that you can get close with the right strings and adjustments to eq and your technique.

 

[JJR58]

Buy a used Epi that feels right and get a pair of these installed:

Pickup - L-series - four string

I own three G&Ls: a 1000, 1500, and 2500. They don't sound like any Epi or Gibson TBird I own. @MCF's 2015 would probably come closest.

That's a very cool suggestion.
Yeah, G&L's are quite the departure in tone from Thunderbirds.
And i don't mean that in a bad way.

 

[Gaolee]

Buy a used Epi that feels right and get a pair of these installed:

Pickup - L-series - four string

I own three G&Ls: a 1000, 1500, and 2500. They don't sound like any Epi or Gibson TBird I own. @MCF's 2015 would probably come closest.

2015 Thunderbird pickups are visually similar to G&L pickups, but I sure don't know how they compare sound-wise.

 

[Band Mom]

Ha! I like the suggestion to drop in some L2K pups in the Thunderbird to most closely resemble an L2K. Not sure if the routing is the same or not, and I'd rather not drop a ton of money getting it rerouted if that's the case, but I'll look into it.

So far, the Vintage Pro seems like the most likely candidate. I like that it doesn't have the 3 point bridge (something that killed an SG bass for me), and it looks to have updated pickups, though it sounds like there are some people that dislike them.

I owned a standard Epi TB years ago before I knew anything about bass (it was my second bass, and my only requirement at the time was that it looked cool), and disliked the long reach to the lower frets, but I suspect reading this thread more closely might help alleviate that. One thing is for sure; I'm headed down to the music shop tomorrow to try it out again, now that I'm not quite as much of a bass dummy.

 

[Band Mom]

I am also not so qualified to say, other then, you have a lot of ThunderBird options out there.
Or, something like MCF's EBO.

And they actually balance quite well contrary to popular belief that they don't.

I'm not familiar with the term. What's "MCF's" EBO? All I can think of is the old SG style bass.