Anyone want to buy my ( eBay) Chinese T bird pups w/rings ? Make an offer. They are the high and lower output, forgot the numbers. I just bought a pair of TB+ out of one of Nikki Sixx's basses.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
So who (of brands) made/makes the 'best' Tbirds?
Gibson?
Orville?
Greco?
Epiphone?
I only ask because Greco & Orville get some considerable love. Or is that just because they are an ex-TBird brand?
Gibson?
Orville?
Greco?
Epiphone?
I only ask because Greco & Orville get some considerable love. Or is that just because they are an ex-TBird brand?
Currently?
Epiphone, in my opinion.
In the past? Not sure.
Greco stuff was quite good.
Epiphone, in my opinion.
In the past? Not sure.
Greco stuff was quite good.
I guess technically Gibson doesn't actually make a TBird right now.
Also the recent Epiphone neck through T-birds I've tried have honestly been better than the recent Gibsons I've tried.I guess technically Gibson doesn't actually make a TBird right now.
Also I will likely never get used to those exposed pole humbuckers in the most recent Gibsons.
Probably a rarity thing?
Kinda like vintage Rickenbacker 4000s are often more expensive than 4001s, despite being the "budget" model at the time.
The white one?
Yes, I noticed that too.
I was guessing rarity, but with a side thought that maybe the single pup was 'beefier' than the pups in the IV individually?
No, one down in Melbourne for $850.
Maybe, I haven't got a 2 pickup to compare. The pickup placement must be different, I think. Maybe one day I'll throw a pair of thunderbuckers in my Epi and compare.
My T-bird modifications are on hold until I get another job, sadly.
But here's the list of things I intend to do:
1. New chrome or naked brass bridge.
2. Thunderbucker pickups.
3. New brass pickguard with some cool designs by Link Removed
4. New tuners as close to the Imperial style as I can find
5. New truss rod cover maybe?
But here's the list of things I intend to do:
1. New chrome or naked brass bridge.
2. Thunderbucker pickups.
3. New brass pickguard with some cool designs by Link Removed
4. New tuners as close to the Imperial style as I can find
5. New truss rod cover maybe?
The rough one without the guard at Guitar Emporium? That one was on one of the Facebook sale pages for $700 a while back.
I went through this with my youngest son, David. I bought him a Tama Imperialstar Acoustic Kit and it was great for him to learn on but we were prisoners to his drumming.
Might I suggest an electronic drum kit... headphones or an amp(turned down) sure has made living with a drummer more tolerable. Craigslist is just full of electronic drum kits often for much less than acoustic drums but it's important to know what you're buying as some of the entry level stuff is junk. Simmons, Alesis come to mind for the lower end stuff and Roland for the higher end.
Here's a couple of pics of my boy's setup.
The cool thing about having a kit built onto a tubular frame is that it can be adjusted to the size of the drummer. As my boy grows, I'll just adjust his kit for his longer reach.
I don't think I've posted in this club yet. Here's my Epi-bird (namesake bass 
) upgraded w/Lollar pups and Hipshot Supertone bridge. Currently strung up with DR Hi Beams. Great midrange clean tone from this axe and does fuzz/OD well.
) upgraded w/Lollar pups and Hipshot Supertone bridge. Currently strung up with DR Hi Beams. Great midrange clean tone from this axe and does fuzz/OD well.
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I've only ever compared the Epi Classic IV Pro against the Gibson bird back to back, and I prefered the Classic IV every time. Grecos and Orvilles (of any kind) are almost mythological creatures to me, so I can't comment on those two.
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- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,895
- 142,214
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
I don't think there's a good answer here - way too many differences between each of these, they look alike but most of the similarity ends right there. They are as individuals all good basses, with good or maybe better points, like cost, playability. Plus there are really nice Thunderbirds from other builders, i.e. Lull, Cataldo, Hotwire etc.
I'll probably always like my Gibsons best especially the '76s, they aren't always held in the highest regard by some, just my sentmental faves.
Gee, that is a thread all in itself. There are threads every other day in the general population on who makes the best P Bass or Jazz. They often end up in flame wars and get closed. The fact that we can discuss TBirds without any of that behaviour is a testament to this club and a sign of the maturity of the members.
Firstly I would probably add the Cataldo, Mike Lull and Shecter TBirds to the list. There are no doubt others.
Gibson has made a number of discrete and quite different incarnations of the TBird at times over the last 50 years or so (several long periods when they didn't make them)- 60s, 70s and more modern- which include a big change in 2015. The pickups have changed at various times along the way and the pickup position is different in the more modern ones. Even a short scale and a studio model at one point. The vintage ones are expensive but so are all vintage basses and some models and colours are not around in the numbers that some of the sought after Fenders are. The more recent Gibsons have been criticised for quality issues arising from poor QC. I have a 2008 and it is a wonderful bass.
There were MIJ Epi branded TBirds from the Elitist Range- very high quality, spec and with US pickups, I think. There is also a plethora of more recent Epiphone models at various price points- some with considerable differences, in construction, pickups and neck specs. Some of these virtually indistinguishable from a US Gibson at a lower price.
As you have asked specifically, the older (late 70s to 90s) MIJ TBirds, notably Greco and Orville (by Gibson) are generally great basses in their own right- high quality build, reasonably authentic vintage look with fantastic pickups IMO. The late 70s Greco TB II in particular is a beast and a wonderfully simple and effective gigging TBird.
Which are best? Really a matter of personal preference and what you are looking for from a bass. Budget is also usually a consideration.
Ha! You posted while I was typing my response. Great minds thinking alike across the planet at the same time.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,895
- 142,214
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
One reason I have so many different Thunderbirds is that I enjoy their differences - They're all cool looking 
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Mine all look about the same, but they are all different in their own ways. I can't describe what's different about them in words, but they all sound different, hang a little different, and feel different. Except the two Epis. One is fretless and the other has a bolt-on baseball bat neck. Those differences are easy to describe. It's great being able to do different things with them while still retaining the 'Bird-ness they have.One reason I have so many different Thunderbirds is that I enjoy their differences - They're all cool looking
