Thunderbird Club

[Gaolee]

Hi everyone, I am considering buying my first ever Thunderbird bass and I am told, this group is the place to come for advice. My local shop has a Gibson 50th Anniversary, or a 2015 Gibson T-bird with the alternate pick ups. They also have some nice Epiphone Thunderbirds, the Pro IV, the Classic Pro IV, Thunderbird IV Ltd. Ed. I would appreciate any thoughts/reviews/recommendations. I have previously owned and played: Ric 4003, F Jazz bass, F American Hot-Rodded P-Bass, 62 200/1 Hofner, and Ibanez SR800. Recently I have fallen under the spell of the Thunderbird's low end growl...with my local options listed above, and bearing in mind that I play LEFT-HANDED (and I know they don't make LH T-birds (Gib or Epi), what would your recommendations be? Thank you all in advance for your input. Cheers!

There have been some comments already, so maybe you already have an answer. I can't say anything about left handed, because I play right handed and like Thunderbird ergos playing right handed. The Classic Pro IV would be my choice on a budget. All things equal and money issues dismissed, it would be between the Gibsons. The 2015 electronics are a bit more versatile than the standard 'Bird electronics, but they are all far more versatile than anybody gives them credit for. I would probably just go with the one that felt best. I personally didn't like the active circuit that comes with a Pro IV and rewired mine, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't like it.

 

[Gaolee]

And now, I can say what I think about the HongKongBuckers in a band setting. They are a bit microphonic, so if I tap on the ashtrays, they pick that up. It's just like the Precision, except a different clank. It's a feature, not a drawback as far as I'm concerned, and I like having the ability to turn the bass into a percussion instrument at times. I was playing through an Acoustic 126 combo that I have had since 1981 or so. That amplifier isn't the best sounding amp, but it can be eqed to work reasonably well with whatever you run through it. The bass is strung with Cobalt flats.

The HongKongBuckers are a little softer sounding than the stock pickups I took out. They can snarl and growl, but you can also dial them back and get a convincing thump with them. I find that playing on the G string cuts better with these than with the stock pickups. Stock, the sound would disappear a bit in certain frequency ranges. That doesn't happen with these. They cut through a mix well. They are not quite as angry sounding as the stock pickups, so if you are after pure evil malevolence, then these are probably not the way to go. I'm looking forward to playing a show with this bass to see how it sounds and projects with the bigger amp. My guess is that these pickups have a sound that's similar to early Thunderbirds instead of more recent Thunderbirds. I haven't played an early '60s Thunderbird, but I would expect those to be similar to the HongKongBuckers in sound. What's under the cover? Who knows. Gerbils, perhaps. I don't mind, since they sound good.

 

[CharlyG]

thanks for the input. I'll stick with stock, and just dial out a touch of angry!

 

[hillerup]

I like angry...

Should probably find myself a Greco Thunderbird II one day...

 

[CharlyG]

I'm reading some old 2008 reviews and I am amazed at how little knowledge is evident in those reviews. They make up stuff out of whole cloth. I've seen "body is made of maple, mahogany, alder, basswood, and one guy says the neck is made out of some kind of really hard wood! I guess folks aren't interested in the specs at all....

 

[hillerup]

A little teaser:

The Thomann Easter bunny came by yesterday...

 

[Haji]

I need to find a good Roman/Centurion sticker.. I want a pick guard with a Centurion instead of the bird, to go along with its new name, Testicles, as in test i cleez.....

You need two, so you can have his partner Stupidicus on there, too.

 

[CharlyG]

This is not a cartoon, it's serious bizness...

 

[ThaCoast]

I love the looks of the epi tv silvers. Gotta sell my Classic pro first though :-D 4 birds... Would be too much. Yet.

I suggest taking up with our Queen, as she would not be pleased with such blasphemy

Just curious from you TV Silver owners, since I was but a hair from owning one, how do they sound, on par with the other bolt-ons?

To my ears there's no difference between it and my Goth.

