Thunderbird Club

[RedVee]

Colonel Sir,
Now that I’ve spent some time with the Limited Edition Pelham Blue and Silverburst birds, the stock Epi IV pickups have grown on me. Some EQ fiddling and I like what I’m hearing. They’re great Thunderbirds for the price.

You could always drop a set of Lollars in a standard IV. This is a good vid from Mr. Lollar himself:

Lol Lol lol lol la Lollars?

on Pelham blue. I’m very confused. I see light blue sparklies that I like a lot called Pelham Blue. But I see others that are much darker, and I don’t like them as much.
Would the real Pelham Blue please step forward?

 

[FlyingPigSound]

Guys, is any of you in possession of the Epiphone Classic pro and the Vintage Pro? if so do you have any recordings using both? I am interested in a side by side comparison, I see a lot of pictures but no really audio files, there is, of course, videos on youtube, videos which tend to vary from one to another... so if any of you have those and can share some audio files I am very interested : )

I had both for a time, and personally prefer the tone and balance of the Classic Pro.

 

[RedVee]

I kinda figured Gibby didn't make one.

I suppose I might be able to snag a used white VP for under $600 then have the fretboard defretted and lined for a few hundred more at most. So I'd have a nice fretless (but not nearly as nice as my Pedulla) for under a thousand.

However, the more I think about it, a bolt on Eppi bird might make more sense because of the ability to shim the neck, which may be required to get the action low enough without the frets. That would in turn lower the cost by a couple hundred more bucks, which is a good thing. Except I'm not that fond of the Eppi non VP pups.

Heck, might just be best to keep the Pedulla, that doesn't cost me anything. First world problems I guess.

Calling @Gaolee

 

[davelowell2]

Guys, is any of you in possession of the Epiphone Classic pro and the Vintage Pro? if so do you have any recordings using both? I am interested in a side by side comparison, I see a lot of pictures but no really audio files, there is, of course, videos on youtube, videos which tend to vary from one to another... so if any of you have those and can share some audio files I am very interested : )

Hi, I have one of each and I can record stuff.

But, one has flats and one has dead rounds. I have the parts to make it series parallel and a set of new rounds but I’m not sure when that will happen.

If you’d like me to still record something, even with different strings, let me know, I could get it done sometime this week.

 

[PillO]

Warning? That's an insta-watch for me. Stuart Chatwood, bassist in The Tea Party, is also left-handed.

Thought it might be.

 

[PillO]

Now there's a story I can appreciate.

Sorry to hear the bad turns and sad endings, but they did their thing with gusto, and that's what you want.

Yeah, they were on track to be something big. Or at least bigger than a modest success in Canada, which is where most successful Canadian acts end up. Able to make a middle class living, but never "rock stars".*

The music was cool; punk with a rockabilly feel, or rockabilly with a punk feel. They would have scratched the same itch that the Stray Cats did I think.

But there were a series of unfortunate events all through and when they were set to hit things big, a serious car accident derailed everything and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.


* Middle class living being house in the suburbs, making the mortgage payments.
Rock star being one or more houses in gated communities, a substance abuse problem, one or more ex wives, child support payments, and managers and handlers with ill defined roles who are likely embezzling up to 50% of earnings.

 

[Gaolee]

Did Gibby ever make a Fretless bird?

I might be selling my beloved Pedulla Pentabuzz (best sounding fretless I've ever heard) and although I don't play fretless much any more and I don't play 5 strings all that often, I'm really gonna miss this gal if she goes...
View attachment 3793816
She's my only fretless. I'm thinking it might be nice to have a modest little something in the wings if the need arises for some fretless work. Maybe I'll buy a white Eppi VP and defret it.

Do it! My fretless started life as an Epi Pro IV that I got with a duke'o'frock style guaranteed losing bid on eBay. Turned out that I did not much like the electronics and the frets were too tall. But other than that, it was fantastic. So, it is rewired and defretted. Not factory, but it is a fretless 'Bird. When I play it there is always some weird guy in the audience who stares at it trying to figure out what he is looking at. It is a small price to pay for having a fretless 'Bird with Alumitone pickups.

 

[Count Bassie]

Now there's a story I can

Warning? That's an insta-watch for me. Stuart Chatwood, bassist in The Tea Party, is also left-handed.

I like the sound of that dude's bass. It's the sound of speakers being stressed, just enough, just under the strong lo-mids area. At least that's what it sounds like. Farty, not barky. A fun kind of sound.

 

[Gaolee]

Indeed, that's why I would like it if someone around could record a real comparison.

