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Thunderbird Club

#124,303
GBassNorth said:
Great pic! Also great info for those of us in the never ending string search loop, thx for posting.

Just two additional data points for you as you continue on your string journey...

IIRC your using an Eppi VP, if so I think you can probably rule out the pups suppressing top end. All the VPs I've played have gobs of top end.

Also, FWIW I switch between TBird, SG, Fender, Alembic and Spector basses. I almost always keep my amp settings the same (except for compensating for room dynamics and active vs passive) and am able to get what I need with the on board controls. I like a deep dark thick tone so I'm not typically going in the same direction as you probably would, but I do notice that I have to turn the onboard tone knobs up to around the midway point on my TBirds and SGs to get in the same ballpark as most of my other basses.
Click to expand...

Actually, it’s a 2018 Gibson, so I’m not sure how the pups compare to the Eppi VP. :whistle:

I too have a variety of other basses and strive to not touch my amp’s EQ. This is the first bass I’ve had that had me leaning that way. I’m currently with a band that does a wide range of covers, so it’s a challenge to find that one bass I can play all night as were crossing genres. I do find the TBird is quite good at covering lots of sonic territory, which surprised me.

If I could just squeeze a bit more out of the top end, I’d call it a day. :)
 
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#124,304
My flock of ‘birds.
 

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#124,305
Goatrope said:
Actually, it’s a 2018 Gibson, so I’m not sure how the pups compare to the Eppi VP. :whistle:

I too have a variety of other basses and strive to not touch my amp’s EQ. This is the first bass I’ve had that had me leaning that way. I’m currently with a band that does a wide range of covers, so it’s a challenge to find that one bass I can play all night as were crossing genres. I do find the TBird is quite good at covering lots of sonic territory, which surprised me.

If I could just squeeze a bit more out of the top end, I’d call it a day. :)
Click to expand...
My bad, that makes perfect sense.

My anniversary TBird doesn't have the same bright top end the VP has even if I max out the tone knob. If you want a sharp top end without sacrificing the bottom end try one of the Eppi VP basses or maybe install the VP pups in your TBird.

As a point of reference - when my VP tone knob is set on zero it sounds about the same as my Anniversary Bird on 5 or 6. I'm running Fender 7150 rounds on my VP and Optima Gold rounds on my Anniversary Bird. Both string selections were made to maximize the bottom end, and in the case of the VP to tame the top end.

As for TBirds with a super range of tones I'd put the VP and 2015 TBird at the top of the list. The 2015 is a beast, but can be a handful to dial in on the fly. The VP is half the price and is exceptionally linear and intuitive on the tone range. I don't think there's a song out there you couldn't play with a VP and a set of Cobalt flats. JMHO
 
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#124,310
GBassNorth said:
Sweet!
Is that a CAR Eppi on the left?
Love the white VPs, such a classy looking tone monster.

If you're not already a member of the TBird club here feel free to join. It's a great group with tons of great info on how to get the most out of your bird.
Click to expand...

The left is just a standard Epiphone Thunderbird IV, but it’s Metallic Red.
 
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