I figured they would have a difference since the TV silver has guitar sized buckers & the other traditional bolt ons have the TB+ humbuckers (althouhg both have been advertised as tb+ humbuckers) Never got a chance to play one, but from what i've heard, they do have a bit more treble bite to them. Not so bass/low mids like the other bolt ons. That's a reason why i'm going for TBHZ emgs in the later years for my converted goth bird. & adding a BTC staked Bass/treble control by EMG as well to give a bit more boost for those regions.

 

[veebass]

Hi everyone, I am considering buying my first ever Thunderbird bass and I am told, this group is the place to come for advice. My local shop has a Gibson 50th Anniversary, or a 2015 Gibson T-bird with the alternate pick ups. They also have some nice Epiphone Thunderbirds, the Pro IV, the Classic Pro IV, Thunderbird IV Ltd. Ed. I would appreciate any thoughts/reviews/recommendations. I have previously owned and played: Ric 4003, F Jazz bass, F American Hot-Rodded P-Bass, 62 200/1 Hofner, and Ibanez SR800. Recently I have fallen under the spell of the Thunderbird's low end growl...with my local options listed above, and bearing in mind that I play LEFT-HANDED (and I know they don't make LH T-birds (Gib or Epi), what would your recommendations be? Thank you all in advance for your input. Cheers!

Welcome. Would you be the Bobbydazzler from Ozbass?
I understand why you are looking locally, even though TBirds are relatively expensive in Australia. The current exchange rate, shipping and import taxes makes sourcing a bass from OS virtually prohibitive, unless you snag an absolute bargain.
Plenty of good advice so far on the models you are already considering.
If you are not averse to second hand, there are TBirds come up in Australia.
There are two black Gibson TB IVs (2005 & 2012) on Ozbass at present
Gibson Thunderbird 2012 -
FS - Gibson Thunderbird Ebony 2005 ($1650) Melb -
Also a white 1980 Greco TB IV
FS/FT: Greco thunderbird bass 1980 -
And my favourite, a 77 Greco TB II
FS:1977 Greco TBII, g&l tribute sb2, stingray 5 ltd NOW WITH PIX -
Guitar Emporium has a rough 1990 Greco TB IV
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I am not connected in any way to any of these basses- although I wish I was!

The Grecos are well worth considering. A few of us have old Greco TB IIs and they are something else- like a P Bass on steroids- more of everything.
Good hunting!

 

[StephnG]

Basically all the T-birds you mention are pretty nice...

The 50th Anniversary is a great playing and sounding bass, which might actually be an investment sometime in the future.

The Epi Classic Pro IV is probably the best value for money you can buy - It's built "almost" identically as the Gibson (9-ply neckthrough), has the same neck width, the same Gibson TB+ pickups as the 2013/2014 models has, and sound identically - All this at a fraction of the price of a Gibson, and it comes in glorious Alpine White, which is a pretty sexy color for a T-bird!

An alternative thought since you plan on playing it upside-down: Why not get you hands on a Non-Reverse Thunderbird? When you flip it over it would "almost" look like a reverse T-bird...

Sounds like a good idea and I was actually considering a non reverse when my search for a lefty was coming up short except for the fact that non reverse Birds have "set" necks and the contour obviously isn't the same. The latter wouldn't be so much a deal breaker although to me it's NOT a Bird unless it's a neck thru ya know? Sorry Mike Lull LOL...

 

[Gaolee]

Dayum, I like the looks of that battered Greco.

 

[veebass]

Dayum, I like the looks of that battered Greco.

Yes, I was very tempted a while back, but the ES 335 came along and ate all my money. That Greco was doing the rounds of Facebook sale pages for around $700. Luckily they don't have a rout under the pickguard, although one of Larry's great guards would do the trick, in any case.

