Thunderbird Club

[EdO.]

Epiphone made a version also, I have one, plays and sounds awesome. FYI (I posted the question earlier) if I'm correct Gibson made the Studio V 5 string from 2005 - 2007, took the CNC tooling to China and built them there as the Epiphone Pro V (neck through, active) 2009 - 2012 with left overs still available in 2013. The Epi version goes more in the $600 - 700 USD range as opposed to the much pricier Gibson version ($1500 - 1800 USD). Both seem fairly rare but I'm thinking the Epi might be a tad more likely to pop up?

 

[Larry V]

Not even close to the same bass. The Gibson is a set neck, not neck through. The Gibson has a slab body and is passive. The Epi Pro V does not have the Gibson pickups and it's active not passive.

 

[tomshepp]

If I were going 5 string..... which I've been thinking about with my new band, I'd take a serious look at Cataldo or Lull. May seem counterintuitive, but I also wonder if a 35" scale would be a good idea.....?

 

[Larry V]

If I were going 5 string..... which I've been thinking about with my new band, I'd take a serious look at Cataldo or Lull. May seem counterintuitive, but I also wonder if a 35" scale would be a good idea.....?

I'd say you couldn't go wrong with either choice.

 

[tomshepp]

Larry, how's the B string on the Gibson?

 

[Larry V]

Larry, how's the B string on the Gibson?

On my Cherry Studio V it was so-so which I heard they were wont to be and that they were hit and miss. On my Black Studio V it is much more pronounced and extra thumpingly soul shaking.

The quickest, cheapest path to a 5 string Thunderbird, IMO would be to go with the Pro V and swap out the P/U's and go passive.

 

[redstrand]

I'll second Cataldo on a 5 string or 4 or 8
He's a mad genius and the prices are damn reasonable

 

[Dadagoboi]

I'll second Cataldo on a 5 string or 4 or 8
He's a mad genius and the prices are damn reasonable

Thanks for the shout out!...unfortunately the only part that's true is "mad"

 

[redstrand]

At least your madness comes in many colors, pickup and body choices
I was at Chicago Music Exchange and told my wife that even though I loved the bass that I played the most there it didn't compare to what you make and the fact you can make exactly what someone desires.
I need a new bass this summer lol

 

[Klondike]

It seems there quit a few of us in the greater ChicagoLand area. We should get together someday.

 

[Klondike]

Stumbled on this cool video amd discoverd one of Carlo's Cataldo Basses! Wicked cool sounds. Check it out!

 

[Bassic Playing]

Unfortunately lulls cost about $3500 USED in Oz, and no way Im paying that for a bass. Also the headstocks arent reverse.

One day I hope to get a Cataldo, they are much more reasonably priced. Probably not while I'm at uni scrounging around at part time jobs and gettong paid $40 per gig though.

 

[Haji]

just stop eating, and you have instant savings.

 

[TBird1958]

Unfortunately lulls cost about $3500 USED in Oz, and no way Im paying that for a bass. Also the headstocks arent reverse.

One day I hope to get a Cataldo, they are much more reasonably priced. Probably not while I'm at uni scrounging around at part time jobs and gettong paid $40 per gig though.

Stick it out at the University, it'll make for many possibilities in your future

 

[Bassic Playing]

Hope so! Just this year to go.

 

[Mike.C.]

Put a Hipshot GB7 detuner in my '14 Epi Thunderbird Pro IV. I had to file down the tuner hole which I was hesitant to do but it did not take much!

 

[EdO.]

The quickest, cheapest path to a 5 string Thunderbird, IMO would be to go with the Pro V and swap out the P/U's and go passive.

I wasn't aware that the pickups were different. I knew the electronics were but thought they both had the T-Bird+ pups. I am aware of the difference in sound but I'm really liking the sound the Pro V makes with the active setup. Whatever the difference IMO it's not a step down, more of a different flavor. Since I mostly play classic rock and variety for a lot of that stuff it's definitely a good fit tone wise.

 

[hillerup]

Not even close to the same bass. The Gibson is a set neck, not neck through. The Gibson has a slab body and is passive. The Epi Pro V does not have the Gibson pickups and it's active not passive.

And the Epi Pro-V also has the T-bird trademark raised centerpiece, which the Gibson Studio doesn't.... So apart from the electronics, the Epi Pro-V is actually a lot closer to a Gibson T-bird than Gibson's own 5-string offering (construction-wise that is)...

 

[RedVee]

Hope so! Just this year to go.

There is a 2012 Gibson Thunderbird for sale on Ozbass, tho a 4 stringer.
I have no relation to the sale, just thought you may be interested.

 

[Bassic Playing]

Yea Ive seen that, there's actually two tbirds for sale at present. To be honest though, I really like my epi, probably wouldn't treade up to anything except a 5 string.