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Thunderbird Club

#1,541
Some awesome looking T-Birds in this club. I personally love the look and sound the Thunderbird's have but I myself have never actually bought and used one for a gig but have G.A.S for one hence I am currently still sitting on the fence. I know looks are not everything but my problem is I find a nice Epiphone for a nice price but when it comes to pressing the "buy" button I hesitate every time and step back. Perhaps I really am just hesitant to try something new or perhaps it's my gut telling me to stay with what I know in Fender basses.
 
#1,542
klejst said:
Some awesome looking T-Birds in this club. I personally love the look and sound the Thunderbird's have but I myself have never actually bought and used one for a gig but have G.A.S for one hence I am currently still sitting on the fence. I know looks are not everything but my problem is I find a nice Epiphone for a nice price but when it comes to pressing the "buy" button I hesitate every time and step back. Perhaps I really am just hesitant to try something new or perhaps it's my gut telling me to stay with what I know in Fender basses.
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You know, you could always buy a used Epiphone cheaply and see if you like the sound and ergonomics of it, and if you don't, you could always sell it again without losing to much money.

But don't get discouraged by people telling you to do otherwise, or claims that it's a one trick pony with a muddy sound and horrible neckdive - those people truly never spent much time with a T-bird...

It's a great sounding bass with thunderous low end and a wonderful growl, and if you put roundwound strings on it and play it with a pick, you'll get plenty of top end out of it.

By moving the upper strap pin to the heel of the neck/neckplate you'll have no neckdive whatsoever.

Also with two pickups, two volume and one tone knob, you'll get plenty of different tones out of it.

Try it - you might end loving it as much as the rest of us here, and you could join the best club on TB.
 
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#1,543
Hillerup's right; that's pretty similar to how I got the disease!

Since I'm gonna have couple TBirds and I can't seem to find a 5 string that I like (of any sort, not just a TBird) I was thinking I'd pick one of mine (probably the Goth, due to it's Gothtastical characteristics) as my bass to tune lower. I'm thinking BEAD, but I don't have any experience with alternate tunings. Am I out of my mind thinking this a reasonable course of action? Will I need to string it heavier for tone and playability?
 
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#1,544
Haji said:
Hillerup's right; that's pretty similar to how I got the disease!

Since I'm gonna have couple TBirds and I can't seem to find a 5 string that I like (of any sort, not just a TBird) I was thinking I'd pick one of mine (probably the Goth, due to it's Gothtastical characteristics) as my bass to tune lower. I'm thinking BEAD, but I don't have any experience with alternate tunings. Am I out of my mind thinking this a reasonable course of action? Will I need to string it heavier for tone and playability?
Click to expand...

Can't see a problem with that tuning on the Goth... Should probably use some heavier strings, suited for droptuning, though...
 
#1,547
mr pablo said:
New nut, the bottom 4 strings from a 5 string set and probably a lil truss rod tweak and you'll be good to go
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Could possibly just file out the existing nut. The gauges aren't a huge ways off from each other to warrant a new nut. There may be issues intonating the 3-point for BEAD tuning, though. Might need to flip the B saddle around for that extra little bit of clearance.
 
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#1,548
hillerup said:
That is SO true... My birthday is coming up soon, and I'm looking into getting yet another 'bird...

I've been watching an ebony Gibson '05 T-bird in my classifieds for a while - pretty nice condition with a small ding on the lower part of the headstock, selling for $ 912 - And on my way home from vacation in Germany last sunday, I went past the Thomann music store where I tried a golden Gibson 50th anniversary T-Bird, which was selling for $ 1754 (mind you, these are European prices and don't compare to US prices)...

So here's the dilemma: Should I get a used ebony bird for $ 912 now, or should I save up for a longer time and get a golden one for $ 1754..?

The golden one is mighty pretty and probably collectable in a way, but also very gaudy and I would probably be nervous for scratching it... The ebony one on the other hand already has it's battlescars and would not be as collectable on the long run...
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ThaCoast said:
I'd say get the ebony one. Considering that
1- it is cheaper than the 50th gold edition
2-you'd be less worried about it getting dinged and paint chipped perhaps if ever that were the case
3-As far as i've read/heard, and since i've played both a 50th gold and a general gibson burst tbird, they don't have a single difference in tone. I didn't notice much in regards of weight.

All in all, if i were in your shoes, i'd get the ebony bird and use the extra money for something else :) but good luck
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Andii makes very good points. I worry about damaging my 50th GoldBird, but I still play it. Just not as aggressively as I play my other basses. I would buy the ebony Bird. It is half the cost and already broken in so you aren't going to be as concerned about hurting it. And honestly there is not a huge difference in sound between my 2001 ebony Bird and the gold one. I actually give the edge to the ebony one, but then I have some odd connection with that bass. Hope it works out for you either way!!
 
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#1,549
awilkie84 said:
Could possibly just file out the existing nut. The gauges aren't a huge ways off from each other to warrant a new nut. There may be issues intonating the 3-point for BEAD tuning, though. Might need to flip the B saddle around for that extra little bit of clearance.
Click to expand...
The Goth has a Supertone on it already, so that'll be no sweat. However, I hadn't thought of that, so thanks for the head's up! Also big thanks to Hillerup, Mr Pablo and awilkie 84 for the insights. I was thinking of having a new nut installed due to some string buzz on the D string, but with Thunder Cables (is that a great name for strings or what?) on there, perhaps that will be unnecessary. I'll try it and see when the time comes; that'll be a little ways off yet as I just finished the first coat of about 12 of Tru Oil on the back of the neck. I also contacted a Nashville luthier who has the tools and experience to cut my headstock, and the price is workable vs. buying a saw to do it myself. I just gotta come up with the outline I want. I thought I'd sketch it on with chalk...but I can't find any chalk for sale around here!
 