 

[Dazzler70]

Welcome. Would you be the Bobbydazzler from Ozbass?
I understand why you are looking locally, even though TBirds are relatively expensive in Australia. The current exchange rate, shipping and import taxes makes sourcing a bass from OS virtually prohibitive, unless you snag an absolute bargain.
Plenty of good advice so far on the models you are already considering.
If you are not averse to second hand, there are TBirds come up in Australia.
There are two black Gibson TB IVs (2005 & 2012) on Ozbass at present
Gibson Thunderbird 2012 -
FS - Gibson Thunderbird Ebony 2005 ($1650) Melb -
Also a white 1980 Greco TB IV
FS/FT: Greco thunderbird bass 1980 -
And my favourite, a 77 Greco TB II
FS:1977 Greco TBII, g&l tribute sb2, stingray 5 ltd NOW WITH PIX -
Guitar Emporium has a rough 1990 Greco TB IV
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I am not connected in any way to any of these basses- although I wish I was!

The Grecos are well worth considering. A few of us have old Greco TB IIs and they are something else- like a P Bass on steroids- more of everything.
Good hunting!

No, I'm not "BobbyDazzler" but thanks for the advice, perfectly happy to try to find a second hand from someone moving on, I'd give it a good home, thanks for the links, mate!

 

[veebass]

No, I'm not "BobbyDazzler" but thanks for the advice, perfectly happy to try to find a second hand from someone moving on, I'd give it a good home, thanks for the links, mate!

Yes, I didn't think he was a lefty.
No problem. Happy to help.

 

[StephnG]

I wonder how many 5 string "Pros" are around after they misrouted the pups so the B was WEAK! I had one fixed, but sold it(regrets)... they mysteriously disappeared from the market.

Right here buddy! Having my Pro 5er worked on as we speak, the cavities have just been milled out to accomodate some SD soapbars, per my conversations with the good folks @ SD the problem is also the size of the PU's which are the same as what they use on the 4's and that is why the B sounds "anemic" To me the price of admission on the "Pros" was the laminated maple/walnut neck thru, walnut is the BOMB! Also not a big fan of active electronics ESPECIALLY on a Bird, I mean what's the point in that? I knew going in to this that I would probably have to replace the electronics although the fact that Epi would put 4 string Pu's on a 5er is rather absurd, really shot themselves in the foot on that one but no worries mate!! She will be a Thunderin soon....

 

[CharlyG]

we just routed out about 1/8 of an inch and moved the stock pups. It made it even volume with the other strings.... Eric, From Eric's Guitars in Van Nuys has a cool little magnetic strip that shows the field of the poles. We just positioned it to cover them all, and there ya go.

 

[TBird1958]

The seller of the Greco is one of our club members, if i didn't have one already i'd be all over it!
Angriest F&^*($#@ Bird ver!

 

[Mosstone]

Hi everyone, I am considering buying my first ever Thunderbird bass and I am told, this group is the place to come for advice. My local shop has a Gibson 50th Anniversary, or a 2015 Gibson T-bird with the alternate pick ups. They also have some nice Epiphone Thunderbirds, the Pro IV, the Classic Pro IV, Thunderbird IV Ltd. Ed. I would appreciate any thoughts/reviews/recommendations. I have previously owned and played: Ric 4003, F Jazz bass, F American Hot-Rodded P-Bass, 62 200/1 Hofner, and Ibanez SR800. Recently I have fallen under the spell of the Thunderbird's low end growl...with my local options listed above, and bearing in mind that I play LEFT-HANDED (and I know they don't make LH T-birds (Gib or Epi), what would your recommendations be? Thank you all in advance for your input. Cheers!

I cannot recommend the Classic IV Pro enough... Head and shoulders above the 2015 Gibson IMO.

 

[EdO.]

I cannot recommend the Classic IV Pro enough... Head and shoulders above the 2015 Gibson IMO.

And even if not (although I wholeheartedly agree with Lo-Hz) for the difference in price versus the difference in sound or whatever you determine the difference to be, only the most familiar/anal T-Bird aficionado would ever know the difference if there actually is any. Personally I can't tell the difference.

Also not a big fan of active electronics ESPECIALLY on a Bird, I mean what's the point in that?

Personally I LIKE the sound I get from my active Pro V. I can still get a lot of the classic T-Bird growl but it also gives me a more "generic"? (I really hate to use that term here, but for lack of a better one...) punchy sound that works really well for the classic rock stuff I generally play. So IMO it makes it a bit more versatile, it's "not just a T-Bird sound". My impression FWIW, as always YMMV.