Look for reviews by our godofthunder59. I do not believe he has a video of a CP, but the sounds he gets from a VP are not at all lawn equipment like.

 

[Toptube]

Yeah, they were on track to be something big. Or at least bigger than a modest success in Canada, which is where most successful Canadian acts end up. Able to make a middle class living, but never "rock stars".*

The music was cool; punk with a rockabilly feel, or rockabilly with a punk feel. They would have scratched the same itch that the Stray Cats did I think.

But there were a series of unfortunate events all through and when they were set to hit things big, a serious car accident derailed everything and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.


* Middle class living being house in the suburbs, making the mortgage payments.
Rock star being one or more houses in gated communities, a substance abuse problem, one or more ex wives, child support payments, and managers and handlers with ill defined roles who are likely embezzling up to 50% of earnings.

My dad has 4 ex-wives and ain't no rock star!

 

[Glenn Johnson]

looks nice @Glenn Johnson

is that a Soprano ? I couldn’t cope with the Soprano and up in size past the Concert to a Tenor - which is the largest using Uke tuning.

good fun and my accident I found it works well with the sopranos being that bit deeper in tone.

Yes, it is a Soprano. I feel that they provide the most authentic "ukulele" tone, since the soprano is the original size. I have a tenor already, a solid mahogany Kala that serves its purpose no doubt, but is not in the same "class" ( subjectivity abounding here ) as the koaloha should be. I'll know for sure when I get it. There is a very good return policy in case it does not meet up to my expectations though.

I have small hands and short fingers so the soprano is no problem for me. I'm sure the soprano could present problems for those with big hands and long fingers. Cheers!

 

[RedVee]

Yeah, they were on track to be something big. Or at least bigger than a modest success in Canada, which is where most successful Canadian acts end up. Able to make a middle class living, but never "rock stars".*

The music was cool; punk with a rockabilly feel, or rockabilly with a punk feel. They would have scratched the same itch that the Stray Cats did I think.

But there were a series of unfortunate events all through and when they were set to hit things big, a serious car accident derailed everything and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.


* Middle class living being house in the suburbs, making the mortgage payments.
Rock star being one or more houses in gated communities, a substance abuse problem, one or more ex wives, child support payments, and managers and handlers with ill defined roles who are likely embezzling up to 50% of earnings.

A bit like The Living End ?

 

[GBassNorth]

Do it! My fretless started life as an Epi Pro IV that I got with a duke'o'frock style guaranteed losing bid on eBay. Turned out that I did not much like the electronics and the frets were too tall. But other than that, it was fantastic. So, it is rewired and defretted. Not factory, but it is a fretless 'Bird. When I play it there is always some weird guy in the audience who stares at it trying to figure out what he is looking at. It is a small price to pay for having a fretless 'Bird with Alumitone pickups.

IIRC the Pro IV is a neck through. So when you removed the frets were you able to lower the bridge enough to get a nice low action?

 

[RedVee]

IIRC the Pro IV is a neck through. So when you removed the frets were you able to lower the bridge enough to get a nice low action?

I think the Pro IV uses a different bridge to the 3 point.

 

[Gaolee]

IIRC the Pro IV is a neck through. So when you removed the frets were you able to lower the bridge enough to get a nice low action?

Yes. It could probably go lower. I haven't seen a need.

 

[Gaolee]

I think the Pro IV uses a different bridge to the 3 point.

It does, but the issue is the same. Worst case it could be swapped with a Babicz or Hipshot. Maybe not for a VP without modifications, but any other 'Bird for sure.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Sure, why not. I have a few left. How about white?
View attachment 3793852

think I like that one more than Gary’s..

 

[GonePlaid]

Lol Lol lol lol la Lollars?

on Pelham blue. I’m very confused. I see light blue sparklies that I like a lot called Pelham Blue. But I see others that are much darker, and I don’t like them as much.
Would the real Pelham Blue please step forward?

I've seen pix of 'Birds called PB that looked green. Apparently there's a lotta variation in that colo(u)r. Same with Inverness-or Kerry-green. And try to get a definitive answer for CA Red. Or Gibson's "Cherry".

 

[MCF]

I think the Pro IV uses a different bridge to the 3 point.

It does.

 

[MCF]

I've seen pix of 'Birds called PB that looked green. Apparently there's a lotta variation in that colo(u)r. Same with Inverness-or Kerry-green. And try to get a definitive answer for CA Red. Or Gibson's "Cherry".

Not the greatest pic, one I had. The NR’s PB has a purplish tint in certain light. The EPI PB has more metal flake. The tint is close to my LBP 7ender P bass.