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#1,552
Nocturnal said:
Andii makes very good points. I worry about damaging my 50th GoldBird, but I still play it. Just not as aggressively as I play my other basses. I would buy the ebony Bird. It is half the cost and already broken in so you aren't going to be as concerned about hurting it. And honestly there is not a huge difference in sound between my 2001 ebony Bird and the gold one. I actually give the edge to the ebony one, but then I have some odd connection with that bass. Hope it works out for you either way!!
Click to expand...


Thanks for the advices guys - you make good and valid points there...

I think I lend towards the ebony T-bird if it's in as good a condition as seller claims it to be...
 
#1,553
#1,555
So after a couple weeks of hardcore looking for a new bass for a decent (budget) price I finally found one on Guitar Center's used gear site...ironically enough it is a Epiphone Thunderbird IV! Unfortuantly it's out of state but after calling and talking to the clerk and him informing me it was physically in great cosmetic and working and sound wise there is nothing wrong with it I took the advice of hiller and a few others on here and figured I would at least give it a fair chance. So I just pulled the trigger on it this morning for...duh-duh-duh-duh...$150! That is the cheapest I have yet to see a T-Bird, and this one is not even beat up or heavily used. Like I said above I have always loved the way they look and sound so I cannot wait to get my hands on it. I splurged a little and paid for next day shipping so it should be here tomorrow or Friday at the latest. And like hiller said if I don't like it I am sure I could probably get my $150 back for sure.

I have attached a photo however it's the GC photo they had on the listing so it kind of sucks but I'll post better ones once I get it. Have any opinion's on a good set/brand of strings to throw on it? I have always used D'Addario's Regular Light Gauge before but that was one Fender Precision basses, not sure if they would sound good or cut it on a T-Bird.
 

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#1,556
klejst said:
So after a couple weeks of hardcore looking for a new bass for a decent (budget) price I finally found one on Guitar Center's used gear site...ironically enough it is a Epiphone Thunderbird IV! Unfortuantly it's out of state but after calling and talking to the clerk and him informing me it was physically in great cosmetic and working and sound wise there is nothing wrong with it I took the advice of hiller and a few others on here and figured I would at least give it a fair chance. So I just pulled the trigger on it this morning for...duh-duh-duh-duh...$150! That is the cheapest I have yet to see a T-Bird, and this one is not even beat up or heavily used. Like I said above I have always loved the way they look and sound so I cannot wait to get my hands on it. I splurged a little and paid for next day shipping so it should be here tomorrow or Friday at the latest. And like hiller said if I don't like it I am sure I could probably get my $150 back for sure.

I have attached a photo however it's the GC photo they had on the listing so it kind of sucks but I'll post better ones once I get it. Have any opinion's on a good set/brand of strings to throw on it? I have always used D'Addario's Regular Light Gauge before but that was one Fender Precision basses, not sure if they would sound good or cut it on a T-Bird.
Click to expand...

There are SO many great sounding strings you can put on this baby, and it's all up to what your preference for sound and feel is...

I personally prefer roundwounds and my primary brand is DR Black Beauties, but you could use whatever DR strings on it, I also have good experience with RotoSound 66 Swing Bass in standard gauge and even the cheaper RotoSound Roto's which don't have silk endings on them.
I'm pretty sure others will chime in with other brands as well. When it comes to flatwounds I don't have any experiences with these at all, but have just bought a set of Fender flats to try out since they were the cheapest I could find - I'm pretty sure either RotoSound flatwounds or Chromes would be a better choice, but they were way more expensive... Maybe next time if I end up liking flatwounds. :)
 
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#1,557
tomshepp said:
Hey guys, There's a Pelham Blue non-reverse in the classifieds here on TB. Under $800 I think.
I have my TBird but I'm sure some of you would be interested. Looks mint!

Here is the link: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/gib...erbird-pelham-blue-2-day-moving-sale.1087974/
Click to expand...
This raises a question. Why doesn't Gibson shave the notch on the set necks, or extend the neck down to the body, like on a Les Paul? It seems like such a simple thing to do when it comes to aesthetics.
 
#1,560
klejst said:
I have attached a photo however it's the GC photo they had on the listing so it kind of sucks but I'll post better ones once I get it. Have any opinion's on a good set/brand of strings to throw on it? I have always used D'Addario's Regular Light Gauge before but that was one Fender Precision basses, not sure if they would sound good or cut it on a T-Bird.
Click to expand...

For strings on my goth bird anyway, i've used ernie ball hybrids, dunlop and d'addario EXL. unfortunately, i didn't get a chance to hear the hybrids as when i strung it on my bird, the d string snapped. Which was weird cause i had used them for years on my precision copy with no string break. So i got dunlops, and they sounded fine, then those snapped the day i was playing a gig with my band at club soda so i swapped them for a pack of d'adds (45-105) that i luckly bought before heading to the venue. They sounded okay, but for my type of music, and since it's down tuned mostly (full step down/drop C) it's forever strung with D'addario EXL 55-110. But That's my preference.

Suggestions are always great, but each and every one of us bird players, have our go to strings and gauge.
 
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